P3O^® (Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices) Foundation and Practitioner Certificate Course

Don’t get left behind…

As businesses increasingly adapt portfolio, programme and project management, there is an increasing need for an effective infrastructure, namely the programme/project office, to support them.

The need for an effective support structure increases not only with the number of programmes and projects undertaken, but also with the significance placed on these initiatives.

Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O^®) is the latest best practice guidance from AXELOS addressing this functionality.

The P3O model provides a decision and delivery support structure for enabling change within an organisation. This may be provided through a single permanent office such as, the Portfolio Office, Centre of Excellence, Enterprise or Corporate Programme Office. Alternatively, it may be provided through a linked set of offices (portfolio office, programme offices, project offices).

P3O is aligned with PRINCE2^® and MSP^® and blends in one place a set of principles, processes and techniques to facilitate effective portfolio, programme and project management through enablement, challenge and support structures. These structures bridge the gap between the strategy and policy makers, and the delivery arm of the organisation.

Foundation Course Objectives

The Foundation courses aims to certify participants in P3O Foundation Level and enable them to demonstrate a good understanding of the programme and project support office functions, acting as an informed member of a P3O. Overall, the course assists in developing an appreciation of the issues and challenges that face Programme and Project Managers.

Practitioner Course Objectives

The Practitioner course prepares participants to undertake and pass the P3O Practitioner Examination.  The Practitioner level qualification aims to measure whether the candidate has sufficient knowledge and understanding of the P3O guidance to apply and tailor it to a given scenario situation.

The course includes review, consolidation of concepts and exam questions for the Practitioner level certification.

Please note that the Practitioner course is an examination preparation course and focuses on the application of P3O to prepare candidates for the Practitioner examination.

Course Summary

Successful completion of these workshops will enable participants to gain an understanding of the following:

• An Introduction to P3O – discussing why, when and how to use P3O models including the difference between portfolio, programmes and project environments and their different requirements
• Value – what value P3Os can bring to the organisation including a business case, funding models and performance measures
• Model – an overview of the different P3O models with examples
• Functions and Techniques – details on the functions/services and techniques/tools used by units of a P3O model

Foundation Certification

The Foundation course includes the P3O Foundation Examination which consists of:

• 75 questions (5 trial – not counted in scores)
• Multiple-choice format
• 60-minute exam
• Pass mark is 50% (35/70)
• Closed book

Practitioner Certification

The Practitioner course includes the P3O Practitioner Examination. Please note a Foundation pass is a prerequisite to sitting the Practitioner examination. The examination consists of:

• 5 hours duration
• Objective testing paper based on a scenario
• 4 questions per paper of 20 marks each – 80 marks available in total
• Pass mark is 50% (40/80)
• Open book (P3O guide only)

The P3O Practitioner qualification is valid for 5 years. Practitioners should re-register within 3-5 years of their original certification to demonstrate their commitment to professional development.

PeopleCert administers the P3O examination scheme.

Foundation and Practitioner Exams

The P3O exams are undertaken during the course as follows:

• Foundation: the Foundation exam is undertaken on the afternoon of day 3 of the Foundation course
• Practitioner: the Practitioner exam is undertaken on the afternoon of day 2 of the Practitioner course