I was solving the problem with restrictions on taking the PMP exam in Russia. They simply closed all the representative offices and testing opportunities for us. Online testing is also not possible due to the Russian IP address.
In January 2026, during the winter holidays, it seemed to me that one institute at a time wasn't enough, and I needed to load my head with something interesting. The choice was made towards developing management skills. I work in the construction industry and am also studying in the master's program at NRU MGSU in the field of investment-construction engineering. At the international level, there are several options for obtaining management skills certification, and my choice fell on the basic and most well-known PMP.
Problems that had to be solved:
- Preparation until July 2026 — the release of PMBOK 8 and the lack of translation of the exam into Russian.
- Trip to another country for the exam — selection, registration, field.
There were no issues with preparation at that time. I already had 12 years of experience in construction, a bachelor's degree in construction, and 6 months of experience as a deputy project manager. Everything went smoothly, and I spent 4 months on it.
The criteria for choosing the country were as follows: cheap flights, accommodation, and exam availability. It was also desirable that the country be somewhat Russian-speaking to simplify communication processes. The cheapest option turned out to be Yerevan, Armenia, at the Esolarm testing center. A nice small hotel in the city center, cheap direct flights from Moscow to Yerevan, and the lowest exam fee among nearby countries. Armenia also fit as a Russian-speaking country.
I passed the exam at and had 60 minutes of exam time left in reserve.
If you have the same questions or similar problems and want me to tell you more details, you can write to me about it, and I will definitely take the time to explain.
P.S.: I started traveling two years ago, and Armenia turned out to be the second country I visited. It's a wonderful country with very friendly people, very beautiful architecture, nature, and incredibly delicious cuisine. I strongly recommend everyone to go there for at least a week to have time to see Yerevan and the surrounding areas. It was 20 degrees Celsius warm at the end of April. And I also got to experience the "Labor Day" holiday. The whole city gathered at the central square. If you're interested in Armenia for travel, you can check out a couple of photos somewhere on my Instagram or other social networks that I have attached to my profile.