IPMA level B is intended for the experienced professional. With the IPMA level B certificate, you prove that you can independently manage complex projects, programs, or portfolios.
Requirements
Yes, consult the documents below.
The entire process (including any repeat steps) must be completed within 18 months of notification. Certification at IPMA level B level is possible in three domains: project, programme and portfolio.
Exam
Written + oral exam
Validity certificate
5 years
Costs
Consult our list of rates
Cancel and/or reschedule
Consult our conditions
You start by submitting the Experience document, Executive summary report, and Self-assessment. Two reviews will take place. After submitting, the IPMA backoffice will check your submitted documents on the eligibility criteria. Once the three documents have been submitted and approved, a final decision will be made by two assessors. A final decision will be made by two assessors. After approval, you have completed phase 1 and you can proceed to phase 2: The theoretical exam.
The templates and detailed entry instructions are available on request via the form below.
We do not provide exam training. Training and exam take place separately to guarantee trustworthiness and independence. If you are interested in training with the goal of obtaining an IPMA certificate, you will find a summary of project management training centers on the website of IPMA Nederland (in Dutch). You can also take a look at the validation (in Dutch) of our former applicants of educators.
In the Experience document, you give a description of your education, training, and courses as well as work experience. Furthermore, you need to give the names of four referents that have been involved in your projects. In conclusion, you describe the projects/programs/portfolios in which you demonstrate that you meet the experience criteria for IPMA level B and indicate the level of complexity for each of these projects.
In the Executive summary report, you give background information about the organization for which you execute projects and you give a description of the projects/programs/portfolios as mentioned in the experience document.
In the Self-assessment, you score yourself on knowledge, skills, and experience for each competence. With every competence, you need to give a real-life example of your experience.
In this phase, you need to do a theoretical exam. Unlike our other exams, the level B-theory exam is open book. This means that it is allowed to consult the ICB4 and study books based on the ICB4 during the exam. Computers, tablets, or mobile phones are not allowed.
We offer exercise questions so that you can prepare to the best of your ability. The English sample papers are available on request via the form below.
The oral exam will take place prior to the assessment for your convenience, so you only have to travel once to our offices in Nieuwegein.
After a positive grade of the theoretical exam, you may proceed to phase 3: the Project report.
Received a negative result? You can apply for a resit. These are the costs.
Referent inquiry
After passing your theoretical exam, you can use the portal to invite your referents to give feedback. In the referent inquiry, you will be assessed on your performance by four persons by means of six open questions and one closed question. The referents are the project executive, the manager, and two project team members. All the referents will be presented with the same questions in order to be able to make a proper comparison. The results of this inquiry will be used during the assessment.
The referent inquiry provides additional information to the assessors about how the performance of the applicant as a project manager is regarded by his/her inner circle. The assessments of the project executive and the manager will be disclosed to the applicant before the assessment. Because of the dependant relationship between the project team members and the applicant, their remarks are confidential and will only be put at the disposal of the assessors.
Report
In the report, you give a description of a project in which you demonstrate that you have all IPMA level B-competencies. In the report, you broach the subject of the background of the project (cause, aimed result, stakeholders, duties), as well as the challenges of the project and a retrospect on your performance. The report needs to be drafted according to a special template. In the explanation entry instruction, you will read exactly what information to submit. Both documents are available upon request via the form below.
The assessment is an interview of two hours with two assessors. Your competencies will be tested by means of the documents submitted. Please bring the following items to the assessment:
The inclusion of documentation is not a requirement but will help you substantiate your project management experience. Inability to hand over documentation does not lead to rejection. The lack of any kind of evidence can, however, lead to rejection. You can bring your documentation in hardcopy or digital format.
After concluding the assessment, the assessors will decide if they will nominate you for certification. If you have passed, you will receive the certificate at your email address. The IPMA level B certificate is valid for five years. After that, you can recertify.
If you obtain a certificate, you will be admitted to the international IPMA Registry. We update the register on a monthly basis.
Received a negative result? You can apply for a resit. These are the costs.
