Customer Spotlight: Unlocking Digital Exam Prep Success with PMI

In the competitive landscape of certification training, organizations must continuously innovate to meet learner demands and drive impactful results. The Project Management Institute (PMI) did just that by embarking on a transformative journey to build an effective and engaging study companion designed to supplement exam preparation for PMI certifications.

In this blog, we will delve into how PMI developed and launched their successful digital exam prep program through the lens of BenchPrep’s Lifelong Learning Strategy Framework.

A Closer Look at the Lifelong Learning Strategy Framework

Before diving into the development of PMI’s successful digital exam prep program, it's essential to understand the Lifelong Learning Strategy Framework (LLSF). This framework was designed to provide value across the entire learning journey, from pre-assessment to post-assessment like continuing education, making it a comprehensive guide for organizations looking to unlock growth.  It empowers organizations to strategically expand their programs and enhance learner engagement throughout the lifelong learning journey.

With the LLSF, you can design a multi-year roadmap that will unlock growth opportunities for your organization. Now, let’s look at PMI's transformative journey.

PMI's Journey with Digital Exam Prep: 5 Steps to Success

PMI is a not-for-profit, for-purpose organization that provides project professionals at every stage of their career journey with the globally recognized standards, certification program, online courses, thought leadership, events, and resources they need to maximize project success. PMI empowers project professionals to excel in project management through their growing global community, knowledge sharing, and best-in-class certifications.

The Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification is one of the top-paying and fastest-growing certifications in the world. The Project Management Institute (PMI) developed ‘Study Hall™’ - a digital study companion to help aspiring candidates join the more than 1.2 million PMP certification holders around the world. 

Users of PMI Study Hall™ have access to practice questions, mini & full-length practice exams, discussion forums, games and puzzles, and digital flashcards. This community-centric and engaging prep experience boosts users’ confidence levels, improves study habits, and reduces test-day anxiety. 

PMI’s exam prep success didn’t happen overnight. They followed a systematic approach in developing and launching Study Hall, which can serve as a guide for other organizations.

Let's explore PMI's process of launching Study Hall™ through the framework of the LLSF, focusing on five key steps.

Step 1 - Establish a Fact Base:

The first step is to document and align on your current position and your organization's long-term goals.

Before launching their digital certification training prep, PMI had three key objectives: engage, enhance, and expand.

• Engage: PMI aimed to build a supportive community where members felt comfortable and confident while preparing for their certification exams.
• Enhance: They sought to provide a platform that not only boosted member confidence during exam prep but also supported their professional development.
• Expand: PMI wanted to strengthen its global presence by positioning itself as a leading provider of project management education and resources.

Step 2 - Take Inventory of Solutions:

In this step, it's important to assess available solutions—both new and existing—that can support growth and help achieve the goals outlined in Step 1.

PMI evaluated several options but focused on two main approaches for developing a digital certification training program:

1. Building an in-house learning solution.
2. Partnering with an external Learning Management System (LMS) provider.

After gathering feedback from learners, PMI discovered that learners wanted a solution that was both motivating and structured. Specifically, learners preferred a gamified experience—something enjoyable and accessible on-the-go to keep them engaged throughout their preparation.

Step 3 - Evaluate and Narrow Options:

Now it's time to evaluate the potential solutions.

During PMI’s assessment of the two options—developing in-house or partnering with an external LMS—they considered several factors: time to implementation, technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. After careful evaluation, PMI concluded that partnering with an established LMS would best meet learners' needs while positioning the organization for long-term growth. They began by launching Study Hall™ for the PMP® certification, with plans to eventually roll out similar programs for other certifications.

PMI chose to partner with BenchPrep due to its robust features that aligned with their vision, including:

• A countdown calendar to help users stay on track for exam day.
• Personalized learning plans tailored to each learner.
• Gamified activities to make studying engaging.
• Motivational achievement badges.
• Progress trackers highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
• Daily "question of the day" emails to encourage consistent studying.

By identifying what their learners needed and selecting the best solution, PMI was able to support both learner development and organizational growth.

Step 4 - Build an Outcome Plan

The next step is to create an outcome plan with clear goals for the solution you've chosen.

PMI set specific growth targets focused on reducing test anxiety, boosting exam confidence, and increasing the number of exam takers. They aimed to ensure that users of Study Hall™ would feel more confident in their exam preparation, ultimately leading to higher participation in the official certification exams. Since the product was developed based on learner feedback, PMI also prioritized user satisfaction and aimed to measure it through their Customer Satisfaction (CSat) score, which became a key performance indicator (KPI) for success.

Step 5 - Execute and Roll Out

In the fifth and final step, it's time to execute your plan and roll out the solution.

PMI followed a detailed product roadmap to ensure steady progress. They brought together a team of dedicated project management professionals, who served as subject matter experts (SMEs), to develop the content, while collaborating with cross-functional teams—including marketing, finance, and technical support—to execute the pilot phase. Throughout the process, PMI continuously monitored and refined both the content and the product.

They discovered a growing demand for more resources, which led them to expand their offerings with additional options. As PMI launched globally, they also explored translation and localization to better serve diverse markets. Moving forward, PMI remains committed to expanding and adding more digital certification training programs to their portfolio.

Transformative Results in Learner Success with Study Hall™

Since its launch, Study Hall™ has had a significant impact on PMI’s members and certification candidates. Learner surveys showed a noticeable increase in user confidence, with initial confidence levels rising from 2/5 to 3.5/5 after using the platform. Furthermore, PMI’s user base has grown by over 150%, evidence of the program’s effectiveness and the value it provides.

As PMI continues to expand Study Hall™, they remain committed to enhancing the learning experience for candidates at every stage of their journey, while constantly innovating based on user feedback.

What’s Next? Transforming Your Learning Programs for Success

PMI’s approach to developing and launching Study Hall™ offers a clear roadmap for organizations aiming to build successful digital certification programs. By focusing on learners' needs and maintaining a growth mindset, PMI created a digital certification training program that empowers learners and drives business success.

If you’re ready to unlock the potential of your education programs using the Lifelong Learning Strategy Framework, BenchPrep is here to help. Request a demo by clicking below and someone from our team will reach out to schedule a call.