Eligibility Criteria and choosing the Certificate Level

IPMA® certificates include four different levels depending on the candidate’s experience and competencies in project management and leadership: D, C, B and A. Study the requirements listed below and find a certificate suitable to your own level!

Eligibility Criteria determines Certificate Level

Choosing the correct certificate level depends on the candidate’s experience in project management as well as on the complexity of projects, programmes or portfolios managed. Eligibility criteria for initiating certification, i.e. minimum requirements, have been defined for each of the eight IPMA® roles.



Eligibility Criteria on different Levels


  • The candidate possesses broad knowledge of project management.
  • The candidate is aware of the Competence Elements defined for project management.
  • No previous project experience is required.


  • The candidate has worked in a project management role in normal projects of his/her organisation.
  • The candidate is capable of managing normal projects.
  • The candidate possesses at least three years of experience in managing normal projects during the last six years OR
  • The candidate possesses at least three years of experience in a responsible project management role assisting a project manager in complex projects during the last six years. 
  • When justified, the evidence timescale can be extended by four years, thus encompassing the last ten years.
A responsible project management role is defined as a role in which the candidate has worked in a supervisory position within a project framework. This must be evident e.g. in project organisation in such a way that the supervisor in question must have people who work under him/her. Managing things alone does not fulfil the set criterion.

  • The candidate has worked in a project, programme or portfolio management role in complex projects within his/her organisation.
  • The candidate is capable of managing complex projects, programmes or portfolios.
  • The candidate possesses at least five years of experience as a project, programme or portfolio manager during the last eight years.
  • During his/her five years of experience, the candidate possesses at least three years of experience in a responsible project management role managing complex projects, programmes or portfolios. When justified, the evidence timescale can be extended by four years, thus encompassing the last twelve years.
A responsible project management role is defined as a role in which the candidate has worked in a supervisory position within a project framework. This must be evident e.g. in project organisation in such a way that the supervisor in question must have people who work under him/her. Managing things alone does not fulfil the set criterion.


  • The candidate has worked as a project, programme or portfolio manager in very complex project environments that have a strategic impact on his/her organisation.
  • The candidate is capable of managing very complex strategic-level projects, programmes or portfolios.
  • The candidate possesses at least five years of experience in a responsible project management role managing very complex projects, programmes or portfolios during the last twelve years. The evidence timescale cannot be extended.
A responsible project management role is defined as a role in which the candidate has worked in a supervisory position within a project framework. This must be evident e.g. in project organisation in such a way that the supervisor in question must have people who work under him/her. Managing things alone does not fulfil the set criterion.


Previous Projects, Programmes or Portfolios

On all levels, except on Level D, the candidate must include previous projects, programmes or portfolios in the application in order to prove that experience meets the time-based eligibility criteria of the level in question. The one reference project, programme or portfolio that best illustrates the candidate’s experience must be presented in more detail. The maximum allowed time from the conclusion of the reference project, programme or portfolio to the submission date of the application is two (2) years.

Receive a Real Professional Title via Certification

Once the candidate has acquired a certificate of a certain level, they will be entitled to use the professional title corresponding to the level in question. The title options for the four different levels and three different domains are:
  • Level D: Certified Project Management Associate
  • Level C: Certified Project Manager
  • Level B: Certified Senior Project Manager, Certified Senior Programme Manager, Certified Senior Portfolio Manager
  • Level A: Certified Projects Director, Certified Programme Director, Certified Portfolio Director

More information on the certification assessment criteria