Certificate In Project Management Certification Scheme
The Scheme Owner of 'Certificate In Project Management' Certification Scheme is International Institute of Projects & Program Management (i2P2M), a non-profit company incorporated in 2008 under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956.
i2P2M, as the Certification Scheme Owner (SO), since May 2008, has developed and maintained the Certification Scheme. i2P2M (SO) takes on full responsibility for the objectives, the content and the integrity, validity and robustness of the scheme. From 2014, i2P2M is the Certification Assessment Body (CAB) responsible for the Award of more than thousands of Certificate in Project Management to Personnel across the globe.
Development of Scheme
This Scheme for Certification in Project Management was conceived way back in 2006 by Mr. Adesh Jain, the then President of International Project Management Association (IPMA) incorporated in Switzerland.Features of the Scheme
The main features of the scheme are described as under:Scope:-
This certification scheme assesses the Project Management competencies based on knowledge covered under 8 project life cycles phases viz: Conceptualise, Plan, Organise, Implement, Control, Integrate, Deliver & Closeout and Knowledge Leverage. It also assesses the ability of the applicant to apply the knowledge in developing competencies to manage projects. The project can be of any nature, Technical or Social Projects. Thus the certification assesses & certifies the competence of an applicant in Project Management.Applicability:-
Any graduate who intends to work in Corporate, CPSEs, State and Central Government, R&D bodies, Technical Organisations, Education Sector and Social Sector. A applicant can be a part of any project team or in support function to projects. The scope extends from fresh graduate, executive or management trainee to senior most management personnel, who have undergone at least 20 hours of project management training.Pre-requisites for Certificate In Project Management
For Certificate In Project Management the prerequisites for certification to be fulfilled by applicant are:- Graduate in any discipline.
- 20 hours of formal structured training in Project Management related to majority of 8 project management life cycle phases and knowledge areas .
The pre-requisites as defined above are adequate to test the competence in project management areas.
Criteria for initial certification
- Applicant has to pass in 2.5 hour rigorous ‘no-book exam’ which will test competencies based on knowledge of Certificate In Project Management Syllabus. The examination comprises of 4 sections with total of 150 questions. The assessment involves applicant to pass independently in all 4 sections with 50% minimum marks and score 60% marks in aggregate, Maximum marks being 200. The examination process is very robust and involves negative marking of 25% of the maximum marks assigned to a question. The examination tests both knowledge and its application to judge project management competency.
- An applicant needs to comply with certification requirements including signing and committing to uphold Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for project practitioners, given on i2P2M website. Before appearing in the certificate examination the applicant has to give an undertaking that he/she will abide by the rules and regulations of examination and give declaration that he has not been disqualified earlier for fraudulent practices etc.
Certificate In Project Management Certification Process
Step 1: Application Solicited by CAB from interested personnel (Applicant)
CAB should collect application forms from applicants along with an undertaking duly signed by them. CAB should ensure that the applicant is aware of the certification process, its scope and assessment methodology and all other applicable conditions as defined in the scheme. Applicant should also be given opportunity to state any special requirement.
Step 2:- Application review by CAB
Screening of application to check that it is complete in all respect and meets the eligibility criteria. In case of deficiencies, applicant is informed of the same & completed and signed application is received for processing. Any special requirement expressed by the applicant is considered and applicant informed of its acceptance or otherwise.
Step 3:- Communication of Examination logistics to Selected Applicant
Applicants who meet the pre requisite criteria are informed about the examination date, time and venue and the documents needed. In case of on-line exam It is ensured that Candidate has a computer system with working camera and microphone along with Internet Connectivity.
Step 4:- Examination Centre finalization (This step is applicable to Physical Exam only)
Examination Centre is finalized, meeting the defined criteria
- Should have easy approach
- Should have ample space and seating arrangement with table and chair, with gaps in between, suitable for conducting examination with noise free atmosphere, power backup, photos of examination hall facilities should be taken by invigilator.
- Should have good lighting and cooling / heating for comfortable seating.
- Should have toilet facilities close to the examination hall, etc.
Step 5:- Question Paper Generation by CAB
The question paper should contain question to judge the competence of applicant in a balance manner. The Paper would have 4 sections each covering 2 life cycle phases as per the Certificate In Project Management Syllabus.
Step 6:- Question Paper Verification & Dispatch
For physical examination, Audit of the generated paper should always be done by appropriate senior authority of CAB for correctness of printing, number of papers and marking of unique number on the envelop, question paper and answer sheet.
Requisite number of papers should only be printed, sealed and dispatch/ handed over to invigilator.
Step 7:- Examination Invigilator Rostering
CAB’s examination head should identify the exam invigilator and provide him/her with required details about the applicants and examination centre.
Step 8 (a):- Physical Examination
Certificate In Project Management examination should be held at designated centre, invigilator should carry the sealed papers. Invigilator should check the identity of applicant and hand over paper with unique number. Invigilator takes signature of each applicant against their question paper unique number in attendance sheet. Applicant details are not taken anywhere else.
The question papers seal is to be opened directly by the applicant & on completion of paper applicant seals it to his/her satisfaction and hands over the same to the invigilator.
During the examination applicants should not be allowed, use of any outside material / gadget. Invigilator prevents any fraudulent practices like copying etc.
Step 8 (b):- On-Line Examination
URL login is created and details & password are sent to applicants. Login details are shared with IT to activate in system. Question Paper is auto generated, got approved and transmitted electronically to the candidate duly secured on the date and time of exam. The examination venue is checked before the exam to ensure its adequacy and suitability along with candidate’s identity against the declared identity document. The question paper which a particular candidate gets on screen is unique randomly generated question paper from the Question Bank based on the consistent pre-applied logic for distribution of questions covering various sections of the syllabus as defined in Step 4.
System controls the automatic log out if the candidate uses another URL and leave the examination system which system closes the question URL automatically. System ensures that question paper cannot be downloaded and Print Screen of questions cannot be taken as the system disables the print screen. The conduct of exam is duly invigilated and supervised through on line camera. System based controls also exist to detect and avoid possibilities of any malpractice during examination such as undue movements. The examination application raises a red flag if camera of any candidate detects and exceptional motion or entry of another person or object. System also throws red flag to proctor screen for a candidate who is taking longer than average time on a particular question. The answer database gets transmitted electronically for declaring the results on completion of the exam and therefore the full process is well secured.
Step 9:- Paper Checking
In case of physical exam, the invigilator hands over the sealed papers to examiner (IT & Examination Department) and attendance sheet to Operations and Development department. For on line exam this step is not applicable.
Step 10:- Automated Paper Checking
The papers checking is automated using a pre-validated algorithm for both types of exams. Results are sent to Assessment Checking Department. They validate the results and in case of doubt re checking of paper is done physically and release results to Certificate Scheme Administration head who will if satisfied releases it to Certification Award Management.
In case of on line exam, the answers computer database gets automatically evaluated on submission electronically, and transmitted to candidate and Head IT.
Step 11:- Result release
For Physical Exam, the head of examination should release the results against each unique number given on answer sheet to the Head of Certification Award Department. Who should intern, on satisfying himself/herself that the complete process of certification was complied with, releases the result internally.
For Online results are instantaneously declared electronically and the results are transmitted to a candidate and Head IT
Step 12:- Certificate Release
The department which will release results to applicant should at this point, populate the person details from the attendance sheet which, he/she is solely in possession of and send the Certificates and the results to individuals, and Instructions should go to the department which will be responsible for uploading the names of successful applicants on the CAB website. The Certificate bears the date of issue (which should be the date of Certification exam) and the date of validity.
Step 13:- Certified Persons database updation
The information about the certified persons should be uploaded on the CAB website immediately.
While following and executing the above Certification process, Security of information, data (internal & external) & documents should be ensured as per security policy enclosed in general but during the entire examination process starting from preparation of question paper to release of results.
Suspension/ Withdrawal:-
i2P2M will suspend/ withdraw the certification in case of a formal complaint in relation to non-compliance/breach of Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Project Practitioners. This is reviewed by appointing an independent committee and based on its report, suspension/ withdrawal is carried out by Certification committee.
In case CAB comes to know about wrong claim for the certification by providing wrong information & false undertaking, CAB will issue a letter highlighting the inconsistency in certification application / Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct undertaking. During the examination if there is fraudulent method applied, the same will be pointed out and applicant will be disqualified.
Surveillance
'Certificate In Project Management' Certification Scheme is meant for Personal certification for period of 5 years. Post this period, personnel certified is required to give log of Continued Professional Development activities undertaken in field of Project Management by him/her during these 5 years, to become eligible for Recertification. The certified persons shall submit their CPD, midcourse ie 2.5 year from date of certification as a surveillance measure.
Criteria for Recertification
The certificate validity is 5 years. The requirements for the recertification are as follows:- Confirming the adherence of code of ethics and professional conduct during the tenure of 5 years of the validity of the certificate. Any breach of same will lead to suspension or will not be recertified.
- Confirming that they are & intend to remain active in the field of project profession
- Certificate holder need to demonstrate with that he/she has acquired 60 Points of Continual Professional Development (CPD) during the validity of certificate of 5 years. (10 points for one year experience, 1 point per hour of Training program/ Seminar attended, 2 points for PM training given / Seminar Organised)
Certified person will have to give application for Recertification which is downloaded from i2P2M website along with CPD log which is also available on website
The Methods & Procedures to be used by CABs :-
The timeline for various activities of the certification scheme are as follows : Receipt of Application from interested person to communication of examination logistics to selected applicants : 15 days
- Conduct of examination to release of result : 7 days
- Release of Certificate from release of result : 7 days
Certificate In Project Management is awarded to individuals and is applicable across industry. Transfer of Certificate is not applicable. It is issued to an individual only and not limited to a location.
Review of Scheme Operation :-
Scheme Owner (SO) on an annual basis and/or whenever required reviews the operations of the scheme in order to confirm its validity and to identify aspects requiring improvements. Audit Committee shall periodically (once a year minimum) randomly audit to verify that ‘the assessment measures what is intended to measure, as defined by the certification scheme’ at each step for conformity by CAB and submit it’s report to SO.
Changes in specified requirements :-
SO shall monitor the development of Standards and related normative documents on an ongoing basis to maintain the relevance of Certification in view of the dynamic project environment by collecting inputs from the Certification holders, Academicians, Industry experts, government bodies, Social sector and BIS/ISO. It will be presented, for due diligence and discussion in Steering /Certification Committee meeting. If the committee decides that there is need to modify or add new concept/ terminologies, suitable effort will be made to ensure the changes in the Body Of Knowledge.
Risk Coverage related to Certification Scheme Deployment
CAB should keep minimum financial buffer /professional liability insurance to cover the risk arising out of the deployment of Certification Scheme. The quantum of buffer/professional liability insurance shall be individual certification fee multiplied by 10% of Total certified persons in a year. The CAB must also limit the liability on it to the extent of value of individual certification fee. This shall be mentioned on the certificate.