Guessing is not a strategy: How to build decision velocity with AI and real-time data
June 10, 2026 | Live Webinar
Categories: Interviews
Situation: You're looking for ways to enhance your career.
A couple of weeks ago, Ron Hanchar was named Director of Certification at PMI®. Since PMI certification is so near and dear to many of our members' hearts, I though it would be a good idea to get Ron's take on where things are going.Q. What's new in PMI certification? Is the push more horizontal, into areas related to Project Management or are the new programs more about roles at different organizational levels?
PMI recently introduced the PgMP® credential for individuals who achieve organizational objectives by overseeing a program that consists of multiple projects. The PgMP credential holder maintains alignment of
program scope with strategic business objectives. They define projects and assign project managers to manage their cost, schedule and performance.
To earn the credential, the PgMP candidate is required to successfully complete three assessments--panel review and application, multiple choice examination and Multi-rater Assessment (MRA). The MRA requires
performance evaluations by work colleagues.
We are looking at what the project management community needs and are building new credentials based on market research that measures and tracks new developments in the profession. The PgMP credential
acknowledges the more strategic organizational role of project management. We also have determined that there are needs in scheduling and other specialty areas. We will continue our market research in 2008
to help us to determine if there are additional roles and functions in which the project management community has needs.
Q. PMI has really focused on becoming more global in recent years. How is that reflected in the certification program? Are some certifications localized?
PMI's certification program was first discussed by the PMI board in 1977, and the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification was launched in 1984. In 1995, there were 500 PMPs; today there are
more than 260,000. Since then, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) and the Program Management Professional (PgMP) have been added to the PMI family of credentials.
From the beginning, the focus has been on developing, with input from around the world, credentials that verify a project manager's understanding of the profession and the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) Guide -- the recognized authoritative reference on project management. More than two million copies of the PMBOK Guide are in circulation, and it has been published in 10 languages.
Candidates for PMI credentials must do more than study the PMBOK® Guide and successfully pass a test. They also must have practical experience as a project or program manager and must be favorably
evaluated by others in the profession. PMI credentials are developed to benefit not only the project manager's career but also the needs of organizations for which they work. Over the past few years, PMI's
certification program has more than quadrupled in the number of credentialed individuals to 270,000 plus worldwide. Globally, this has been reflected in recent years in a noticeable shift in the percent of
credentialed individuals by region from being North America centric to being truly international. As the number of credentialed individuals continues to rise, the proportion of credentialed individuals in Asia
Pacific and Europe - Middle East - Asia has increased significantly.
Looking at PMP credentials, there were almost 48,000 PMPs in the United States in 2003; today, there are more than 150,000. In Europe, there were about 7,000 PMPs in 2003 and today almost 23,000 PMPs. In China,
there are roughly 22,000 PMPs today - a dramatic growth of more than six times its 3,500 PMPs in 2003. Similarly, PMPs have increased tenfold in India where there were 1,420 PMPs in 2003. Today, there are
approximately 14,000 PMPs in India. China and India are utilizing project management to build their nations as they develop and compete in today's globalized economy. PMI credentials are developed through a
rigorous process that involved PMI members from each of the four regions served by PMI -- North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa. PMI certifications are the same worldwide; PMI does not offer localized credentials.
Q. Do you feel that the PMP certification will ever be a licensing requirement for project management? (like a CPA and others)
There are organizations today that require the PMP certification. Ultimately, we want more organizations to require professional project management credentials so they will attract quality project managers who
can deliver projects on time and within budget. The goal of project management is to make organizations successful, and we think hiring qualified project managers is directly attributable to that success.
Posted on: March 01, 2008 02:07 PM |
Permalink