Gary Caudle
Benton, AR
BUCEC, Certificate in Project Management

Gary Caudle’s career experience lies in information services and information technology. In his current position as project manager, he served as the project manager on the implementation of a large client for a year-long project and continues to work on other projects for his organization either leading projects or assisting in other ways in planning, monitoring, and controlling the projects. When 2010 began, he and his employer agreed it was time for him to get up-to-date project manager training. “I have worked in IT and done project management for a number of years. However, I had not received any recent formal training. I had just come off the year-long project and 2010 was a good time to receive the training,” Gary said.

Gary started researching programs that were right for him. “I looked at several course offerings and decided on the BUCEC set of courses because they covered all nine knowledge areas outlined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge.  I began the program in February of 2010 and completed all ten courses in August of 2010. When I started the coursework, I had the goal of spending ten hours a week studying the material. I liked that the subject matter was presented as reading material and audio material. I also appreciated the quizzes that prepared me to take the exams at the end of each course. BUCEC answered any questions I had in a timely manner. The entire experience was very pleasing,” he said.

Gary says the most important part of his success was staying disciplined. “You have to study the material every week and sometimes dig into subjects a little deeper to fully understand. While taking the courses, I spent some time on the internet further researching topics of particular interest to me. Since you have two years to complete the program, it’s easy to think you have plenty of time, but don’t procrastinate,” he advises.

Toward the end of his coursework, Gary decided to start documenting his project management experience and applied to take the PMP exam. “I thought that since I’d gone this far, I should go all the way.  I submitted my application for the exam in August after I finished all ten courses. My application was accepted, and I scheduled a test date of November 16, 2010.  I took the PMP exam and passed it on my first try. The BUCEC courses were the key to my passing the PMP exam,” Gary said.  “The training has given me a good mental structure for how things should be organized and how to integrate the various knowledge areas.”

Since becoming certified, Gary does much of the same work but with more confidence. “This training and certification has given me and my organization some credentials that may aid in winning the next big client,” he said. “They add credibility to us as an organization.”

> Read more Project Management Certificate success stories