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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs regarding the Best Management Practice (BMP) portfolio in general can be viewed here.

P3O - Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is P3O?

    A P3O model provides a decision enabling/delivery support structure for all change within an organization. This may be provided through a single permanent office which may exist under several different names e.g. Portfolio Office, Centre of Excellence, Enterprise or Corporate Programme Office. It may otherwise be provided through a linked set of offices (portfolio office, programme offices, project offices), both permanent (enabling/supporting business objectives and consistency of delivery) and temporary (enabling/supporting specific programmes and projects), providing a mix of central and localized services.

    OGC's PRINCE2®, Managing Successful Programmes, and Management of Risk all touch on the need to provide adequate support structures for these best practices. However, currently there is no single source of this information that either organizations or individuals can go to find guidance or advice on setting up or running an effective delivery support office in alignment with OGC's Best Practice guidance.

    This guidance - aligned to OGC's PRINCE2, MSP®, and M_o_R® - will bring together 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 also bridge the gap between the strategy/policy makers and the delivery arm of the organization.

    The purpose of the Portfolio, Programme and Project Office (P3O) guidance is to provide universally applicable guidance that will enable individuals and organizations to successfully establish, develop and maintain appropriate business support structures that will allow:

    • Informed senior management decision making on strategic alignment, prioritization, risk management, optimization of resource etc to successfully deliver their business objectives (portfolio management)
    • Identification and realization of business outcomes and benefits via Programmes
    • Successful delivery of project outputs that enable benefits within time, cost and quality restraints.

    The guidance will provide:

    • 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 P3O can bring to the organization 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.

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  • How can I train for the P3O examinations?

    Training for P3O is available from the network of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) who are assessed and certified by APMG-International. The full list of P3O ATOs can be found here.

    Only these organizations and registered partners/affiliates are authorized to deliver P3O training.

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  • Do I have to receive training to sit the exam?

    No, however this is recommended. In addition to receiving accredited training, individuals also have the option of self-study to prepare for the examinations. APMG-International administer public exam sessions around the world to accommodate those who self study.

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  • How do I sit the exams?

    The vast majority of P3O accredited training organizations include the examinations as part of the associated training course. Alternatively, and for individuals that have self-studied, APMG-International administer public exam sessions around the world. Sessions are run at certain APMG-International offices. There are four dedicated centers in the UK for public examinations, and in the United States we utilize the public library network to facilitate sessions. In countries where an APMG-International office is yet to be established, exam sessions are organized at British Council offices. Information on whether exams are offered in your area can be found at www.britishcouncil.org/new/about-us/who-we-are/our-locations-around-the-world/.

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  • How much does it cost to sit the P3O examinations?

    If you are sitting the examinations through an accredited training organization, the costs of the exams are generally included in the course fee. APMG-International use a global pricing structure, so for those sitting exams at a public exam centre, the cost is dependent on where the exams are being sat. To find out the cost in your region, please contact the P3O Service Desk on +44 (0)1494 458948 or at servicedesk@apmgroupltd.com.com.

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  • Are there any pre-requisites for the P3O examinations?

    There are no pre-requisites for the foundation examination. Candidates must achieve a pass at foundation level before completing the practitioner examination.

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  • What are the main publications for P3O and where can I purchase them?

    P3O has one main manual, published by The Stationary Office, called “Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices”. This can be purchased from the Best Management Practice Publications Library.

    Most P3O accredited training organizations include the P3O manual as part of the course fee.

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  • Which languages are P3O examinations available in?

    P3O examinations are currently only available in English. Chinese and Polish translations are underway, and further translations are likely to follow based on demand.

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  • Which languages is the P3O manual available in?

    The “Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices” manual is currently available in English, Chinese and Polish translations are underway, and further translations are likely to follow based on demand.

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  • How long will it take to learn the P3O material?

    For individuals self-studying it is almost impossible to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time available for study, it varies from person to person. We suggest you buy the manual and have a look through for yourself before deciding how long you need to spend learning.

    For those studying with an accredited training organization, foundation courses are generally delivered over 3 days, while combined foundation and practitioner courses are generally delivered over 5 days. It is well worth investigating with individual providers, as many will offer tailored and blended learning solutions.

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  • What is the structure of the P3O examinations?

    Summaries of the structure of the P3O Foundation and Practitioner examinations can be found here.

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  • How long are the P3O qualifications valid for?

    The Foundation examination is not valid for a defined period and will not expire. Candidates who pass the Practitioner exam are recognized as a “P3O Registered Practitioner”. Individuals will remain registered for a period of 5 years. To maintain the registered status, practitioners must complete and pass a P3O Re-Registration examination 3-5 years following their initial/previous practitioner certification.

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  • When can I expect the results of my P3O Examinations?

    P3O Foundation examinations are marked on location with provisional results provided immediately after marking. Practitioner answer sheets are marked at APMG-International offices and results released soon after.

    If you have taken your exam via an ATO, practitioner results are sent by the relevant APMG-International office directly to ATOs within 48 hours. Your ATO should notify you of your results so please contact them for further details regarding this.

    If you did not take your exam through an ATO, your results will be sent directly to you via the relevant APMG-International office approximately 7-10 days after the date of your exam.

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  • When will I receive my certificate?

    A foundation certificate will be dispatched to you approximately 2 weeks after we have received your exam paper back into our offices, if you only took the foundation exam.

    If you sat a practitioner exam, or both exams, a practitioner certificate will be dispatched 2 weeks after the practitioner results have been released.

    Please note that if you have taken your examinations via an ATO, certificates are dispatched to ATOs. Therefore if you have not received your certificate shortly after the above time frames please contact your ATO directly.

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  • What are the pass marks for the P3O examinations?

    Pass marks for the P3O examinations are as follows:

    • Foundation: You will need to score 30/50 to pass the Foundation exam.
    • Practitioner: You will need to score 35/70 to pass the Practitioner exam.

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  • How do I become a P3O approved trainer?

    All P3O trainers must be ‘sponsored’ by a P3O accredited training organization (ATO). Details of all P3O ATOs can be found here.

    A trainer application must be submitted by sponsoring ATO to their relevant APMG-International office.

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  • How can I advertise myself as P3O qualified on my business card?

    Candidates who have passed the P3O Practitioner examination can put “P3O Practitioner” on their business cards.

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  • Can I use the P3O logo?

    Only organizations licensed to do so are allowed to use the P3O logo. Such organizations include P3O ATOs (Accredited Training Organizations) and P3O ACOs (Accredited Consulting Organizations) accredited by APMG-International. The P3O logo is a registered trademark of OGC and must not be used without their permission or appropriate license.

    Due to data protection laws, we are unable to quote organizations that use P3O without prior consent. P3O was only launched in late 2008, however the method is proving popular amongst a variety of organizations across different industries, both public and private sector.

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  • What is the main difference between P3O & ISEB’s PPSO?

    The main difference between P3O and PPSO lies between the levels of detail. P3O contains much more detail about the design of a P3O, roles and responsibilities and setting up/refreshing. The PPSO courses and exams focus very much on the techniques that a PSO person would be expected to use in their day-to-day jobs.

    A P3O model provides a decision enabling/delivery support structure for all change within an organization. This may be provided through a single permanent office which may exist under several different names e.g. Portfolio Office, Centre of Excellence, Enterprise or Corporate Programme Office. It may otherwise be provided through a linked set of offices (portfolio office, programme offices, project offices), both permanent (enabling/supporting business objectives and consistency of delivery) and temporary (enabling/supporting specific programmes and projects), providing a mix of central and localized services.

    The ISEB PPSO courses and exams focus very much on the techniques that a PSO person would be expected to use in their day-to-day jobs, such as project planning (critical path, Gantt, resource histograms), monitoring and control (including earned value analysis), change control, risk management and investment appraisal.

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  • What pass mark is required to be eligible to become a P3O trainer?

    To be eligible to apply to become a P3O trainer, individuals must achieve a score of 66% (47/70) in the practitioner exam.

    To find out if you scored enough to be eligible as a trainer, please email servicedesk@apmgroupltd.com noting your interest. A representative of the Service Desk will be able to advise.

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  • How does my organization become a P3O Accredited Training Organization?

    An organization wishing to become a P3O ATO must first submit an application form to either the APMG-International Service Desk or the relevant APMG-International office. Where appropriate, an invoice will be raised and the organization will then be subject to APMG-International’s ATO assessment process.

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  • How does my organization become an Accredited Consulting Organization (ACO)?

    An organization wishing to become an ACO must first submit an application form to either the P3O Service Desk or the relevant APMG-International office. The organization will then be subject to APMG-International’s ACO assessment process.

    Application forms can be obtained from the P3O Service Desk (+44 (0)1494 458948 / servicedesk@apmgroupltd.com ) or from any regional APMG-International office (see www.apmg-international.com/home/offices/offices. asp).

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