Australian Institute of Project Management


Professional Competency Standards for Project Management

AIPM’s Competency Standards have been developed to meet the requirements of the project management profession.   

 

The Professional Competency Standards for Project Management are divided into four sections, based on their content.

 

The documents are for public use. We require you complete a short form prior to downloading the documents.

 

A set of questions and answers on the competency standards are available for download.

 

Click here for competency standards and certification questions and answers in HTML.

 

For introductory information on the PCSPM please see this powerpoint.


Questions and answers on the standards are also available.

 

 

History of the Standards

In the early 1990s, AIPM developed project management competency standards for AIPM registration process (RegPM). These standards were later incorporated into a number of national training packages aligned to the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) levels 4, 5 and 6. Since then, the project management body of knowledge and industry expectations project management have increased substantially and there was a need for:

  • upgrading standards to meet industry needs. The Standards for Project Practitioner, Project Manager and Project Director contained in this document reflect this upgrading.
  • higher levels of performance from project managers, particularly those working at the senior management level. Standards for new levels of Senior Project Manager are under consideration and standards for Portfolio Manager are under development.

These Standards are for AIPM’s use in assessing applicants for the RegPM program.

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Background

In the early 1990s the AIPM developed project management competency standards for the AIPM registration process (RegPM). These standards were later incorporated into a number of national Training Packages aligned to the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) levels 4, 5 and 6.Since then the project management body of knowledge and industry expectations of project management have increased substantially.As a result industry has voiced the need for;

  • Upgrading the standards to meet industry needs.The Standards for Project Practitioner, Project Director and Project Director contained in this document reflect this upgrading.
  • Higher levels of performance from project managers, particularly those working at the senior management level. Standards for new levels of Senior Project Manager are under consideration and standards for Executive Project Director are under development.

These Standards are for AIPM use in assessing applicants for the RegPM program.The intention is that the Standards contained in this document will be adjusted to suit the AQF requirement and then submitted to Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) for consideration as the new National Standards for project management within the Vocational Education and Training sector.

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Development of the Standards

The content of the Standards has been based on a review and alignment of the following national and international project management standards.

  • AIPM project management standards
  • International Project Management Association (IPMA) standards
  • UK Association of Project Management (APM) standards
  • US Project Management Institute (PMI) standards
  • Complex Project Managers standards © Commonwealth of Australia
  • Innovation and Business Services Australia (IBSA) project management standards

Development of the Standards included a desk top review of current research in areas of skill gaps in project management, future PM trends and a review of existing international standards such as those mentioned above. From this research, gaps in existing standards and areas where project management practice was falling short were identified. These findings provided the framework for the first draft of the standards.

 

During the development phase, preliminary reviews were conducted by a network of key practitioners from a range of industry sectors identified by the Technical Standards Committee. The Technical Standards Committee was made up of individuals who were primarily project management practitioners. The committee members facilitated feedback from networks that each committee member had access to and as well it was distributed to an Industry Reference Group for feedback.

 

A draft incorporating feedback was placed on the AIPM website and feedback was sought for a period of four months. The feedback was incorporated and national seminars and teleconferences were held. Project management practitioners and AIPM assessors attended and provided detailed feedback. Any general comments or feedback that was not consistent with other feedback was collected and grouped for discussion and action by a Standards Review Group. Membership of this group included AIPM assessors and project practitioners.

 

Associations such as the Australian Institute of Risk Management organised groups of members to provide feedback. 

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Fequently asked questions and answers about AIPM Competency Standards

 

1. What was the launch date of the new standards?

The new AIPM Professional Competency Standards for Project Management were formally released on 7th July 2008. 

 

2. Why did AIPM change the standards?

The original PM competency standards were developed for AQF 4, 5 and 6 during the mid 1990s and approved as the National Competency Standards for Project Management (NCSPM) in 1996 and reviewed with only minor changes in 2004.

The AIPM National Board considered it important that AIPM’s standards be maintained to current practices and reflects professional expectations. AIPM continues to:

  • update the standards to represent contemporary best practices;
  • lift the bar for higher levels of Project Manager performance particularly at the senior management levels;
  • ensure more consistent assessment practices.

 

3. What is the difference between the old to new standards?

Changes have been made to improve the rigour and depth of assessment and AIPM certification against professional project management practices.

In particular, the standards make the difference in each function between:

  • the overarching methodology, e.g. an agreed risk management methodology;
  • the management plan for each function describing how each function is planned and managed during the project, e.g. a risk management plan; and
  • the baseline action plans for each function, e.g. a risk register or risk action plans.

At the Project Manager Level (was RPM → now CPPM): we also need to stress the fact that we manage people, processes & systems.

 

Most of the evidence requirements will be focussed on Integration evidence around Planning (e.g. evidence of Scope Management Planning, Time Management Planning, Cost Management Planning, Risk Management Planning, etc.) as this is where the increased granularity of competency comes in.

 

At the Project Director Level (was MPD → now CPPD):

 

Most of the evidence requirements will be focussed on Program Integration evidence around Planning, as well as team management and leadership.

 

We will also be ensuring, through structured discussion and questioning, that a CPPD candidate recognises the need to create a program team culture, leadership culture and communications culture, and to integrate that program culture vertically through business and project levels.

 

4. What are the new post-nominals?

 

5. Can existing registered QPPs, RPMs and MPDs automatically start using the new post nominals?

Yes (as of 7th July 08). This is to ensure an ease of reference in the market (no need to maintain two post-nominal streams) and as a courtesy to professional members. The new post-nominals are granted ‘on credit’ - however keeping them after the normal three-year certification will require the holder to recertify against the new Standards gap (the incremental but significant difference between the old and new AIPM Standards with an Assessor).

 

6. If I registered and paid my Assessment fee with AIPM on or prior to 30 June 08, and have not completed my assessment with my Assessor, am I assessed under the old standard or new standard?

In this scenario you can be assessed under the old standard (up until the 30th December 2008). Thereafter you must be assessed under the new Standards. You may of course (in consultation with your Assessor) be assessed under the new standards after 1 September 2008.

 

7. Is there a transition phase?

Yes, your Assessor cannot lodge your recommendation for registration under the new standards until 1 September 2008.

 

8. If I am assessed under the old standards, what do I need to do to upgrade to the new standards?

On the third anniversary of your RegPM certification (it is valid for 3 years), you will need to go through a partial re-certification process demonstrating that you have met the new requirements added to AIPM Standards. These will also count towards the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points you need to acquire to maintain your RegPM certification.

 

An evidence guide will be available before September 2008 to guide candidates through the additional performance criteria and likely evidence requirements they will need to produce for a partial re-certification.

 

9. How do I recertify if I am already assessed under the new standards?

You will need to recertify through the established CPD process.

 

10. How will the assessment processes change under the new standards?

The process of assessment will largely remain the same and should be seamless to candidates.