In April 2020, PMI announced the PMP exam would be available online, instead of having to travel to a testing center. The online exam is scheduled and taken with Pearson VUE, but using their online proctoring capability.
What follows below is a list of reasons why I consider the online PMP exam to be less favorable than the in-person option. Some of the items are significant – others are more trivial.
Of course, everyone’s situation is different, and I’m not saying everyone should take their exam in-person regardless of circumstances. Some people have valid health concerns about going to an in-person testing center, and/or they might not have easy access to a physical testing center. (I have spoken to people who have successfully navigated the online PMP exam and passed no problem.) This article is aimed at those people who have a choice about where to take their exam, and are considering the pros and cons.
- Pearson VUE has a system test app that you can, and should, run if considering the online option. It will test whether your system is capable of handling the exam, but more importantly, which “illegal” programs/apps you might have running. Obviously they don’t want you having access to “illegal” information during the test, but the list of “illegal” applications is long and can include less obvious things like pop-up blockers. So it can be troublesome/inconvenient to get your computer into a state where you can actually run the exam.
- There are now two 10-minute breaks built into the exam. This is true whether you take the exam online or in-person. However, when taking the exam in-person you may take additional breaks at any time (the clock will keep running.) Other than the built-in break, if you leave the computer at any point during the online exam, you will be failed.
- If anyone enters your room while you are taking the exam online, you will be failed.
- If you have internet issues during your online exam you will likely have to schedule a retake. This will not necessarily cost you money, but it will cost you time.
- You will be on camera the whole time. This is true for both online and in-person exams, but it seems more intrusive online.
- There have been issues with both exam-takers and proctors getting confused about time-zones for the online exam.
- You cannot have any papers (or pens) around when taking the exam online. You will also have to scan your room with your phone/camera so the proctor can see you don’t have notes posted anywhere.
- You can only have water in a clear container during the online exam. (No food or drink is allowed at your computer during an in-person exam, but you can leave your computer to access these things elsewhere.)
- You cannot use any “scratch paper” during the online exam. You will have to use the online whiteboard if you want to make notes. This is a significant difference from the in-person exam where you will have paper or a laminated sheet to make notes.
- During the online exam, you may not access the following types of personal items: mobile phones, headphones/headsets, handheld devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, hats (or other head coverings), bags, coats, books, notes, or any other materials not specifically approved. (This is mostly true for in-person as well, except that noise protection is allowed in-person e.g. ear plugs.)
- Eating, smoking, and chewing gum are not allowed online. (Chewing gum would likely be allowed in-person.)
- Talking (even to yourself) is not allowed during the online exam (except to the proctor.)
- Putting your hands/fingers on your face is not allowed during the online exam.
If your experience has been different, or you’ve something to add, please comment below and I can update the information.
October 2023 Update
In-person exam takers now receive a “provisional” exam result once their exam is over, which is then confirmed by PMI within two days. Online exam-takers do not receive a provisional result, and must therefore wait two days to learn their result.
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Agree with all these reasons. Other reasons include – you can’t lean in closer to your laptop or bring your laptop close to you. They have to see your whole head and shoulders. The zoom feature isn’t great because the testing screen is so wide it takes a little bit of time and slows you down. They also send a chat message everytime you lean or do anything slightly and closing the chat box takes a couple tries which also washes precious time. Very inaccessible for people who need to verbally say the question out loud to themselves or fidget or anything. You have to be a total statue.
Thanks for adding your comments Zeenat. I think in many ways PMI regrets adding this option because it has created many security headaches for them, but once you make something available, it’s hard to take it back. Plus I assume there are people in the world who don’t have easy access to a physical testing center. Nevertheless, I drove for about 90 minutes each way to take a different PMI exam at a testing center, rather than use the online option.
Hey! I just finished going through your article on why taking the PMP exam online might not be the best idea, over at Consulting.ky. I must say, your insights were eye-opening and got me thinking. Kudos to you for addressing such an important topic that many PMP aspirants might not even consider.
Your concerns about potential technical glitches during the online exam are completely valid. The last thing anyone wants is to deal with unexpected issues that could affect their performance and overall experience. Your personal experience and the example you shared about the proctoring process shed light on aspects that I hadn’t even thought about. It’s clear you’ve done your research and have a deep understanding of the potential pitfalls of an online PMP exam.
I also appreciate your suggestion of taking the exam at a testing center to ensure a controlled environment. Your emphasis on minimizing distractions and maximizing focus makes perfect sense. Your article serves as a valuable reminder that sometimes the traditional way of doing things, like taking an exam in a physical setting, can still offer a more reliable and stress-free experience.
Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective and advice. Your article is definitely going to make me reconsider my options when it comes to taking the PMP exam. Keep up the fantastic work of guiding fellow project management enthusiasts in making informed decisions. Looking forward to more thought-provoking content from you!