I’m pleased to share that I have been officially certified as a PMS (Project Management Specialist) by the Project Management Association of Japan (PMAJ).
With over 25 years in the IT industry, this certification marks another step forward — building on my existing PMP credential to deepen my expertise in a distinctly Japanese framework of project and program management. In this post, I’d like to share what the PMS certification is, how it differs from the PMP, and why I pursued it at this stage of my career.
What Is PMS? — The “Specialist” Level of the P2M Certification System
The PMS certification is a domestic Japanese credential granted by PMAJ (the NPO Project Management Association of Japan). It is widely recognized across industries including IT and manufacturing, and is particularly common among business owners and senior managers responsible for complex operations.
P2M (Project & Program Management) is a certification framework designed to recognize professionals in both project and program management. It is structured across four levels — PMC, PMS, PMR, and PMA — each representing a progressively higher tier of expertise. PMS sits at the second level and certifies a comprehensive command of both project management and program management knowledge.
The exam is delivered in CBT (Computer-Based Test) format: 100 multiple-choice questions over 150 minutes, based on the 4th Revised Edition of the P2M Guidebook. With a reported pass rate of approximately 41.9% (as of June 2023), it is by no means an easy credential to earn.
In my day-to-day role — overseeing large-scale financial systems spanning banking, insurance, and credit — managing multiple concurrent projects across organizational boundaries is the very core of the work. The precision of process management I developed through PMP, combined with the program-level perspective that P2M offers, has enabled me to approach strategic decisions from a higher vantage point.
It’s also worth noting that holders of the PMP or the IPA Project Manager (PM) certification are eligible for a partial exam exemption. By passing the PMS Program Exam alone, they can earn the full PMS certification — an efficient pathway for those who already hold a global PM credential.
Why I Pursued PMS — and Why Now
My motivation was straightforward: to extend my management language from the global standard into the Japanese business context.
Even after earning the PMP, I consistently encountered challenges that fell outside the scope of PMBOK. When multiple system modernization projects run in parallel and cross-organizational coordination becomes essential, a program management mindset is indispensable. The integrated, mission-driven program thinking that P2M advocates is precisely the intellectual framework needed to navigate those situations.
At the same time, as I work through an MBA at Nagoya University of Commerce & Business — with a focus on business strategy and digital transformation — PMS plays a meaningful role in my broader career repositioning. It serves as a credible demonstration of PM expertise that resonates within the Japanese business environment, complementing the global recognition of PMP.
How I Plan to Apply It — Building Toward My Next Career Chapter
My goal is to grow into a role as a change agent who bridges management and IT.
In management consulting in particular, the ability to structure a client’s challenges not merely as technical problems, but within the broader context of a program — and to derive solutions accordingly — is essential. The program-level thinking I’ve sharpened through PMS will serve as a foundation for the kind of strategic advisory work I aspire to do.
P2M is a step-by-step certification system that recognizes growing levels of practical capability. Going forward, I intend to continue developing my expertise through the integration of professional credentials, hands-on practice, and academic research.
Closing Thoughts
A certification is a means, not an end. But the process of systematically revisiting one’s knowledge — and committing to have it formally recognized — is a valuable opportunity for self-reflection at key points in a career.
I look forward to putting this foundation to work as I move into the next chapter.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
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