Exam Security

PMI is dedicated to keeping the highest levels of security, integrity, and validity for all of our examination programs. In early 2019, PMI formed an internal Exam Security team who, in coordination with external vendors and exam security experts, has the sole purpose of maintaining the integrity of PMI sponsored exams. Our Exam Security team does that by ensuring that:

1. Only qualified individuals pass our exams and earn PMI certifications.

2. No candidate has an unfair advantage over another.

3. Exam content is secure.

4. PMI’s certification programs, policies, and procedures meet or exceed the international standards for high-stakes testing, as described by ISO 17024.

All candidates in PMI sponsored examination programs agree to the PMI Certification Application / Renewal Agreement. As part of this agreement, candidates are required to follow the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct as well as all PMI Certification Program policies and requirements. Certification Program policies can be found in each respective examination program’s handbook. Exam takers are reminded of these responsibilities during the Candidate Security Acknowledgement, which is presented immediately prior to beginning an exam.

Candidates who violate the Agreement, Code of Ethics, or any Certification policies or requirements will have disciplinary action taken against them.

As mentioned in the PMI Certification Application / Renewal Agreement, PMI performs statistical analyses (data forensics) on test administrations. These analyses, which are common in the testing industry, are designed to protect the validity of the examination by looking for evidence that suggests a candidate’s score may not be a true measure of their knowledge or ability, including evidence of candidate misconduct. If PMI sees evidence of severe misconduct, we will cancel the test score and categorize the exam as a security failure. If a candidate chooses to retake the exam after receiving a canceled score, they must do so in-person at a test center and pay the applicable re-examination fee.

Since the switch to online testing for the PMP, PMI has seen a significant increase in the advertisement of services that promise a “100% pass guarantee” or “pass without taking the exam.” We have also noticed that these services are being advertised using direct messages on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, WeChat, and other social media platforms. For the most part, these services are simply a trick to take candidates’ money. However, the Exam Security team has found that a few of these services are instructing candidates to commit intentional misconduct during their exam session.

PMI uses multiple methods to detect all forms of candidate misconduct, including but not limited to those who hire someone take the exam for them (proxy testing), stealing exam content, having access to exam questions prior to taking the exam, and having live assistance during the exam. PMI has already begun taking action against candidates who commit misconduct. Such actions include score cancellations, revocation of certification, permanently banning candidates from being able to take any PMI examinations, and even working with local authorities to pursue criminal action. Please know that PMI will do everything in its power to protect our exams and our credentials. If you are contacted by any of these services, please send an email to [email protected] with a screenshot or picture of the message so that we can investigate.