Project Management
Certificate IV (BSB41504)
Who should enrol in this qualification?
- People working as, or intending to work as, project managers.
- People working as a member of a project team.
- People seeking project management skills for personal development.
Do I need any skills?
Appropriate workplace experience.
Should I enrol at Certificate IV or Diploma level?
- We will teach the same theory, regardless of whether you enrol in the Certificate IV or Diploma. The difference is in the assessment process and how you apply the theory and principles.
- To obtain a Certificate IV you need to provide evidence of your competency to manage simple projects or apply project management concepts as part of a larger project team.
- To obtain a Diploma, you need to provide evidence of your competency to manage more complex projects and manage a project team.
- When using terms such as ‘simple’ and ‘complex’, we realise that there will always be grey areas.
We would recommend that you enrol in the Certificate IV if:
- You have had no previous project management experience
- You are working in a project team, but not in a managing role
- The projects you manage are small and simple (in terms of budget, timeframes, risk etc).
From our experience, you will find it easier to provide evidence of the Diploma competencies if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You are working as a project management specialist
- You have had 3 or more years experience as a project manager
- You have an existing Certificate IV or higher qualification in a management/business-related field
- You are managing, or have previously managed, a project with complexities
- You are managing, or have managed, a project team.
How long will it take?
A student could expect to complete the full Certificate IV in Project Management within approximately 12 months. However, completion will depend on the timeframe of the project the student undertakes for assessment.
Where can I learn?
Where students come from a variety of workplace environments, classes/ workshops are generally held on TAFE premises. However, where there are a number of participants from the one organisation, delivery is tailored, and conducted on the clients’ premises (where that is their preference).
The location of assessments is negotiated with students. The assessment process is sufficiently flexible to allow for both on-the-job and off-the-job.
How will I learn?
Depending on needs, learning may be on-the-job, off-the-job or a combination of both. Options include:
- Classroom - instructor delivered lessons
- Online (WebCT) - self-paced learning supported by mentoring
- Team/group work - group discussions/activities
- Research projects - individual and/or group projects on a work-related issue
- Assignments - individual and/or group practical tasks on a work-related issue
- Demonstrations - demonstration of a skill or competency
- Case studies - student analysis of realistic case studies
- Role plays - games, simulations using workplace examples/procedures
- Personal research - research activities related to learning and assessment tasks
Where required, learning materials are customised to reflect the specific needs of clients.
Delivery is generally by TAFE staff; however industry experts are asked to deliver/mentor parts of some units and/or share their practical experiences.
Generally speaking, there are unlikely to be significant language or literacy issues. However, there are certainly some students where English is not their first language. Delivery strategies cater for this possibility – by establishing individual learning plans and mentoring processes where necessary and/or by supplementing any classroom activities with written reference material.
How will I be assessed?
The principal mode of assessment is a major workplace-based project. Ideally, the one project, or one project scenario, is used for all 8 units.
- All units are assessed at the end of the project. However, there are review points where feedback is provided to students. These review points are negotiable but generally coincide with the completion of the main project phases – design, manage and close.
- If a project is part of the student’s current work activities (or soon will be), this project is used as the basis of assessment. In other words, the assessment is linked to work that the student is already doing.
- If a project is not part of the students current work activities, they are asked to negotiate a project with their manager – and this project is used as the basis of assessment. The project negotiated should be of genuine value to the workplace.
- If it is not possible to negotiate a ‘real’ project in the workplace, students are asked to undertake a simulated project. The scenario for the project is designed to meet individual circumstances. There is sufficient flexibility to cater for students who do not have access to a workplace environment.
- TAFE staff generally undertake assessments.
- Recognition of Current Competency is available. Evidence required for recognition is outlined in the Training Package.
- Credit transfers are available.
- Throughout all assessments, Occupational Health & Safety procedures are followed.
What other study or career options are available?
Graduates may use the qualification to obtain employment, or change employment.
Graduates may also pursue further study such as:
- Diploma of Project Management
- Diploma of Government (Project Management)
- Other relevant Diplomas
What Competencies will I undertake?
There are no electives for this qualification. All 8 units are core and must be completed.
The 8 units are:
- BSBPM401A: Apply Scope Management Techniques
- BSBPM402A: Apply Time Management Techniques
- BSBPM403A: Apply Cost Management Techniques
- BSBPM404A: Apply Quality Management Techniques
- BSBPM405A: Apply Human Resource Management Techniques
- BSBPM406A: Apply Communications Management Techniques
- BSBPM407A: Apply Risk Management Techniques
- BSBPM408A: Apply Contract & Procurement Techniques
This is a national qualification. These units mirror the knowledge areas contained in the Project Management Body of Knowledge ®.
Fees
Workshops: $1,800
- Fee Breakdown
- Training $1,300 + Assessment $500
Online: $1,800 (Total cost)
- Deposit - $600 (non refundable - texts included)
- 3 Instalments of $400
Enterprise Based Training:
- Workshops - typically $9,000 to $11,000 for 5 day course ( Maximum of 20 students per course)
- Assessment cost $500 per student when attending workshops
- Recognition of Current Competency - $1,500 per submission
Assessment Validation Process
Trainers/assessors attend regularly scheduled meetings to:
- Discuss assessment strategies
- Review assessment materials to ensure currency, validity, reliability, fairness and flexibility
- Share information and assessment tools
- Ensure that assessment strategies address the cultural and linguistic needs of our learners
Assessment validation processes also include:
- Establishing an assessment panel
- Moderation meetings
- Client satisfaction surveys
- Peer reviews
A continuous improvement process is applied to the assessment.
Consultation
The training and assessment strategies for this qualification are developed in consultation with a range of trainers and assessors from TAFE Tasmania as well as an Enterprise Reference Group.
Team Details
Statewide
Candas Hogan - Administration
Kathy O'Keefe - Online
Mike Avery and Margo O'Farrell - Workshops and Enterprise
Ph: (03) 6216 4388
Email: pmadmin@tafe.tas.edu.au
Or call TAFE Tasmania General Enquiries: 1300 655 307
Last Updated
Monday, 14 July 2008 (M)
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