Through its Global Standards Program, PMI works to develop standards for the profession that are valued by our members, the marketplace and other stakeholders. By doing this, PMI hopes to achieve worldwide excellence in the practice of project management through standards that are widely recognized and consistently applied.
What is a standard?
Simply put, a standard is a document established by a consensus-based process that provides guidelines, rules and characteristics for the topic it is covering. PMI’s library of standards can be grouped into five categories: projects, programs, people, organizations and professions.
How are standards developed?
PMI® global standards stand out from other texts because they undergo three review and approval steps:
- 1. Each standard is created or updated by a global group of volunteers currently working in project management. Visit the list of current standards projects for information on volunteering or our library of PMI Global Standards to see what is currently available.
- 2. Standards Program Working Sessions enable these volunteer teams to receive feedback from professionals in the field.
- 3. Prior to publication, standards are made available to the general public for input through the exposure draft process.
The PMI Standards Program also receives guidance from the Standards Program Member Advisory Group.
If you have an idea for a new project for PMI Standards, download and submit the 
Project Proposal Form
For more information on the PMI Global Standards Program, contact the Standards Department.
