PMcrunch

Program Management within an organization involves managing longer term initiatives that involve multiple projects. The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers a Program Management Certification - the Program Management Professional (PgMP) - for experienced professionals who are interested in advancing their knowledge of program management and credentials for a continuing career in program management.

Some key topics within the program management realm, as distinguished from project management, include:

• Program Lifecycle
• Program Organization
• Program Management Processes
• Program Management and the Initiating Process Group
• Program Planning
• Program Management and the Execution Process Group
• Monitoring, Controlling, and Closing Programs
• Portfolio Management Processes" - 2 hours/PDUs

About the Program Management Professional (PgMP) Certification

The Project Management Institute (PMI) provides the Program Management Professional (PgMP) credentialing service. To be eligible for the PgMP credential, you must meet specific guidelines that objectively measure experience, education and professional knowledge.  You must also undergo a rigorous application process as well as three assessments.  Here is what it takes:

1. A comprehensive application process that including education and work experience as follows: BS, BA, or a global equivalent degree and 4 years of project management experience and 4 years of program management experience, OR no degree and 4 years of project management experience and 7 years of program management experience, over the last 15 consecutive years.
2. A 4 hour examination made up of 170 multiple-choice mostly scenario-based questions that test understanding of the knowledge, skills and techniques used in program management.
3. A Multi-rater Assessment (MRA) in which the applicant selects a team of colleagues and peers to evaluate his or her performance as a program manager via a web-based survey.
4. The PMI also requires candidates to agree to adhere to the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
5. The Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program, like the PMP CCR program, requires a parallel ongoing educational and professional development of individuals who have attained the PgMP credential. A PgMP must accrue and report a minimum of 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) during each three-year certification/CCR cycle, which can include PDUs applied to maintain PMP certification, if applicable.

More information on obtaining a PgMP Credential can be found in the PgMP Credential Handbook. Additional study and informational resources from the PMI include the PMBOK® Guide—Third Edition and The Standard for Program Management.
______________________________
John Reiling, PMP
Project Management Training Online
Lean Six Sigma Training Online