Independent examination institute

PM² Practitioner

About the best practice

IP owner:	PM² Group^®
Accreditation institute:	Van Haren Certify
Examination institute:	certN

PM² is a project management methodology developed by the European Commission to enable project managers to deliver solutions and benefits to their organizations. It has been designed with the needs of European Union Institutions and projects in mind but is transferable to any organization.

PM² is a light and easy-to-implement methodology that can be tailored to the specific needs of project teams. It is supported by a comprehensive training programme and an active community. (More info about PM².)

Certification definition

The PM² Practitioner certification is an advanced level within the PM² Group certification program. Building on the foundational principles established in the PM² Foundation certification, the Practitioner level delves deeper into the application, tailoring, and integration of the PM² methodology into real-world project environments.

Candidates achieving the PM² Practitioner certification have demonstrated not only an in-depth understanding of the PM² methodology but also a proven that they know how to apply and adapt the methodology to a variety of complex projects. This certification equips professionals with the tools and techniques necessary to manage projects in alignment with the European Commission’s best practices.

Candidates aspiring for the PM² Practitioner certification are expected to have prior foundational knowledge of PM² and real-world project management experience. The certification not only validates their theoretical knowledge but also their practical ability to integrate PM² principles into diverse project scenarios.

Certification requirements

To be eligible for the PM² Practitioner certification, candidates external to the EU Commission must meet the following requirements:

PM² Foundation Certificate by: All aspirants should have successfully completed and obtained the PM² Foundation certificate from the PM² group or the center of excellence of the EU Commission, indicating foundational knowledge and understanding of the PM² methodology.
Accredited Course Completion: Candidates must have undertaken and successfully completed an accredited PM² Practitioner course. This ensures they have received consistent and high-quality training aligned with the European Commission’s expectations.
Project Management Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of 12 months of verifiable project management experience in a professional setting within the last 5 years.
PM² Practitioner Exam: After successfully meeting the above requirements, candidates are permitted to sit for the PM² Practitioner exam. Achieving a passing score on this exam is the final step in obtaining the PM² Practitioner certification.

Note:

EU staff can become certified by following the internal PM² Practitioner evaluation process of the European Commission’s Centre of Excellence in PM² (CoEPM²).
Requirement one can be substituted with the following certificates: PRINCE2^® 6th or 7th Edition (Foundation or Practitioner) by PeopleCert^®; Project Management Professional (PMP^®) or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM^®) by PMI International^®; IPMA Level A, B, C or D^® by IPMA^®; P3.express^® Practitioner by OMIMO^®, or PM² Essentials, Advanced, Expert or Trainer by PM² Alliance.

Vouchers for the certification exam are available through accredited trainers and Van Haren Group.

Certificate renewal

The PM² Foundation certificate is valid for 3 years.

Exam format

The general exam regulations apply to this exam.

Attempts per voucher:	1
Number of questions:	60
Passing score:	65%
Time:	120 minutes
Open-book:	Yes
Language:	English
Invigilation:	In-person Online
Question type:	Multiple choice

Exam Syllabus

The following table is an overview of the topics examined in the certification exam.

#questions	Level(s) of Cognition						Category
#questions	1	2	3	4	5	6	Category
3	✓	✓	✓	✓			Project management role Assess the relationship between projects, programmes, portfolios, and business as usual Analyzing the difference between project and operations in a business. Assess the functional, projectized and matrix structure in context.
6	✓	✓	✓	✓			Key concepts Apply and assess the overall use of PM² project phases in different contexts. Assess the suitability of PM² for different projects. Apply the PM² Mindset to different situations. Assess tailoring possibilities in different contexts.
7	✓	✓	✓	✓			Project Governance Assess the layers in the project organization in different contexts. Assess the roles in the project organization in different contexts. Assess the provider and requestor side of a project.
8	✓	✓	✓	✓			Initiating phase Apply and assess Initiating Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project initiation request Apply and assess Initiating Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Business Case Apply and assess Initiating Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project Charter Apply and assess Initiating Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Phase Gate Ready for Planning Apply and assess Initiating Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Technique SWOT analysis Apply and assess Initiating Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Technique PESTEL Analysis Apply and assess Initiating Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Technique Make or Buy Analysis
11	✓	✓	✓	✓			Planning phase Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project Handbook. Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project stakeholder Matrix. Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project Work Plan Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Outsourcing Plan Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Deliverables Acceptance Plan Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Transition Plan Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Business Implementation Plan Apply and assess Planning Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Phase Gate Ready for Executing Planning and estimation techniques (Work Breakdown Structure, Effort and Cost Estimations, Three-point Estimates, Gantt Charts, Critical Path Method, Resource Levelling, Critical Chain Method)
8	✓	✓	✓	✓			Executing phase Apply and assess Executing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project coordination Apply and assess Executing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Quality assurance Apply and assess Executing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project reporting Apply and assess Executing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Information distribution Apply and assess Executing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Phase Gate Ready for Closure Apply and assess Executing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Techniques for managing stakeholders - Stakeholder Interest/Influence Matrix (SIIM) Apply and assess Executing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Techniques for reporting - Earned Value Management
6	✓	✓	✓	✓			Closing phase Apply and assess Closing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Lessons learned Apply and assess Closing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Project-End Reports Apply and assess Closing Phase in different contexts while demonstrating an understanding of Administrative closure
11	✓	✓	✓	✓			Monitor and control Apply monitor and control activities showing an understanding of Monitoring project performance, Schedule control and Cost control Assess and Apply risk and issue management in different contexts showing an understanding of Risk Management process, Risk Management Plan and Risk Log, Risk response strategies, Issue Management Plan and Issue and Decision Log, Technique PESTEL Analysis, Technique Risk Likelihood/Impact Matrix, Technique Pareto Analysis, and Technique Decision Trees Assess and apply change, quality, and requirements management in different contexts showing an understanding of Project Change Management Plan and Change Log, Quality Management Plan, Requirements Management Plan, Deliverable Acceptance Plan, Change Management Process, The relationship between Quality Assurance and Management of Quality, and The relationship between management of requirement, project change and deliverable acceptance Assess and apply communication and stakeholder management in different context showing an understanding of Communication Management Plan, The Project Stakeholder Matrix in PM², stakeholder Checklist, and Techniques for managing stakeholders

More information about the levels of cognition

Level 1 - Knowledge: This level requires candidates to recall specific information or facts. They should demonstrate the ability to remember and recognize details, terms, or concepts from their learning materials.
Level 2 - Comprehension: At this level, candidates are expected to show their understanding of the acquired information. They should be able to interpret, explain, and summarize. Candidates must go beyond mere memorization and demonstrate that they can grasp the meaning and implications of the information they have learned.
Level 3 - Application: The focus at this level is on candidates’ ability to apply their acquired knowledge in practical situations. They should be able to use what they have learned to solve problems, apply principles, or implement strategies in real-world scenarios.
Level 4 - Analysis: Analysis involves candidates breaking down complex concepts into smaller parts and comprehending the relationships between them. Candidates must display the ability to analyze information, identify components, and understand the underlying connections between them.
Level 5 - Synthesis: At this level, candidates are expected to exhibit the ability to create something new by combining different ideas, concepts, or elements. Candidates must demonstrate their capacity to generate hypotheses, design experiments, or develop original solutions to problems. Synthesis involves creativity and the integration of different elements to form a novel whole.
Level 6 - Evaluation: This level requires candidates to use judgments or assessments based on criteria and evidence. Candidates must critically analyze information, compare and contrast different perspectives, and make informed decisions. They should demonstrate the ability to evaluate the quality, validity, and reliability of information, arguments, or solutions.

Reference Material

The reference material for the PM² Project management foundation exam is:

PM² Project management methodology Guide 3.1

Authors: European Commission, Digit Centre of Excellence in Project Management (CoEPM²)
ISBN: 978-92-68-10314-2
Publisher: Publications Office of the European Union

You can download the manual for free on the website of the European Commission.

Trainer accreditation

Van Haren Learning Solutions organizes the trainer accreditation for this certification program. More information on the accreditation process can be found on their website.