Q: I would like to consult with someone about starting a Project Management summer intensive certificate program...can you tell me how I'd go about doing that?
A: Ms. Endicott, Project Management is a popular certificate program topic for many of our member programs. That said, there are probably over a thousand organizations offering Project Management, so your main task is determining the market and the competition. Creating the curriculum and being recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which administers the exam and designation, do not appear to be major tasks as there are so many publications and certificates on project management. We suggest you read PMI guidelines and use their resources and/or recommendations. There are probably PMI certified project managers in your area who might be willing to teach it. The bigger issue from our perspective is the market and the competition. Four suggestions on determining if there is a market in your area. 1) If three or more people suggest you offer Project Management, it is a good first indication of need. 2) Asking 5-7 people with experience in project management to a 1-2 hour meeting to discuss the need, other programs, and who would want to attend such a program would be good. This "focus" group would probably give you good advice on the extent of the need. 3) Survey existing customers with businesses and give them a list of 5-6 possible certificates you could develop. One of those should be Project Management. The others should be legitimate business certificates in other subject areas. Measure whether Project Management is the top choice, or in the top 3. If Project Management is not the top choice, really consider offering the top choice as a certificate, either in addition to Project Management or instead of it. 4) Finding a mailing list. You need a list of names and addresses of potential participants for project management. If you can find one, and it is sizable enough, that's a good and necessary condition. If you cannot get one, or it is too small, you need a list of potential participants in order to market any certificate topic. The next thing to do is to evaluate the competition. You can Google Project Management, look at PMI approved agencies, or just look at all the brochures of programs within xx miles of you. Then, have a "mystery shopper" call and ask about how many people are in each class, as if they are a student. Then calculate their income and market share. Then figure out whether you can still gain enough income and market share to thrive (survive should not be the criteria, as there are other certificates you can do). Then you make the decision to proceed and develop it. Thanks for asking. If you need more, or we missed the core of your question, please let us know. Thanks for being a member.