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PROVEN COMPETENCE AND A COMPETITIVE EDGE
IPMA – INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CERTIFICATION
International certification for persons in management
VZPM: IMPLEMENTING A GLOBAL SCHEME NATIONALLYAmong other things, the Swiss association for the certification
of persons in management (VZPM) carries out project manage-
ment certification under the scheme designed by the Internati-
onal Project Management Association (IPMA). The four-level
certification system is based on the Swiss National Competence
Baseline (Swiss NCB), which is in turn based on the IPMA Com-
petence Baseline (ICB). The Swiss NCB describes 46 competence
elements of professional project management and sets out the
knowledge and experience required of project managers at
each level.
IPMA: INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONIPMA is a world-leading project management organisation with
over 50,000 members in 50 countries around the globe. It is a
non-profit organisation that works for the benefit of its mem-
bers and clients.
IPMA is actively engaged in advancing and promoting compe-
tent project management. In addition to the world-leading cer-
tification system, IPMA also presents project management
awards and provides publications on current market trends and
research discoveries in project management.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION ON FOUR LEVELSThe four-level certification programme is designed as a conti-
nuous competence development process. Each step up the
four-level competence ladder involves an appropriate develop-
ment in self-knowledge and verified competence.
Candidates are assessed on three competence ranges: behavi-
oural, contextual and technical competences. The assessment
consists of a combination of self-evaluation, written examina-
tions assessing experience and competence, and interviews.
CERTIFIED PROJECTS DIRECTOR
CERTIFIED SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGER
CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION
CERTIFIED PROJECTS DIRECTOR
CERTIFIED SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGER
CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE
Level D: A Certified Project Management Associate is able to apply
project management knowledge when working in a project.
CERTI
FIED P
ROJECT
S D
IRECT
OR
CERTI
FIED P
ROJECT
MANAGEMENT
ASSOCI
ATE
CERTI
FIED P
ROJECT
MANAGER
CERTI
FIED S
ENIO
R P
ROJECT
MANAGER
APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT EXPERIENCE
APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT LIST | REFERENCES
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM/PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION
WRITTEN EXAM
PROJECTS DIRECTOR REPORT
SHORT PROJECT REPORT
PROJECT REPORT
INTERVIEW
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE | RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
KNOWLEDGE
VALIDITY IN YEARS
COMPETENCE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
1
2
3
5 5 5 5
IPMA LEVEL
Level A: A Certified Projects Director is able to manage
complex project portfolios or programmes.
Level B: A Certified Senior Project Manager is able to
manage complex projects.
Level C: A Certified Project Manager is able to manage projects
of limited complexity.
WHAT MAKES THE CERTIFICATION UNIQUE
Personal evaluation by assessors
Consideration of behavioural and contextual
competences
Personal professional career development
Four different levels of certification
No language barriers: English or your native language
(CH: German and French)
Independent of specific training courses
A PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE GIVES YOU
International recognition of your competence
Objective, neutral confirmation of your project
management skills
Improved career opportunities
Better chances in the market
Added value for your organisation
An internationally recognised title
A GLOBAL CERTIFICATIONThe certification offered by the VZPM in accordance with the
IPMA guidelines is recognised worldwide. Over the last 15 ye-
ars, some 160,000 project managers around the globe have
been certified according to those guidelines. Global corpora-
tions benefit from IPMA’s international presence and recogniti-
on. It enables the entire company to use the same certification
in all countries.
There are no language barriers in the examination process. Can-
didates have the choice of doing the certification in their own
language (CH: German and French) or in English. No matter
where you live or what language you speak, you can al-
ways have your competence certified according to IPMA
guidelines.
THE VZPM’S CLIENTS COME FROM A VARIETY OF BUSINESS SECTORS
IT and telecommunications
Industry and engineering
Public administration
Banking and insurance
Consultancy and training
Logistics and transportation
Retail
MARKET TRENDS – THE VZPM HELPS YOU STAY COMPETITIVEMany of our clients base their internal competence and career
development programmes on the international IPMA certifica-
tion system. By doing so, they become attractive employers in
the eyes of certified project managers and are able to recruit the
best project managers on the market.
CERTI
FIED P
ROJECT
S D
IRECT
OR
CERTI
FIED P
ROJECT
MANAGEMENT
ASSOCI
ATE
CERTI
FIED P
ROJECT
MANAGER
CERTI
FIED S
ENIO
R P
ROJECT
MANAGER
APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT EXPERIENCE
APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT LIST | REFERENCES
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM/PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION
WRITTEN EXAM
PROJECTS DIRECTOR REPORT
SHORT PROJECT REPORT
PROJECT REPORT
INTERVIEW
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE | RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
KNOWLEDGE
VALIDITY IN YEARS
COMPETENCE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
1
2
3
5 5 5 5
IPMA LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESSES
VZPM
ASSOCIATION FOR THE CERTIFICATION FOR PERSONS IN MANAGEMENT
FLUGHOFSTRASSE 50, CH-8152 GLATTBRUGG
PHONE +41 43 810 90 30, FAX +41 43 810 90 49
[email protected], WWW.VZPM.CH
IPMA EYE OF COMPETENCEThe “Eye of Competence“ symbolises the human being, the
most important part of our candidate assessment. It also repre-
sents the integration of the three competence ranges considered
in the certification process: behaviour, context and technology.
Each candidate is individually evaluated by independent asses-
sors. Social skills and personal qualities are considered along-
side the candidate’s own project management experience and
knowledge.
The combination of personality-based certification and diffe-
rent competence ranges makes the IPMA certification unique. It
enables companies and employers to find the right person to
manage the project based on their proven competences.
Technical competences
Project management success
Interested parties
Project requirements and objectives
Risk and opportunity
Quality
Project organisation
Teamwork
Problem resolution
Project structures
Scope and deliverables
Time and project phases
Resources
Cost and finance
Procurement and contract
Changes
Control and reports
Information and documentation
Communication
Start-up
Close-out
Behavioural competences
Leadership
Engagement and motivation
Self-control
Assertiveness
Relaxation
Openness
Creativity
Results orientation
Efficiency
Consultation
Negotiation
Conflict and crisis
Reliability
Value appreciation
Ethics
Contextual competences
Project orientation
Programme orientation
Portfolio orientation
Implementation of project, programme
and portfolio
Permanent organisation
Business
Systems, products and technology
Personnel management
Health, security, safety and
environment
Finance
Legal
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO
REGISTER, VISIT WWW.VZPM.CH
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TECHNICAL
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