The demand for project managers over the next 10 years is growing faster than the demand for workers in other occupations. By 2027, the project management-oriented labour force is expected to grow by 33% or nearly 22 million new jobs (PMI, 2017).

This demand across the globe is driven by employers’ need for skilled project management workers and the availability of professionals to fill those roles. According to the PMI (2017), the need for project management expertise is due to:

• A dramatic increase in the number of jobs requiring project-oriented skills.
• Attrition rates, including professionals retiring from the workforce.
• A significant uptick in demand for project talent, especially in rapidly developing economies such as China and India.

More talent needs to be encouraged to enter the profession to meet the high demand. Project management certification is one of the ways that the talent shortage can be addressed. Project management certification improves a person’s project expertise, and it verifies project management experience.

The PMI and the PMP

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the leading professional associations for the project management profession and individuals who use project management skills. There are currently over 1.2 million Project Management Professional (PMP) certification holders across the globe. The PMP certification is the PMI’s most in-demand PM certification worldwide. It recognizes elite project managers who have proven they have the skills to successfully manage projects and expertise in any way of working.

To obtain a PMP certification, a project manager must meet certain eligibility criteria (see Table 1) and then pass a 180-question exam. The application and examination process for the PMP is done through the Project Management Institute website (https://www.pmi.org/certifications).

The Best Way to Prepare and Pass your PMP

If you are new to the field on Project Management but you eager to learn more and your aim so to one day obtain your PMP certification then it is strongly advised that you start learning about project management by enrolling for the Programme in Project Management. This Course will expose you to every aspect of project management and provide you with the knowledge you need to take the lead on projects at work. Once you have a few years of practical PM experience you will be able to continue your journey with a PMP certification.

If you have experience leading and directing project teams then it is highly recommended that you enroll for a PMP Exam Preparation Course through a reputable Authorised Training Partner (ATP) such as the Graduate School of Technology Management.

Mr Reniel Engelbrecht presents the contact and online class for the PMP Exam Preparation Course. Reniel is registered as a professional civil engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) accreditation with the Project Management Institute (PMI). He completed his B Eng in civil engineering at the University of Stellenbosch in 1989 and a Management Development Programme at Unisa in 1994.

The PMP Exam Preparation provides you with:

• The 35 hours of project management education/training, required to write the exam.
• Engaging training to equip you to work in a variety of project environments and utilise different project approaches i.e. predictive, hybrid, agile.
• Content that covers the three new PMP domains of People, Process and Business Environment as well as their associated Tasks and Enablers.
• Numerous practice exam questions and knowledge check opportunities.
• A mock PMP® exam to test your knowledge in preparation for the actual exam.
• Information on how to apply and prepare yourself for the current PMP® exam.
• Study group opportunities, advice and encouragement.
• Participants can choose between two formats: an online virtual instructor-led programme spread over three months, or an in-person contact class completed over three days.

Table 1: PMP certification admission criteria

* the 35 hours project management education requirement is met by enrolling for the PMP® Exam Preparation Course.

Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam Preparation Information for 2026:

Online Course: Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam Preparation:
Course Dates: 14 September 2026
Course Fee: R 10 762.50 Incl. Vat

Contact Class: Project Management Professional Exam Preparation (PMP®)
Course Dates: 25 May 2026
Course Fee: R 17 820.00 Incl. Vat

Download the 2025 brochure here: PMP® Exam Preparation short course Brochure