The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has issued an update to the federal acquisition certificationfor program / project managers, first established in 2007.
Program and project managers (P/PMs), ensure that requirements are appropriately written, performance standards are established, and contractors deliver what they promise. They also develop requirements, lead integrated project teams and oversee budgeting and governance processes, OPM notes.
It said that under the revision:
– All acquisition P/PMs must be certified at the appropriate level, as determined by their agency.
– Competencies have been updated for each of three certification levels, and performance outcomes for competencies at each level have been defined.
– Training requirements are more flexible with requirements ranging from approximately 80 – 120 hours collectively for each of the three levels.
– The Federal Acquisition Institute has developed and identified more certification training making it easier for agencies and P/PM candidates to determine which classes are available.
– Senior-level P/PMs are required to have four years of program and project management experience either in the federal government or with a federal contactor, and thatmust include a minimum of one year of experience on federal programs and/or projects, within the last ten years.
– General core-plus requirements have been added to the core FAC-P/PM certification along with specific requirements for a core-plus IT certification.