A substantive program of market research has been completed with key stakeholder groups of the CAPM credential.  Based on the findings, the credential has been redesigned and repositioned to better meet the identified market needs and more clearly distinguish it from the Project Management Professional (PMP^®) credential.  PMI will complete this initiative to deliver the new CAPM credential at the close of 2004.  As partners of PMI, we would like to provide you with the following detailed information to share with the members of your Chapter, Specific Interest Groups (SIGs) or Colleges.

Target Market
The target markets for the repositioned CAPM are:

• Project team members and project support staff
• Entry-level project management practitioners
• Undergraduate and graduate students to improve chances in the job market

Revised Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and have achieved either 1,500 hours of experience working on a project team, or completed 23 contact hours of formal project management education, where one contact hour is equivalent to one actual hour of training or instruction received. Candidates may satisfy the education requirement by successfully completing courses and/or workshops such as those offered by PMI’s Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s). Applicants are not required to be PMI members to list CAPM in their curriculum vitae or on their business card.  The credential is valid for five years.  Candidates must retest at the close of every five-year period to retain their credential.

Preparing for the Revised Examination

The CAPM test is a 150 question multiple-choice exam with a three-hour time limit.  Candidates must demonstrate their knowledge of project management terms in context, as covered by the five Project Management Process Groups and nine Knowledge Areas, and described in the PMBOK^® Guide - Third Edition, which will be available 31 October 2004. 

Taking the Examination

The revised CAPM examination will be completed by 31 December 2004 and available for candidates to test in January 2005. It will be offered via computer at the same global locations that provide PMP testing.  For a complete list of computer-based testing locations, please visit www.2test.com. 

The CAPM examination will also be offered via written format on prescheduled dates in Belgium, China, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.  Additional testing dates will be scheduled in other locations based on demand.

• Candidates from China and New Zealand are asked to contact PMI's Global Operations Center via e-mail at specialexaminations@pmi.org for scheduling details
• Candidates from Europe, the Middle East and Africa should contact PMI's Regional Service Centre serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa at milla@associationhq.com.

Cost Structure

The exam costs $225.00 (US) for PMI members and $300.00 (US) for nonmembers.

Current and Future Certificants

Candidates who are eligible to take the CAPM examination, have until 20 November 2004 to take the existing CAPM examination.  After this date, the existing CAPM examination will no longer be offered and candidates will be able to test when the revised CAPM exam is released on 31 December 2004.  PMI will communicate directly with all eligible CAPM candidates to provide the necessary support to these candidates during the transition between the current and redesigned certification.

Candidates who are interested in the CAPM, but they have not yet applied, should be instructed that they have until Friday, 29 October 2004 to apply for the CAPM under the existing eligibility requirements.  After this date, PMI will no longer accept the existing CAPM application and will transition to the new application.  PMI will begin accepting paper applications for the redesigned CAPM reflecting the revised eligibility requirements on Monday, 1 November 2004.  Lastly, so that we may begin development of a new CAPM on-line application, candidates will be unable to apply on-line for the CAPM examination after Friday, 29 October 2004 until further notice.

Previous CAPM Certificants

Candidates who have successfully achieved their CAPM status through the current process will retain their credential for five years from the date issued.  CAPM certificants will need to retest at the close of this five year period in order to maintain their credential.  PMI will communicate with them directly to provide additional details on what these changes will mean to them.

Please e-mail pmihq@pmi.org with any questions you may have regarding the redesigned and redeployed CAPM credential.  Thank you for your continued support of the PMI Certification Program.