There is an increased interest in project management certification these days as businesses

There is an increased interest in project management certification these days as businesses and organizations look to refine their practices and increase productivity in the most cost efficient and resource-friendly way possible.  This page will provide an overall survey of project management certification that spans the globe.  On this page, we will analyze some of the different options one has when seeking project management certification.  This is a worldwide sampling of the certification opportunities available.


• Level A:  Certified Projects Director
• Level B:  Certified Senior Project Manager
• Level C:  Certified Project Manager
• Level D:  Certified Project Management Associate

1. PMI – The Project Management Institute – PMI offers two project management certification programs. The PMP (Project Management Professional) certification program is recognized throughout the world and is for the most experienced project management professionals only.  PMP candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree must have 4,500 hours of legitimate project management experience.  Candidates that hold either an Associate’s Degree or High School Diploma need 7,500 hours worth of project management experience.

• Candidates must possess 35 hours worth of formal project management education and instruction.

• Candidates MUST pass the Project Management Professional exam which consists of 200 questions in multiple-choice format and can take up to four hours to complete.

• The Project Management Professional certification must be maintained with 60 total PDU’s (Professional Development Units) every three years.  One contact hour is the equivalent of one PDU.

PMI also offers an entry-level project management certification program known as the CAPM (Certified Associate In Project Management). 

2. APMC – Advanced Project Management Certification – This project management certification is for advanced professionals, typically senior-level managers, who already hold PMP certification.  A candidate for this certification is required to complete two courses, four elective courses covering the “Kerzner Approach To Best Practices”, and must pass two brief online post-tests on each course.  This project management certification is focused on the development of extremely high-level project management skills, particularly in the areas of risk assessment, risk management, and project portfolio management.

3. AIPM – Australian Institute of Project Management – This project management certification is geared primarily to Australian-based practitioners; however, its principles are rooted in internationally recognized project management standards and practices.

The AIPM’s Registered Project Manager (also known as the RegPM) has specified three levels of project management certification based on the practitioner’s competency in the workplace:

• CPPP – Certified Practicing Project Practitioner
• CPPM – Certified Practicing Project Manager
• CPPD – Certified Practicing Project Director

Every three years, the CPD (Continuous Professional Development) must be re-certified. 

4. BrainBench – This project management certification program is heavily based on the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) and, as a result, is very similar to the certification through the PMI.  Where BrainBench differs is in its approach as the program is targeted more towards companies and organizations rather than individuals. 

5. PRINCE2 – This project management certification is widely recognized in the UK and international scene.  Both the UK Government and private sector use the program extensively.  PRINCE2 has several key principles:

• Projects are fueled by business justification
• Heavy focus on organizational structure, especially creating structured teams to meet project specific goals
• Planning is product-based
• Projects are broken down into controllable, easily manageable stages
• Projects are flexible in accordance to their scope, size and complexity

There are two levels of project management certification in the PRINCE2 program – Foundation and Practitioner.  Practitioners are required to complete a re-registration process every three to five years.

6. AAPM – American Academy of Project Management – This project management certification is based on education completed at approved education facilities rather than private businesses.  There is little commercial element to AAPM’s qualifications for project management certification.  The AAPM offers four credentials – MPM (Master Project Manager), CIPM (Certified International Project Manager), PME (Project Manager E-Business), and CPE (Certified Planning Engineer).


7.  CompTIA Project+ - This project management certification is geared towards elevating project management skills amongst organizations and teams within the field of Information Technology.  This certification is relatively inexpensive with no prerequisites, no extensive application process, and no continuing education requirements.  There isn’t a particularly strong market value to this project management certification but it is useful whenever an IT team or organization needs to get everyone involved on the same page in relation to project management principles.

8. IPMA – International Project Management Association – This Swiss organization hails itself as the oldest in the project management profession and is comprised of international project management organizations.  The IPMA offers a project management certification program based on the ICB (IPMA Competence Baseline) that involves a third party assessment on an interview, self-assessment, written exam, and project management-themed report.  The IPMA has four levels of project management certification: