About the GAC

"I'm very honored by us being granted accreditation. This gives us the ability to say that we have been examined by outside professionals, measured by their standards and found to be in compliance with their requirements. It puts us in an elite group of world-class programs."

Jim Joiner, PMP
Program Director, Project Management Program
School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas (USA)

What is the GAC?

The Project Management Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC), established by the PMI Board of Directors in 2001, is a specialized accrediting body that assures the quality of project management degree programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The GAC is led by a board that consists of nine volunteer members who represent relevant academic programs, industry, project management stakeholders and the public at large.

The GAC is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA), the only unified, national voice that supports the importance of specialized and professional accreditation.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation has two fundamental purposes: to assure the quality of an institution or program, and to assist in the improvement of the institution or program. Accreditation defines higher education by establishing standards for faculty, learning out-comes and institutional resources. There are two types of accreditation: institutional accreditation, which applies to an entire university, and specialized programmatic accreditation, which focuses on specific programs and/or degrees within a university.

Who Performs Specialized Accreditation?

Specialized accreditation is a long-standing part of academia, and is commonly seen in business, engineering, law and medical programs. It is almost always conducted by nonprofit organizations made up of academics and practitioners representing the professions that are related to the degrees or academic programs they accredit.

What Does the GAC Accredit?

The GAC, as a specialized accrediting body, focuses on accreditation of programs in project management. This programmatic accreditation is not limited solely to institutions with separate project management programs, but can take place within any discipline offering project management programs. Accreditation has taken place all over the world, within schools as diverse as engineering, construction management, business, information technology and international project management. Graduates of these programs go on to work in virtually every industry, as well as governments and other organizations within the not-for-profit sector.

The GAC focuses on the quality of the program itself, not on its delivery method. The GAC does not discriminate on whether a program is offered entirely through distance education, a traditional classroom model or a combination of the two.

Why Should My Institution Seek Accreditation?

GAC accreditation encourages self-study, planning and continuous improvement on the part of the educational institution, and helps organizations, students and faculty make more informed decisions regarding the quality of a project management program. By creating and assessing against clearly defined quality standards that are external to the accredited institutions, GAC accreditation ensures that high-quality academic programs are available and recognized to the public, other universities and within the accredited program's own institution.

Once a program is accredited, its stature within the school is elevated, as it has completed a rigorous process which includes an in-depth evaluation report. This self-evaluation leads to the refinement, evolution, and, ultimately, improvement of the program.

For students:
Accreditation status commonly plays a factor in their school and degree-program decisions as it not only determines their eligibility for dozens of special scholarships but also can provide invaluable long-term career benefits.

Graduates of GAC accredited programs receive 1500 hours of project management experience toward earning one of two of PMI's globally recognized credentials in project management: the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP®) or PMI Program Management Professional (PgMP®) credential.

For faculty:
Accreditation status can determine their decisions regarding affiliating themselves with an institution.

For employers:
Accreditation status shapes their recruiting and assessment of employee's qualifications.

How Can I Learn More About GAC Accreditation?

There are three methods:
1: Read the GAC Handbook of Accreditation.
The GAC Handbook of Accreditation - Third Edition (3.1) is the definitive and comprehensive guide that will provide all the information you will need regarding the accreditation process and standards. In addition, its outcome-based approach also serves as an invaluable resource for assessing the self-study of the results of your program.

2: Consult with Your Peers in Accredited Programs
Many institution representatives are willing to share their own experiences with the GAC accreditation process, from their initial letter of intent, through the preparation of the self-evaluation reports, the on-site visits and the results of the accreditation process. Please contact the GAC Accreditation Programs Administrator at gac@pmi.org or at 1-610-356-4600, ext. 5003 to obtain contact information of schools that would be willing to consult with you about the process.

3: Speak with a GAC staff representative
The GAC's accreditation experts are ready to answer any questions you may have and are prepared to offer you support and guidance, both now and during the accreditation process.
Request to be contacted by a GAC representative and/or to receive periodic e-mail alerts with information on new accreditation events and newly accredited programs as well as links to downloads of case studies, white papers, research reports and articles.