Global Certification Scheme (GCS)


SAAMA in partnership with WPiAM (World Partners in Asset Management) are excited to announce the launch of the Global Certification Scheme (GCS) which is a culmination of years of consistent effort and dedication to the realization of this major milestone in the history of SAAMA and the global Asset Management community at large.

The Global Certification Scheme provides a three-level designation framework that has been shaped around the key Asset Management roles.

Level 1: Certified Senior Principal in Asset Management (CSAM™)

Level 2: Certified Practitioner in Asset Management (CPAM™)

Level 3: Certified Technical Specialist in Asset Management (CTAM™)

These designations focus on core roles across Asset Management teams that may be operating in a range of industries, at various scales, in widely disparate environments and delivers continued professional development opportunities.

This competency-based scheme will provide a common base for organisations to ensure that the individuals they hire anywhere in the world have the knowledge, skills, and experience to apply asset management principles in various contexts.

SAQA Requirements

In November 2016 the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) approved SAAMA’s application to register a professional designation – “Certified Senior Asset Manager” (now the Certified Senior Principal in Asset Management)  (CSAM™) – in terms of the national qualifications framework. This emanated from collaboration of leaders in AM from countries across the globe, including South Africa, linked to the preparation, and launch in 2014, of the international standard (ISO55001) on the management system requirements for Asset Management (which was also adopted in SA as a SANS). Leveraging collective global experience, the document sets out principles to be adopted by asset-intensive organisations to most effectively and efficiently manage assets.

SAAMA, in collaboration with SAQA finalized the new/updated CSAM™, CPAM™ and CTAM™ designation requirements to ensure alignment to the new GCS requirements. An opportunity will be made for existing holders of the CSAM™ designation for recertification in line with the WPiAM endorsed certification. The SAAMA website has been updated for applications for the new suite of CSAM™, CPAM™ and CTAM™ designations (recognised by WPiAM) in line with arrangements with SAQA. People interested in applying can do so here.

Application Process

Before applying familiarize yourself with the general requirements and responsibilities of each designation. Click here to download the WPiAM information pack.

To begin the application process click here

Background and Objectives

In November 2016 the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) approved SAAMA’s application to register a professional designation – “Certified Senior Asset Manager” (now the Certified Senior Principal in Asset Management)  (CSAM™) – in terms of the national qualifications’ framework.

This was as a result of an initiative pursued in SA by SAAMA in parallel with other similar international bodies, that are members of WPiAM www.wpiam.com,  to establish appropriate professional designations for the asset management industry. The collaboration emanated from the joint work that had been done with leaders in AM from countries across the globe linked to the preparation of the international standard (ISO55001) on management system requirements for Asset Management. Leveraging collective global experience, the standard set out principles to be adopted by asset-intensive organisations to manage assets most effectively and efficiently. It was adopted as a South African National Standard in 2015.

The formalisation of AM designations aims to recognise the essential role that PEOPLE perform in ensuring that any such management system is appropriate to the operating environment and objectives of the organisation, enabling it to deliver. This applies to the public sector – providing basic services that support social well-being and facilitate economic growth; as well as the private sector – enhancing business performance and maximising job opportunities.

Importantly, this initiative was a means to fulfil SAAMA’s mission to:

  • Raise the profile and competence (and, in so doing, the motivation) of people responsible for the performance of infrastructure, plant and machinery (that so often is a key mechanism to achieving an organisation’s objectives); and
  • Provide a cross-sectoral and multi-layered career structure in which young people can enter and confidently grow according to their capabilities; and in which domain-specialists can be equipped to better achieve asset-based overall organisational objectives.

Indeed, successful delivery is the result of effective integration of the contributions of the various members of the AM team, each applying their specific competencies, aware of, and understanding, the impact of their contribution to the whole.