There are specific qualifications for project management that can be taken with certificates. These certificate courses include, above all, those offered by the International Project Management Association (IPMA), the Project Management Institute (PMI) and AXELOS (PRINCE2). In the German market, the German Association for Project Management (GPM) is also relevant.
PRINCE2 is a process-oriented project management method. All three providers have integrated agile project management methods into their courses.
The certificates are usually offered as a system of sequential learning levels. It starts with the D-Level for beginners without practical project experience, who, upon graduation, will be able to contribute well to work packages of larger projects. The C-level, which usually requires three years of project experience, is aimed at prospective project managers, PMO leaders or project controllers. The B-level is aimed at experienced project managers with at least five years in project or program work who want to continue their training. The A-level addresses top executives who want to lead strategically important major projects or important project portfolios.
The courses are generally designed to be cross-methodological. Philosophies and basic approaches are taught, but it is left up to the participants to decide which specific method they want to use in their leadership practice.
Project management certificates are certainly an indication of the project management competence of project managers, but the personality and experience of the project managers count just as much.