"Global pharmaceutical company Ely Lilly reported that it reduced two schedule milestones by 21 percent through software project management"

"BellSouth reported a 200% return on its project management investment in a training effectiveness study"

"Insurance provider Hartford reports that use of project management tools and methodology improved its planning process with clients, increased discipline within projects and offered project managers more credibility and empowerment to make decisions based on better factual data"

"U S Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration-Center for Drug Evaluation and Research stated that, using project management methods over five years (1993 to 1998), it reduced median total time for drug approval from 39.6 months to just 19.3 months"

"As a result of applying project management principles, the US Census Bureau's special services branch reduced time to complete projects from 13 months to just 8 months in 1999 or a 40% percent reduction"

A lot of the people doing the hiring have spent a lot of time getting certified themselves. We get requests where they say, "If he is not a Qualified Project Management Professional, we do not want to see him" - Bill Ritchie, Associate Partner, Management Recruiters , Indianapolis-North, USA

Fortune magazine has rated project management as Career Choice Number - 1.

The average bonus pay for certification exceeded bonus pay for skills, according to a survey by Foote Partners LLC, an IT workforce research company. Its quarterly report assesses the skills and pay of more than 29000 IT professionals in about 1800 North American and European companies.

In todays job market, candidates need certifications in addition to experience and references. The survey indicated that companies have to justify every dime, and certifications help IT executives obtain approval from CFOs for compensation packages. Companies are saying to candidates we want more proof that you know what you are doing, says Foote.

There has been on an average 500% growth in the number of certified project managers from 1987 to 1995 and 1995 - 01 worldwide.

The Project Management Professional certification provides the best bonuses, averaging 14% of base pay.

Of the certified IT professional surveyed, 80% said they plan to pursue additional certifications in the next 12 months. The good news for employees is that more employers are covering certification costs. So far in 2002, Foote estimates that half of employers covered all certification costs, up from 45% in 2001.

The present global trend is that to become a project leader a person should possess besides his technical qualification an additional certification of qualified project management professional from an internationally recognized authority.

The leading organizations all over the world are recognising the importance of qualified project management professionals and hence the Project Management Certification has seen tremendous growth in the recent times.

The career growth of certified project managers in the matured economies is 100% in the last three years.

In the last 4 years, the growth of certified project managers in Japan is over 150 times.

It is estimated that there are over 70,000 certified project management professionals globally.

The membership of project management association has seen an average growth of 2000% per year 1987-95 and 1995 - 01 worldwide.

By sound project management principles, the number of IS projects completed on time and within budget has improved from 5% prior to 1995 to 25% now.

China, a member of IPMA - Switzerland has certified over 6000 professionals at all the 4 levels under IPMA certification scheme.

The demand for skilled professionals is at an all time high as organizations and agencies continue to focus on higher productivity and greater customer satisfaction with minimum resources.

NOTE: IPMA-D was formerly known as qpmp (Qualified Project Management Professional). This suffix has been changed to IPMA-D from 1st April, 2005.