I took the Project Management Fundamentals class with Professor Hans Meijer in April of 2026, and I honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience. I was truly impressed by how much valuable information we were able to fit into a one-day class while still keeping everything clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Professor Meijer has a great way of breaking down project management concepts and industry terms so they actually make sense. He was able to connect with everyone in the room--whether you were brand new to project management or already had experience leading projects--and make the material feel relevant to where you are right now. Nothing felt overly complicated; it all had real-world meaning. We followed the PMBOK, and what really stood out to me was how much effort he put into making sure everyone understood the material. The hands-on exercises throughout the day helped everything click and made the learning stick instead of just feeling like information being thrown at us. I am eternally grateful for this class and for Professor Meijer's approach to teaching. I'm walking away with knowledge and tools that I can use immediately, and I know these lessons will stay with me as I continue to grow and manage projects in my current role as a project coordinator. I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to build a strong foundation in project management. read more

Project Management Academy (PMA) is a Verified Premier Authorized Training Partner for the Project Management Institute (PMI). I did their Basic PMP Exam Prep Boot Camp ($1995.00). This included the 35 hours of PMI approved instructor training, thousands of practice questions, supplemental course videos, post class tutoring and this "100% money-back guarantee" which was the most appealing part of the deal. This 100% money-back guarantee comes with conditions to be met prior to taking the test, so it is not as simple as it sounds. The education materials were available online but there was an option for the printed option ($35.00) which I decided to get since it would have costed me more in ink to print it all out myself. Worth it!! I like taking notes and writing all over my books and highlighting things. Prior to the class, it is recommended to take a pre course assessment to get your baseline. No comment on my baseline conditions. It was not great! I did my boot camp from March 1-4 @8:30-6pm PT with Mike Martin II. In retrospect I really should have signed up for a central time course since I am naturally an early bird and I really felt my brain struggling after 4pm everyday. Mike was great! Very engaging. His stories made the material a lot more relatable and easy to remember. 5 stars for Mike!! But PMA is bound to PMI course materials and the order of the slides were not, in my humble opinion, the best order. To overcome this, Mike did have some supplemental materials for the class which was most helpful. The class I was on had great participation so it made the class more active. I can tell Mike was very passionate and was invested in all of the students' success. He provided his personal information if we needed help after the course and encouraged us to apply for the exam, ask him if we have questions with the application and get a date in the books so it happens. The course is only as good as what you make of it. After the boot camp, I did a Mock Test and the Mock Test review session. I made sure to do Timed Practiced Tests once a week, attend the weekly Friday tutoring session (12-2pm PT/3-5pm ET), practice questions and situational questions. The situational questions are most helpful, but limited. When I went to take it the second time, it seemed like all the same questions. I wish they had more situational questions. My favorite tutoring sessions were with Mike Martin II and Stephen Hoogerwerf. They were helpful and organized, and their teaching styles were a good fit for me. If your class dates are flexible, I recommend finding a class that they are teaching. They also have Topic Review Videos. These videos were sooooooooo boring!! Not a fan. I actually ended up going on You-Tube to watch better made videos. Sorry, not sorry. Had to do what I needed to do to ensure my success. For the amount of money this course cost, I expect a bit more. I passed on my first try on April 10th with Above Target in all 3 Domains and on the overall test, but it required me exploring other studying avenues. I don't feel like PMA alone would have been enough. A part of this might be due to the PMP Exam version change at the beginning of 2021. As a large company their practice exam questions might take longer to adapt than a small company. Just an observation. Still very grateful. Cheers!! read more

Project Management Academy - Adult Education Near Me - Irvine, California

I took a November 2022 virtual class with John D. as my instructor, and I can definitely say I would not have passed my PMP exam without his help. He took the expansive amount of information that you need to know from the PMBOK and really broke it down to make sure every student understood what each part was really about. He also helped us understand how to look at it from a PMI perspective rather than just as how you might execute in your own role, which is incredibly important to understand for the test. I definitely recommend the PMA, especially if you're not already super familiar with the PMBOK. The only constructive note I would have for PMA is adding in details about how all of the different pieces of Project Management fit together when you actually execute the process because that does help in better understanding the overall concept once you understand each piece. read more

The best decision I made in preparing for the PMP exam was taking a February 2022 virtual class with John Dokos. I went in feeling very overwhelmed, knowing there was so much to learn. John is a terrific instructor - the course material was very organized, and he has a way of breaking it down so that it's digestible. What was extra helpful to me were the real-life scenarios he'd provide for added context. He made himself available for questions, ensured we knew about the slew of PMA resources available to us, shared test-taking strategies, and went over exactly what to expect when going in for the exam. I passed the PMP exam on my first try in July 2022, and I am so thankful to John for helping me prepare so well. I definitely could not have done it on my own! read more

Quite possibly the best step I've ever taken to get my PMP certification! Michael P. Toothman was the instructor and I have to say, I was truly impressed with his teaching skill and in-depth knowledge. Michael's lessons are taught for maximum retention and he somehow managed to keep the class engaged despite 8-9 hour-long days. He used real-life examples to explain abstract concepts, answered all of our questions, and was receptive to any inquiries. At the end he provided the best tips for the most effective studying, and recommended an excellent study timeline. Due to his lessons and tips, I was able to pass the PMP exam in 3 weeks after the classes were complete. I really want to thank PMA and Michael for their invaluable help! My happiness and satisfaction cannot be measured. read more

I finally was able to take on and pass my PMP exam thanks to PMA and especially Prof Michael Toothman for their exceptional work on making my journey as easy as possible. I attented the 35hrs boot camp back in Oct 21' with Prof Toothman spear heading the course. My interest, knowledge and passion for project management only grew after completing the course not only because of the knowledge that I gained by simply attending class but by the enthuastic way Prof Toothway uses to convey his wealth and wealth of experience in project management. If you are looking into getting your PMP, do not overlook the chance to get coached by PMA and Prof Toothman. read more

BLUF: take this PMP boot camp, learn a lot, make important connections with fellow PMs, pass the exam, and celebrate! If you are thinking about taking the PMP Boot Camp and having some doubts, I get it- I've been there too! But truly, don't keep putting it off. Go for it! These people are the best in their field. PMA's PMP boot camp is solid, fully resourced, and worth every penny. I had the good fortune of taking this course with Mr. Micheal P Toothman as my instructor, and he was fabulous. (I have heard similar reports of other instructors; PMA selects only the finest individuals to lead these classes, because the teachers make such a huge difference with this difficult course material.) I wouldn't have had the courage to take the exam without his guidance and assurances. He even makes himself available to his students via LinkedIn after the course completes, which is hugely helpful while taking practice exams and studying. I attended boot camp during the pandemic, which meant online training and "meeting" with my teacher and classmates via Zoom. Even though it was a different atmosphere for learning, PMA handled it beautifully. We used a very thorough PowerPoint, the PMA resource library (which you'll have full access to after buying the course/ HUGE bonus for studying), and checked in regularly about how we were feeling- catching on, burnt out, needing a break, etc. Yes, it was hard, but it was great. Don't miss out on this opportunity to better yourself and open new doors in your career. After taking this course, I passed the PMP exam with flying colors and finally have something to celebrate in these "unprecedented times." read more

I just completed the PMP boot camp (6/3-6/6) in Irvine with Mike Ikona, and couldn't be happier! Mike was super engaging, informative, and just was great to be around. He really did he best to make this class as engaging as possible, provided real life examples, and tied the information back to stories or statements to help us remember it better. He clearly has passion for this and it was contagious. He took time to make sure we understood what he was teaching and checked for understanding often. The course set up was great, PMA gives you a lot of post class help, and I'm very satisfied with how this went. It's a big investment but is totally worth going this route! read more

I highly recommend Project Management Academy for those seeking to further their project management career with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. The PMA is a 4 day prep course designed to immerse the student with relevant, case-based instruction materials for the PMP Exam. I took the PMA Bootcamp on June 28th and passed my PMP exam (on the first try) on August 2, 2021. The Bootcamp course content provided invaluable fundamental information to understand the project management discipline. The course covers in explicit detail the three areas of project management: people, process, and business; all of which are heavily present on the exam. For most practitioners (myself included), understanding and mastering the principles of project management is an unbelievably daunting task. The exam is no joke and the learning material is downright intimidating. Fret not fellow PMs. We have on our side, the distinguished Mr.Michael Toothman from the Project Management Academy. Myself,along with 4 other students are forever indebted to Michael for imparting his knowledge and his exemplary understanding of the PM discipline to this humble class of 5. Michael made good use of the 4 nine hour days and ensured each of his students were able to grasp the logic and the concept of the PMP curriculum. Mr Toothman's teaching methodology is informative and efficient. The information he delivered is precise and his ability to simplify complex terms into relatable and most importantly, understandable material for his class proved invaluable. In addition to "pop quizzes", case studies (real world examples) of project management success (and OMG) stories, Michael also provides helpful strategies to get through the exams, and needless to say, they've obviously helped me pass. So for those that make the smart decision to embark on this wonderful journey I would highly recommend you seek Michael's tutelage at the Project Management Academy. He is your "Yoda" for this journey. Light Saber optional. Best of luck! read more

I took a virtual bootcamp course in October 2022 with John Dokos. The classes were organized very well and he shared real-life examples that helped greatly in understanding the concepts. He also provided guidance for study plans, templates and strategies for taking the exam. Thank you John for your help in getting my PMP! read more

I have attended March 2023 virtual class with John D. The course was organized and was presented in a way that was very easy to understand. John provided a lot of real-life examples, created agile mindset which was very helpful to pass the exam. Because of his incredible teaching skills I have passed the exam on my first attempt. I definitely recommend taking this course. Thank you John read more

I took a Nov-Dec 2022 eight half-day virtual class with John D. as the instructor for the PMP certification exam. John did an excellent job in presenting the course material, providing real-life examples as well as many helpful tips on how to practice and take the exam. I'm sure all PMA instructors well qualified, but really glad to have had him as an instructor. It is alot of material to cover, and I think it would be a bit overwhelming to cover without instruction. I studied the material provided through PMA for 2-1/2 weeks after the course. Passed on my first attempt. I definitely recommend taking this course offered through PMA. THANKS JOHN! read more

I attended the November 2022 virtual class with John D. John's instruction was truly invaluable, from our days in lectures, to the detailed study plans and test taking strategies he laid out. Additionally, John brought a personal touch to class, and was able to share real world context from previous experiences that grounded the material. This course, and his teaching were instrumental in helping me pass the PMP exam. read more

Michael Toothman, location Irvine, CA, PMP Bootcamp Course (November 18 - 21, 2019). Passed PMP exam on Dec 23, 2019 Michael is one of the best professors I have ever met. Not only did he helped me to pass the PMP exam, but he also helped me become a better PMP in general. He made the class really really engaging and he made the course materials easier to understand with his real-life experience! I strongly recommend you to take this course with Micahel if you are planning on taking the PMP exam! read more

Dr. Mike Ikona, location (Irvine, CA), PMP Bootcamp Course (12/9/19 - 12/12/19) Dr. Mike Ikona is a great PMP instructor it was a fantastic course to prepare for my PMP exam. I have failed my first attempt at the PMP exam but after taking his course I feel way better equipped to get a passing grade. Mike has tons of real life experience living what he has taught and has great examples of real project concepts in action. Thank you Dr. Mike Ikona. read more

Dr Mike Ikona was the best because he was very engaging and practical. I was super nervous going into the class as the PMP certification in itself is a very large feat, but Mike made me both comfortable in the space as well as focused on the road ahead of me to study for the test! Would highly recommend this class who thinks that there is just too much information and vocab for them to handle on their own because he really maps out the relationship between all the processes and stages in a project to make them much more digestible to learn and relate to. read more

Dr. Mike Ikona had to take over our PMP Boot Camp on 4/13/2020-4/23/2020 halfway through the course due to technical difficulties that the previous instructor had. It truly was a blessing in disguise as he was very engaging which is a challenge to do for a 36 hour online course! His supporting documentation truly made the difference in preparing for this course. I don't believe I would have been able to retain as much as i did had he not been my instructor. read more

My class with Michael Toothman and the tools & techniques from PMA after the class are the reasons I passed my PMP exam. Michael really understands project management as a whole and brought real world examples to class which made a lot of the content easy to remember. If you are thinking about taking this class to prep for the PMP, do it! read more

I took the PMP course with John Dokos last October. The course was put together in a very organized way. John was really great at giving strategies to take the exam as well as giving real life examples of the processes in the different life cycles. Thanks for a great course! read more

I completed PMP Boot Camp with Dr. Mike Ikona, 1/6/2020 - 1/9/2020, in Irvine, CA. I spent four, intense, rewarding 8 hour days learning all of the most important exam preparation topics. I would jump at the chance to take more classes or lectures with Dr. Ikona again! It was fun, fresh, engaging...takes an incredibly talented and practiced professional to do that with PMBOK material! How I feel about Dr. Ikona speaks directly to the high quality of character and talent that the Project Management Academy maintains and attracts. Great course and fantastic people! read more

Dr. Mike Ikona, location (Irvine, CA), PMP Bootcamp Course (1/6/20 - 1/9/20) Dr. Mike Ikona was an amazing PMP instructor. He made the course very engaging and practical. I feel very confident, have a study guide and plan for taking the PMP exam. He has a very diverse career background and experience with projects which made this an invaluable course. read more

I like their class and their online materials. Online PMP exams are similar to the real PMP exams. However, the class was long hours. I wish they had more interaction with students and more example with the real life projects. read more

I attended the November 2020 virtual PMP session with John Dokos and passed the exam two weeks later! John was a really personable and experienced instructor. He instilled a great work ethic and confidence in all his pupils. John also id a really nice job focusing on strategy and the logical reasoning behind things rather than memorization. This made all the difference for tackling new questions no matter how challenging I knew I could rely on my knowledge to figure it out. I highly recommend John Dokos and PMA. Thank you so much John! Feels good to pass on the first try right after taking this course! read more

PMA is an exceptional professional learning company that genuinely cares about its students and backs it up with the most remarkable customer service I've ever experienced anywhere. I would highly recommend them to anyone pursuing any professional certification courses they offer. It has been a long journey in the making, but I fortunately finally passed the PMP Exam and earned my certification in Oct 2020 after taking the September 2020 PMP 8 day 4 hour virtual Bootcamp class with John Dokos. The longer course is a lot easier to digest the material than the traditional 5-day 8-hour course. John was one of the most talented instructors I've ever had in any formal learning environment and one of the most experienced. His unique blend of applying real-world examples of the PMBOK application and breaking it down into terminology everyone can relate to, understand and most importantly REMEMBER was crucial for me. He also took a lot of time that help us mentally prepare for this exam. Text anxiety is a real thing for me and I don't think I would have passed had he not help me get my mind right. John really is a treasure that any PMA student should be blessed to have. I strongly recommend you ask for him when you prep for your PMP exam! read more

Dr Mike Ikona (Irvine, CA) hosted my virtual PMP bootcamp course (16Mar - 19Mar 2020) and was excellent. He was very dynamic and engaging throughout the 4 days. He provided very practical guidance about course material that can be very dry but is nuanced and highly technical. His energy level, motivation and leadership throughout the 4 days were incredible. I feel much better prepared as I continue on my path to take and pass the PMP course. I agree with other reviewers that Mike's experience and expertise add a lot of value to the course materials and my depth of understanding of the content. As a side note, I was supposed to take this course in-person but due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, PMA was forced to convert the course to a virtual class with very little advanced warning (we were notified over the weekend prior to a Monday start). I think that PMA and Mike did a great job with being flexible due to the external environment's changing conditions. Despite the challenging course material, my concerns about taking this class virtually were assuaged due to the excellent delivery. read more

Ten months later and I finally passed the PMP exam. Covid kind of delayed the process. I took the class in January 2020, with Michael P. Toothman as the Instructor. He was fantastic, knowledgeable, entertaining, and held everyone accountable. He made the materials less try. He even followed up with us a few months later to keep us motivated and assist if needed. The PMA class was a great resource, the materials and practice test exams have been organized logically to help you understand and digest all the process and knowledge areas. The exam materials also allowed me to assess my competencies in all the areas to drill down where needed. Overall great experience, thanks again to Michael P. Toothman. I can't say enough about him as an instructor. read more

I took the PMA bootcamp with Jim Higgins as the instructor, and it was an invaluable aid in helping me pass the challenging PMP exam. We covered a wealth of information in 3 full days (8:30-6 pm), then took a 4 hour mock exam on the last day. It was an intense course, but so so helpful in helping me understand how all the processes worked together, and how to understand things the "PMBOK way". I found all the materials they provided so helpful (the PMBOK 5th edition, binder of printed powerpoint slides, laminated guides of all the knowledge areas, process groups, earned value formulas, etc). I know the PMA doesn't recommend scheduling the exam the same week as the bootcamp, but that's exactly what I did. Knowing my exam date well ahead of time, I spent one month before the bootcamp studying. I created a study plan for myself and used Rita's book as my guide. My goal was to get through every chapter at least once before the bootcamp, so that the bootcamp would serve as a reinforcement to my studies. This method worked perfectly for me. Once I started the bootcamp, I realized how much I still didn't know and my areas of weakness were so obvious that I started to get nervous that my exam was going to be that same week. However, the bootcamp really helped fill in my gaps, gave me a lot of great tools, and helped me retain information in a smart, easy-to-remember way. I memorized the sequence of the 47 processes, but did not memorize any of the tools + techniques, inputs, or outputs and was able to pass. I kept my focus on really understanding the purpose behind each process, so the tools & techniques, inputs, and outputs just started to make sense... like the pieces in a puzzle all coming together. The PMP exam is tricky, so just rote memorization is not going to help you pass. Jim was engaging, funny, knowledgeable, and went at just the right speed. I couldn't have asked for a better instructor or course - thank you, PMA! read more

Dr. Mike Ikona just blew me away with his knowledge, patience, focus and practical style of presentating an intense amount of information in a non intimidating way. The PMP program provides so much extra material both online and in proprietary booklets. It was a pleasure. Follow his direction, put in the work, PMP cert is imminent. read more

I would highly recommend to take the PMP boostcamp course with Mike Ikona, who is the instructor of the course (3/16 - 3/19, 2020). He was very organized and detailed oriented, constantly interacting with the audiences and making sure every question was answered. Beside the course itself, he shared his hands-on experience of people and project management, which you can't learn from textbooks. Moreover, he shared additional tools and documents with the class for supporting us get through the exam. Mike even taking his personal time answering the questions that we have, and making sure no one is left behind. read more

I took the virtual PMP Boot Camp class with Dr. Mike Ikona, 6/8/2020 - 6/18/2020 and I'm proud to report that I passed! Despite being a virtual class, Mike brought so much enthusiasm and energy to the class, I was just as engaged with the class as if I was in person. He's a great instructor and all kudos to him for making what could be a very boring class WAY more interesting. read more

Feb 2020 Virtual Class with John Dokos I really appreciated the format of the Virtual class--not only because it fit in with my scheduling needs, but because it contained so much meaningful content and still managed to be interactive and engaging. I attribute the latter to John for being an excellent instructor. His knowledge, teaching ability and insight (into applying and taking the exam) were invaluable. Following the class, I did make sure to put in the extra time and effort to ensure that I was prepared for the PMP Exam. The resources available on the Project Management Academy website were very helpful in this regard. I am proud and relieved to say that I passed on my 1st test-taking attempt! read more

Hello Attended PMP Bootcamp 5-8 Oct in Irvine. The instructor Dr Mike Ikona is an exceptional teacher, great voice control, engaging and most importantly extremely knowledgeable. It my recommendation to sign up with PMP Academy and request Dr Mike! Tks/ Cheers Bill read more

Mike Ikona was an incredible instructor! I am so much better prepared to take the PMP exam after spending time in his class. The material is dreadfully boring and monotonous but he found a way to keep us engaged, learning along the way, and provided a plethora of actionable strategies and useful tools to succeed in the certification process. Mike also shared valuable professional advice which is a benefit I didn't anticipate. Highly recommend his course and the Project Mgt Academy! read more

I took Dr. Mike Ikona's PMP prep class virtually, and he was an outstanding instructor. He keeps you engaged the entire time by checking in, posing a ton of questions, and by delivering a ton of really excellent stories attached to different PMP-centric processes/documents/ITTOs, etc. He made the PMBOK material accessible and memorable, and I passed my PMP exam only a few days after his class! (He has a methodical way of recommending how quickly you take it that really makes sense, so if you are struggling to get the score you want, do not even worry!) Great class, couldn't have asked for a better instructor! read more

I took an online PMP course with John Dokos in September 2019 and just passed my PMP - delayed due to work reasons and then COVID. The PMA-provided materials (both the physical items shipped and virtual tools) were great and well organized, but John really brought it all together. John integrated the information from the text, great examples and student engagement to make the week long training feel really engaging. I also appreciated his one-on-one review of practice test results to give me an actionable plan of where to focus my ongoing prep. read more

The bootcamp is fantastic to prepare you for the PMP certification. Michael Toothman was my tutor. He made the very dry material easy to digest, fun and relatable to the real world. Lots of great examples, he was so patient with all of us and went above and beyond to make sure we were prepared for the test. The best tutor I have ever had! Definitely recommend this class and make sure you have Michael Toothman as your teacher. read more

Great course to help prep for the PMP exam! I took a virtual 2 week course with Michael Toothman as the instructor in July 2020. He greatly helped us digest the material and gave real world examples to help connect the processes to our daily projects. He went above and beyond to help our virtual class connect after the course was over, so that we could not only lean on him for support but our peers as well. The Project Management Academy also provides several different tools and resources to help you prepare for the exam even after the course is over. Including videos, quizzes, practice exams, and workbooks! Highly recommend this course to anyone who is pursuing PMP certification. read more

Instructor: Dr. Mike Ikona Location: El Segundo Course: PMP Boot Camp Course Date: 6/1/2020 - 6/11/2020 My PMP Certification Date: 7/8/2020 Mike was an amazing instructor. He made the concepts very simple to grasp and during the class he emphasized on specific areas that were tricky and managed to cover the course very well during the Bootcamp course. He helped me understand the concepts really well which was key in clearing the exam. With Mike's guidance and PMA's material, I was able to take my PMP Exam and clear it in the first attempt with an 'Above Target' grade. (There are 4 total grades: 'Needs Improvement', 'Below Target', 'Target' & 'Above Target') I was able to complete the entire process from start (Bootcamp) to finish (PMP exam) in just 5 weeks! read more

PMP boot camp is no joke, but if you have to take it, Mike is the instructor you want! He was super thorough and organized, and went at a slow enough pace to ensure the class understood all of the theories, vocabulary, and math (and still got out in time.) He shared real-life examples for every concept, which was really helpful in understanding how everything applies/could apply in the real world. He was very transparent and honest with us about the difficulty level of the exam, and gave us tips and tricks for studying and filling out the application. Mike even offered to chat/meet up with us after the course, if we had any additional questions or needed more help. Overall, I give Mike 5 stars for his teaching style, skills, and passion for helpIng others. read more

Dr. Mike Ikona, location (Irvine, CA), PMA - PMP Bootcamp Course (5/13/19 - 5/16/19) This is a great course to prep for the PMP exam. Dr. Ikona is a fantastic instructor. He goes through the direct relationship to the PMBOK but also utilizes personal/real world experience. This is an important aspect as the exam is not simply based on the book. Dr. Ikona made sure that the class was attentive and participating during the 4-day bootcamp. This is key, as you can start to feel overloaded at times and he makes sure everyone understands the content, before moving to the next area of review. Location was easy to get to, clean and lots of food options close by. Thank you Mike for all that you provided, as well as the offer to continue to support, after class closure. read more