Established in 1969 and headquartered outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world’s leading not-for-profit project management professional association, with over 125,000 members worldwide.
 
History
The Project Management Institute was founded in 1969, during that year, the first PMI Seminars & Symposium was held in Atlanta, Georgia USA and had an attendance of 83 people.
 
In the 1970s the first issue of Project Management Quarterly (PMQ) was published and later renamed Project Management Journal® (PMJ). The first Annual Seminars & Symposium was held outside of the USA, the first PMI Chapter was chartered and the PMI Professional Awards Program was established. By the end of the decade PMI membership totaled over 2,000 individuals worldwide.
 
During the 1980s, PMI’s membership, programs and services continued to grow. A Code of Ethics was adopted for the profession and the first Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification examination was administered. The first PMI project management standard was published as the PMQ Special Report on Ethics Standards and Accreditation. PMI’s publishing products and services also grew rapidly during this decade. The first PMI book was co-published and PM Network®, PMI’s monthly magazine was born. Due to this growth, the PMI Publishing Division was established.
 
By 1990, PMI’s membership totaled over 8,500 and by 1993 the annual membership growth rate rose to over 20 percent per year. During the 1990s, Specific Interest Groups and Colleges were formed and Seminars USA, a series of educational programs on project management was initiated (later renamed SeminarsWorld). PMI also established a presence on the World Wide Web and published the project management standard, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). PMI Today®, PMI’s monthly newsletter was printed for the first time and the Professional Development Program (PDP) was established for PMP certificate holders to maintain their credential.
 
By the beginning of the 21st century, PMI had over 50,000 members, over 10,000 certified Project Management Professionals and over 270,000 copies of the PMBOK® Guide in circulation.
 
Worldwide Today
Currently, PMI supports over 125,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. PMI members are individuals practicing and studying project management in many different industry areas, including aerospace, automotive, business management, construction, engineering, financial services, information technology, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications.
 
Over time, PMI has become, and continues to be, the leading professional association in project management. Members and project management stakeholders can take advantage of the extensive products and services offered through PMI. These products and services are described below and are explained in detail throughout the PMI Web site.
 
Australia
The first PMI Chapter in Australia was formed in 1996. Today there are Chapters in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The activities of the individual Chapters are coordinated through the Australian PMI Council (APC).
 
Individual Chapters and the APC support and offer members access to a wide range of activities including training, networking events, conferences, workshops and other special events. Details of national events and activities supported by APC are on this web site. Details of local events and activities are on the individual Chapter web sites. PMI Chapter members in Australia are welcome to attend other Chapter’s events and activities.
 
PMI’s Areas of Focus
Professional Standards
PMI provides global leadership in the development of standards for the practice of the project management profession throughout the world. PMI’s premiere standards document, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), is a globally recognized standard for managing projects in today’s marketplace. The PMBOK® Guide is approved as an American National Standard (ANS) by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). PMI is committed to the continuous improvement and expansion of the PMBOK® Guide, as well as the development of additional standards including Practice Guides to Earned Value, WBS and Scheduling.
 
Certification
Since 1984 PMI has been dedicated to developing and maintaining a rigorous, examination-based, professional certification program to advance the project management profession and to recognize the achievements of individuals in project management. PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification is the world’s most recognized professional credential for individuals associated with project management. In 1999, PMI became the first organization in the world to have its Certification Program attain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 recognition.
For more information visit  the PMI GOC web site Professional Development section and our Member Benefits section.
 
Research
PMI is focused on the expansion of the body of knowledge of the project management profession. Project management research is encouraged through a biennial project management research conference, external research grants, research books, a research database and identification of research topics. Additionally, current needs, information, knowledge and wisdom about the profession are collected and disseminated, the future of the profession is assessed and the evolution of the profession is encouraged.
 
Publications
PMI produces three periodical publications for the benefit of individuals in project management. PM Network® is a monthly professional magazine, Project Management Journal® is a quarterly professional journal and PMI Today® is the monthly newsletter of PMI. PMI is the world’s leading publisher of project management books, training tools, and learning products. Over 1,000 titles are currently available from PMI’s online bookstore.
 
Education & Training
PMI offers many opportunities for people in project management to enhance their knowledge and skills. The SeminarsWorld® Program offers best of class seminars on a wide range of project management topics throughout the year in various locations worldwide. The new eLearning Program features valuable educational seminars from the comfort of your own PC. PMI maintains the Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) searchable online database of qualified providers of project management professional development activities and learning products. PMI has taken the lead in establishing accreditation standards for post-secondary degrees and master certificates in programs primarily focused on project management. PMI also maintains a list of academic institutions offering degrees in project management.
For more information visit  the PMI GOC web site Professional Development section.
 
Knowledge & Wisdom Center
The PMI James R. Snyder Center for Project Management Knowledge & Wisdom provides relevant, reliable, and timely information on the practice and profession of project management. The reference/research and current awareness services utilize resources such as literature search services and Internet search engines to provide answers to project-related questions. The document delivery/reprint service provides copies of articles from PMI periodical literature upon request.
 
PMI Global Congresses
PMI offers leading-edge professional development on a worldwide scale with its Global Congresses. These events combine formal learning with networking opportunities and vendor exhibits, offering attendees a well-rounded educational experience no matter which congress they attend. By 2005, the Global Congresses will serve four major regions of the world: Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), North America, Latin America and Asia/Pacific. One congress will be held in each region annually. While program content will be similar, member-driven presentations will bring a regional flavor to each congress to address the needs of attendees in that area of the world.
PMI offers online career services for project management employers and practitioners. The Career Headquarters services include project management job postings, the CareerLink Directory of PMI member résumés/curriculum vitae, as well as career and professional development resources. PMI Career Connections, held in conjunction with PMI’s Annual Seminars & Symposium, provides a forum for employers and job seekers to meet and discuss career advancement opportunities.
 
PMI Professional Awards Program
Each year, PMI sponsors awards that acknowledge individuals who bring honor and recognition to the project management profession and to PMI. With these awards, individuals are recognized for sustained and significant contributions to the profession in research and literature; outstanding volunteer contributions; and the demonstration of outstanding service to the project management profession and to PMI. Additionally, PMI’s most prestigious award, the PMI Project of the Year, is awarded to an outstanding project and the project team involved, for superior performance and execution of exemplary project management.
 
Component Organizations
Individuals associated with project management can network with other professionals, share ideas and experiences, access industry information, attend seminars and workshops and gain leadership experience through PMI’s component organizations. PMI members can choose to hold a membership in any of the three types of component organizations: 
(1) Chapters, 
(2) Specific Interest Groups (SIGs) and 
(3) Colleges. 
 
Chapters are geographic-based components and number over 200 worldwide (including 6 in Australia). SIGs provide members with access to project management practitioners within similar industries or interest areas. Colleges help to further develop and refine a formal body of knowledge related to project management.
 
Corporate Relationships
PMI offers a variety of opportunities for organizations (public and private enterprises, government agencies, academic institutions and other associations) to develop relationships and collaborate with PMI as well as support and advance the project management profession.
 
PMI Educational Foundation
The Project Management Institute Educational Foundation, whose slogan is “Empowering the Future of Project Management”, is an autonomous organization created by PMI. The Foundation provides education, research and related activities that promote project management for the benefit of society as a whole. The Foundation operates through donations from organizations and individuals and supports research studies, provides academic scholarships and distributes awards.
 
Join Today!
Join the tens of thousands of professionals worldwide who are taking advantage of the educational, networking and career advancement opportunities that PMI has to offer. As a member, you will benefit from members only services and discounted rates on PMI products and services. Complete a membership application and become a member of PMI, the project management association of choice, today! 
For more information visit our Member Benefits section.