About the Project Management Essentials certification

PM² is a project management methodology created by the European Commission. It combines international best practices, such as PMBOK and PRINCE2, with the Commission's own operational experience to offer a lean, structured approach that any project team can use, from public administration to private companies.

The PMEPC™ is designed as a first step for people starting out in project delivery and coordination. It does not require prior experience, a paid course or a membership. You study the official material at your own pace, take the exam online when you feel ready, and only pay if you decide to make your result official.

• Project lifecycle
• Project governance
• Business Case
• Project planning
• Stakeholder management
• Risk and issue management
• Quality management

How to get the PMEPC™ certification

Two free steps. No sign-up fee and no credit card needed.

1. Step 3: pass with 60% or moreAnswer at least 12 of 20 questions correctly.
2. Step 4 (optional): make it officialClaim the official certificate and digital badge after you pass. See what is free and what is paid.

Why project management skills matter

Figures come from the independent sources linked on each card.

What you'll learn

1. Projects and project management

   What a project is, what project management involves, and how the project environment influences the work.

2. The House of PM²

   The four pillars of the methodology (governance, lifecycle, processes and artifacts) and the PM² Mindsets that hold them together.

3. Project organization and roles

   Who does what in a PM² project, from the Project Steering Committee and Project Owner to the Project Manager and Project Core Team, documented with a RASCI matrix.

4. Initiating Phase

   Turning an idea into an approved project with the Project Initiation Request, the Business Case and the Project Charter.

5. Planning Phase

   Kicking off planning and preparing the Project Handbook, the Project Work Plan, the stakeholder matrix and the other project plans.

6. Executing Phase

   Coordinating the work, assuring quality, reporting on progress and distributing information while deliverables are produced.

7. Closing Phase

   Formal acceptance, the project-end review, lessons learned and administrative closure.

8. Monitor and control

   Tracking performance and managing schedule, cost, stakeholders, requirements, change, risks, issues, quality and deliverables acceptance throughout the project.

The official study material is The PM² Project Management Methodology Guide 3.1 (December 2023), published by the European Commission's Centre of Excellence in PM² and organized in nine chapters plus appendices.

Who this certification is for

• Students and beginnersA first, recognizable project management credential for your résumé.
• Professionals moving into project rolesCoordinators, analysts and team members who are starting to work on projects.
• Project team membersLearn the shared vocabulary and structure used to run projects from start to finish.
• Anyone validating the basicsFormalize what you know about project management before moving on to advanced credentials.

PMEPC™ exam format

PMEPC™ vs. CAPM® vs. PMP®

All three are based on global project management standards, but they serve different audiences and stages.

Ready to go further? CertiProf's Project Management Professional Certification (PMPC™) is the natural next step.

Learn more about Project Management Essentials

What is free and what is paid

Taking the PMEPC™ exam costs nothing. You only pay if you pass and decide you want official proof of your result.

Want several certifications? See all certification options, including the bundle.

Frequently asked questions