Get your D-level certificate without previous practical experience
IPMA certifications offer an excellent opportunity to develop your project or agile management skills, whether you are an experienced practitioner or a newcomer. There are four levels of certification, based on experience and skills.
The D level certificate is the best entry level for you if you have little or no experience in project or agile management. You can complete the certificate with only basic knowledge of project management or agile management principles. This is a great opportunity to get a foothold in the project management field!
Certification has made me better at my job. For example, I now pay attention to communication, which is absolutely crucial in project work.
Anna-Maaria Mytty, Vaisala Oyj
Certification process at level D
- Order the application package – You will receive an application form and clear instructions by email. Ordering the package is free of charge and does not commit you to anything. It also contains tips on how to prepare for the test.
- Read the materials – Read the “Individual Competence Baseline” and the ethical guidelines. For those taking the Agile Management Certificate, we also recommend that you read the IPMA® Reference Guide ICB4 in an Agile World.
- Complete the application and register for the exam – Register for the most convenient exam date and complete the application in the certification system. The application must be accompanied by the required attachment and registration must be made at least three weeks before the exam.
- Take the exam online – Upon successful completion of the exam, you will be awarded the IPMA Level D certificate and can use the professional title “Certified Project Management Associate” or “Certified Agile Associate”. You can retake a failed exam once free of charge.
Please note that the Agile Management certification exam can only be taken in English. The Project Management certification exam can be taken in English or Finnish.
Validity and renewal of the certificate
The certificate is valid for 5 years. The renewal application must be submitted no earlier than six (6) months before the expiry date of the certificate and no later than six (6) months after the expiry date of the certificate. Renewal requires continuing competence development – a minimum of 35 hours per year, or 175 hours over a five-year period. Develop your skills through webinars, courses, conferences, lectures, writing professional articles, self-study, reading professional literature, etc.
You can check the validity of your certificate on the IPMA website. Please note that the validity of the certificate is given in the format MM/DD/YYYY.
The certificate is renewed electronically. The application is accompanied by a free-form CV and the required attachment, which are returned to the certification system. Instructions for the renewal application and the required attachment can be found in the links below.
The certificate is renewed electronically. The application is accompanied by a free-form CV and the required attachment, which are returned to the certification system. Click here to download the instructions for the renewal application and here to download the required attachment
Remember to select certification level D in the online application. This will guide your application to the correct assessment.
Complete the online application in the certification system.