For individuals whose duties and responsibilities include meeting an organizational objective through the coordination of multiple related projects, the PgMP credential may be right for you.

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PMI Receives ISO Accreditation for Certification Programs
by Michelle Bowles

Project Management Professional (PMP^®) credential holders now have an additional advantage when it comes to approaching senior management or potential employers. As of December 2006, PMI’s PMP Certification Program received ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation, which ensures that personnel certifying bodies meet a certain set of standards.

PMI is the first project management association in the world to be accredited through 17024 and the 13th personnel certifying body in the United States to receive it.

Recently, the need for an international personnel accreditation program has become even more apparent, as services now contribute to the global economy more than products do, says Roy Swift, Ph.D., program director of personnel certification accreditation for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Washington, D.C., USA.

ANSI verifies, among other things, that proper policy is implemented to ensure all certification candidates are treated equally, that examinations are consistent and fair, that quality improvements are in place and that all subcontractors perform as they should.  

“Attaining this accreditation will help PMI protect the integrity of and promote public confidence in the credibility of our PMP credential program,” says Dawn Parker Harris, certification support specialist for PMI. “It will give employers the confidence that our PMP credential holders are highly qualified and increase PMI’s recognition among those who rely on project management.”

Adds Wally Moore, manager, business and government relations for PMI, “This impacts both government and business across the world. Organizations can send individuals with the PMP credential to any region in the world and know they have global recognition.” 

The accreditation was granted through ANSI, the U.S. sponsoring organization to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The 17024 standard, endorsed by 85 countries, is published by ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a global organization that prepares and publishes standards for electrical, electronic and related technologies.

To obtain the accreditation, certifying bodies must submit a paper application for review and go through an in-depth on-site audit—a process that from start to finish typically takes nine to 12 months, Dr. Swift says.

The accreditation specifically addresses PMP credential holders. But PMI’s other credentials—the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM^®) and the Program Management Professional (PgMP^SM)—may be included in the next renewal process. (Certifying bodies must be re-accredited every five years with annual surveillance, Dr. Swift says.)

This is the second ISO accreditation for which PMI has qualified. PMI’s Certification Program Department also achieved and maintains ISO 9001 certification in Quality Management Systems.

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