Category: Training for students preparing for Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Certified Associates in Project Management (CAPM)®: BrainBOK review.

BrainBOK is an online, reasonably-priced project management training program and toolkit for students preparing for PMP® and CAPM® exams.

I've reviewed the product in depth so I can confidently recommend it. In this review, I'll share more about BrainBOK's features and the pros and cons of this project management training tool.

Cost and plans

There’s a free version to allow you to test out a limited number of features.

BrainBOK offers one-time payment plans, with no subscription. The plan with proof of your 35 contact hours for your PMP® application costs $149 for 90 days of access. CAPM® plans are slightly cheaper. You can also create a free account, no credit card needed, and try some of the practice exams before you pay.

It's also cheaper if you take the pack for a shorter period of time, but I wouldn't recommend it: 90 days (3 months) is the commonly-recommended time to get ready for your exam.

If you don't want all the training materials, you can buy the elements separately:

• an exam pack to work through the exam simulator and test yourself
• the ITTO pack
• the flashcards pack.

Oh, and there's a money back guarantee!

Product features

BrainBOK says its content is aligned with the PMBOK® Guide 7th Edition and the current PMP® and CAPM® Exam Content Outlines. The PMP exam was updated in July 2026, with more emphasis on the Business Environment domain, so make sure your study plan gives that area plenty of time.

PMP and CAPM training has been online for a long time but right now it seems like there are more choices than ever before. One product I reviewed recently is BrainBOK, and as you can guess from the name it’s a PMP and CAPM self-study toolkit.

BrainBOK is an app from Harwinder Singh, the project management expert behind the PMP prep blog, Deep Fried Brain. He kindly gave me access to the product for a short while so that I could review it for you.

Inside the BrainBOK app you have:

• ITTOs
• Flashcards
• Quizzes
• Exams.

Understanding the ITTOs with BrainBOK

How many PMBOK® Guide processes have Enterprise Environmental Factors as an input?

BrainBOK’s ITTO Explorer comes from the days when the PMBOK® Guide organised project management into processes with inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs. Today’s exam focuses much less on ITTOs, so think of the Explorer as a handy reference for how processes connect rather than something to memorize.

Now the Seventh Edition of the PMBOK® Guide is available, ITTOs really don't matter that much any longer. However, if you like the confidence of knowing you have reviewed all the materials and understand the processes, the ITTO Explorer that comes with BrainBOK makes all of that transparent. I’ve never seen anything like this before and it’s really good.

It shows you the complete set of processes and the ITTOs that go with them.

Within the Explorer, you can toggle between grouping them by Process Group or Knowledge Area so you can test yourself in different ways. However... again it's worth repeating that process groups and knowledge areas do not exist in the 2021 PMBOK® Guide, so you'll have to seek them out elsewhere.

You'll also want to review:

• Project management models
• Common project management artifacts
• Performance domains
• Project management principles

The ITTO Explorer is all clickable so you can explore the processes and how they interact with each other, and it works perfectly on mobile! So important for when you want to study on the move.

Take A Quiz

The whole point of online training systems is to learn things, so you want to know how well you are doing at retaining the knowledge, right?

The BrainBOK built-in quizzes help you do that. You can choose a quiz for a particular knowledge area, or, as you get further through your studies, broaden it out to all knowledge areas.

You can test yourself on all areas where questions come up in the PMP® or CAPM® exam.

Here’s an example of a quiz question. Don’t look at my score! I promise that in real life I’m better at stakeholder management than that.

Study Flashcards

I’m not a massive fan of flashcards although I know they work for some people. Personally I prefer to write out my own as the process of creating them helps me remember them.

However, for your commute or when you’re on the go it can be helpful to have digital flashcards as a memory jog.

You can bookmark them and note that you got the answer correct or incorrect. If flashcards are your thing, BrainBOK has you covered with 2000 of them. They are suitable for both PMP® and CAPM® exam prep.

PMP Mock Exam Questions

One of the things that has helped me most in the past is taking a mock exam and practice questions. Practicing under exam conditions gives you a feel for what the real exam is going to be like.

I would definitely advocate taking PMP practice exams as part of your studies. That goes for whatever certification you are aiming for: mock exams are a huge help with preparing yourself mentally and checking your knowledge.

BrainBOK’s mock exams are aligned with the PMBOK® Guide 7th Edition and the current Exam Content Outline, according to BrainBOK. There are 8 full PMP mock exams and 8 CAPM mock exams, with 2,230 questions in total, and AI analysis of your results on both free and paid exams.

The simulator is fun to use and easy, and I found it did not have a learning curve to get going. But the questions aren't going to be 100% representative of what you see on the exam.

Mastery Mode

A unique feature is Mastery Mode that tracks and records areas that you need to work on, helping you improve as you study.

Whenever you get a question wrong or mark an exam question for review it gets added to your Mastery Mode personal database. Then go to take the Mastery Mode exam – this is a personalized exam for you based on what the system knows you have struggled with in the past.

Get the question right and it’s removed from your Mastery Mode database. Get it wrong and that area will continue to be tested until you’ve mastered the skill.

This is a really good way to make technology work for you and to minimize the amount of tracking you have to do yourself about areas that you find easy or hard.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Very affordable
• Provides 35 contact hours of formal training for your PMP application (and therefore also meets the contact hours requirement for CAPM) -- if you plan to apply for either certification you'll know what a big stress reliever having your contact hours will be.
• Good range of exam questions
• Excellent ITTO explorer that really makes it clear what goes into which process and how the processes interact
• Flashcards save you the effort of having to make your own
• Fantastic reports and analytics that help you understand where you should be spending more study time.

Cons

There are a few things that I would like to see in BrainBOK:

• More explanation of why you would choose to use each process and what they are for
• It's purely self-study material: you have to be very disciplined about using the resources
• Wouldn't it help you study more if you made your own flashcards? (Although I agree having them on mobile is a huge benefit for my commute)
• There are no video courses or tutor-led material, which you typically find with other online PMP prep courses
• The ITTO Explorer is less relevant to today’s exam
• BrainBOK doesn’t say which year’s Exam Content Outline it follows, so check the Business Environment domain is well covered.

BrainBOK is a great way of making the PMBOK® Guide accessible. It's a good tool for PMP mock exams and practice questions, and will help you test your knowledge of project management.

However, to be a great project manager in real life, I think you’d still benefit from other training material too.

For example, BrainBOK is a fantastic tool for digging into the detail, but there's very little narrative explaining what project management processes are for or why you would choose to use them.

If you are new to project management, you would benefit from knowing this because it will help you do your job and give you more confidence in the workplace. It will also help you answer some of the exam questions, because you'll be able to apply your everyday knowledge to the situations in the questions.

You can get this sort of background information from a companion PMP study guide (here are my favourite PMP prep books), or you might feel you don't need it, if you already have a few years of experience so you understand why you are doing certain things.

And if you are going for the CAPM®, the exam is 100% based on the contents of the PMBOK® Guide so it becomes less important to have that rounded view of what it means to manage projects in real life.

Who is BrainBOK for?

BrainBOK is a great tool for you if you:

• Are studying towards PMP or CAPM
• Are self-motivated enough to create a study plan and use the materials
• Are prepared to read PMBOK 7 as well to supplement the material provided, for rounded exam prep.
• Are on a limited budget, or don't want to spend too much money to get an easy way to meet your contact hours requirement.

If you’d like a more structured course with interactive lessons, take a look at Brain Sensei. If you need the interaction of a classroom and a live setting, check out what courses or prep classes are offered by your local PMI Chapter.

In summary…

The strength of BrainBOK is in the performance analytics. Whether it is quiz questions, flashcards or exams, it’s easy to see your strengths and weaknesses with the data you get out of the tool.

This will help you spend more time on the areas that you struggle with. The mock PMP exams and exam practice questions will help build your confidence in a way that reading a study guide will not.

Test out BrainBOK for free here.

Save

This article first appeared on Rebel's Guide to Project Management and can be read here: BrainBOK Review: PMP and CAPM Training

So you’re already a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®? Congratulations!

Now you might be thinking of moving on in your career to earn the Project Management Professional (PMP)® designation.

The good news is that your CAPM studies and exam experience will help you get there faster. If you’re ready to take the next step, let me explain how to use your CAPM credential to fast-track your way to passing the PMP exam.

But before we get started, let me address a common question: is it possible to convert your CAPM to a PMP somehow?

Is it possible to convert CAPM to PMP?

No, you can’t convert your CAPM certificate or ‘upgrade’ it to become a PMP. You have to take the PMP assessment.

There’s no shortcut that lets you save time and only do a shorter version of the exam, for example. There are routes to ‘upgrade’ other certificates – for example, PRINCE2 Practitioner holders can take an accelerated route to earn the APM PMQ certification – but currently, there is nothing like that for PMP.

But don’t worry, there are still advantages to being a CAPM holder.

Want to get your CAPM? Check out the CAPM Exam Prep course that I recommend.

Use your CAPM training hours towards PMP

PMP applicants have to evidence 35 hours of project management education, but you don’t. Even if you only did 23 hours of project management training to get your CAPM, you bypass the education requirement.

PMI already knows that you have the basics down.

You might still want to take a PMP prep course, but you don’t have to, and that means you can more process your application more quickly.

Use your study schedule again

Did you make a study schedule? You can use the basics of that as a template to help you refresh and revise the key topics that will be tested in the PMP exam.

Update the template or calendar with your new revision plans.

Read next: Make time to study for your PMP Exam.

Use your study notes

It might be a couple of years since you last read the PMBOK Guide, so pull out your study notes and use them to remind yourself of the basics.

Remember, the PMP exam does test more deeply and more widely, and the domains are different, so it’s certainly not the case that you can use only your own study notes. But you would definitely have some that will fast-track your learning this time round.

You’ll need to work on situational knowledge and other contextual elements to round out your project management learning to make it through the PMP exam, but you won’t have to learn the basics again.

Use your work experience

You probably chose to take the CAPM exam because it helped you in your current job or helped you get a project management job. Now you’ve got some work experience.

Even if you don’t have a project management job title, you may still have enough experience leading projects in your day job to qualify for the 36 months of non-overlapping professional project management experience (which is further reduced if your degree was accredited by PMI’s global accreditation center).

Work experience is the thing that holds back a lot of CAPM holders from reaching PMP. You need to be able to demonstrate that you have done the job. Hopefully, your CAPM certificate has helped you get a job to earn the experience required.

Use your exam experience

You’re an exam pro now! You’ve already successfully made it through the shorter, slightly less stressful CAPM exam experience. That should give you the confidence to be able to face the PMP marathon exam.

Remember: stay positive. You’ve already done a PMI exam. You know what to expect from the exam situation, the proctoring, the technology. You’ve got insider knowledge that students who go straight to the PMP have not, so you can breathe a little easier!

If you want an extra dose of confidence, an exam simulator is a great way to prepare for the exam.

Keep your CAPM certificate active!

The recommendations above only apply if you are an active certification holder, in other words, your certificate is renewed and up-to-date. If you took the CAPM exam 15 years ago and haven’t kept up your skills, and your certificate is no longer current (as PMI introduced renewal requirements for it), then you’ll have to act as if you don’t have it.

That’s why I think it’s important to keep your CAPM certificate active. Go through renewal. Earn your PDUs. Then when you are ready to move on to PMP, it will be there to support you.

This article first appeared on Rebel's Guide to Project Management and can be read here: How do you use CAPM to become a PMP?

If you want to certify as a PMP before the exam requirements change, you've just about got time.

I believe it takes 8-12 weeks to comfortably prep for the exam so if you are committed and prepared to put the effort in, you can squeeze in your exam.

So what's changing?

You will only be able to claim the 35 contact hours of training for live courses if the live course is taught by an accredited provider.

Also, and this is a big one...

I think live learning under the new scheme will cost more.

Currently, pretty much any training that covers PMP-related topics can count towards the requirement for 35 contact hours. From the end of 2026, it will only be Authorized Training Partners (ATPs), or a China Registered Education Provider (REP), or be covered under the academic recognition scheme.

That means any organization currently teaching live PMP prep courses will have to register as an ATP (which I've heard from trainers is a long and expensive process), or market their courses as not covering the 35 hours requirement (which makes them less attractive to students).

Online, self-paced course requirements are not changing

There are no changes to the eligibility of self-paced courses. So if you plan to study with Brain Sensei (my recommended PMP training course), then you're still good.

This change only affects live training, so unfortunately, if you are someone who learns better with the support a live instructor and a classroom environment, then try to get your application in as soon as you can!

The hybrid option is the Brain Sensei AI-powered course, which has an AI "instructor" you can ask questions to, use voice commands with and interact with as if you were with a mentor.

This article first appeared on Rebel's Guide to Project Management and can be read here: PMP Exam Changes: Why you should consider taking the exam now

Updated: October 2026

Are you here because you've heard the PMP exam changed on 9 July 2026? Here's what you need to know.

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam updated in July 2026, but what exactly is different?

And what do the new training eligibility requirements mean for candidates when these come into effect later in 2026? Read on...

Whoah, the exam changed? I didn't know. How did that happen?

Every so often PMI carry out an assessment of what a project manager does all day. This is done by carrying out a Job Task Analysis, where PMI analyzes the standards and industry practices globally so the exam and the exam content outline can be updated to accurately reflect the job.

In other words, PMI (or more specifically, the agency contracted to do this work) look at what a project manager actually does day-to-day and link this back to the certification. If they didn't, you'd find that the PMP exam was still based on the ways of working we had back when the certification was first introduced.

This latest analysis from PMI has shown, as is to be expected, that the project manager's role has evolved. Plus PMI want to put more emphasis on emerging trends like AI and sustainability. The exam is being updated to reflect that.

When is the PMP® exam changing again?

After the July 2026 update, we don't know when the exam will change again. It was last updated (I think, from memory) in 2021 so this version will be valid for around 5 years I'd guess. If there is a release of the PMBOK® Guide Ninth Edition in this time it will likely not change what you need to study, as the PMBOK Guide and the Exam Content Outline for PMP are not updated at the same time.

PMI do update the exam every few years so it stays relevant, so it is likely there will be changes in the future. But right now, you're good to go.

What changed with the latest update?

The new PMP exam content outline continues with the same three domains that were introduced at the last update. These are:

• People Domain - this domain emphasises the skills to do with effectively leading a project team
• Process Domain - this is where all the technical PM skills sit
• Business Environment Domain - this domain joins the dots between projects and strategy, and carries a lot more weight in the 2026 update.

As you can see, the exam content looks similar to the previous current exam content outline, where the knowledge domains are basically the project lifecycle.

Each new domain is made up of a number of tasks (in the same way the old exam content outline was), with enablers that are illustrative examples of the work.

How questions are split on the new exam

Questions across the PMP certification domains are split like this:

People: 33% (was 42%) -- not sure I'm in agreement with this, I'd say people were even more important these days

Process: 41% (was 50%) -- I'm personally happy about this, it represents the fact that we are less wedded to the 'ideal' way of doing things and those process questions were tough as they rarely reflected what project managers would actually do at work in my view

Business environment: 26% (was a pitiful 8%)

Did anything else change?

The traditional take on project success is that metrics like schedule, budget and scope defined whether or not our projects made the grade. In the new PMI exam, the definition of success has broadened out (a good thing).

PMI says that this broader perspective takes stakeholder value and accomplishment of the desired outcomes into account when defining success. In other words, success is when you deliver something of value that was worth the effort and expense. It's still a version of the iron triangle, but it's more aligned to how senior leaders think about the business value and ROI for projects.

How did the questions change?

The question formats have changed to be more interactive, so that should make taking the exam feel like a more modern experience. There are more scenario-based questions (which means more reading in the exam).

In October 2026, an exam simulator producer contacted me to say that his PMP students were telling him that all the exam questions are now scenario-based. I haven't verified that myself, but it seems sensible to assume that you'll be doing more scenario-type questions in exams from now on.

The amount of time available in the exam is still the same. You still have 180 questions to answer in 240 minutes, and they reflect what PMI calls 'real project environments' so that should be good.

And, the amount of agile changed...

How much agile is in the exam?

This is where the next big change is.

PMI states that today's project managers work across projects taking place in a variety of environments. As such, the exam needs to reflect the "value spectrum" (whatever that is) encompassing predictive, agile and hybrid delivery approaches. So far, so similar to last time.

In other words, expect to see situational questions on the exam that are set in each of those types of environment. Questions on each environment are included in the three exam domains.

However, previously, the exam covered both predictive (approximately 50%) and agile/hybrid (approximately 50%) approaches to project management. For the 2026 PMP update, the split is 40% predictive and 60% agile/hybrid.

Yikes! For those of us who are still mostly delivering with waterfall, that's a bigger learning curve. And quite a lot of agile on the exam.

Do you need agile experience to take the exam?

Not technically, no. The exam eligibility requirements are not changing. The Project Management Institute does not mandate that you have agile experience.

But I expect you'll find the agile and hybrid questions a lot easier if you have experience working on agile projects.

What do I need to do?

First, don't panic. It sounds very different but your reference materials are still the same. The PMBOK Guide - Eighth Edition has never been the only book you need to get through the exam and that stays the same. You've got the Agile Practice Guide too, along with the new Standard for Project Management. Get a PMI Membership and gain free access to the PMBOK Guide and save on your examination costs.

If you are clear about the concepts described in those, you have covered a lot of the material.

Second, get yourself a copy of the exam outline. This is the document that outlines exactly what is going to be in the exam. If you are comfortable with the topics in here, then you'll be fine with the questions.

Get a PMP prep course, like Brain Sensei, and start learning how to pass the exam right now!

Meanwhile, practicing with an exam simulator is still my preferred option for getting exam ready.

How does the live training eligibility change my exam application?

Late Q4 2026, PMI is updating the live training eligibility requirements. This means that after the date of the change, your 35 contact hours of training will only count if your live training is delivered by a:

• PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP)
• China Registered Education Provider (REP)
• Accredited academic program (check eligibility with the university)

Any provider who falls into this category will be clearly advertising their services as such, so if you can't see the authorization on their website, assume that they are not registered with PMI.

Online courses (where they are not taught live as instructor-led classes) will not be affected from the information we have at present, so you should be good there.

Should I be worried about PMP exam changes?

No!

People have been studying for and passing this exam for years. 2026 and beyond might bring a few tweaks, but ultimately if you study, use good PMP prep materials (this one or this one), take practice questions and full practice exams and feel ready, you'll be fine.

From now on, you should be using the updated learning resources, but if you completed your training hours for eligibility purposes using older materials, then do not worry, they are still valid.

And your post-exam criteria remain the same too, you'll still need to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) just like the PMP credential holders who have gone before you.

The changes might feel like a big change at the moment, but hopefully in time they will feel like a natural evolution of the role. Take some practice exams to build your confidence and then go for it! Good luck!

This article first appeared on Rebel's Guide to Project Management and can be read here: How the PMP exam changed in 2026

You’re here because you’re looking for the best way to get CAPM certification (Certified Associate in Project Management – CAPM®) without having to invest in a load of study guides.

Well, you’re in the right place. We’ve reviewed a range of the best CAPM exam prep materials on the market and you can read our assessments below. If you’re short on time, here are our recommendations:

:arrow: Best CAPM prep course: Brain Sensei CAPM Exam Prep course

:arrow: Best CAPM exam simulator: Brain Sensei CAPM Exam Simulator

:arrow: Best CAPM exam prep book: CAPM Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy

Note: The PM PrepCast, which used to be my top pick for CAPM, closes on 4 December 2026. Read what that means if you're a current student.

Read on if you’d like to learn why those recommendations top our list and to see the other study materials that will help you gain your CAPM credential.

CAPM Study Materials

The CAPM certificate from PMI is an entry-level qualification for people who want to evidence they have the knowledge to work in a project environment. Recognized by organizations around the world, it involves a relatively lengthy application process and a 3-hour exam. You also have to show that you have completed 23 hours of project management education – and that’s where the study materials come in.

While you can claim any relevant training you’ve had in the past, for example, modules of your project management degree, in-house courses laid on by your employer, most people seem to opt for a CAPM prep course.

In this article, we’ll look at the best exam prep courses for CAPM, plus exam simulators to help you prepare for the test and study books.

CAPM Exam Simulators

If you only buy one CAPM study tool, make it an exam simulator. Practising with full-length timed exams is the best way to get used to sitting for three hours and to find the topics you need to revise.

1. Brain Sensei CAPM Exam Simulator

The Brain Sensei simulator has over 1,500 realistic exam questions and gives you six months of access. It's included with the Brain Sensei CAPM course, or you can buy it on its own if you've already got your 23 hours.

Pros

• Over 1,500 questions, so you won't run out!
• Six months of access, long enough for most study plans
• Included free with the Brain Sensei CAPM course

Cons

• Doesn't give you contact hours on its own (but no exam simulator does)

Best for: Anyone who's done their training and wants to practise until they're consistently passing.

The Brain Sensei PM Exam Simulator came top in my reviews for Project Management Professional (PMP)® test questions too. Read why.

CAPM Practice Exams

By James L. Haner and Cate McCoy

A book in the simulator section? Yes. This book contains over 1,000 exam questions and you get access to an online test tool as well. I think it’s worth having a full digital simulator to help you get used to having to sit for 3 hours doing a test (I never sit that long for any stretch normally, being constantly interrupted or having meetings), which is why this isn’t my top pick.

However, there is definitely value in having a book you can carry around, flip through, make notes in the margins off, and then follow up with online learning too. It’s a hybrid kind of product – and reviews from past students show it has helped them pass the test, so it definitely works!

Pros

• Print and online practice in one
• Lots of questions for the price

Cons

• The online tool isn't as realistic as a full exam simulator

Best for: People who like to study from a book but still want to practise online.

CAPM Prep Courses

While test questions are a must-have to feel prepared and confident on exam day, many students opt for a training course too. You need 23 hours of project management education before you sit the CAPM exam. A prep course is the simplest way to get them, and it gives you a certificate to keep in case PMI audits your application.

Brain Sensei CAPM Exam Prep Course

Brain Sensei's self-paced CAPM course gives you your 23 education hours and includes the exam simulator above. It's story-based and set in feudal Japan, which makes it very different from the usual slide-and-voiceover courses. It's still one of my favourite ways to study for the CAPM. Read my full Brain Sensei CAPM review.

It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a pass guarantee (terms apply). You can pay monthly or buy a year's access. Use code RGPM10 for 10% off.

Pros

• Gives you your 23 hours
• Exam simulator included
• Engaging, story-based format that makes the content stick
• Pass guarantee and 30-day refund

Cons

• The story format won't suit everyone if you prefer a straightforward lecture
• No student forum

Best for: Anyone who wants their education hours and practice questions in one place, and who'd like studying to be a bit more fun.

PMI CAPM Exam Prep Course

This is PMI's official course for the CAPM exam. It's self-paced and interactive, it gives you the 23 hours you need for your application, and it earns 23 PDUs. Its 10 modules cover the full syllabus, including business analysis, predictive methods and adaptive approaches, with a guided review of the references behind the exam content outline.

Pros

• The official course, from the organisation that sets the exam
• Covers all four exam domains, including business analysis
• Gives you your 23 hours and earns 23 PDUs
• Also available as live training if you prefer to learn with a human instructor!

Cons

• Doesn't include practice exams, so you'll need to get Study Hall or the bolt-on practice exam.
• No pass guarantee

Best for: Candidates who want their training to come straight from PMI.

BrainBOK CAPM Exam Prep

If the Brain Sensei isn't right for you, try this CAPM Exam training course by BrainBOK contains everything you need to pass the CAPM Exam. It includes their CAPM Study Guide created to complement the PMBOK Guide and the rest of their training materials so that you can achieve your certification in a short time frame.

Just be aware that it's not clear whether the materials have been updated - I think you're less likely to get process-related or ITTO questions on the exam these days.

The study bundle includes over 1,000 exam practice questions, 2100 flashcards, an ITTO guide, as well as access to their study forums. It also includes the 23 contact hours that PMI requires for the exam.

Read my more extensive BrainBOK review to learn more about this training.

I only reviewed online courses for CAPM because with people coming to this blog from all over the world, that’s going to be most relevant to most people. However, if you know you would do better in a CAPM bootcamp surrounded by ‘live’ students and a trainer, then check out reviews of courses that run close to you. Your local PMI Chapter may have a list of recommended in-person prep courses that you could investigate.

CAPM Prep Books

There are loads of CAPM study guides available via Amazon or your local bookshop, but the ones that come out top time and time again in student reviews are these.

Rita Mulcahy’s CAPM Exam Prep Book (5^th Edition)

By Rita Mulcahy

Rita has passed away now but her legacy lives on in the book series managed by her company. Her impact on project management studies cannot be underestimated: she wrote a best-selling prep book for the PMP exam too and her books get great reviews from students.

I love the writing style and it’s an accessible, comprehensive book. Make this your go-to guide.

Buy on Amazon

CAPM/PMP Project Management Certification All-in-One Exam Guide (4^th Edition)

By Joseph Phillips

Joseph Phillips is a trainer whose name comes up time and time again. He runs a popular student Facebook group and has helped lots of people pass the tests.

This book is unique in our list in that it also covers the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam too. If you think you might go on to take that, then this book will sit happily on your shelf until you are ready to go through the application process for that certification.

It includes over 1,000 practice exam questions as well.

Buy on Amazon

Choose your study materials

Ultimately, the best study materials are going to be the ones you love using and are confident in. My top picks are all revision guides that I feel confident turning to and using as reference materials. I trust them and I understand where they’ve come from – the providers have credibility and pedigree, as well as thousands of successful students, which always helps!

While no study guide is a guarantee that you’ll pass, the best ones will prepare you for the test. The rest is down to you. Good luck!

Is the PM PrepCast for CAPM still available?

Not for long. The last day to buy it is 31 October 2026, and all access ends on 4 December 2026. Here's what to use instead.

This article first appeared on Rebel's Guide to Project Management and can be read here: Best CAPM Exam Prep Tools for 2026