Q: Who should apply for the Program Management Professional (PgMP^SM) credential?
A: The target market is an individual who manages programs. More specifically, the role of a program manager has been defined by the examination specification as someone who can competently demonstrate the following:

Under minimal supervision, program managers are responsible and accountable for the coordinated management of multiple related projects directed toward strategic business and other organizational objectives. These programs contain complex activities that may span functions, organizations, geographic regions, and cultures. Program managers build credibility, establish rapport, and maintain communication with stakeholders at multiple levels, including those external to the organization. Define and initiate projects, and assign project managers to manage cost, schedule, and performance of component projects, while working to ensure the ultimate success and acceptance of the program. Program managers maintain continuous alignment of program scope with strategic business objectives, and make recommendations to modify the program to enhance effectiveness toward the business result or strategic intent. Program managers are responsible for determining and coordinating the sharing of resources among their constituent projects to the overall benefit of the program. Knowledge and skills needed to be effective in both the project and business or government environment, and decision making that accomplishes strategic objectives. In addition, the program manager should have advanced skills in finance, cross-cultural awareness, leadership, communication, influence, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Q: Do I have to be a Project Management Professional (PMP®) or a PMI Member?
A: No. Candidates do not have to be either a PMI member or a PMP.

Q: What's involved in getting the credential?
A: Candidates must successfully complete three assessments:

The initial assessment occurs through an extensive application review. This includes a panel of program managers who will look at the Candidate's work experience. PMI also may select any application for audit to verify any aspect of the application. The second assessment occurs with the multiple-choice examination in which Candidates will be called upon to demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge to a variety of situational or scenario-based questions. This is where PMCC can help directly! We have developed a PgMP Certification Examination Review course and this course (taught in its pilot configuration) and its battery of sample questions and case studies produced a 100% passing rate for its attendees. The third assessment occurs through the Multi-rater Assessment (similar to a 360-degree review process) in which a team of raters that the candidate selects will evaluate the candidate's competence to perform tasks that are pertinent to program management as defined through the examination specification.

PMI, PMP, PgMP, PMBOK and OPM3 are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.