The knowledge/skill level that an individual must possess is defined as follows:
Familiarity-level. The ability to manage low risk and relatively simple projects or to manage more complex projects under direct supervision or a more experienced manager,[9] and basic knowledge of, or exposure to, the subject or process adequate to discuss the subject or process with individuals of greater knowledge.
Working-level. The knowledge required to monitor and assess operations/activities of low to moderate risk, with little or no supervision,[10] and to apply standards of acceptable performance and to reference appropriate materials and/or expert advice as required to ensure the safety of project activities.
Expert-level. The ability to manage moderate to high risk projects, [11] and a comprehensive, intensive knowledge of the subject or process sufficient to provide advice in the absence of procedural guidance.
These requirements contain technical knowledge, technical skill, and behavioral skills, except for Level 1, which does not require behavioral skills.
TRAINING
Each competency that is tied to a PMCDP course states that the “Fulfillment of the competency may be achieved through the following: 1) successful completion of the PMCDP…course…; 2) OR the successful completion of an equivalent course…” The equivalent for PMCDP training may be relevant experience or other verifiable training.[12]
[9]
OMB, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project
Managers requirement. [10] Ibid. [11] Ibid. [12]
See Appendix D for a crosswalk of DoD Program Management certification (courses through Defense Acquisition University) to the PMCDP.
All PMCDP classes require participants to attend a minimum of ninety-percent of training and have a minimum of seventy-percent pass rate for successful completion of the course and PMCDP credit. Priority for placement in required PMCDP training and/or a developmental assignment is as follows:
First Priority: Persons currently assigned (incumbent[13]) as the federal project director with primary responsibility for a capital asset as defined by DOE Order 413.3B.
Second Priority: DOE staff who aspire to project management careers as federal project directors or who previously held such position but who do not currently have a project for which they have been assigned primary responsibility (e.g., deputy project directors, assistant project directors, integrated team members, and others who may desire or are encouraged to attain federal project director certification) are not required to obtain certification (a candidate); however, they may seek certification. Such persons will have second priority (behind incumbent federal project directors) for required PMCDP training and/or developmental assignments on a space available basis.
Third Priority: Other DOE staff, taking courses, but whom management has not formally identified as incumbents or candidates. They often have key responsibilities on Integrated Project Teams (IPT), serve as managers for projects other than capital assets, and support individual projects or more general project management or acquisition-related activities within offices. PROJECT DIRECTOR EXPERIENCE
All experience claimed as fulfillment of a competency should be described briefly and explicitly with specific project examples that show what was done, how it was done, and the results of the actions taken. Specific titles, roles, and responsibilities must be described for all equivalencies. Examples of competency fulfillment have been created for each PMCDP requirement and appear subsequent to each competency requirement throughout this text. These examples are meant to act as a guide for the certification candidate, not as a template or text to be copied verbatim.
The following requirements must be met for developmental/work experience claimed on Level 2 or higher certifications:
Certification candidates must demonstrate a minimum of two years of experience as an FPD or equivalent managing projects at the previous level of certification; OR,o A combination of one full year of FPD or equivalent experience, and one full year of deputy project director experience on an active, post CD-3 project; OR,
o A combination of FPD and Deputy FPD experience for two continuous years on the same active, post CD-3 project is acceptable as long as the FPD experience accounts for a minimum of 12 months of that two-year period. The guidance for accepted experience governing this requirement is under DEPUTY PROJECT DIRECTOR EXPERIENCE on page 6-3.
Experience in project management will not be credited for work done on projects that have yet to reach CD-0. Ideally, certification candidates should possess experience in all CD-[13]
“Incumbent,” as used in DOE O361.1A, Chapter IV, will mean those federal project directors who are the formally assigned federal project director for a capital asset.
phases of project management; this may be spread over multiple projects. Level 2 and 4 applicants will be required to demonstrate post CD-3 experience.