About Our Certification Exams

Our Certification Exams probe your grasp of the subject of Project Management. PM Experience, plus perhaps a brush-up in some of the dimensions of current PM practices that you have not had the opportunity to apply, is the best way to prepare.

The exams are based on the content and insights of the USA-NCB, our National Competence Baseline for Project Management, plus another key resource:

Our research shows that the Cleland/Ireland book, Project Management, Strategic Design and Implementation, 5th Edition, provides the best overall view of the insights and practices that Executive Managers expect from their Project Managers.

Our Exams are paper-based and human-scored. The reason: the majority of the questions (and the scoring) are short-answer or essay-based, to probe your grasp of the subject.

In this way, Executives, your customers and your team members know that you truly understand the potential of Project Management for beneficial organizational change.

About the Level D Exam

• Content: USA-NCB, plus any basic project management text; Project Management: Strategic Design and Implementation, 5th Edition, by Cleland and Ireland recommended.
  
  
• Preparation: review USA-NCB and at least one basic project management text; instructor led training may be helpful.
  
  
• Structure: Part I is 75 multiple choice questions; Part II is 5 short answer questions from a field of 11.
  
  
• Schedule: 60 minutes for Part I, 30 minute break, 120 minutes for Part II.
  
  
• Passing grade: 70% on each part.
  

About the Level C Exam

• Content: USA-NCB, plus any basic project management text; Project Management: Strategic Design and Implementation, 5th Edition, by Cleland and Ireland recommended.
  
  
• Preparation: review USA-NCB and at least one basic project management text; instructor led training may be helpful.
  
  
• Structure: 4 short answer questions; Level C questions require more depth of knowledge than D.
  
  
• Schedule: 120 minutes.
  
  
• Passing grade: 75%.