'%3e%3crect%20width='64'%20height='64'%20fill='url(%23fk)'/%3e%3crect%20width='64'%20height='64'%20fill='url(%23bk)'/%3e%3c!--%20Concentric%20radar%20rings%20--%3e%3cpath%20d='M64.0%2014.0A14%2014%200%200%201%2050.0%200.0'%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23fff'%20stroke-opacity='.25'%20stroke-width='1.3'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M64.0%2024.0A24%2024%200%200%201%2040.0%200.0'%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23fff'%20stroke-opacity='.25'%20stroke-width='1.3'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M64.0%2034.0A34%2034%200%200%201%2030.0%200.0'%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23fff'%20stroke-opacity='.25'%20stroke-width='1.3'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M64.0%2044.0A44%2044%200%200%201%2020.0%200.0'%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23fff'%20stroke-opacity='.25'%20stroke-width='1.3'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M64.0%2054.0A54%2054%200%200%201%2010.0%200.0'%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23fff'%20stroke-opacity='.25'%20stroke-width='1.3'/%3e%3c!--%20Thicker,%20high-visibility%20signal%20lime%20arc%20(stroke-width%205.2%20for%20small%20navbar%20display)%20--%3e%3cpath%20d='M54.8%2033.2A34%2034%200%200%201%2030.2%206.5'%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23C8F55B'%20stroke-width='5.2'%20stroke-linecap='round'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
In this post
The numbers, from each body’s own pages
| PMP (PMI) | CTP (IICTP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 180 | 150, scenario-based |
| Time | 240 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Experience with a bachelor’s degree | 3 years managing projects | 36 months of technical leadership |
| Experience with a high school diploma | 5 years managing projects | 60 months of technical leadership |
| Other routes | Associate’s degree: 4 years. Degree from a PMI Global Accreditation Center program: 2 years | None |
| Required training | 35 hours of project management training | None for the CTP |
| Pass mark | Not covered in this comparison | 70% scaled score; no negative marking |
| What it covers | People, processes and business environment (PMI’s description) | Five TPBOK domains; Architecture & Systems Design is the largest share at 30% |
We have not compared pass marks because we did not capture PMI’s on the pages we read. We would rather leave a cell out than guess it.
What the experience requirements actually ask
Both credentials gate on experience, and both count years rather than titles. The difference is the kind of experience. PMI asks for time spent managing projects in a professional setting, taking responsibility for planning, decisions, delivery and outcomes. IICTP asks for time in technical leadership: owning technical decisions for a team’s systems and delivery. Someone can have years of one and little of the other.
What you would study
For the PMP, PMI points candidates to its Exam Content Outline, which describes three domains: people, process and business environment. For the CTP, the blueprint lists the five TPBOK domains with their share of the exam.
| CTP domain | Share of questions |
|---|---|
| Architecture & Systems Design | 30% |
| Engineering Governance & Agile Delivery | 24% |
| Applied AI & Emerging Tech Integration | 18% |
| Infrastructure & Security | 18% |
| People Leadership in Engineering | 10% |
One rule change worth knowing about
PMI’s PMP page states that from 1 December 2026, live instructor-led classes count toward the 35 training hours only if delivered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider, or an eligible accredited higher-education program. If you plan to take the PMP, check PMI’s current rules before booking a course.
Which is easier?
That depends on your background, so we will not claim either is. A strong engineer with no project management experience will find the CTP closer to daily work. An experienced project manager with a light technical background will find the PMP closer to theirs. Neither exam rewards memorising a list.
Sources and further reading
- Project Management Institute. “Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification.” pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp. Read 20 October 2026.
- IICTP. “Exam facts, eligibility and blueprints.” iictp.org/certifications/exam-facts.
- IICTP. “CTP® exam blueprint,” version 1.0, 21 October 2026. iictp.org/blueprints/IICTP-CTP-Exam-Blueprint.pdf.
IICTP is a new independent credential and is not ISO/IEC 17024 accredited.