How we think IPMA and PMI certificationfit together

Based on a number of enquires we have in the Danish Project Management Association compared the IPMA Certification Levels D and C - and the Project Management Institutes PMP . Even though the two programmes are quite different both in structure and handling the Associations Certification Organisation concludes that it considers PMP to be at a level between IPMA Level D and IPMA Level C. It should be noted that no agreement on comparison between the certification levels exists between the International Project Management Association (IPMA) and the Project Management Institute (PMI).

IPMA 2.6 / 08-10-06

IPMA Level D and PMP As to the comparison between IPMA Level D and PMP the perception is - briefly - that the following aspects seem to indicate that PMP is at a higher, verified competence level compared with IPMA Level D:

For IPMA Level D only recommendation to a minimum extent of experiences as to project management is given. IPMA Level D does not include re-certification.

On the other side we believe that the following aspects indicate that IPMA Level D reflects a higher verified competence level than PMP:

IPMA Level D examination of three hours includes resolving of various practical tasks of project management and the result is assessed by two competent assessors. IPMA Level D includes self-assessment of both method applications and leadership behaviour also assessed by assessors and by use of referees.

To sum up it is however our perception that PMP presents a higher verified competence level than IPMA Level D.

IPMA Level C and PMP As to the comparison between PMP and IPMA Level C our perception is - again briefly that:

The basis for IPMA Certification in Denmark - Competencies in Project Management - provides a broad coverage of project management aspects by, for example, including planning and evaluation of project management, management of corporate project processes and leadership behaviour at project management. IPMA Level C requires that the project managers extent of experiences is verified by the complexity level of the projects. The written examination at IPMA Level C is mostly about how to handle practical project management tasks, and each candidates result is assessed by two competent assessors. IPMA Level C requires both demonstration of experience application and verified assessment of the levels for method applications and exercised leadership behaviour. IPMA Level C implies at least one of two referees to be interviewed. At IPMA Level C a self-assessment of method applications and leadership behaviour is assessed by two assessors. IPMA Level C includes a personal interview meeting between the candidate and the two assessors.

To sum up our perception is that IPMA Level C presents a higher verified competence level than PMP.

The steering group for IPMA Certification in Denmark

IPMA 2.6 / 08-10-06