History of IPMA

The International Project Management Association (IPMA) is a non-profit organisation,

whose function is to be the leading agent of project, programme and portfolio management
internationally or worldwide.
IPMA is a Federation of over 60 Member Associations. They develop project management
competencies in their geographic areas of influence, interacting with thousands of
practitioners and developing relationships with corporations, government agencies,
universities and colleges, as well as training organizations and consulting companies.
It started in 1965, named "Internet International Project Management Organisation"
(INTERNET), as an internet forum for the exchange of experience among project managers
of international projects. First hosted international conference was in 1967 in Vienna, since
that time it has developed steadily, as indeed has the self-control of project management
itself.
In 1996, the 13th World Congress (1996) was held in Paris. INTERNET have to change their
name due same to a new international telecommunication system. The Executive Board
renamed it from INTERNET to International Project Management Association, IPMA (the 3 rd
and current name) and the logo remains the same.

Figure: IPMA logo

After 50 years, IPMA continues to recognised, respect and build on its diversity as the
foundation of its networks of colleagues, friends and associates with complimentary visions
and prospects. Today, IPMA remains the as a developing network set up by the ambitious
founders 50 years ago.

IPMA Membership
The members include professional project managers, managers and executives, key project
stakeholders, educators, trainers, consultants, and other product or service providers. The
benefit is to achive more successful projects, programmes, and business initiatives, based
on the competencies that IPMA uniquely highlights and supports.
Each region of the world has their own Member Associations which that speaks a language
that is similar among the region consist of various countries. Those regions are Africa,
America, Asia, Australia and Oceania, and Europe.
Types of Membership: 1. Individual Memberships for person who have an interest in improving project
management skills, starting out in the profession or already an experienced
professional.
Types: a. Student open to anyone who is registered student with a further education
college or university, studying on a full-time or part-time course with a major
element of project management.
b. Associate - is for anyone with an interest in project management or new to the
profession. It offers access to increased range of resources and demonstrates
commitment to developing professionalism
c. Full Member - demonstrates professional achievement and experience as
application is assessed by peers. To become a Full member, will need 5 years of
experience as a project management specialist, teacher or researcher
d. Fellow - those who have made a substantial contribution to project management
as a specialist, teacher or researcher. Members need to have at least 5 years or
have an equivalent level of experience in a senior position.

Membership Type
Student
Associates
Full Member
Fellow

Registration Fee

Standard Annual

Subscription
Free
23
113
127
113
158
113
173
Table: Fees for individual membership

RRP Annual
Subscription
N/A
N/A
212
227

2. Corporate Membership - over 500 organisations with access to vast services that
able to develop competence, recognition, and professionalism and ensure project
management community access the latest philosophy and information about all
features of project and programme management. This can improve in project delivery
effectiveness and efficiency that may have a direct impact on organisations
profitability.

Membership
band
Band A
Band B
Band C
Band D
Higher
Education

Size of project
management
community
Up to 50 people
51-250 people
251 - 1,000
people
1,000 + people
n/a

Registration

Annual

fee

subscription

481
946

556
1,263

240
473

1,071

2,626

535

1,265

4,444

632

n/a

404

n/a

Institutes
Table: Fees for corporate membership

Rejoining fee

IPMA Certificates
The IPMA four level certification program is prominent and professionally demanding. The
levels are IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director), IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project
Manager) or IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager). These certificates are important
because the demand from executives, strategic leaders, managers and stakeholders for
individuals with demonstrated Project, Programme and Portfolio Management ability spreads
internationally. Meanwhile, IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate) was
designated to the exam-oriented, knowledge-based certifications of other major Project
Management association.

Figure: IPMA Levels of Cerification

The uniqueness of IPMA certification is:

Assessment made by professional assessors

Consideration of behavioral and contextual competences, not just technical
Personal, professional career development
Four role targeted levels of certification
No language barriers
Independent from specific training courses

Types of Certificate
A. Certify Individual - The certification process involves several steps for the
assessment of a candidate. The assessment steps for individuals are applied to each
of the IPMA competence levels A, B C, and D.

Figure: Four Level Certification system and process.

IPMA Level A is that the candidate has broad capability in management of the project
processes in a corporation or government agency. The situations are:
- Management of complex project portfolios of a corporation or department which
-

includes projects of various complication.

Management of difficult programmes which includes many types of projects and
initiatives to achieve the objectives of the programmes.

IPMA Level B may have experience of 3 years in a responsible leadership position in

the management of complex projects and 2 additional years in project management.
5 years of experience must have been achieved during the last 8 years. It is
internationally recognised as advanced-level qualification in the area of project
management. The certification is valid for 5 years.
IPMA Level C which 3 of the past 6 years in a responsible leadership position in the
management of projects. It is universally recognized as intermediate-level
qualification in the area of project management. The certificate is valid for 5 years.
IPMA Level D is an exam-based assessment of a various range of project
management knowledge. It is internationally recognized as entry-level qualification in
the area of project management. The certificate is valid for 5 years.
B. Certify Consultants

Project, Programme and Portfolio Management Consultants (PM Consultants) are

fulfilling an important role in project management practice. It has extended the Four
Level Certification system with a Two-Level Certification for PM Consultants. The
functional areas and the responsibilities as PM Consultants are identified into each of
the 2 IPMA Levels of competence: - IPMA PMC: IPMA Certified Project Management Consultant
- IPMA PPMC: IPMA Certified Programme and Portfolio Management Consultant
Renewal of certification is required after 5 years and is based on proof of the
continuing participation in PM and PM consulting as well as the competence
development. Their role is: -

Implementation and Development of PM in an Organization;

Organization Strategic Development (related to Project, Programmes and

Portfolios);
Cultural Change related to PM implementation and Development
Project including its environment

Figure: List of PM Consultant Competences IPMA Competence Baseline for

Consultants

C. Certify Organisation
IPMA Delta assesses the current status of an organisations capability in managing
projects and the delta is to self-determined competence class (IPMA Delta
competence classes 1-5). This delta points are the way for the organisation to move
to the next dimension of organisational competence in managing projects. It is the
best way to identify promising development of an organisations project management
competence. The classes initial, defined, standardised, managed, optimizing.

Figure: Five competence classes

Benefits: - obtain international certification of their project management competence
- identify areas of improvement and actions needed to improve project
-

management
continuous improvement process with measureable objectives
achieve better results through more efficient and effective management,
raise visibility of project management in their organisation,
determine their status quo in project management and benchmark it against other

organisations
improve their market position.

IPMA Standards
Standards are necessary in vast developing world. It should enable association within and
among organisations in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency in project related
activities. Globalization forces a lot of organisations to develop projects internationally. Thus,
standard is for guidance.
The core standards of IPMA is the IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB). Most participants,
managers and team members of projects, programmes and portfolios are using the ICB for
their professional activities. It is also act as guidance for consultants, trainers, lecturers and
researchers for collecting, retrieving, mining and extending project management knowledge.
The ICB is the common basis document which all IPMA Member Associations and
Certification Bodies accept to ensure that consistent and harmonised standards are applied.
Majority of its content focuses on the description of the competence elements
The approach separates the elements, which is the technical competence for project
management, the professional behavior of project management personnel and the relations
with the context of the projects, programmes and portfolios.

Figure: Eye of competence of ICB

There is other standard such as IPMA Competence Baseline for Consultants (ICBC), adding
the competence element of PM Consultants which used for qualifying and certifying.

Comparison Summary
History Established 1965, named "Internet International Project Management Organisation"
(INTERNET), changed name in 1996, during the the 13th World Congress (1996) to
International Project Management Association (IPMA)
Membership Individual & Corporate
Certificate Individual, Consultant & Organisation
Guideline/Standard - IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB) using the Eye of Competence