In this article, we will do a PM Prepcast Review. The aim is that you understand the pros and cons of the PMP® program and decide if it’s best suited for you. Also, before we start, be sure that you sign up for the free PMP® course from ExamsPM.
The Project Management Institute is the leading project management certification body, offering some of the most value-packed certifications in the field. Their PMP® (Project Management Professional) certification is considered by many as the highest level of certification a project manager can earn throughout their career.
However, the PMP® exam is by no means an easy one, which means you need to prepare very well for the exam if you want to pass from the first attempt.
In our PM Prepcast review, we’ll give you a detailed walkthrough of this PMP® training program to help you decide whether it’s worthwhile or not.
About PM Prepcast
The PM Prepcast PMP® course is offered by OSP International LLC, a project management training agency based in Orange, California, United States. The company was founded in 2006, and it has contributed to the training of thousands of project managers worldwide since then.
The company’s founder is Cornelius Fichtner, who has over 20 years of project management experience in several industries. He’s currently an active volunteer in his local PMI Chapter and a co-founder of PMI’s Social Media Advisory Group and News Media Council. He’s also a former PMI Chapter President.
ExamsPM vs. PM Prepcast
ExamsPM helps you get your PMP® certified on your first try within 6 weeks, and also supports you with 60 PDUs after you get certified.
- ExamsPM have 2 regular live instructor-led trainings calls per week, in addition to the self paced course
- ExamsPM offer lifetime packages so you don’t have to worry about course expiring
- ExamsPM offer full service, so you can get an application review prior to completing the exam as well as the credits you need to maintain your certification for three years after the exam
- ExamsPM offer a free PMP® training course that lays out the exact road map that you need to follow in order to get PMP® certified within 6 weeks
ExamsPM | PM Prepcast | |
Price | $499 | $1999 |
Access Length | Lifetime | 90 days |
Practice Questions | 1500+ | 2100 |
Free Demo | Yes | Yes |
Application Support | Yes | No |
60 PDUs | Yes. 60 PDUs are included in the tuition. | No |
Support | Yes – Email, Facebook Forum & Instructor Access | Yes – Email and Forum Support |
Course Format | Self-directed learning, live instructor-led training | 5 Days Live online training |
Money Back Guarantee | Yes | Yes |
Who Should Take This Course?
The PM Prepcast PMP® course is designed for PMP® aspirants who want to get certified by PMI and advance their careers with a globally-recognized certification. It’s also suitable for anyone interested in learning more about the field of project management, even if they don’t plan on pursuing an official certification anytime soon.
Enrollment
Enrolling in the PM Prepcast PMP® course is pretty simple. All you have to do is visit their website and click on the “Get Prepcast Now” button. You’ll then be directed to a page where you’ll be prompted to select from multiple subscription plans.
Choose the one that best suits your needs and proceed to the checkout page to enter your card info. Once you complete the payment, you’ll be able to access the course materials immediately.
PM Prepcast Review – Course Overview
Here’s everything that’s included in the PM Prepcast PMP® course:
- 50 Hours of PMP® exam video training (updated for the current edition of the PMBOK® Guide)
- Free email support course and forum access
- PMP® exam simulator with 1600+ questions (included in Elite and Elite Plus plans only)
- Guidebooks and formulas (included in Elite Plus plan only)
Moreover, the PM Prepcast allows you to communicate with a PMP® expert through one-on-one live sessions. So, whenever you come across some obstacles in your learning path, feel free to contact the instructor. By completing the course, you receive 35 contact hours, fulfilling the PMP® exam’s prerequisite.
Learning Outcomes
The PM Prepcast course covers the ten knowledge areas of project management as found in PMI’s PMBOK® Guide, including:
- Project Scope Management
- Project Stakeholder Management
- Project Risk Management
- Project Schedule Management
- Project Integration Management
- Project Quality Management
- Project Resource Management
- Project Communications Management
- Project Cost Management
- Project Procurement Management
You’ll also learn about their related processes and ITTOs (Inputs, Techniques, Tools, and Outputs). By the end of the course, you should be ready to attempt the PMP® exam and get a passing score. Just make sure that you don’t skip practicing with some mock tests first, which you do get to do in the course’s PMP® exam simulator.
Prerequisites
There are no mandatory prerequisites for enrolling in the PM Prepcast PMP® course. If you have an internet-enabled computer, phone, or tablet, you’re eligible to enroll in this course.
However, it’s worth noting that the course is entirely in English, so you need to have a decent level of English proficiency to get the most out of it, and to pass the PMP® exam, too. It’d also be nice to have prior knowledge of what project management is, as this will help you progress in the course faster.
Course Walkthrough
The PM Prepcast is divided into modules. The first three modules are introductory, providing you with an overview of all essential documents, frequently asked questions, and tutorials. They also give you a brief idea about the PMP® exam and what to expect from it. Moreover, there’s a self-assessment section that challenges your existing knowledge of project management.
Once you go through the introductory modules, you’ll start getting into the project environment and what organizational systems and process assets are. You’ll then be presented with a project manager’s role and the competencies you need to succeed in your project management career.
After finishing the previous modules, you’ll be introduced to the project management knowledge areas. Each knowledge area has a dedicated module for it, where you’ll learn about the project management processes and how they’re related to the 600+ ITTOs. The final modules summarize everything you’ve learned in the course and tell you what to do next.
As you’ve noticed, the course’s structure is somewhat conventional. It relies solely on video sessions, and there are no interactive components in it. Some people still prefer the good old slideshow-based learning experience, while others like to interact with some elements inside the course. So, it really depends on how you prefer your learning experience to be.
It’s worth noting that the lessons are well-taught, and you should have no problem understanding the principles of project management in this course, even if you don’t have much experience.
Pricing & Contact Hours
The PM Prepcast course is offered in 3 subscription plans. The basic plan costs $229, which only includes the course materials. The PM Prepcast Elite plan costs $299, which includes everything in the basic plan and access to the PMP® exam simulator. You can also gain access to the PMP® formulas and guidebooks by adding an extra $70 for the PM Prepcast Elite Plus package.
Our recommendation is to go for the Elite plan since you must practice for the PMP® exam with the exam simulator. You could get guidebooks from other resources at discounted prices, but the Elite Plus plan is still worth it if you prefer to get everything you need with a single purchase. No matter which subscription plan you choose, you’ll be granted 35 contact hours.
Advantages:
- Offered in 3 subscriptions plans to suit different needs
- Course content can be viewed on mobile phones and tablets
- Content is easy to understand, and the instructors are friendly
- Officially accredited by PMI REP
- Self-paced learning approach
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Excellent customer support
- Decently priced compared to other PMP® courses
- Includes flashcards
Shortcomings
- The course doesn’t include any interactive learning methods