Certification can be obtained by individuals who meet the minimum educational and experience requirements, and demonstrate new product development knowledge by passing an examination.
To qualify to take the exam, the candidate must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and must have spent a minimum of two years working in the field of new product development.This experience must have been accumulated within the past four years.
Certification enriches individuals and the organizations for which they work.Those earning the NPDP certification are recognized as knowledgeable across the broad field of new product development. They can note the NPDP certification on their business cards and/or letterhead. Organizations can use the NPDP certification in recruitment and in staffing of teams – ensuring that qualified leaders and practitioners are present on every team.
Certification Workshops
For those who are planning to take PDMA’s New Product Development Professional (NPDP) certification exam, or just want to brush up on their product development skills, the Western New York Chapter offers a one-day NPDP Certification Workshop facilitated by a certified trainer.
The workshop will cover a wide range of topics of interest to new product development professionals including: New Product Strategy; Portfolio Management; New Product and Service Processes; People, Organization and Teams; Marketing Research, and Common Product Development Tools.Each of these topics is covered in a section of the Certification Exam.
As part of the workshop, participants receive their own copy of the course workbook prepared by the PDMA for use in the review. In addition, a continental breakfast and box lunch is also included in the registration fees.
Certification Exam
The 3-4 hour NPDP Certification Exam is offered at various locations around the country. To take the exam, you must submit your application to the National PDMA certification committee at least 30 days in advance of the test date. Please visit the national PDMA website for exam schedules and to submit an application http://www.pdma.org/certification/
Studying for the Exam
The following maps the specific chapters from the recommended references to the topic areas covered on the certification exam:
Certification Reference Map
For the most current PDMA bibliography, please visit:
http://www.pdma.org/certification/references.php
Keeping Your NPDP Certification Current
NPDP Certification must be renewed every three years. One of the criteria the committee will be using to renew your certification is evidence that you have been actively pursuing additional new product development knowledge. The Certification Committee measures this knowledge by "Professional Development Hours," or "PDHs." PDHs measure professional growth activities under these guidelines:
- One-day program = 8 professional development hours
- Half-day program = 4 professional development hours
- PDMA Chapter meeting = 2 professional development hours
- Attendance at the Annual International Conference = 20 professional development hours
A total of 20 PDHs per year is required in each of the three years of the NPDP Certification term.
Some examples of activities that count toward your renewal requiremen includet: PDMA workshops, conferences, chapter meetings, chapter conferences, executive education programs, college courses, internal corporate training programs, or any conference covering new product development topics. When you renew your certification you will need to provide evidence that you attended the activity. Certificates, college transcripts, receipts, or letters of attendance all support your renewal.
More Information
For more information on NPDP Certification including the NPDP Certification Handbook, the NPDP Exam Study Guide, and future exam dates visit the PDMA Website at http://www.pdma.org/certification/ or email our local certification chair.
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