1. What is PMI?

2. I have recently moved to Canberra and would like to change chapters to
   be informed of local events. How do I change chapters?

3. What other chapters are available in Australia?

4. What are the benefits of joining PMI?

5. Does the Project Management Institute (PMI) recognise and/or accredit other project management courses held by universities, colleges and/or other service providers?

Q. What is PMI?
A. PMI operates throughout the world with head-office in the USA. The PMI goal is promotion of the project management profession.  Current information about the many benefits of joining PMI may be found at www.pmi.org.  Joining PMI is achieved by printing the (attached) application form, then posting or faxing the completed form to PMI in the USA. A much faster method is to apply online. Details of both approaches are at http://www.pmi.org/prod/groups/public/documents/info/gmc_membershipoverview.asp.

Note that payment can only be made in $US - the simplest way of doing this is by supplying credit card details on the form.  The cost of joining PMI is $US119 plus $10 joining fee, with the cost of joining the Canberra Chapter an additional $US40 (all on the same form and sent to the USA).  The $A cost is determined at the time of processing in the USA, so the exact cost depends on the floating exchange rate at a particular point in time.

Many (regional) Chapters and Specific Interest Groups have been formed to support promotion of the profession. The Canberra Chapter does this through events such as breakfasts and chapter meetings. Our web-site, showing our forthcoming events, is at http://www.pmichapters-australia.org.au/Canberra. To join the Chapter, simply nominate Canberra (Australia)chapter on your PMI membership application.

Q. I have recently moved to Canberra and would like to change chapters to
be informed of local events. How do I change chapters?
A. A member may request to change Chapters by e-mailing the PMI Customer Service department at pmihq@pmi.org.  If the member is due to renew their PMI membership in the next 3 months, we recommend that they change Chapters at the time that they renew their PMI membership, indicating on their PMI Renewal invoice what their Chapter of choice will be and including the appropriate yearly dues.

Q. What other chapters are available in Australia?
A. For details on the other chapters within Australia please visit the web site http://www.pmi.org/info/GMC_ChapterListingOutsideUS.asp#P133_2006.  This contains the relevant contact details.  Queensland has recently started a chapter and chapters are currently being formed in Perth and Adelaide.

Q. What are the benefits of joining PMI?
A. Here are some of the benefits.
Networking:  One of the main advantages to joining PMI is to meet with other PMs across a broad cross section of industries and to share experiences etc.

Newsletters:  All PMI members get monthly newsletters from PMI GOC which contain a number of articles on PM. Many of these would possibly assist with your studies.

Events: PMI Canberra run a number of events each year. These events are open to all but subsidised to members of the PMI Canberra chapter.

PMP:  Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is an internationally recognised examination in Project Management. 

PM Publications:PMI members receive a monthly publication "PM Network" as well as other publications.

Q. Does the Project Management Institute (PMI) recognise and/or accredit other project management courses held by universities, colleges and/or other service providers?

The PMI has an organisational recognition process whereby it provides a Registered Education Provider (REP) or Global Education Provider (GEP) status to organisations which are approved to conduct courses or educational programs based on PMBOK and suitable for PMI members to attend to gain Professional Development Units (PDU’s). These organisations are able to advertise that they are recognised by PMI and are able to display a REP or GEP logo. A listing of these organisations is contained on the PMI GOC website at http://www.pmi.org/info/PDC_REPOverviewFile.asp.
 
The PMI also recognises a number of academic institutions that provide degree programs in project management. A full listing can be viewed at the PMI website at http://www.pmi.org/info/PDC_GraduateSchools.asp.
The PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) is the project management profession's most globally recognized and respected certification. 

To obtain PMP certification, an individual must satisfy education and experience requirements, agree to and adhere to a Code of Professional Conduct, and pass the PMP Certification Examination. The PMP Certification examination is based on the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) that is internationally recognised as underpinning PM best practice in project management principles, practice and theory. Further details are available on this website under ‘Certification’.

The PMI does not formally accredit any project management courses although having a REP or GEP status does mean that the PMI has determined that the organisation does conduct suitable programs. However the PMI encourages members or other parties seeking to undertake project management courses to undertake some initial research into course content and relevance prior to enrolling. Examples of questions that you might like to ask course coordinators include:

• Is the course content based on the PMBOK. If not, what is the main text/source that was used to develop the course and what are the credentials of its author(s)?

• Does completion of the course provide me with points towards membership of a project management body and/or formal recognition by this organisation?

• How well recognised and respected is the course amongst the local project management community.

• Is the course recognised by any international project management associations or bodies?