IPMA (International Project Management Association)

IPMA (International Project Management Association), known in Turkish as Uluslararası Proje Yönetim Derneği, is an international organization that establishes global standards in project, program and portfolio management and aims to enhance professional competence. Founded in 1965, IPMA operates as a federation of national project management associations active in more than 70 countries worldwide.

History

The International Project Management Association (IPMA) emerged as an international body dedicated to sharing knowledge and experience in project management. Its foundations were laid in 1964 when French project manager Pierre Koch invited Dutch expert Dick Vullinghs and German expert Roland Gutsch to discuss the Critical Path Method (CPM). CPM was defined as a method developed for managing large-scale and complex projects. At these meetings, Yves Eugene presided on behalf of the French AFIRO Association (Association Française d’Informatique et de Recherche Opérationnelle), while Professor Arnold Kaufmann proposed establishing an international network of cooperation. This proposal formed the basis of what would later be named the INTERnational NETwork (INTERNET).

In 1965, the group decided to establish an independent association not tied to corporations, and its formal establishment took place in Switzerland, a politically neutral country at the time. The association’s original name was the International Management Systems Association (IMSA).

In 1967, the first International European INTERNET Congress was organized in Vienna under this structure. Subsequently, the Project Management Science Group in Czechoslovakia organized a conference in Prague on “Network Analysis Methods,” attended by political officials including Dr. Vladimira Machova. Later, under the sponsorship of the International Computer Centre in Rome and chaired by Professor Claude Berge, the first International World Congress was held in Vienna. From this point onward, the association’s name was officially adopted as INTERNET.

By 1989, the association had begun developing advanced training programs aimed at enhancing the competencies of professionals working in project, program and portfolio management.

At the 13th World Congress held in Paris in 1996, it was decided to change the association’s name to avoid confusion with the widely used term “internet.” The Executive Board (ExBo) officially renamed the association the International Project Management Association (IPMA), while retaining its original logo.

In 1998, IPMA launched certification programs to assess the competencies of individuals working in project management, and published the first version of the IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB v1.0).

In 2002, IPMA initiated the IPMA International Project Excellence Award program to evaluate project management practices.

In 2012, the association began offering a service through the IPMA Delta system to assess and certify organizational maturity in project management.

By 2015, IPMA had published updated versions of its core standards, including ICB4 (4th edition of the Competence Baseline), OCB 1.1 (Organizational Competence Baseline), and PEB (Project Excellence Baseline). In the same year, IPMA published its 2020 Strategy, outlining the organization’s strategic objectives.

Today, IPMA continues its activities in project, program and portfolio management, offering a range of products and services through member associations, training providers, publishers and event organizers, all centered on competency-based certification.

Structure and Membership System

IPMA is structured as a federation of national project management associations (Member Associations – MAs). Each member association represents leading organizations within its country active in project management and serves as IPMA’s primary point of contact. Today, approximately 70 national associations operate under the IPMA umbrella. For example, as stated by APMG International, IPMA is “a federation of around 70 member associations worldwide.” Membership is based on institutional (association) membership under the IPMA umbrella; individual project managers become part of the IPMA network through their respective national member associations. IPMA’s headquarters are located in the Netherlands; all member associations, as global stakeholders, aim to promote the widespread adoption of project management competencies.

IPMA Trademarks and Usage Conditions

The International Project Management Association (IPMA) has registered its name and logos as trademarks. This registration prevents unauthorized or unlicensed use of IPMA’s brands.

IPMA’s registered trademarks are subject to specific rules. For instance, the IPMA ICB® trademark cannot be used without authorization in areas such as internet domain names, services or website titles within the classes for which IPMA holds registration. Only IPMA and its Member Associations may use IPMA trademarks within the framework of their Membership Agreements. Training companies, consultants, organizers or individuals may use these trademarks only with explicit permission from IPMA.

IPMA certificate holders are entitled to use the certificate level, certificate logo and official materials provided by IPMA for the duration of their certification’s validity. This right is non-transferable, and relevant parties must be notified of any unauthorized use to prevent infringement.

Trademarks registered by IPMA in Switzerland and other countries include:

• IPMA®
• IPMA ICB®
• IPMA OCB®
• IPMA PMC®
• IPMA PPMC®
• IPMA Delta®
• IPMA Project Excellence Baseline®
• IPMA Project Excellence Award®
• Project Excellence™

IPMA’s graphic logo is also a registered trademark, and the trademark symbol (®) must be correctly placed when used.

Guidelines for the use of IPMA trademarks require that the ® symbol be indicated at the first occurrence of the trademark in any document or electronic medium, along with appropriate clarifications. Repeated use of the ® symbol on the same page is not required. IPMA trademarks may not be combined with other words for use in any commercial, public, educational or non-profit material. Such usage is considered an infringement of IPMA’s trademark rights.

Certification Programs

IPMA applies a four-level certification system, unique worldwide, to assess the competencies of project management professionals. This system is based on the comprehensive framework known as the IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB). IPMA certifications are awarded at the following levels according to the career stage of project managers:

Level A: Certified Project/Programme/Portfolio Director. Designed for experienced managers capable of managing highly complex projects, programs or portfolios at a strategic level. (For example, individuals who have led multinational projects typically apply for this level.)

Level B: Certified Senior Project/Programme/Portfolio Manager. Awarded to experienced project managers able to manage complex projects and programs. (Typically includes mid-level managers responsible for large-scale projects.)

Level C: Certified Project Manager. Designed for relatively experienced project managers with the skills to manage projects of moderate complexity. (Professionals serving as project managers within a project team target this level.)

Level D: Project Management Associate (Certified Project Management Associate). An entry-level certification aimed at individuals beginning their careers in project management. (Those with no prior experience or newcomers use this certification to establish a foundation.)

Candidates for these certifications must demonstrate competence in a set of elements defined by the IPMA ICB. Certifications are internationally recognized, and candidates are evaluated through a process that includes application forms, examinations, report submissions and interviews as determined by IPMA. IPMA-certified professionals must renew their certifications every five years by participating in continuous professional development (CPD) activities.

Global Activities

IPMA organizes numerous events to bring together project management professionals worldwide. One of its most comprehensive events is the IPMA World Congress. These congresses provide international experts with practical content and networking opportunities. For example, the 34th IPMA World Congress held in Berlin from 17 to 19 September 2025 was attended by approximately 1,000 participants representing 70 countries. Such events include scientific presentations and workshops to share current trends and best practices in project management. Additionally, IPMA supports sectoral developments through national conferences and seminars, technical committees and special interest groups in different regions. IPMA’s globally recognized Competence Baseline (ICB) and related certification programs contribute to establishing a common language and competency standard for professionals working on international projects.

Relationships with Türkiye

IPMA is organized as a federation encompassing more than 60 countries globally. The project management community in Türkiye is represented by the IPMA member association Proje Yönetim Kurumu (PYK). According to ICT Media, IPMA is a global structure covering more than 60 countries with over 200,000 certified project managers across five continents. PYK is a civil society organization aiming to promote project management at the national level. Türkiye has previously hosted international IPMA events, and Turkish project managers are acquiring competencies according to IPMA standards and building connections with the global project management community.

International Collaborations and Role in Projects

IPMA is known for active collaborations within the global project management community. For example, in 2008, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Project Management Institute (PMI) of the United States, both organizations committed to cooperating to advance the project management profession worldwide. This collaboration included enhancing certification of university programs and supporting project management education and research. IPMA has also partnered with international institutions such as the European Commission to implement joint projects, contributing to the adoption of methodologies like PM² within the EU and supporting global knowledge exchange through research conferences and publications. All these efforts have positioned IPMA as a key stakeholder in recognizing project management competencies and raising professional standards in international projects.