In many third world countries, and even in some first world countries, individuals have the desire and ability to succeed in project management, but have limited financial means. In these cases, should PMI means test their application and exam fees to provide wider access to their certifications? I met some very talented project personnel when I was working in the Philippines. Their monthly salary was less than the exam fee for say the PMP for example, and in fact, their net salaries plus expenses would take them perhaps 6-12 months to save for the exam. This doesn't even include books, training sessions etc. which although out of the control of PMI, add to the financial burden of these PMI certification aspirants. Saving Changes...
Agreed - perhaps down the road the PMIEF could consider sponsoring or subsidizing the certification aspirations of such candidates...
Kiron Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I support sponsoring over reducing the price. Sponsoring does not reduce the value of the PMP certification. Reducng the price does. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First of all, lot of people succeed in project management without having a certification. Some of them have written books and are recognized fellows of institutions and universities including the PMI. The certification does not assure nothing about that. Second, my recommendation, is sending an email to the PMI and to insist about that until getting an answer. Saving Changes...
Yes Kiron, I thought of the PMIEF, they could also assist training in especially third world countries, but it would be a massive task. If they are NFP, then I can't see why a subsidized program can't be established. Saving Changes...
Stéphane, depends how you define "value". If the content was reduced and the pass mark lowered, I could see how the value would be diminished, but I'm not sure by lowering the price alone in special circumstances reduces the value of the certification. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I believe that anything worthwhile in your life cost you something. It does not have to be prohibitive. It should be sufficiently costly that you actually have to make a deliberate choice to invest into something.
I understand your suggestion. I'm worried that it would be difficult to implement well and it would impact the certification's standing in the eyes of future clients and employers.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Nov 25, 2017 4:42 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Yes Stéphane that is a concern. There is also a risk of abuse as there are ways to manipulate means testing.
Thanks Sergio, actually I did email them around 6 months ago regarding training for some aspirants in the Philippines, something I was willing to do for nothing, but I was told that any course I produced wouldn't get the backing of PMI as a registered education provider until I did that for at least 12 months, so the students wouldn't get the required number of PDU's for the course. Regarding certification, I am yet to contact them about this, and wanted to see what the forum's views were first.
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Nov 25, 2017 4:47 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
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Take into account I was born into a third world country. On the other side I am too far to be an PMI advocated and I have discussed the same each time I participated into PMI World Certification Exam meeting with the PMI´s Certification Manager. Take into account this: PMI will not recognize what I will write but it is a business. Nobody inside the PMI have said it to me. How many people will certificate into some part of the world? How much it represent for the PMI? Then, after that, they think about to make some action to benefit those people or not. To get PDU´s and any other training requirements for the certification people do not need to take coursed with a registered certification provider.
I believe that anything worthwhile in your life cost you something. It does not have to be prohibitive. It should be sufficiently costly that you actually have to make a deliberate choice to invest into something.
I understand your suggestion. I'm worried that it would be difficult to implement well and it would impact the certification's standing in the eyes of future clients and employers.
Yes Stéphane that is a concern. There is also a risk of abuse as there are ways to manipulate means testing. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Nov 25, 2017 4:40 PM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Thanks Sergio, actually I did email them around 6 months ago regarding training for some aspirants in the Philippines, something I was willing to do for nothing, but I was told that any course I produced wouldn't get the backing of PMI as a registered education provider until I did that for at least 12 months, so the students wouldn't get the required number of PDU's for the course. Regarding certification, I am yet to contact them about this, and wanted to see what the forum's views were first.
Take into account I was born into a third world country. On the other side I am too far to be an PMI advocated and I have discussed the same each time I participated into PMI World Certification Exam meeting with the PMI´s Certification Manager. Take into account this: PMI will not recognize what I will write but it is a business. Nobody inside the PMI have said it to me. How many people will certificate into some part of the world? How much it represent for the PMI? Then, after that, they think about to make some action to benefit those people or not. To get PDU´s and any other training requirements for the certification people do not need to take coursed with a registered certification provider.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Nov 25, 2017 4:52 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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It's true that many don't need to take a course with the REP, as there is enough resources out there. Some are ok with just reading some books found on the internet, but still when it comes to the application to join PMI and register for the exam, some simply can't afford it. There is also the flow on benefit that these certification aspirants could provide in their local community or jobs they hold if they were able to become certified. If financial limitations are the only barrier to some great project managers getting certified, then it's unfortunate.
