CAPM Exam Change: new CAPM Exam from September 2019

Summary: The CAPM® Exam will see an update in September 2019. CAPM® aspirants will be able to register for the exam from 28th August 2019. PMI introduces 2 new question types. Also, it is now easier to register for the CAPM® Exam and PMP Exam. The one thing that doesn’t change is that the CAPM® Exam is still based on the latest PMBOK® Guide – the PMBOK® Guide 6th edition. Overall, the changes are for the better for Aspirants!

As there are uncertainties involved, it is still recommended that you take the CAPM® exam by end of August in order to get certified based on the current well-known exam questions.

Reference: Read here for the upcoming changes to the PMP Exam.

What are the Changes to the CAPM® Exam in 2019?

• Good – Fewer CAPM® Exam Application Requirements
  • 1,500-hour work experience NOT required, you can take the CAPM® Exam without having to get involved with project management jobs before
  • Just need the 23 hours of project management education as before
• Good – Project Management Education Contact Hours Not Required for CAPM® Certification Holders Applying for PMP Certification Exam
  • In the past, PMP aspirants would need to have at least 35 contact hours of project management education in order to apply for the PMP Exam irrespective of whether they have passed the CAPM® Exam before
  • Now, CAPM® holders will get a waiver of the contact hour requirement (though it is always recommended to get exam training for the PMP Exam).
• OK – 2 New Types of Question Introduced
  • The 2 new question types are:
    • Matching questions: match items from one list with items from the other
    • Multiple choice questions with multiple correct answers: in the past, multiple choice questions on the CAPM®/PMP exam were always with a single correct answer, this new question format will ask the exam takers to select a “specified” number of correct answers – luckily, they will be told how many answers are needed
  • PMI made it clear that candidates will only see “a small percentage of CAPM® question types in two new formats” in their exams.

 Recommendations on Taking CAPM® Certification Exam

• As we have not seen such kinds of questions in the past, this is a major change to the CAPM® exam to be taken in September 2019 onwards. There are uncertainties involved which may create psychological stress on the exam takers as all mock exam providers have not provided such kinds of question for practice yet. So it is recommended, if possible, to take the CAPM® exam by end of August 2019.
• But if you are not ready for the exam yet, don’t panic as the CAPM® exam will STILL be based on the same PMBOK® Guide (i.e. PMBOK® Guide 6th edition) and it is expected not much changes to the exam questions will be seen.
• It is expected these 2 types of questions will be introduced to the PMP Exam soon.

Latest update on the changes to the CAPM® Exam will be announced on the PMI website here.