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Role Descriptions and Eligibility Criteria

IPMA Level A® 

IPMA Level B® 

IPMA Level C® 

IPMA Level D® 

IPMA Level A® 

Certified

Project Director

Experience must have been acquired within the last 12 years. The minimum experience requirements for Level A are:

 

  • 5 years (7,500 hours on-the-job) as a project manager managing very complex projects of which at least 3 years were at a strategic level

Certified
Project Director

Certified Programme Director

Experience must have been acquired within the last 12 years. The minimum experience requirements for Level A are:

  • 5 years (7,500 hours on-the-job) as a program manager managing very complex programmes at a strategic level, OR

  • 4 years (6,000 hours on-the-job) as a program manager managing very complex programmes at a strategic level, AND 3 years (4,500 hours on-the-job) as a project manager managing very complex projects at a strategic level

Certified
Programme Director

Certified Portfolio Director

Experience must have been acquired within the last 12 years. The minimum experience requirements for Level A are:

  • 5 years (7,500 hours on-the-job) as a portfolio manager managing very complex portfolios at a strategic level, OR

  • 4 years (6,000 hours on-the-job) as a portfolio manager managing very complex portfolios at a strategic level, AND 3 years (4,500 hours on-the-job) as a project or programme manager managing very complex projects or programmes at a strategic level

Certified
Portfolio Director

IPMA Level B® 

Certified Senior Project Manager

Experience must have been acquired within the last 8 years. If your career was interrupted (e.g., for military service or parental leave), that period can be extended to 12 years. The minimum experience requirements for Level B are:

  • 5 years (7,500 hours on-the-job) as a project manager of which at least 3 years (4,500 hours on-the-job) were in a leadership role for a complex project

Certified Senior Project Manager

Certified Senior Programme Manager

Experience must have been acquired within the last 8 years. If your career was interrupted (e.g., for military service or parental leave), that period can be extended to 12 years. The minimum experience requirements for Level B are:

  • 5 years (7,500 hours on-the-job) as a programme manager of which at least 3 years (4,500 hours on-the-job) were in a leadership role for a complex programme

Certified Senior Proramme Manager

Certified Senior Portfolio Manager

Experience must have been acquired within the last 8 years. If your career was interrupted (e.g., for military service or parental leave), that period can be extended to 12 years. The minimum experience requirements for Level B are:

  • 5 years (7,500 hours on-the-job) as a portfolio manager of which at least 3 years (4,500 hours on-the-job) were in a leadership role for a complex portfolio

Certified Senior Portfolio Manager

IPMA Level C® 

Certified

Project Manager

Experience must have been acquired within the last 6 years. If your career was interrupted (e.g., for military service or parental leave), that period can be extended to 10 years. The minimum experience requirements for Level C are:

  • 3 years (4,500 hours on-the-job) managing projects of moderate complexity, OR

  • 3 years (4,500 hours on-the-job) assisting the project manager of a highly complex project

Certified
Project Manager

IPMA Level D® 

Certified

Project Management Associate

There are no experience requirements for Level D. However, most candidates find that 3-6 months working on a project of at least moderate complexity provides context that is helpful in preparing for the exam.

Certified
Project Management Associate

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