There are four IPMA certification levels. Depending on your own level of competences, you can be signed up for the level that suits your competences best.
For you who are new to project management. (We recommend six months of experience in projects but it is not a requirement).
Read more about competence requirements and the certification process at level D here:
Level D - Competence requirements
IPMA D – Certified in project management
An IPMA certification at level D requires that you have knowledge of project management that covers a wide range of the competencies described in “ICB4 for Project Management”.
Application of experience
It is not a requirement that you have practical experience in project management at level D, but we recommend at least 6 man-months of experience as a project manager of non-complex projects, or as a project participant in less complex projects.
Competences
You have explicit knowledge of one method/one tool within most of the competence elements described in “ICB4 for Project Management”.
The certification process at level D
Introductory session: In the introductory session, we provide guidance on the use of the self-assessment based upon “ICB4 for Project Management”. We work with exercises in filling out your CV and self-assessment, as well as explaining the scope and form of the written exam. The introduction takes place online and lasts 4 hours.
CV and self-assessment: After the introductory session, you prepare a CV and carry out a self-assessment of your level of knowledge, and then submit this for assessment by your assessors.
Written exam: The exam is held online and lasts 3 hours. No aids are allowed. Form: Multiple choice questions and open questions.
Total time consumption for the candidate Approx. 40 hours.
Final decision: The assessors compile all their assessments of you in a response letter, and if the result is above the minimum requirement, a certificate is issued, which is valid for five years.
Recertification: After five years, you are invited for recertification. You must update your CV and your self-assessment. You must also describe the extent of your competence development within the past five years and which competence elements from “ICB for Project management” you have worked to improve. We expect you to have spent at least 35 hours annually on competence development. If the assessors at the recertification have doubts about your competences, you will be invited to a one-hour interview, where you will, among other things, must complete a 10-minute presentation of selected competencies. The process for an IPMA D-level certification can be seen below:
For you who manage less complex projects and have a minimum of three years’ experience.
Read more about competence requirements and the certification process at level C here:
Level C - Competence requirements
IPMA C – Certified project manager
An IPMA certification at level C requires that you are competent to lead less complex projects and can assist a project manager in complex projects. Managing a less complex project also means that you can manage a larger group of project participants and/or act as manager of a sub-project in a complex project.
Application of experience
Certification at level C requires that you have at least 36 man-months of experience as a project manager of less complex projects, such as involves multiple stakeholders and is carried out by a larger project team. The 36 man-months experience should be no more than six years old, but we accept up to ten years if you justify the reason for this (e.g. if you have worked with line management or if you have had leave). We expect you to have exercised project management with responsibility for all management areas and to achieve good results. Furthermore, your acquired experience has been applied in new situations/projects.
Competences
You have explicit knowledge of individual variants of methods/tools within most of the competence elements described in “ICB4 for Project management”. Furthermore, you must have practical experience of using these – together with several participants in different situations in less complex projects.
The certification process at level C
The certification process at Level C consists of two steps.
Step 1 Introductory Session
At the introductory session, we provide guidance on the use of the self-assessment tool “ICB4 for Project Management”. We work with exercises in filling out your CV and self-assessment, as well as explaining the scope and form of the written exam. In addition, the content is reviewed in the remaining steps. The introduction takes place online and lasts 4 hours.
CV and self-assessment: After the introduction session, you prepare a CV and carry out a self-assessment of knowledge and application of the competence elements in “ICB4 for Project management” and then submits this for assessment by your assessors.
Written exam: The exam is held online and lasts 3 hours. No aids are allowed. Form: Open questions.
First feedback: The assessors compile all their assessments of you from step 1 in a response letter, together with notification of whether you have been approved to continue to step 2.
Step 2 Interview and final assessment
Individual interview with you and your two assessors. The interview lasts 1.5 hours and is held online. If the assessors have seen evidence of a sufficient level of competence, a certificate is issued which is valid for five years. The interview is held online.
Total time consumption for the candidate: Up to 80 hours.
Recertification:
After five years, you are invited for recertification. You must update your CV and your self-assessment. You must also describe the extent of your competence development within the past five years and which competence elements from “ICB4 for Project management” you have worked to improve. We expect you to have spent at least 35 hours annually on skills development. It is also expected that during the last 5 years you have worked at least 30 man-months with management of less complex projects. If the assessors at the recertification have doubts about your competences, you will be invited to a one-hour interview, where you will, among other things, must complete a 10-minute presentation of selected competencies. The process for an IPMA C-level certification can be seen below:
For you who manage complex projects and have a minimum of five years’ experience.
Read more about competence requirements and the certification process at level B here:
Level B - Competence requirements
IPMA B – Certified Senior Project Manager, Senior Program Manager or Senior Portfolio Manager
An IPMA certification at level B requires that you are competent to manage complex projects, programs, or portfolios (hereinafter referred to as PPP). You choose which of the three domains (project, program, or portfolio) you want to be certified in.
Experience Application
Level B certification requires you to have at least 60 man-months of experience managing PPP. Of these, a minimum of 36 man-months must come from management of complex PPPs. The remaining man-months can be experience from managing less complex PPPs. The minimum requirements for experience must be covered within the same domain (Project management, program management or portfolio management). The 60 man-months of experience should be no more than 8 years old, but we accept up to 12 years if you justify the reason for this (e.g. if you have worked with line management or if you have had leave). We expect you to have practiced PPP management with responsibility for all management areas and with achieving good results. Furthermore, your acquired experience has been applied in new situations/PPP.
Competences:
You have solid knowledge of several variants of methods/tools within most of the competence elements described in “ICB4”. In addition, you must have practical experience from application in numerous situations in complex PPPs – together with several participants.
The certification process:
The certification process at level B consists of 3 steps.
Step 1 – Introductory Session
At the introductory session, we provide guidance on the use of the self-assessment tool “ICB4”. We work with exercises in filling out your CV and self-assessment, as well as explaining the scope and form of the written exam. In addition, the content of the remaining steps is reviewed. The introduction is held online and lasts 4 hours.
CV and self-assessment: After the introduction session, you prepare a CV and carry out a self-assessment of knowledge and application of the competence elements in “ICB4” and then submits this for assessment by your assessors.
Written exam:
The exam is held online and lasts 3 hours. No aids are allowed. Form: Open questions.
First feedback:
The assessors compile all their assessments of you from step 1 in a response letter, together with a notification as to whether you have been approved to continue at step 2. If it turns out that your competences fits better to Level C, you can move for Level C, if you pay an additional fee.
Step 2 Case report
If you are approved to proceed after step 1, you prepare a report on a complex PPP that you have managed.
Step 3 Interview and final assessment.
Assessment at level B is carried out by two assessors – including one assessor with experience within the same type of PPP that you work with. In step 3, the PPP report is included in the final assessment. The interview lasts 2 hours and is held online. If the assessors have seen evidence of a sufficient level of competence, a certificate is issued which is valid for 5 years.
Total time consumption for the candidate: Up to 120 hours.
Recertification: After five years, you are invited for recertification. You must update your CV and your self-assessment. You must also describe the extent of your competence development within the past 5 years and which competence elements from “ICB4” you have worked to improve. We expect you to have spent at least 35 hours annually on competence development. It is also expected that during the last 5 years you have worked at least 30 man-months with the management of complex PPPs. During the recertification, you have the option to change the “domain”. If, for example, you are certified as a Senior project manager and you have worked as a program manager for the past 5 years, you can switch to Senior program manager at the recertification. If the assessors at the recertification have doubts about your competences, you will be invited to a one-hour interview, where you will, among other things, must complete a 10-minute presentation of selected competencies. The process for an IPMA B-level certification can be seen below:
For you who manage the company’s projects, programs and/or project portfolios at a strategic level in the company and have experience of at least five years.
Read more about competence requirements and the certification process at level A here:
Level A - Competence requirements
IPMA A – Certified Project Director, Program Director or Portfolio Director
An IPMA certification at level A requires that you are competent to manage very complex projects, programs, or portfolios (hereinafter referred to as PPP).
Experience Application
As a Project Director, you must be able to document at least 60 man-months of experience as a manager of very complex projects. Of these, at least 36 man-months must be at strategic level.
As a Program Director, you must be able to document: At least 60 man-months of experience as a manager of very complex programs at a strategic level
or
at least 48 man-months of experience as program manager of very complex programs and at least 36 man-months of experience as project manager of very complex projects at strategic level.
As a Portfolio Director, you must be able to document: At least 60 man-months of experience as a portfolio manager of very complex portfolios at a strategic level
or
at least 48 man-months of experience as a portfolio manager of very complex portfolios and at least 36 man-months of experience as a project manager or program manager of very complex projects or programs at a strategic level.
At level A the experience should be no more than 8 years old, but we accept up to 12 years if you justify the reason for this. We expect that you have exercised PPP management with responsibility for all management areas and achieved good results, and that the experience gained from management has been applied in new situations.
Competences
You have solid knowledge of several methods/tools within most of the competence elements described in “ICB4” and you can assess and optimize variants. You must also have practical experience from application.
The certification process at level A:
The certification process at Level A consists of three steps.
Step 1 – Introductory Session
At the introductory session, we provide guidance on the use of the self-assessment tool “ICB4”. We work with exercises in filling out your CV and self-assessment. In addition, the content is reviewed in the remaining steps. The introduction is held online and lasts 4 hours.
CV and self-assessment:
After the introduction session, you prepare a CV and carry out a self-assessment of knowledge and application of the competence elements in “ICB4” and then submits this for assessment by your assessors.
First feedback:
The assessors compile all their assessments of you from step 1 in a response letter together with a notification as to whether you are approved to continue at step 2. If it turns out that your skills correspond better to Level B, you can instead move to Level B if you pay an additional fee.
Step 2 Case report
If you are approved to proceed after step 1, you prepare a report on a complex PPP of which you have been the manager.
Step 3 Interview and final assessment.
Assessment at level A is carried out by two assessors – including one assessor with experience within the same type of PPP that you work with. In step 3, the PPP report and interview with the assessors are included in the final assessment. Interview lasts 2 hours. If the assessors have seen evidence of a sufficient level of competence, a certificate is issued which is valid for 5 years.
Total time investment for the candidate: Up to 160 hours.
Recertification: After five years, you are invited for recertification. You must update your CV and your self-assessment. You must also describe the extent of your competence development within the past 5 years and which competence elements from “Competences in project management” you have worked to improve. We expect you to have spent at least 35 hours annually on skills development. It is also expected that during the last 5 years you have worked at least 30 man-months with the management of very complex PPPs. During the recertification, you have the option to change the “domain”. If, for example, you are certified as a Project Director and you have worked in program management for the past five years, you can switch to Program Director upon recertification. If the assessors at the recertification have doubts about your competences, you will be invited to a one-hour interview, where you will, among other things, must complete a 10-minute presentation of selected competencies.
The process for an IPMA certification at A level can be seen below:
