The Project Management Institute (PMI)

The Project Management Institute, incorporated in 1969, was founded by five volunteers, with its headquarters in Newtown Square, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has published a number of standards related to project management, and manages several levels of project management certification.

The standard A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), currently in its third edition, is the only ANSI standard for project management. The levels of certification are Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and Project Management Professional (PMP), the latter being a the more advanced. The publication A Standard for Program Management defines a standard for program managers. PMI manages one certification level related to program management, Program Management Professional (PgMP^?).

As of 2006, PMI reported over 220,010 members and over 180,000 PMP certificants in 175 countries. Over 44,000 PMP certifications expire annually; a PMP must document ongoing project management experience and education every three years to keep their certification current.

There are more than 240 local PMI chapters located in 67 countries, and 30 Special Interest Groups (SIGs). In addition, PMI has two colleges: the College of Performance Management and the College of Scheduling.

-- PatrickEgan - 29 Nov 2006