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PROVEN COMPETENCE AND A COMPETITIVE EDGE

IPMA – INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CERTIFICATION

International certification for persons in management

VZPM: IMPLEMENTING A GLOBAL SCHEME NATIONALLYAmong other things, the Swiss association for the certification

of persons in management (VZPM) carries out project manage-

ment certification under the scheme designed by the Internati-

onal Project Management Association (IPMA). The four-level

certification system is based on the Swiss National Competence

Baseline (Swiss NCB), which is in turn based on the IPMA Com-

petence Baseline (ICB). The Swiss NCB describes 46 competence

elements of professional project management and sets out the

knowledge and experience required of project managers at

each level.

IPMA: INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONIPMA is a world-leading project management organisation with

over 50,000 members in 50 countries around the globe. It is a

non-profit organisation that works for the benefit of its mem-

bers and clients.

IPMA is actively engaged in advancing and promoting compe-

tent project management. In addition to the world-leading cer-

tification system, IPMA also presents project management

awards and provides publications on current market trends and

research discoveries in project management.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION ON FOUR LEVELSThe four-level certification programme is designed as a conti-

nuous competence development process. Each step up the

four-level competence ladder involves an appropriate develop-

ment in self-knowledge and verified competence.

Candidates are assessed on three competence ranges: behavi-

oural, contextual and technical competences. The assessment

consists of a combination of self-evaluation, written examina-

tions assessing experience and competence, and interviews.

CERTIFIED PROJECTS DIRECTOR

CERTIFIED SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGER

CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION

CERTIFIED PROJECTS DIRECTOR

CERTIFIED SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGER

CERTIFIED PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE

Level D: A Certified Project Management Associate is able to apply

project management knowledge when working in a project.

CERTI

FIED P

ROJECT

S D

IRECT

OR

CERTI

FIED P

ROJECT

MANAGEMENT

ASSOCI

ATE

CERTI

FIED P

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MANAGER

CERTI

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ENIO

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ROJECT

MANAGER

APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT EXPERIENCE

APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT LIST | REFERENCES

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM/PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION

WRITTEN EXAM

PROJECTS DIRECTOR REPORT

SHORT PROJECT REPORT

PROJECT REPORT

INTERVIEW

APPLIED KNOWLEDGE | RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

KNOWLEDGE

VALIDITY IN YEARS

COMPETENCE

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

1

2

3

5 5 5 5

IPMA LEVEL

Level A: A Certified Projects Director is able to manage

complex project portfolios or programmes.

Level B: A Certified Senior Project Manager is able to

manage complex projects.

Level C: A Certified Project Manager is able to manage projects

of limited complexity.

WHAT MAKES THE CERTIFICATION UNIQUE

Personal evaluation by assessors

Consideration of behavioural and contextual

competences

Personal professional career development

Four different levels of certification

No language barriers: English or your native language

(CH: German and French)

Independent of specific training courses

A PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE GIVES YOU

International recognition of your competence

Objective, neutral confirmation of your project

management skills

Improved career opportunities

Better chances in the market

Added value for your organisation

An internationally recognised title

A GLOBAL CERTIFICATIONThe certification offered by the VZPM in accordance with the

IPMA guidelines is recognised worldwide. Over the last 15 ye-

ars, some 160,000 project managers around the globe have

been certified according to those guidelines. Global corpora-

tions benefit from IPMA’s international presence and recogniti-

on. It enables the entire company to use the same certification

in all countries.

There are no language barriers in the examination process. Can-

didates have the choice of doing the certification in their own

language (CH: German and French) or in English. No matter

where you live or what language you speak, you can al-

ways have your competence certified according to IPMA

guidelines.

THE VZPM’S CLIENTS COME FROM A VARIETY OF BUSINESS SECTORS

IT and telecommunications

Industry and engineering

Public administration

Banking and insurance

Consultancy and training

Logistics and transportation

Retail

MARKET TRENDS – THE VZPM HELPS YOU STAY COMPETITIVEMany of our clients base their internal competence and career

development programmes on the international IPMA certifica-

tion system. By doing so, they become attractive employers in

the eyes of certified project managers and are able to recruit the

best project managers on the market.

CERTI

FIED P

ROJECT

S D

IRECT

OR

CERTI

FIED P

ROJECT

MANAGEMENT

ASSOCI

ATE

CERTI

FIED P

ROJECT

MANAGER

CERTI

FIED S

ENIO

R P

ROJECT

MANAGER

APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT EXPERIENCE

APPLICATION | SELF-ASSESSMENT | PROJECT LIST | REFERENCES

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM/PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION

WRITTEN EXAM

PROJECTS DIRECTOR REPORT

SHORT PROJECT REPORT

PROJECT REPORT

INTERVIEW

APPLIED KNOWLEDGE | RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

KNOWLEDGE

VALIDITY IN YEARS

COMPETENCE

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

1

2

3

5 5 5 5

IPMA LEVEL

OVERVIEW OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESSES

VZPM

ASSOCIATION FOR THE CERTIFICATION FOR PERSONS IN MANAGEMENT

FLUGHOFSTRASSE 50, CH-8152 GLATTBRUGG

PHONE +41 43 810 90 30, FAX +41 43 810 90 49

INFO@VZPM.CH, WWW.VZPM.CH

IPMA EYE OF COMPETENCEThe “Eye of Competence“ symbolises the human being, the

most important part of our candidate assessment. It also repre-

sents the integration of the three competence ranges considered

in the certification process: behaviour, context and technology.

Each candidate is individually evaluated by independent asses-

sors. Social skills and personal qualities are considered along-

side the candidate’s own project management experience and

knowledge.

The combination of personality-based certification and diffe-

rent competence ranges makes the IPMA certification unique. It

enables companies and employers to find the right person to

manage the project based on their proven competences.

Technical competences

Project management success

Interested parties

Project requirements and objectives

Risk and opportunity

Quality

Project organisation

Teamwork

Problem resolution

Project structures

Scope and deliverables

Time and project phases

Resources

Cost and finance

Procurement and contract

Changes

Control and reports

Information and documentation

Communication

Start-up

Close-out

Behavioural competences

Leadership

Engagement and motivation

Self-control

Assertiveness

Relaxation

Openness

Creativity

Results orientation

Efficiency

Consultation

Negotiation

Conflict and crisis

Reliability

Value appreciation

Ethics

Contextual competences

Project orientation

Programme orientation

Portfolio orientation

Implementation of project, programme

and portfolio

Permanent organisation

Business

Systems, products and technology

Personnel management

Health, security, safety and

environment

Finance

Legal

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO

REGISTER, VISIT WWW.VZPM.CH

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