All about PMP

The Audit Process

How many times have you fainted thinking about what would happen if your
application got selected for an audit?
I believe that this fear is the greatest fear in the minds of all PMP applicants.
Sometimes, it even overpowers the fear of not being successful in the actual exam
itself.
So, how do we go about getting rid of this overarching fear? As with other phobias,
the best bet is to analyze this fear rationally. First, you should know why some
applications get selected randomly for an audit. The answer is that this is the
result of an exercise by PMI aimed at ensuring the authenticity of information
provided by PMP (exam) applicants. PMI randomly selects a small percentage of
submitted applications for audit.
Now, let us proceed with an analysis of the audit process.
I. When might your application get selected for an audit?
In order to answer this question, we need to understand the complete process of
applying for the PMP credential exam. Remember that you should register for the
exam only after you are sure that you satisfy all the eligibility requirements
(discussed elsewhere), including those related to your educational, project
management experience and training needs.
Here are the major stages of applying for the exam in a sequential order:
(a) Apply for PMI membership (This is an optional step but is beneficial financially as
well as otherwise).
(b) Register on the PMI website, and always specify your PMI membership ID while
registering (if you have already paid for membership and obtained it). This way, you
will be charged only the discounted examination fees.
Note: You may be charged full examination fees if you apply for the exam after
logging in using an ID, with which you did not associate your PMI membership ID.
(c) Apply for the certification exam by filling in the online application form.
(Becoming a PMI member after applying for examination is not helpful, so always
ensure that you apply for the exam after obtaining PMI membership).
(d) Your application will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and you will

receive an e-mail advising you to go ahead with submission of examination fees within
5 working days of your having submitted the application.
(e) Submit the examination fees.
(f) You will receive an e-mail within a couple of minutes advising you of your
candidate ID (for the exam).
(g) Use this candidate ID in order to register for the exam at a date, time and venue
convenient to you, by visiting the Prometric website (http://www.2test.com).
(h) You will receive a confirmation e-mail from Prometric containing the date, time
and venue for the exam selected by you.
Now, where does the audit fit into all this? Well, it fits in exactly between steps (e)
and (f) stated above, i.e., if your application gets selected for an audit, you will
receive an e-mail advising you of the same (rather than an e-mail containing your
candidate ID).
II. What should you do if your application gets selected for an audit?
First thing, don't panic. It is just an audit, and not a bomb shell. The worst thing that
can happen is that you will not be able to get past the audit process, and will have to
apply for the exam again (Even in this case, you are refunded the examination fees
submitted by you less a processing fees of $100). So, the sky is not going to fall, right?
As a part of the audit process, you will be requested to send to PMI hard copies of
your educational, training, and experience certificates through snail mail (regular
mail or express courier service). You can select the PMI center nearest to your place
of residence for dispatching your documents. (The details of documents requested,
along with postal addresses of all available PMI centers, where you can send in your
documents, will be sent to you in the audit notification mail). Just send PMI the
requested documents and wait for their feedback.
III. What happens next?
Upon receipt of your documents, PMI will verify if you have successfully provided
evidence of your documented educational, training and experience credentials. If
they are satisfied, you will receive another e-mail informing you of successful audit
completion, along with your candidate ID for the exam. Otherwise, you may receive a
mail with request for more information (or supporting documents). You should then
send them the requested documents. Finally, they will either issue you a candidate ID
or else, inform you of your failure in having gone through the audit successfully, and
refund your examination fees less a $100 processing fees.

Summary:
One of my close friends got selected for an audit recently, and was through with it in
less than 10 working days. A colleague of mine was able to get past the audit even
quicker. She got the required documents couriered from India to PMI head office in
USA on a Friday, and received an e-mail informing her of having successfully qualified
in the audit next Wednesday. So, it was not even 5 working days for her!
If you possess documented evidence of all your experience in directing and managing
project activities as well as your educational and training qualifications, you have
nothing to fear.
So, go ahead full steam in your pursuit of PMP certification, without being afraid of
the audit!