Although PMI is the most recognized as the standard of project management, there are a few other organizations that certify project managers.

International Project Management Association (IPMA)

The IPMA was founded four years (1965) before PMI, which makes it the oldest project management association in the world. Even though it is older, it has not garnered the same acceptance as PMI, with roughly 40,000 members in forty different countries. The IPMA certification system features four levels:

• Level D: Certified Project Management Associate — The lowest level of certification. The candidate completes an exam to receive the certificate. This certification is equivalent to the CAPM.

• Level C: Certified Project Manager — The level C is also attained by taking an exam and generally also requires some validation of current experience. The candidate should be able to manage noncomplex projects. This level is in between the CAPM and the PMP.

• Level B: Certified Senior Project Manager — The candidate looking for the Level B should be able to manage complex projects without assistance. The process to attain this certification is to submit a self-assessment of project management knowledge and experience. The second step is to create a report based on a project that was discussed in the application. The final step is a professional interview with two trained assessors. Upon completion of the steps, the candidate becomes certified. This certification is equivalent to the PMP.

• Level A: Certified Project Director — The highest level of certification in the IPMA is the Certified Projects Director. The candidate for this certification must have a minimum of five years experience in project portfolio management, in which three years are in the responsible leadership of the portfolio management of a company. The certification process is the same process steps as Level B.

Recently, the American Society for the Advancement of Project Management became the governing body to represent the IPMA in the United States. They offer the ACPP (Level D), ACPM (Level C), ACSPM (Level B), and the ACPD (Level A).

Another organization that is closely aligned with IPMA is the Association of Project Management (APM). The APM is a European organization focused on project and program management. Their certifications align with the IPMA's in offering four levels of certification.

Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM)

The AIPM governs the RegPM (Registered Project Manager) certification program. Candidates are required to show their competence in project management to achieve one of the three levels of certification:

• Qualified Project Practitioner (QPP)

• Registered Project Manager (RPM)

• Master Project Director (MPD)

The levels and certifications are comparable to the IPMA and PMI.

Rounding Out the List

In addition to the certifications outlined above, the following certifications are also available:

• CompTIA Project+: CompTIA offers a certification based on the fundamentals of project management. This requires an exam to complete.

• Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE 2): PRINCE 2 was created in the UK and is used extensively in the UK Government and throughout the world. PRINCE 2 is a structured method and process that is learned. Candidates study and take an exam for certification. There are two levels of certification — foundation and practitioner.

• American Academy of Project Management:The AAPM offers project management training and certification. They have three different certifications — Master Project Manager (MPM), Project Manager E-Business(PME), and Certified International Project Manager (CIPM).