As governments and business organizations acquire more sophisticated information systems, the job of managing these projects becomes more complex. The need has greatly increased for IT Project Managers who are adept leaders, able to implement advanced project management concepts and methods. In response to this need, the IRM College has developed an Information Technology Project Management (IT-PM) Certificate Program composed of graduate-level courses designed to satisfy competencies established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interpretive Guidance for Project Management Positions, and the Clinger-Cohen Act.The IT-PM Certificate complements project management instruction provided by the Defense Systems Management College and the ANSI-recognized Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, and aids graduates in attaining the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Students in the IRM College IT-PM Certificate Program learn IT project management policies, regulations, theories, concepts, and best practices through an integrated set of courses. Instructors use real-world examples and case studies to teach students state-of-the-art project management methods and tools. A graduate of the IT-PM Program will have the knowledge, skills, and abilities identified by OPM for IT project managers:

• Lead complex information technology and software projects by applying program leadership skills and advanced IT program/project management concepts and methods;
• Exercise oversight and milestone decision responsibilities for information technology, and software acquisition and development initiatives;
• Use state-of-the-art project management automated tools on actual examples and case studies;
• Link IT technical knowledge to expert skills in management, organizational development, stakeholder strategic outcomes, and problem-solving; and
• Leverage information technology and software acquisition best practices.

Certificate Requirements
Award of the Information Technology Project Management Certificate requires completion of four core courses and two specialty courses. The core courses are Strategic Information Technology Acquisition (ITA), Critical Information Systems Technologies (CST), Building an IT Business Case (BBC), and Information Technology Project Management (ITP). (Each "core course" also satisfies fully educational requirements in a CIO Certificate competency area.)

Two specialty courses are required: , Software Acquisition Leadership (SAL), and Information Technology Project Leadership (IPL). 

Students enrolled in the certificate program may take courses for Professional Development (PD); however, for courses to count toward the certificate or as a prerequisite, students must take them for credit.