The Association for Project Management has just announced a significant step toward the award of chartered status.
The Privy Council considered the application at its meeting on 12 October 2016 and has now issued an Order of Grant. This has triggered a process which will see the association awarded a Charter, which will be printed on vellum and sealed.
This is the formal approval for the APM to start the process of converting to a chartered body. This will require several administrative steps including a vote at the AGM and the transfer of the assets to the new body. This is expected to take place during 2017. Once these processes are complete, then the APM will start of a public consultation on the establishing a register of Chartered project professionals.
What does this mean for you?
For the Profession
The award of the charter ends the debate about whether project management is a profession, at least in the UK. This is excellent news for project managers who often work alongside engineers, architects, accountants who have held chartered status for many years. It establishes a level playing field for all these professions.
The establishment of Chartered project professional also sets a benchmark to raise standards of project management. It has long been recognised, by people in the field of project management, that competence in project management, requires more that a five-day course with a knowledge exam. These qualifications are just the starting point for a career that now leads to Chartered project professional (not that you need any qualifications to become chartered because it is based on competence assessment)
If You Already hold RPP
In advance of the public consultation, the APM has said that
It is anticipated that Registered Project Professionals (RPP) would have already demonstrated the competence level required for any future Chartered standard.
The APM always intended that RPP would automatically convert Chartered Project Professionals automatically, but until the public consultation is completed there remains a small risk that these may be some minor additional steps.
If You Are Already a Member of the APM
If you are already involved in the APM; either as a member or a holder of one of their qualifications. There would be worthwhile re-evaluating your career plan. Is Chartered project professional something that would fit with your career. If it is; have, you got in place everything you need to apply now. The requirements for RPP are
- Portfolio assessment – the portfolio of evidence must contain evidence that demonstrates capability in 29 core competencies and knowledge of 18 complementary competencies, which is to be accompanied by your CPD log. The portfolio of evidence is anonymously assessed by an RPP assessor to determine whether the portfolio contains the evidence required.
- Professional review – having successfully completed the portfolio assessment, candidates will be invited to a professional review with two RPP assessors. The review, in an interview format, will typically take around 45 minutes including a 5 to 10-minute candidate presentation at the start.
If not then what do you need to do to work towards these levels of competence? How can you build up the necessary experience and knowledge, reviewing the other development opportunities offered by the APM including qualifications, branch events and specialist interest groups?
If You Are New to Project Management
If you are just starting out in your project management career, then it is worth assessing the value of APM Chartered project professional status when deciding if you should follow and PMI or PRINCE2 qualification. The ability to work towards a Chartered professional standard is a powerful reason to consider the APM as the primary route for those who want to make project management their long term career.