6th Edition Updates to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide)

Change is coming! Every four years, PMI updates the PMBOK® Guide. PMI has released the draft of the Sixth Edition, and the final version is due soon. Here are key dates and facts:

  • September, 6th 2017. PMI will publish the PMBOK® Guide—Sixth Edition in ten translations on September 6th, 2017. The book will be available in the PMI Bookstore in Q3. Per PMI, you can expect the following updates in the new edition of the PMBOK® Guide:  

  • “A new chapter on the role of the project manager has been added to focus on leading projects effectively – competencies, experience and skills that are all necessary.

  • Two Knowledge Areas have been re-named to more accurately reflect which elements can be managed… and which can not:

  • Time Management is now Schedule Management
  • Human Resource Management is now Resource Management
  • Every Knowledge Area features four new sections:

     

  • Key Concepts
  • Trends and Emerging Practices
  • Tailoring Considerations
  • Considerations for Agile/Adaptive Environments”
  • Q1 2018. PMI will change the PMP exam in the first quarter of 2018 – Exact date TBD.

  • PMP Exam Change. PMI will update the PMP exam to harmonize the exam with the Sixth Edition. For example, changes to terminology in the Sixth Edition will be made to the PMP exam to align the two and remove discrepancies.

  • The RDS. It’s important to note that two factors lead to changes in the PMP exam: (1) updates to the PMBOK® Guide, and (2) changes in the PMP Examination Content Outline. The PMP Examination Content Outline only changes when PMI commissions a Role Delineation Study (RDS). The last RDS was conducted in 2015, so exam content outline will not be updated with the release of the PMBOK® Guide Sixth Edition. PMI conducts a RDS  every 5 to 6 years.

  • CAPM Exam Change. The CAPM exam is tied very closely to the PMBOK® Guide. PMI anticipates making significant changes to the CAPM exam related to the Sixth Edition. The CAPM exam changes should be implemented in Q1 2018, as well.

  • PMI-ACP Exam Change. Along with references to agile in the  PMBOK® Guide, PMI will also be releasing the new Agile Practice Guide in Q3 2017. Following this, the PMI-ACP Exam will be changing in Q1 of 2018