June 14, 2011 Vol. 4, Issue 4
The Project Management Institute (PMI), the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), and the American Council on Education (ACE) have each recognized the quality of NASAs professional development activities.
PMI formally recognized NASA’s process for meeting the standards set by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for federal project managers.
In a letter to the Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership, PMI Chief Executive Officer Mark Langley wrote that “NASA’s process aligns with PMI’s review of the combination of required education and / or experience leading and directing teams while delivering project results.” NASA project managers who have been certified by the agency as meeting the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) standards are now eligible to sit for PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) exam without further review of their education or experience. PMI does require the submission of an application processing document for NASA project managers who wish to sit for the PMP exam.
For further information
Certified NASA project managers with questions about the PMP exam can contact Tony Maturo (anthony.j.maturo@nasa.gov) for further information.
Read the initial announcement from the Office of Management and Budget about project management certification. (PDF)
In April 2007, OMB announced certification requirements for program and project managers assigned to major acquisitions. The FAC-P/PM applies to all major acquisitions as defined in Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11, Part 7, exhibit 300, Planning, Budgeting, Acquisition, and Management of Capital Assets.
The Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership developed NASA’s certification process to meet OMB’s requirements. It has certified 115 NASA project managers to date.
IACET has awarded the Academy its Accredited Provider status. As the only organization with a continuing education and training standard approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), IACET serves as an objective, third-party validation of the quality of the Academy’s professional development activities.
“One of the challenges of workforce development is finding meaningful measures of quality,” said Academy Director Dr. Ed Hoffman. “Recognition by IACET is a clear indication that the Academy’s current approach meets or exceeds the internationally recognized standard for continuing education. This is an important development as we work more closely with NASA’s international partners on training and development activities.”
The American Council on Education (ACE) has announced that international participants in ACE-reviewed Academy courses are eligible for the same benefits as NASA participants. ACE currently recommends graduate credit for a dozen Academy training courses, including “International Project Management.”
The IACET recognition period extends for five years, and includes all programs offered or created during that time.
