By Amanda Chambers

I didn't want to do it. I dreaded it. But it was something I needed to do, and Joe, my boss, really encouraged me to tackle: the CAPM Exam.

The first step was to complete the CAPM Exam Prep Seminar. Taking Joe’s advice, I handwrote flash cards for the vocabulary terms – in different colors, of course, and took our Business Analysis Foundations course. The CAPM exam contains a large portion of BA, so this course was a must. Next, I went straight into our CAPM Exam Cram Session and made a notebook of the entire course. I took detailed notes and created a binder - the “Holy Grail” of my studies. I also utilized the quizzes and practice exams within the CAPM Exam Prep Seminar Course and Cram Session, the CAPM Practice Exams – 2023 Exam Objectives, and the CAPM Vocabulary Exams – All CAPM Terms. These training resources are available in our CAPM Power Pack on Instructing.com.

On December 6, 2023, I passed my CAPM exam.

The process was a challenge, but a good challenge. If I could pass on any advice, it would be to study the Exam Content Outline (ECO) from PMI. Don’t just read the Exam Content Outline; take time to study it. The exam is based on the ECO from PMI. This is not a suggestion; it is the roadmap for your studies. All our course materials are based on the ECO, and the CAPM exam is based on the ECO. READ, STUDY, and KNOW the information on the ECO.

A few things that I would make you aware of that caught me by surprise were the use of the word linear, the number of questions based solely on Scrum, and the depth of the questions based around DSDM. I would highly recommend that you know everything there is to know about product roadmaps and the RTM. I recommend having an extremely solid foundational understanding of Agile as a whole, but especially Scrum, including user stories and velocity.

Whatever you do, keep moving forward. Pursue your goals and dreams and make them a reality. Sometimes, we don’t realize a goal until someone challenges us to take that step forward. I believe that Rosalynn Carter said it well when she said, “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” I would never have taken the CAPM if Joe hadn’t encouraged me to move forward and get it done. As we approach 2024, set goals, work hard, and enjoy the rewards. We are here to help you every step of the way, and we look forward to celebrating your successes with you in the New Year.

Amanda Chambers, CAPM

Executive Assistant to Joseph Phillips

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