Port Professional Manager

The PPM^® program is a comprehensive port and supply chain education curriculum that has certified over 100 professionals. These graduates are now contributing their enhanced knowledge and leadership skills to port and transportation communities across the Americas. Established in 1995, this educational and training initiative provides a port management certification in the Americas.

Candidates must meet eligibility requirements that include being a manager with more than five years of experience and a full-time professional in the port or supply chain industry.

The two main benefits of the PPM for me both relate to perspective. One was learning different aspects of a port through the required classes. It forces you out of your comfort zone, which ultimately helps you communicate better with other people within your organization. The other benefit is the rapport built with classmates that gives you a network around the country. You can call them and lean on them and connect with people in their organizations. — Cathie Vick, PPM, chief development and public affairs officer, The Port of Virginia.

The application period for the PPM Echo Cohort is currently OPEN and will close January 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To apply, visit the PPM application page.

How To Apply

Applicants must follow these five critical steps to apply for the PPM Certification Program:

Step One: Applicants must express interest to their Executive Director or Direct Supervisor at their respective ports/organizations. Candidates must be recommended by one of the two in order to qualify for program participation. Having a letter of endorsement from either the Executive Director or Direct Supervisor will aid in your application process. 

Step Two: Ensure your resume and current job description is update to date. A copy of your resume and job description is required when applying for the PPM Certification Program. 

Step Three: Write an essay that describes what makes you uniquely qualified to participate in the PPM program, what benefits you are expecting, and what your contributions will be. The essay length should range between 300 to 600 words. 

Step Four: Check your budget and travel availability for attendance in the program. Applicants must pay a $85 application fee, and candidates accepted into the PPM program pay a $800.00 registration fee. All other expenses are paid per course/elective. Candidates will be required to attend two cornerstone training programs.

PPM Certification

PPM candidates have access to all AAPA education & training events, as well as curriculum offered by AAPA educational partners. Covering all aspects of the port management profession, these interactions enable you to become a seasoned professional and valuable asset to your organization.

PPM candidates achieve an unparalleled understanding of port and supply chain disciplines by attending events focused on maritime core competencies, as well as the two cornerstone PPM Cohort biannual training courses, Port and Terminal Operations Management Training in April 2024 and the Leadership Summit in April 2025. As an added benefit, PPM graduates can further their education by applying this credential towards a graduate degree in port management or an International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) certificate.

The annual cost for the PPM Certification ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the number and type of courses taken each year by the PPM candidate. The total cost to complete the program is approximately $10,000. Travel costs (e.g., airfare and ground transportation, meals, hotel accommodations and miscellaneous items) are additional expenses.

Each organization and individual have different competing priorities, so the PPM program has a flexible timeline in which candidates can finish in as soon as two years or as long as 4+ years. The PPM candidates typically attend two to three classes per year, participate in monthly cohort advisory sessions, become members on AAPA committees, gain access to port executives and managers throughout the country, and receive an unparalleled understanding of port operations, administration and management.

Candidates are required to complete training and acquire competencies in the following core focus areas:

The final requirement of the PPM certification is the successful completion of a final capstone of the candidate’s choosing. There are three options for completing the capstone:

• Author and present an industry white paper on a topic that advances port management or supply chain theory or practice.
• Assist on an industry-specific project, such as developing a toolkit, strategic plan, public relations campaign or economic analysis, and provide the relevant documentation.
• A “residency” of no less than two weeks at port(s) other than their own to gain experience and expertise in another port environment and bolster professional relationships and prepare an executive summary on the experience and lessons learned from the residency.

For more information about AAPA’s professional development programs, reach out to Julie Barelas at jbarelas@aapa-ports.org.