Press Release: asapm Introduces asapm Certified
Senior Project Manager^TM (Level-B) Credential

LEXINGTON, MA (July 4, 2006) — The American Society for the Advancement of Project Management (asapm) has announced the public availability of asapm's Certified Senior Project Manager credential.

According to asapm President Lew Ireland, “asapm has been working to bring competence-based certification to the USA for nearly four years. We are both pleased and proud to be able to offer this valuable service to project managers and their employers throughout the USA.” Ireland noted that the asapm program is the US version of the Four Level Certification program (4-L-C) designed and used by the International Project Management Association (IPMA).

Stacy Goff, asapm Vice President, observed that “IPMA has certified more individuals as competent project managers than any other organization in the world. We are really excited to be able to offer a version of the 4-L-C tailored to the unique needs of the US market.” Goff also explained that asapm’s program is managed by the PMCert Board, a semi-autonomous body set up to ensure the objectivity of the certification process and to comply with the mandates of ISO 17024.

Bill Duncan, PMCert Chair, commented that the asapm Certified Senior Project Manager is just one of the levels of certification to be offered. “We have a knowledge-based credential targeted at newcomers to the field, and during 2007, we will begin certifying entry level project managers. PMCert also plans to offer credentials to individuals who are functioning above the Senior Project Manager level.”

Duncan added that asapm’s design of the Certified Senior Project Manager assessment process provides a very rigorous certification in competence. “There are two ways to assess competence,” he said, “attribute-based and performance-based. We will be applying IPMA’s attribute-based approach plus the performance-based criteria developed by the Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards. This will provide successful candidates with a competence-based credential that is recognized throughout the world.”

Duncan went on to describe a two-stage process. “Stage 1 is relatively simple and is designed to screen candidates to ensure that they have the necessary qualifications for managing complex projects. Stage 2 is far more challenging in that the candidate must assemble evidence of actual on-the-job performance. In addition, Stage 2 involves a face-to-face interview with two independent assessors. So in a way, the purpose of the Stage 1 is to prevent someone who is clearly not qualified from spending a large amount of effort in vain.”

Stage 1 fee is $95 for asapm members and $125 for non-members. The Stage 2 fee is $1,975 for asapm members, $2,250 for non-members. The price for member applicants in groups of five or more is $1,500 each from the same company in the same location.

Individuals interested in becoming certified as asapm Senior Project Managers should make a Stage 1 Application no later than December 1, 2006, to assure clearance to move on to Stage 2 – the Interview process. The next round of interviews for the asapm Certified Senior Project Manager credential is First Quarter, 2007. Project managers interested in applying for this certification may download the application from the asapm or PMCert website along with other pertinent details.

Click this link to download the Certified Senior Project Manager Stage 1 Application.
Click this link to make payment for the Certified Senior Project Manager Stage 1 Application.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at PMCert. As well, please feel free to pass this Press Release along to your colleagues and clients.

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asapmCertified Senior Project Manager is a certification mark of asapm. asapm is a registered trademark, and PMCert is a servicemark of the American Society for the Advancement of ProjectManagement.