PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) is PMI’s certification for Risk Management. They designed it to offer a professional credential for project risk managers.
For an in-depth discussion about the PMI-RMP certification and how to prepare for it: PMI-RMP: PMI’s Risk Management Professional Certification – with Harry Hall
Take a look at my recommended PMI-RMP course.
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PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
1 What is PMI-RMP?
PMI-RMP stands for Project Management Institute Risk Management Professional. It is the PMI’s certification for project risk management.
2 PMI-RMP Syllabus
The PMI-RMP has a basic Risk Management syllabus, articulated in the PMI-RMP Examination Content Outline (ECO). This sets out:
- 5 Domains, or high-level knowledge areas, each with…
- 2 to 6 Tasks that are the underlying responsibilities within a domain, illustrated by
- 2 to 8 Enablers, which are examples of the work associated with each task.
The exam has 100 scored questions
3 The five PMI-RMP Domains are:
- Risk Strategy and Planning
6 Tasks: 22% of the exam questions - Risk Identification
4 Tasks: 23% – approximately 23 of the exam questions - Risk Analysis
3 Tasks: 23% of the exam questions - Risk Response
2 Tasks: 13% of the exam questions - Monitor and Close risks
4 Tasks: 19% of the exam questions
4 How does the PMI-RMP Syllabus relate to PMI’s Standard for Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects
The content of the PMI-RMP syllabus and The Standard for Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects overlap. But they are not the same. So, you should consider the PMI’s standard as one reference work, but not ‘the’ reference for preparing for the PMI-RMP exam.
5 Who is PMI-RMP for?
PMI believes the PMI-RMP certification is well-suited to Project Managers, Risk Managers, Functional Managers, and C-Suite Executives. So, that’s pretty wide!
6 Prerequisites for PMI-RMP
To take the PMI-RMP, you must meet one of three sets of requirements that PMI calls ‘Sets A, B, and C.’
Set A requirements
- High school or secondary school diploma (or global equivalent)
- 36 months/3 years project risk management experience within the last 5 years
- 40 hours of project risk management education
Set B requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or higher (or global equivalent)
- 24 months/2 years of project risk management experience within the last 5 years
- 30 hours of project risk management education
Set C requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or higher (or global equivalent) from a GAC-accredited program
- 12 months/1 year of project risk management experience within the past 5 years
- 30 hours of project risk management education
These requirements can change from time-to-time, so do check on the PMI’s website.
7 Preparation for the PMI-RMP Exam
You can prepare for your PMI-RMP exam through a mixture of reading, online videos, and other self-study, sample papers, exam simulators, and formal courses.
PMI offers a range of preparation resources, like its On-demand Authorized Exam Prep and its Study Hall. But you can also learn from third party providers.
There are two types, and each may offer live, in person training, live online training, or pre-recorded on demand training.
- PMI-ATPs are PMI’s Authorized Training Partners. These are required to deliver their training using PMI’s own training materials.
- Others can design the training however they like.
The PMI ATP badge is not a guarantee that the training style will suit you, and there are plenty of excellent providers who have chosen not to be ATPs. I have put links to providers I recommend, in the description.
8 Recommended books for Preparing for the PMI-RMP
There are many excellent books about aspects of Project Risk Management, including my own. I will put links to my favorites in the description. However, the books that PMI recommends are:
- Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects: A Practice Guide
- The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)
Currently in its 7th edition as I record this, but the 8th edition is due later in 2025. - The Standard for Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects (2019)
- Practical Project Risk Management: The ATOM Methodology, 3rd edition, by David Hillson and Peter Simon
- Identifying and Managing Project Risk, 3rd edition, by Tom Kendrick
(This is my own favorite Risk Management text.) - Enterprise Risk Management: Today’s Leading Research and Best Practices for Tomorrow’s Executives, 2nd edition, by John Fraser, Rob Quail, and Betty Simkins
- Project Risk Management: A Practical Implementation Approach, Michael M. Bissonette
I recommend that the first two are critical.
9 The PMI-RMP Exam
PMI offers the PMI-RMP exams as Computer-based testing (CBT) in person at one of their many test centers, or via Online-Proctored Testing (OPT) using your own computer.
The certification exam has 115 multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions, and you have 2 ½ hours to complete it with an optional 10-minute break after the first section. The first 15 questions are not scored, so you can get some practice. The next 100 questions count to your score.
At the time of writing, PMI gives no indication that this exam is available in any language other than American English.
10 CPD Process once you have your PMI-RMP
To maintain your PMI-RMP, you must earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) every three years.
These must be a:
- Minimum of 18 Education PDUs
- Maximum of 12 Giving Back PDUs
And you must earn a minimum of 4 PDUs in each skill area of the PMI Talent Triangle:
- Ways of Working
- Power Skills
- Business Acumen.
Recommended PMI-RMP Course
Take a look at my recommended PMI-RMP course.
Recommended Videos to Help with PMI Certifications
Carefully curated video recommendations for you:
- What’s the Difference between PMP & CAPM? PMP vs CAPM: PMI’s two leading certifications.
- What is CAPM? PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management
- Top 10 Things to Know about the CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management
- Top 10 Things to Know about the PMP Exam Syllabus
- How to Pass Your PMP Exam [Project Management Professional]
- PMI-ACP: What are the Top 10 things to know about the Agile Certified Practitioner for 2025?
Recommended Videos to Help with Risk Management (Top Picks)
- RISK MANAGEMENT 101: An Introduction to Project Risk Management
- Project Risk Management – How to Manage Project Risk
- What to Put in Your Risk Register (Risk Log)
- How to Create a Risk Management Plan
- 4 Types of Project Risk – Different Forms of Uncertainty
- Risk Identification: How to Identify Project Risks
What Kit does a Project Manager Need?
I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own.
Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs
Note that the links are affiliated.
Learn Still More
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For more of our videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.
