Your browser does not support JavaScript!

Qualification Standards

Project Manager Qualification

Commonwealth Project Manager qualification is the assessment of a project manager's skill, training, and experience. Project managers are qualified for specific projects based on the project's risk and complexity.

Project Manager Selection and Training Standard Overview

A brief presentation summarizing the Project Manager Selection & Training Standard, including revisions incorporated into revision 3, CPM 111-03. View the PM Selection Training Standard Revision Slides.

Project Categories

For the purposes of governance and oversight, projects that have an estimated cost in excess of $250,000 are considered commonwealth-level projects and are categorized in one of four categories, based on their CPGA assessment of risk and complexity, as defined in the PM Standard.

  • Category One projects are High Risk/High Complexity projects;

  • Category Two projects are High Risk/Medium Complexity, High Risk/Low Complexity or Medium Risk/High Complexity projects;

  • Category Three projects are Medium Risk/Medium Complexity, Medium Risk/Low Complexity or Low Risk/High Complexity projects; and,

  • Category Four projects are Low Risk and either Medium or Low Complexity.

Projects that have an estimated cost less than $250,000 are considered agency-level projects. PMD, on behalf of the CIO, verifies that the project sponsor has selected a qualified IT Project Manager for their IT project based on the categories listed above.

Qualifications for Category 1, 2 and 3 IT projects

For Category 1, 2 and 3 IT projects the project manager candidates must:

  1. have 4,500 hours of successful project management experience as a member of the management team or as a project manager on multiple commonwealth IT projects. Membership on the management team is defined as serving in a position of authority and directly participating in the management of a project;

  2. have completed Commonwealth Project Management Overview Training;

  3. have completed Commonwealth Technology Portfolio Training;

  4. have passed both the level one and level two exams. Those with a Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute are required to pass the level one exam; and,

  5. have successfully performed as the project manager for at least one project with a total cost over $250,000.

For Category 1, 2 and 3 IT projects the project sponsor will give preference to selecting project manager candidates who:

  1. have completed advanced project management training on a subject, such as: a. Advanced Risk Management; b. Advanced Project Metrics and Statistical Analysis; c. Systems Development; d. Enterprise Architecture; e. Financial Management for Major Projects and Programs; f. Organizational Dynamics and Organizational Change Management; or, g. Strategic Planning;

  2. have experience or special qualifications in an applicable functional or technical field;

  3. have a Bachelors or higher level degree in a management or technology discipline related to the project; or,

  4. have successfully performed as the project manager for at least one Category 1, 2 or 3 project.

Qualifications for Category 4 IT projects

For Category 4 projects the project manager candidates must:

  1. have at least 2,000 hours of successful project management experience as a member of the management team on a Category 4 or higher IT Project, as a project manager on an agency-level IT Project, or as a member of a team employing project management best practices in IT operations and maintenance activities. Membership on the management team is defined as serving in a position of authority and directly participating in the management of a project;

  2. have completed Commonwealth Project Management Overview Training;

  3. have completed Commonwealth Technology Portfolio Training;

  4. have passed the Level One test, or have either the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute; and,

  5. have exhibited effective team building, leadership, and communication skills.

For Category 4 projects the project sponsor will give preference to selecting project manager candidates who:

  1. have passed the Facilitating Processes test;

  2. have experience or special qualifications in an applicable functional or technical field;

  3. have the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute, or a comparable or higher level certification;

  4. have a Bachelors or higher level degree in a management or technology discipline related to the project; or,

  5. have successfully performed as the project manager for at least one Category 4 or higher IT project.

Qualifications for agency-level IT projects

For agency-level projects the project manager candidates must:

  1. have 1500 hours of project team experience, which includes any position on a project team; and,

  2. have exhibited team building and leadership potential.

For agency-level projects the project sponsor will give preference to selecting project manager candidates who:

  1. have passed the Level One test;

  2. have experience or special qualifications in a functional or technical field related to the project's scope;

  3. have completed Commonwealth Project Management Overview Training; or,

  4. have an Associates or higher level degree in a management or technology discipline related to the project.