PMI-SP® Certification Program

PMI-SP ® (Scheduling Professional) Examination Content Outline

The following table identifies the proportion of questions from each domain that will appear on the examination. These percentages are used to determine the number of questions related to each domain and task that should appear on the multiple-choice format examination.

Domain 1. Schedule Strategy 14%

Tasks	Domain 1. Schedule Strategy
Task 1	Establish project schedule configuration management policies and procedures incorporating best practices, regulations, governing standards and organization policies, and procedures to ensure accessibility, storage, retrieval, maintenance, change control, and baseline schedule control.
Task 2	Develop schedule approach, based on the unique characteristics of the project, including enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets, in order to define schedule requirements.
Task 3	Establish scheduling policies and procedures regarding methodology, selection of a scheduling tool, scheduling parameters, performance thresholds, activity granularity, presentation format, earned value management (EVM) implementation, analysis techniques, and approval requirements by using resources such as organizational process assets and project documents in order to develop the schedule management plan and standardize operational procedures.
Task 4	Develop the scheduling-related components for project management plans (for example, integration, scope, cost, quality, resources, communication, risk, and procurement management), through review of contract requirements, in order to integrate scheduling activities into the overall project management process.
Task 5	Provide information about project scheduling objectives and goals, the role of the scheduler, and scheduling procedures to project team members to facilitate effective participation in the project.
	Knowledge and Skills: Applicable contract requirements, regulations, and governing standards Schedule control processes (for example, baseline control, status update procedure, variance thresholds) Scheduling development concepts (for examples, coding, work breakdown structures, organizational breakdown structure, resource breakdown structures) Project charter

Domain 2. Schedule Planning and Development 31%

Tasks	Domain 2. Schedule Planning and Development
Task 1	Develop the work breakdown structure (WBS), organizational breakdown structure (OBS), control accounts (CA), and work packages through communication with subject matter experts and stakeholders and analysis of the contractual commitments in order to ensure completion of the project scope.
Task 2	Define activities and milestones through communication with subject matter experts, decomposition, and application of scheduling policies and procedures to identify and document the work to be performed.
Task 3	Estimate activity durations, utilizing subject matter experts and scheduling techniques such as three-point estimate, parametric, analogous and/or Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) in order to develop an overall schedule model.
Task 4	Sequence activities, incorporating defined dependencies (internal, external, and cross programs) milestones, and constraints (for example, calendars, geography, contracts), in order to develop a logical, dynamic schedule model.
Task 5	Identify critical and near-critical path(s) using techniques such as Critical Path Method, Critical Chain, Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), and Monte Carlo simulation in order to meet project delivery date requirements.
Task 6	Develop the project resource breakdown structure (RBS), determine resource availability, and assign resources to activities by working with functional managers, project managers, and project team members in order to define the resource constrained schedule.
Task 7	Adjust schedule model based upon resource availability, available budget, and other known constraints in order to calculate the resource constrained schedule.
Task 8	Align schedule with the overall program plan or integrated master plan (IMP), through review of enterprise objectives and contract documentation, in order to ensure accomplishment of overall program objectives.
Task 9	Analyze major milestones against statement of work (SOW), the contract, and/or memorandum of understanding, to assess whether schedule model delivery estimates meet required deadlines.
Task 10	Perform schedule risk analysis using quantitative tools or techniques (for example, what-if scenarios, Monte Carlo simulation) in order to determine if project milestone dates are achievable within acceptable risk tolerances.
Task 11	Obtain a consensus of the project customer, sponsor, project manager, and project team members, in order to establish an approved baseline schedule.
Task 12	Establish the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB), using organizational processes and standard techniques, in order to enable performance measurement and management.
	Knowledge and Skills: Scope statements, including deliverables and deadlines Work breakdown structure (WBS) Organizational breakdown structure (OBS) Resource breakdown structure (RBS) Cost structure as related to schedule development Activity definition Activity execution techniques (duration/time, effort/work) Dependency relationship types (Finish to Start, Start to Finish, Finish to Finish, Start to Start) Leads and lags Prioritization within the schedule model Resource groups Resource calendars Resource allocation techniques Activity Network Diagram (AND) Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) Capacity requirements/resource requirements Contingency reserve or buffer (funds, budget, or time) Cost and schedule integration Schedule baselining Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) Inter-project Dependencies Milestone definition Schedule model components Schedule risk-assessment techniques (for example, Monte Carlo simulation, PERT)

Domain 3. Schedule Monitoring and Controlling 35%

Tasks	Domain 3. Schedule Monitoring and Controlling
Task 1	Collect activity status at defined intervals from activity owners via reports, meetings, inspections, or other standard procedures in order to update and review the project progress.
Task 2	Collect resource information and updates via reports, timesheets, meetings, inspections, or other standard procedures in order to report on resource utilization and availability.
Task 3	Perform schedule analysis and audit, on in-house and subcontractor schedules, using industry standards, guidelines and best practices in order to identify and report project schedule, status, changes, impacts or issues.
Task 4	Identify alternative project execution options, using tools and techniques such as what-if scenario analyses, in order to optimize the schedule.
Task 5	Incorporate approved risk mitigation activities into the schedule, by utilizing defined change control processes, in order to establish a new performance measurement baseline (PMB).
Task 6	Update the schedule model and document schedule baseline changes, received through formal change-control processes, in order to maintain an accurate schedule and facilitate forensic schedule analysis, if required.
	Knowledge and Skills: Progress measurement techniques (for example, percent complete, actual/remaining duration, estimate to complete) Industry standards, guidelines, and best practices with respect to activity status update frequency, format, and content Metrics to monitor, analyze, and control the schedule Cost and schedule reserve analysis Activity prioritization Available data, logical data organization/relationships within data elements Electronic file storage and retrieval standards Resource breakdown structure (RBS) Resource calendars Resource groups Resource allocation techniques Schedule risk analysis Project schedule change control Reserve analysis Knowledge of ongoing audit analysis Activity Network Diagram (AND) Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) Schedule risk assessment techniques (for example, Monte Carlo simulation, Program and Evaluation Review Technique [PERT]) Schedule and cost variance management.

Domain 3. Schedule Monitoring and Controlling 35%

Tasks	Domain 3. Schedule Monitoring and Controlling
Task 1	Collect activity status at defined intervals from activity owners via reports, meetings, inspections, or other standard procedures in order to update and review the project progress.
Task 2	Collect resource information and updates via reports, timesheets, meetings, inspections, or other standard procedures in order to report on resource utilization and availability.
Task 3	Perform schedule analysis and audit, on in-house and subcontractor schedules, using industry standards, guidelines and best practices in order to identify and report project schedule, status, changes, impacts or issues.
Task 4	Identify alternative project execution options, using tools and techniques such as what-if scenario analyses, in order to optimize the schedule.
Task 5	Incorporate approved risk mitigation activities into the schedule, by utilizing defined change control processes, in order to establish a new performance measurement baseline (PMB).
Task 6	Update the schedule model and document schedule baseline changes, received through formal change-control processes, in order to maintain an accurate schedule and facilitate forensic schedule analysis, if required.
	Knowledge and Skills: Progress measurement techniques (for example, percent complete, actual/remaining duration, estimate to complete) Industry standards, guidelines, and best practices with respect to activity status update frequency, format, and content Metrics to monitor, analyze, and control the schedule Cost and schedule reserve analysis Activity prioritization Available data, logical data organization/relationships within data elements Electronic file storage and retrieval standards Resource breakdown structure (RBS) Resource calendars Resource groups Resource allocation techniques Schedule risk analysis Project schedule change control Reserve analysis Knowledge of ongoing audit analysis Activity Network Diagram (AND) Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM) Schedule risk assessment techniques (for example, Monte Carlo simulation, Program and Evaluation Review Technique [PERT]) Schedule and cost variance management.

Domain 4. Schedule Closeout 6%

Tasks	Domain 4. Schedule Closeout
Task 1	Obtain final acceptance of the contractual schedule components, by working with sponsor and/or customer, in order to facilitate project closeout
Task 2	Evaluate final schedule performance against baseline schedule, scheduling approach and the implementation, using standard scheduling tools and techniques, including solicitation of feedback from stakeholders, in order to identify lessons learned and develop best practices.
Task 3	Update the organizational process assets, through documentation of identified lessons learned and best practices, in order to improve business processes.
Task 4	Distribute final schedule reports, including earned value management (EVM) calculations and variance analysis, to stakeholders in order to facilitate project closeout.
Task 5	Archive schedule files (for example, final schedule model, schedule management plan, periodic status reports, schedule change log), as per defined procedures in order to satisfy contractual requirements and prepare for potential forensic schedule analysis.
	Knowledge and Skills: Contractual schedule components Schedule close-out procedures Feedback techniques Schedule review techniques Schedule issue management Transition planning

Domain 5. Stakeholder Communications Management 14%

Tasks	Domain 5. Stakeholder Communications Management
Task 1	Develop and foster relationships with project stakeholders, consistent with the communication management plan, in order to enhance support for the project schedule.
Task 2	Generate and maintain visibility of project schedule, by working with the project manager and/or stakeholders, in order to maintain stakeholder support.
Task 3	Provide senior management and other stakeholders with verbal and written schedule status updates and impact on schedule of corrective actions, as defined by the communication management plan, in order to maintain stakeholder awareness.
Task 4	Communicate schedule issues that could impact delivery of project scope or adherence to the schedule management plan, in order to elevate awareness to relevant stakeholders.
	Knowledge and Skills: Targeting communications to senior management Methods and techniques used to maintain visibility of project schedule Elements of the communication management plan

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The PMI-SP (Project Management Institute Scheduling Professional) is an internationally recognized certification issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI), specifically focused on planning and scheduling in project management. Aimed at project management professionals, this certification validates essential skills in the development, maintenance and analysis of project schedules. All those who pass this exam reinforce their credibility, gain access to better professional opportunities and contribute to improving project performance through their expertise in detailed planning and schedule management.

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