Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices

Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O®)

Foundation and Practitioner

DURATION

FOUNDATION
3 days (weekday, virtual)
2 days (weekend)

PRACTITIONER
2 days

PRICE (EXCL. GST)

FOUNDATION
$2,795

PRACTITIONER
$2,295

PACKAGE
$3,895

LOCATIONS/DELIVERY METHOD

Brisbane
Melbourne
Sydney
Virtual

EXAM

One day before the course starts you will receive an email directly from Peoplecert. This includes a voucher code which provides access to course materials and the PeopleCert exam scheduling platform.

You have 6 months to schedule and sit your exam online. Please check the requirements here when making your booking.

Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices Overview

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 a 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

The Foundation course 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

The Practitioner course prepares participants to undertake and pass the P3O Practitioner Exam. 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 the Practitioner course is an examination preparation course and focuses on the application of P3O to prepare candidates for the Practitioner examination.

KEY TOPICS

These courses explore the following areas:

  • 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.

As part of PM-Partners’ new integrated learning solution, this course offers students the option to attend our bespoke classroom in person or virtually by dialling in from a remote location. Trainers are skilled at both delivery methods and use the latest in virtual technology to simultaneously provide participants with the same interactive, multi-faceted and challenging learning experience. Whichever delivery mode learners choose, comprehension and recall techniques will be used to provide them with a solid understanding of P3O.

For group bookings, courses can be customised to suit your requirements and conducted onsite at your premises, at our training centre, or virtually.

Virtual training: Learn more about our virtual delivery.

Weekend courses: These are conducted over two full weekends.

Materials:

  • A comprehensive participant workbook is provided for both Foundation & Practitioner courses.
  • An eBook is provided and assigned to the Foundation exam voucher, directly by PeopleCert.
  • For all Practitioner only bookings, a hardcopy textbook is complimentary.
  • All package or Foundation only bookings, a hardcopy textbook is available for purchase at an additional cost.
FOUNDATION

The Foundation course includes the P3O Foundation online exam which consists of:

  • 75 multiple choice questions, 60-minute exam
  • Pass mark is 50% (35/70)
  • Closed book exam
PRACTITIONER

Practitioner course includes the P3O Practitioner online exam which consists of:

  • 4 questions, 2.5 hours duration
  • Objective testing paper based on a scenario
  • Pass mark is 50% (40/80)
  • Open book (P3O guide only)
SITTING YOUR EXAM

One day before the course starts you will receive an email directly from Peoplecert. This includes a voucher code which provides access to course materials and the PeopleCert exam scheduling platform.You have 6 months to schedule and sit your exam online. Please check the requirements here when making your booking.

Your certification will need to be renewed within three years of its original certification date. Please refer to PeopleCert for more information.

PEOPLECERT MEMBERSHIP IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE!

All you need is a PeopleCert account to join as an Essential member and gain access to a variety of resources - for free.

Upgrade to the annual Plus plan to unlock a full suite of expert resources, showcase your skills with Digital Badges and keep your certifications up to date by collecting Continuous Professional Development points.

PeopleCert administers the P3O examination scheme. PM-Partners is an accredited partner of PeopleCert (Partner ID: 3800).

Take2 Resit Exam Option
PeopleCert provide you with the opportunity to sit your exam knowing that if the outcome is not what you expected, you could have another attempt, at a fraction of the exam price.

DEVELOPMENT UNITS

PDUs
Participants who have been awarded the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential by the Project Management Institute (PMI) are eligible to earn PDUs for their participation in these courses as follows:

Foundation

  • Weekday/virtual (3 days): 21 PDUs (15 Ways of Working, 4 Business Acumen and 2 Power Skills)
  • Weekend (2 days): 18 PDUs (14 Ways of Working, 3 Business Acumen and 1 Power Skills)

Practitioner

All courses (2 days): 14 PDUs (12 Ways of Working, 1 Business Acumen and 1 Power Skills)

CPDs
Participants holding any of the Project Management accreditations (CPPP/CPPM/CPPD) are eligible to earn 20 CPDs for each of these short courses.

Foundation

  • Weekday/virtual (3 days): 20 CPDs
  • Weekend (2 days): 20 CPDs

Practitioner

  • Weekday/weekend (2 days): 20 CPDs
  • Virtual (2 days): 20 CPDs

There are no prerequisites for the Foundation course.

To be eligible to sit the P3O Practitioner exam, participants must have attended the Foundation course and obtained a pass in the P3O Foundation exam.

WHERE IS THE TRAINING VENUE LOCATED?

Sydney courses are held at 45 Clarence Street, Sydney.
Melbourne courses are held at 123 Queen Street, Melbourne.
Brisbane courses are held at 215 Adelaide Street, Brisbane.


I REQUIRE AN INVOICE BEFORE PAYMENT IS PROCESSED – CAN I STILL BOOK THIS COURSE ONLINE?

Yes. Simply select ‘invoice’ from the payment options during the checkout process and one of our consultants will be in contact to organise payment.


IS THIS A CERTIFIED COURSE?

Yes. The exam for this course is to be undertaken online, after the course. Upon passing the exam you will be certified.


IS THE EXAM FEE INCLUDED?

Yes. The exam fee is included in the course cost. 

Note: You must have completed and passed the Foundation exam as a prerequisite to sitting the Practitioner exam.


CAN I BUY THESE COURSES AS A PACKAGE?

Yes. P3O Foundation and P3O Practitioner can be purchased together as a package at a discounted rate.

Our website offers three payment options for training courses. When you select "BOOK NOW" you will be taken to the checkout. Step two: "Billing Details" is where you can select from the three payment options:

  • Credit Card Payments: PM-Partners uses Stripe payment gateway to process Visa, Mastercard, Amex, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay transactions. Stripe has been audited by a PCI-certified auditor and is certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1. This is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry so you can be confident that your card details are protected for online purchases.
  • Bank Transfer: We cannot guarantee your registration(s) until your payment is cleared (bank transfers take 3 days to process). Instructions for payment by bank transfer will be provided at the end of the order process.
  • Invoice: An invoice will be sent to you after you complete the booking. Payment is required 14 days before the course start date. If you're buying within 14 days, you need to arrange payment ASAP with a minimum of 72 hours before course start date.
I recommend this course to anyone working in the PMO area. It provided a good framework that has practical application for everyone. I have taken what I learned back to my employer and am applying the principals.

RICHARD ZOOMER

Who should attend?

Foundation – those working within a P3O environment who need to understand the principles and terminology of P3O

Practitioner – those managing and working within a P3O component requiring a full understanding of how to justify, build and manage a P3O

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  • 29/01/2025 - 31/01/2025
    P3O® Foundation
    Hybrid Sydney
      • $2,795.00
    excl. GST
  • 10/02/2025 - 11/02/2025
    P3O® Practitioner
    Hybrid Sydney
      • $2,295.00
    excl. GST
  • 18/06/2025 - 20/06/2025
    P3O® Foundation
    Melbourne
      • $2,795.00
    excl. GST
  • 18/06/2025 - 20/06/2025
    P3O® Foundation
    Brisbane
      • $2,795.00
    excl. GST
  • 18/06/2025 - 20/06/2025
    P3O® Foundation
    Hybrid Sydney
      • $2,795.00
    excl. GST
  • 26/06/2025 - 27/06/2025
    P3O® Practitioner
    Melbourne
      • $2,295.00
    excl. GST
  • 26/06/2025 - 27/06/2025
    P3O® Practitioner
    Brisbane
      • $2,295.00
    excl. GST
  • 26/06/2025 - 27/06/2025
    P3O® Practitioner
    Hybrid Sydney
      • $2,295.00
    excl. GST
  • 22/10/2025 - 24/10/2025
    P3O® Foundation
    Hybrid Sydney
      • $2,795.00
    excl. GST
  • 03/11/2025 - 04/11/2025
    P3O® Practitioner
    Hybrid Sydney
      • $2,295.00
    excl. GST
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