If you are designing, implementing and running one organizational PMO or initiative specific PMOs then take at look the IPMO-F course
PMO Certifications from the Association of International PMOs – AIPMO™
IPMO-Foundation
IPMO-Practitioner
If you are involved in the running, monitoring and controlling of a PMO take a look at the IPMO-P course
IPMO-Expert
If you architect the PMO topology across the organization take a look at the IPMO-E course
The Foundation level certification is for PMO team members, project team members and any stakeholders involved in a PMO. It sets the foundational knowledge required to understand the mechanics of projects, programs, portfolios and PMOs, and how to become a competent PMO team member of a project, program, portfolio, and PMO.
-Ideally one year plus experience in projects and/or PMOs
-Educated to degree level or similar
-One year plus of business experience
Pre-Reading: A small amount of pre-reading is required for this course. It is distributed approximately two weeks before the course start.
1 hour, 50 multiple choice questions
Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: Building the Context and Need for PMOs
Module 3: PMO Lifecycle Framework
Module 4: Developing Capabilities and Services within the PMO
Module 5: Run, Monitor and Control Services within a PMO
Module 6: PMO Success, PMO Maturity and their Connection
The Practitioner level certification is for PMO Managers, Directors, Consultants and experienced PMO team members looking to enter a PMO management role. It focuses on the PMO Lifecycle Framework and provides an in-depth understanding of PMO principles and practices including the design, implementation, and operation of organizational or initiative specific PMOs.
-5 years experience in Project, Programme or Portfolio Management
-2 years plus experience in a PMO
-IPMO-F™ Certification, or PMI PMP® or AXELOS Foundation/Practitioner Levels in MSP®, P3O® or MoP®
Pre-Reading: A small amount of pre-reading is required for this course. It is distributed approximately two weeks before the course start.
1 hour 30 minutes, 75 multiple choice questions
Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: Building the Context and Need for PMOs
Module 3: PMO Lifecycle to Build and Run PMOs
Module 4: Organisational Capabilities to Build and Run a PMO
Module 5: Identify / Evaluate / Strategise for a PMO
Module 6: Design and Justification for a PMO
Module 7: Pilot and Implement a PMO
Module 8: Run, Monitor and Control One (Or More) PMOs
Module 9: Transform / Retire PMOs
Module 10: PMO Success and PMO Maturity
The IPMO-Expert Certification is designed for Senior PMO Managers and PMO Directors. This course covers enterprise level PMOs – the most complex structures we see in organizations.
-10 years experience in Project, Programme or Portfolio Management
-2 years plus as a PMO Manager / PMO Director
-IPMO-P™ Certification, or PMI PMP® or AXELOS Practitioner Levels in MSP®, P3O® or MoP®
Pre-Reading: A small amount of pre-reading is required for this course. It is distributed approximately two weeks before the course start.
2 hours, 100 multiple choice questions
Module 1: Building the Context and Need for PMOs
Module 2: PMO Lifecycle to Build and Run PMOs
Module 3: Assessing the Need, Building and/or Extending PMOs
Module 4: Run, Monitor and Control One (Or More) PMOs
Module 5: Transform / Retire PMOs
Module 6: PMO Success and PMO Maturity
Module 7: Capabilities to Build and Run a PMO
Module 8: Eponymous Laws, Theories and Latest Project Management and PMO Research
The AIPMO is a professional association for PMO, Project, Programme, and Portfolio Management Office leaders, managers and staff who define, establish, run or work in PMOs across different industry sectors.
The AIPMO is actively involved in the continuous process of improving the approaches and methods needed in PMOs and promotes the participation of institutions, corporations, academic organisations, associations, professionals, and operators in the field of PMO.
The IPMO certifications from AIPMO are for leaders; managers and core PMO team members in Project, Programme and Portfolio Offices responsible for the business justification, design, set up, running and retirement of PMOs.
AIPMO’s mission is to advance the understanding, design and implementation of high performing single, group and enterprise PMOs, through the certification of proven PMO capabilities based on its IPMO Body of Knowledge.
2019 AIPMO PMO Certification Course Schedule
Still not sure which AIPMO Certification is right for you?
Do I have to take the Foundation course to move onto Practitioner and Expert?
You are not required to hold the lower level certificates to complete the advanced certifications as AIPMO certifications are stand alone.
There are prerequisites for the Practitioner and Expert courses – they are based on previous practical experience rather than which training you have already undertaken.
What's the difference between IPMO-P and the IPMO-E Level ?
Both courses (IPMO-P and IPMO-E) follow a similar structure utilizing the PMO lifecycle but the depth of topics is less in the Practitioner level. The Expert course certification covers organizational strategy, senior-level assessments, business case development, competencies, hot spot evaluation, PMO clusters, topologies, PMO governance, principles, and a number of other topics required for Senior PMO Manager / Director levels who architect the PMO topology across the organization. Practitioner level certification emphasis is at a middle management level in terms of one organizational PMO or initiative specific PMOs. The case study is also different at each level of certification.
The IPMO-Expert level also requires different pre-requisites from the IPMO-Practitioner level certification course. This ensures the training course delegates are similarly matched in terms of skill and experience levels.
What's the difference between IPMO-F and the IPMO-P level ?
Both certification courses follow a similar structure utilizing the PMO lifecycle framework but the Foundation course is targeted at the PMO team member or equivalent involved in the running, monitoring and controlling of a PMO. The Foundation course also details the role of a PMO or project team member in the processes needed in the running, monitor and controlling a PMO.
The Practitioner course certification covers more of the PMO lifecycle framework but especially the PMO lifecycle with the business need, identify, evaluate and strategize, design, justification as well as run, monitor and control a PMO. Capabilities are also cover but more specifically those associated with or at the management level of a PMO.
The case study focuses different at Practitioner level than Foundation. The Foundation level certification requires little knowledge of PMOs and project management as a pre-requisites whereas the Practitioner course does require pre-requisites.
What are the differences between the AIPMO and P3O® qualifications?
AIPMO certification courses cover three different levels whereas P3O® covers two levels.
IPMO-Foundation is for those currently working within a PMO; IPMO-Practitioner for those managing a single PMO; and the IPMO-Expert for those managing enterprise level PMOs.
The P3O® courses – Foundation (for those working in a PMO) and Practitioner (those managing PMOs) are both courses which cover the high level overview of PMOs.
AIPMO courses are much more practical, highly interactive and go much deeper into how services are created in the PMO or how different types of PMOs are set up. The course follows a case study to allow learners to develop their thinking in how different techniques and approaches work.
Is the exam after or during the course?
The exam for all AIPMO qualifications are on the last day of the certification course. The exams are taken online and the questions are in a multiple choice format.
Other Questions?
If you have any questions feel free to contact:
Khoren Nalbandyan
Head – Professional Development Advisory
IPMO Advisory AG
Sihleggstrasse 23 | 8832 Wollerau, Switzerland
T: +41 44 585 2775
M: +41 78 810 3581
