Why should you pursue a certification in project control in general and the PSP in particular? Here are the key benefits:

• PRESENT the PSP initials after your name.
• ACHIEVE professional status as an expert by earning the credential.
• CERTIFY your great knowledge.
• ADD the most widely recognized certificate in the planning field to your portfolio.
• LEARN the best practices of planning.
• ACCESS a wealth of high-quality knowledge from AACEI Recommended Practice.
• GET shortlisted for interviews and have better career opportunities.

In this article, I will explain the below PSP certification pathway.

1. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Eligibility

• The exam provider is AACEI (Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International).
• If you have + 4 year industry-related college degree the you should have 4 years of industry-related experience IN PLANNING to qualify for the PSP exam. This is the category where most exam takers fall into. OR;
• If you don’t have industry related college degree, you must have at least 8 years of experience IN PLANNING.

2. PSP Exam Application Submission

Here are the steps of the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) exam application submission

1. Create a new account with AACEI at https://online.aacei.org/aacessa/censsacustmast.insert_page
2. Go to the PSP course page and click “Apply Now” at https://web.aacei.org/certification/certification-information/certifications-offered/psp-details. Then create a new submission under PSP certification.
3. Fill in the application details (personal information, experience, education, etc)
4. Upload Work Experience Letter(s). The letter should include:

• Employment period
• Employer Name
• It is better to list duties too to prove that you have a work experience in planning and scheduling.

5. Upload Education Certificate(s). Each certification may include:

• Education Level (Bachelor, Masters, Ph.D.)
• Graduation Date
• Degree Type
• University Name

6. Pay the application fees

• If you would like to become a member, you will pay the following

– Membership fees: $215

– Discounted Exam Fees for members: $500

– Total Cost: $715

• If you don’t wish to become a member

– Total Cost: $625

• The resit exam fee is $250 for both members and non-members.

3. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Clearance from AACEI

After your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by AACEI. If it is approved, you will receive the PSP Exam Clearance via email. It can take up to 45 days based on the complexity of your application requirements. I received my clearance after 3 days only so expect that you will receive the clearance within a few days as long as your application is completed and submitted as per the AACEI’s requirements. You have to schedule your PSP exam within 6 months after you receive your clearance so keep that in mind. Moreover, you can take the PSP exam up to 3 times within the 6 months clearance period as below.

• 1st time (full exam fees): $500.
• Two times at the resit discounted price: $250.

4. Schedule your Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam

You will also receive the exam scheduling instructions in the clearance email. These instructions will show you how to schedule your exam with Kryterion or its testing center partners. You will be given a voucher code that you can redeem as you have already paid for everything to AACEI when you submitted your application. Moreover, you will receive a confirmation email once you complete your booking.

5. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation

5.1 PSP Exam Structure

• It is 5-hour Computer-Based Testing (CBT) exam.
• The PSP exam consists of 119 simple, multiple choice and compound, scenario questions.

You will be tested on the following domains and areas:

• Basic Planning & Scheduling Knowledge (56 Questions)
• Practical Exercise (29 Questions)
• Planning & Scheduling Applications (34 Questions)
• 1 memo writing assignment with a given scenario and instructions for writing a response in an onscreen text box.

It is a closed-book exam and you are allowed to bring any style, battery-operated calculator (not provided by the testing center). Moreover, you need to achieve 70% or higher to pass the exam and earn the PSP certification.

5.2 PSP Questions Types and Structure

• Question 1 to Question 56: MCQ for planning and scheduling knowledge.
• Question 57: Memo
• Question 58 to Question 90: Grand Diagram
• Question 91 to Question 119: MCQ on general concepts and knowledge.

5.3 Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation and Study materials

The followings are the study materials to prepare for the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam according to AACEI. The PSP exam prepration and study materials include books and other AACEI’s publications.

• PSP Certification Study Guide, 2nd Edition.
• Skills & Knowledge of Cost Engineering, 6th Edition.
• TCM Framework: An Integrated Approach to Portfolio, Program and Project Management, 2nd Edition.
• CPM in Construction Management, 8th Edition.
• Construction Planning & Scheduling Manual, 2nd Edition.
• Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling 10th Edition.
• RP 14R-90: Required Skills and Knowledge of Planning and Scheduling.
• RP 11R-88: Required Skills and Knowledge of Cost Engineering.
• RP 10S-90: Cost Engineering Terminology.

5.4 PSP Memo Question

Question# 57 is the memo question where you will be tested in the below areas:

• Candidate’s ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with a project manager or other executive.
• Candidate’s ability to perform analysis and make a recommendation with incomplete or conflicting information.
• Candidate’s ability to follow instructions and formatting.

5.5 Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Memo Format

You need to start the memo with the following information:

To:

From:

Date:

Subject:

Project Name:

Note: DON’T start the memo with any salutation (e.g. Dear, etc). You will lose “free” points which are easily awarded by following a proper memo format structure. The salutations might be a part of a letter or an email but they are not a part of a professional memo.

Moreover, I recommend writing 5 paragraphs in the memo as follows:

Paragraph# 1 – Introduce the problem

• Explain the issue and its importance to the project.
• What is the issue that needs a decision?
• Provide any additional information to educate the project manager about your specialized planning area.

Paragraph# 02 – Discuss potential solutions

• The exercise will provide possible solutions so summarize them briefly.
• If the solutions are not complete, you can come up with a new one (not often the case).
• Under any circumstances, you should address the solutions provided in the exercise.

Paragraph# 03 – Perform an analysis

• Analyze the solutions in more detail.
• Apply any necessary formulas (e.g. SPI, Earned Value, etc) and do the calculations.
• Don’t make any conclusions or show any preference to a specific solution yet. This should be demonstrated in the following paragraph.

Paragraph# 04 – Make a recommendation based on the analysis

• Present a recommendation based on your analysis performed in paragraph# 3.
• Describe why you chose to disregard some of the data provided.
• Explain why you chose some solutions over others.

Paragraph# 05 – Close the memo

• Summarize the memo.
• End with the statement: “I will be glad to provide any additional information as necessary.” It is a professional courtesy when you offer to provide additional information and answer future questions.
• Don’t end the memo with any closure gestures such as “sincerely, regards, etc”. You will lose “free” points which are easily awarded by following a proper memo format structure.

5.6 Grand Diagram

From Question 58 to Question 90, you will have a huge network diagram where you will answer single, compound and scenario-based questions. This is the most challenging part of the PSP exam.

The screen will not fit both the diagram and the questions. Therefore, you will have to navigate between the diagram and questions layouts as necessary through a button. Below you will find a quick demonstration of how this works but expect a larger network diagram in the PSP exam.

5.7 Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation Challenges

There are two main challenges that you will face during your PSP exam preparation. Below is the curriculum structure according to the PSP Certification Guide which is published by AACEI. The first challenge is that these areas don’t have the same weight in the PSP exam. Some areas account for a high number of questions while many other areas don’t. The second challenge is that you will need to do a lot of research on your own. The PSP Certification doesn’t explain everything. It will only introduce the concepts but you are expected to do intensive research from the other study materials to understand these concepts for your PSP exam preparation.

6. What to expect on the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) exam day?

It is a 5-hour long exam. I recommend arriving 45 min before the exam start to account for the delay associated with finding parking, finding the test center, checking in, etc). Moreover, you will need to bring two IDs. The first must be a valid government-issued photo ID. The second can be a credit/debit card, Employee ID, etc. I strongly recommend setting an alarm before you leave home so you remember taking your calculator with you. Finally, the testing center will provide paper and pencil only (not a calculator).

7. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Results

The PSP exam results are not sent immediately after the exam because the memo has to be graded. You will receive your results via an email that includes the following:

• Performance evaluation across all domains.
• Memo assignment feedback.
• Your certificate as an attachment.

How long does it take to receive your Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam results?

You may receive the PSP exam results from AACEI based on your assignment cycle as below:

For example, if someone sits for the PSP exam on June, 20th, he will belong to the July 15th assignment cycle and will receive his results by August 5th accordingly.

8. Maintain your CEUs

After you earn the PSP certification, you have to continue your professional development to maintain your certification. You will need to accumulate 12 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) over a 3-year certification period to maintain your certificate.

The categories for recertification CEUs are:

• Category A: Performed
• Category B: Professional Development
• Category C: Industry Contribution
• Category D: Volunteer Service

If you have already acquired at least 12 CEUs, and are within 6 months of your expiration date, you can complete and submit your application right away.

Check out our online Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation Course and Training

Our online PSP exam preparation course and training provides you with everything you need to pass the pass the PSP exam in 30 days only.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

The post Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam – The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

1. The content of study materials.
2. What can the certification provider offer you?
3. How does the market perceive the certificate?
4. Where are you in the planning journey?

1- The content of study materials

The PSP has two main categories which are planning and scheduling. The certification covers important planning areas such as stakeholder management, value engineering, contract requirements, cost breakdown structure and cost estimates. On the other hand, PMI-SP covers some planning elements but it has more to do with planning the “schedule” than planning the “project”.

For the scheduling part, both certificates cover this area sufficiently. However, I found that the PMI-SP offers more valuable best practices in the scheduling domain.

2- What can the certification provider offer you?

Most of my audience works in the construction industry so I will explain the benefits that the certification provider can offer you from this angle. The certification provider of PSP is AACEI which has many recommended practices, certifications, webinars and other content vehicles that are geared toward the construction professionals. This content includes delay analysis, claims, cost management, schedule management and contract management. The AACEI has a wealth of products, recommended practices and webinars that I personally found very valuable. You can download the recommended practices for free as a part of your membership which you will pay for anyway before you sit for the exam. You don’t even have to renew your AACEI membership and remain a member if you wish to do so. You can pay for the membership only once when you apply for your exam so you can get the discounted exam fees then download all recommended practices and keep them on your hard drive.

On the other hand, the certification provider of PMI-SP is the Project Management Institute (PMI) which operates in the “general” project management space. Hence, it doesn’t offer remarkable benefits that are tailored for the construction industry or any other industry. Therefore, the PMI-SP covers the scheduling best practices that can be applied across all industries including construction, IT, healthcare, etc. However, as a project control practitioner, I still found these practices very valuable and relevant to me.

3- How does the market perceive the certificate?

Certifications matter in the project control market. I strongly believe that practical skills should be the most important hiring factor. However, it doesn’t matter how we perceive the certificates; rather it is about how the market recognizes them. In my experience, certificates can have many benefits which can help you:

• Present the certificate initials after your name.
• Achieve professional status as an expert by earning the credential.
• Certify your great knowledge.
• Learn the best practices of planning and scheduling.
• Get shortlisted for interviews and have better career opportunities.

Moreover, hiring managers have a paradox of choice when it comes to hiring planning engineers. If you want to buy a new mobile phone with a budget of $300, you will have so many options to choose from. Now imagine that you narrowed your options down to two models that have the same features that you are looking for. However, one of them has an additional camera that you don’t really need. If you are like most of us, you will choose the one with the additional camera even though you will most likely not use it because you know, why not?

This strategy is effective when the decision-makers have a paradox of choice (they have many good options to choose from). If I were the hiring manager, I probably receive hundreds or even thousands of CVs for the same vacancy. Many applicants have decent working knowledge and skills. Now after I shortlist the candidates based on my criteria (e.g. skills, experience, background, etc), I might slightly prefer interviewing a certification holder over someone who doesn’t have any certificates, assuming that all other factors such as skills, knowledge, experience and background are the same.

Now let me state that again. Certifications should not be the most important hiring factor and they certainly do not replace experience and knowledge areas such delay analysis, Power BI and Primavera P6. I am the last one who will say that. However, when other factors are the same, certificates can give you an edge and help you get one foot in the door.

Although both the PSP and PMI-SP certificates have different benefits, the market values the PSP certificate more in my opinion.

4- Where are you in the planning journey?

Both certificates have different exam eligibility requirements which you have little control over. The PSP requires at least 4 years of experience to qualify for the exam. On the other hand, the PMI-SP requires at least 2 years of experience. Therefore, if you are a fresh planner, you can go for the PMI-SP first then the PSP later after you gain more experience. On the other hand, if you currently have at least 4 years of work experience, I recommend that you earn both certificates but go for the PSP first.

Conclusion

As a holder of the PSP and PMI-SP certificates, I recommend that all planning engineers earn both certificates. In my opinion, the PSP is better than the PMI-SP for construction professionals. However, I still advise you to earn the PMI-SP as well because it covers more technical knowledge in the scheduling domain compared to the PSP. Moreover, the market still recognizes and perceives the PMI-SP as a valuable certificate in the construction industry which can help you get shortlisted and stand out from the crowd. Finally, certifications cost money to earn and maintain. I am PMP, PSP, CCP and PMI-SP certified to I have already paid and continue to pay a lot of money to maintain them. However, I will continue to earn more certificates and I will be happily paying this premium to stay ahead. The market will not reward someone who is paying such fees the same way as someone who doesn’t.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our PSP Exam Preparation Course

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post PSP vs PMI-SP for Planning Engineers appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

• PRESENT the PSP initials after your name.
• ACHIEVE professional status as an expert by earning the credential.
• CERTIFY your great knowledge.
• ADD the most widely recognized certificate in the planning field to your portfolio.
• LEARN the best practices of planning.
• ACCESS a wealth of high-quality knowledge from AACEI Recommended Practice.
• GET shortlisted for interviews and have better career opportunities.

In this article, I will demonstrate the top 3 challenges which planning engineer face when they prepare for the PSP exam and how to overcome these challenges.

Challenge# 1: You don’t practice enough calculations.

The PSP exam is FULL of questions that are related to CPM and EVM calculations. The problem is that the AACEI’s recommended material includes very few calculations-based practice questions. If you solely depend on the content of the AACEI’s recommended guides, you won’t be able to practice enough calculation questions which might im[act your chances of passing the examination.

Challenge# 2: The weight of all study materials is not equal

The above snapshot shows the high-level study areas according to the PSP Exam Guide. The challenge here is that the weight of all areas is not equal in the exam. For example, the CPM network falls under one of the above study areas. However, the CPM-related questions account for a huge proportion of the exam. Unlike the PMP exam where the knowledge areas seem to be weighted proportionally, it is not the case with the PSP certificate.

Challenge# 3: The preparation is not straightforward

The PSP Exam Guide is only the starting point in your preparation journey. The guide only highlights the key topics that you should be knowledgeable about but will offer little to no demonstration of such topics. The guide expects you to do a lot of research on your own and educate yourself about these topics before you sit for the exam. Moreover, the AACEI’s recommended material seems to “too much” in my experience as an exam taker. The exam really tests the candidate on a few subjects from the many topics that are a part of the recommended materials. In my opinion, most of the study materials will not be a part of the exam. Unless you are willing to spend the time to learn about many different topics (for the sake of learning), you should be selective in your preparation and focus on certain areas to ace the exam. While the PMBOK elaborates on the exact topics that you can expect in the exam, it seems that it is not the case with the PSP exam.

Comprehensive PSP training can build your confidence and help you ace the exam with ease. Check out my PSP course where you will master the main exam topics. The course is “to the point” and will allow you to practice +1,000 questions. Moreover, the course will save you a lot of time in your PSP exam preparation and build your confidence in the PSP exam areas.

Learn more and sign up now.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, PMI-SP

The post 3 challenges in the PSP exam preparation appeared first on Smart PM Blog.