IPMO-Foundation (IPMO-F®)

Course Description

The International Project Management Officer (IPMO)® certification is the most important industry-recognized series of credentials for project management officers and professionals working in, or associated with, PMO activities and related services.

The foundation-level certification is aimed at PMO team members, project team members, and stakeholders within the first year or two of their involvement in project environments. The course explains the foundational knowledge to understand how PMOs add business value to projects within programs and portfolios. The knowledge gained will help you build skills from your workplace experience to become a competent PMO team member.

By the end of the course, participants will have demonstrated techniques to design, establish, and deliver PMO services. Certified IPMO Foundation members have shown, through formal training and exam-based assessment, that they can contribute to the successful operation of a PMO in any organization. The certification brings the latest in academic research and best practices together into a PMO lifecycle framework. The AIPMO Lifecycle framework describes how to build a service-oriented PMO that delivers capabilities matched to project, program, and portfolio needs; your role(s) in running, monitoring, and controlling a PMO; what PMO success is; and how maturity factors are connected to influence project outcomes.

You will learn to view PMOs in terms of services and supporting capabilities, design and deliver a core set of services, develop personal competencies that enable delivery, and utilize tools and techniques that extend these competencies. Insights covered in the course materials are being collated to form AIPMO’s upcoming Body of Knowledge (BoK), which will comprise several books addressing elements of a successful PMO. Course graduates will have a head start in understanding and applying the framework of capabilities and linked techniques.

To stand out as a PMO professional, you need to know what is of greatest value to each unique project. Capability is gained from experiencing projects firsthand but is accelerated by understanding how complex organizational factors affect projects, stakeholders, and controls. This course immerses you in PMO service delivery and project control over product development lifecycles. Through a case study, you will practice the implications of PMO actions on project success, team morale, and business results.

The case study makes this course hands-on. Attendees work on operational aspects of PMOs by meeting challenges to improve the running, monitoring, and controlling of a PMO using best practices.

Understand PMO Fundamentals

Learn to Design & Deliver PMO Services

Build Hands-On Skills

Accelerate Your PMO Career

Key Takeaways

By the end of this course, you will have the essential knowledge and competences to confidently contribute as a PMO team member. You will understand how PMOs create value, deliver services, and support the success of projects, programs, and portfolios.

This course goes beyond theory—it equips you with practical tools, techniques, and frameworks you can apply immediately to make an impact in your role and accelerate your career growth.

PMOs in the Bigger Picture

Learn how PMOs fit into the broader context of projects, programs, and portfolios within an organization.

Service-Oriented PMOs

Understand the value of viewing PMOs through the lens of services and how capabilities are built using competences, tools, and techniques.

Master the AIPMO Framework

Explore the AIPMO Lifecycle Framework, including the phases, processes, and responsibilities of PMO team members.

Tools, Techniques, & Templates

Gain access to essential PMO tools, techniques, and templates—practical resources you can immediately apply in your organization.

Key PMO Documentation

Learn about the critical documents used to establish, manage, monitor, and control PMO services effectively.

Practical Confidence

Develop the knowledge and confidence to navigate different organizational PMO setups and contribute effectively from day one.

Who should attend?

PMO/project/program/portfolio team members
Junior PMO or project managers
Project team members involved in the PMO-related activities
Project/program/portfolio managers with some experience in PMOs
Any project or PMO stakeholder wishing to better understand how to run, monitor, and control services in a high-performing PMO setting

Prerequisites

Ideally 1 year plus experience in projects and PMO management
Educated at degree level or similar
At least one year of business experience

Exam

The online exam is run by AIPMO, and moderated by a proctor from AIPMO at the end of the course.
- Open book exam, 50 multiple choice questions
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Attendees are notified of their exam results by email.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
The AIPMO books are part of the course reference material (included only in the in-class package.) If you’re attending virtually, please order them on Amazon. Note: If a book appears as ‘out of stock’ or ‘currently unavailable’ on Amazon, it indicates that, based on your location, you might need to visit your country-specific Amazon in order to make a purchase.

Our Training Approach

The training approach includes

Lecture

Team Exercise

Group Discussion

Case Study

Personal Coaching

Exam

Modules

Module 0: Introduction & Welcome

Module 1: Case for Action

Module 2: Introduction to AIPMO's Framework for the PMO Lifecycle

Module 3: Projects, Programs, & Portfolio Management

Module 4: Exploring the Diversity of PMOs

Module 5: PMO Services Lifecycle

Module 6: PMO Success, PMO Maturity

Module 7: A Week in the Role of an AIPMO PMO Team Member

Module 8: Exam & Certification

Introduction
AIPMO overview
Course outline, guidelines, and training approach
AIPMO’s case study approach to effective learning
Exam information
Questions from PMO stakeholders

The dangers of underestimating uncertainty
Project failure – facts and statistics
Why projects fail: leadership, governance, and management gaps
Complexity and its link to project and program failure
Comparing project management with other professions
PMO’s direct and indirect influence on projects, programs, and portfolios
Common PMO misconceptions and confusion
The case for action
Retrospective

What is a PMO, and what is PMO management?
Overview of AIPMO's PMO Lifecycle Framework and PMO Services Lifecycle Framework
Exploring the framework's core components
Understanding the organization’s vision and mission
Defining your PMO vision, mission, and principles
Alignment, improvement, management, governance, leadership, and stakeholder care
The role of PMO metaphors
Group service catalog, PMO service catalog, operations handbook, and staff competences
Importance of techniques and tools in delivering services
Case study, exercises, and retrospective

A strategic view including projects, programs, and portfolios
Types of success – Investment vs project delivery
Success criteria and success factors helping success
Need for control – Causes of failure – Leadership and governance, management
Project and product lifecycle basics (waterfall/procedural and iterative/ principle based)
Project communication structure choices
Authority and the hierarchy view of roles (sponsor to project manager and service manager, coach, team member, product owner, suppliers, assurance, PMO)

Initiative-specific PMOs vs. organizational PMOs
Permanent organizational PMOs at various levels (department, enterprise)
PMI’s authority spectrum: support, control, direct
Common PMO mistakes
The range of PMO charter purposes
Case study, exercises, and retrospective

Steps for service identification, design, and piloting
Identifying and mapping service stakeholders’ business needs
Insights from AIPMO’s book on PMO services and capabilities
PMO management plans: service design, capacity planning, and sizing
PMO staff sourcing, training, cost-benefit analysis, and approvals
Service pilot, refinement, roll-out, monitoring, and reporting
PMO service refresh or retirement
Case study, exercises, and retrospective

Defining PMO success
PMO success criteria
Understanding PMO maturity (impact)
AIPMO’s PMO Maturity (Impact) Model
Linking PMO maturity to PMO success
What comes next in your career?

Introduction
Remembering what it’s like to start a new PMO role
Making the right impression in your first week – practical tips
Module study: using Google Sheets and PowerPoint
Retrospective

Revision and exam overview
Practice exam

Course Instructor

Dr. Robert Joslin

CEng, ACE, IPMO-E, PfMP, PgMP, PMP

Dr. Robert is a management consultant and instructor, and the founder of AIPMO. He is a professor at Alma Mater Europaea – ECM and the creator of the MSc and PhD programs in Strategy, Project Leadership, and PMO Management.

He has more than 35 years of experience in designing, initiating, and delivering international programs in large-scale organizational transformation, reengineering, infrastructure, and strategy development. He has designed and implemented hundreds of PMOs and, during this time, developed the PMO-specific methodology that formed the basis of AIPMO’s PMO Strategic Lifecycle Framework.

Dr. Robert has published books, book chapters, and research papers. He is a peer reviewer for three project management journals and is currently co-authoring AIPMO’s Body of Knowledge (BoK), which comprises several volumes.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Strategy, Program and Project Management,
Skema Business School

Bachelor of Engineering
Durham University

Contributions to leading practice

Project Management Methodologies
Governance and Success
PMO Principles and PMO Service Principles, 2ed
PMO Services and Capabilities, PMO, Portfolio, Program, and Project Competences
(forthcoming), Association of International Project Management books

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Testimonials

What Professionals Are Saying

It was immensely helpful to complete the IPMO-P and IPMO-E within three weeks while everything was still fresh in my mind. Massively beneficial. The case study was a standout element, bringing the concepts to life through practical application.

Robert Corbett

Global Director, PMO & Launch, DP World

The IPMO course was very useful and full of information. I am looking forward to implement this in my organization and will recommend it to my colleagues in the field.

Walid Taweli

Executive Manager, QooT

I will try to implement all the techniques and tools I have learned in the IPMO-P course. The case studies helped a lot in solving real life PMO challenges I had in my position.

Anthony Hallet

EPMO Consultanti, FocusHQ

An eye-opening IPMO-P course with excellent training by Robert. It helped me understand just how broad and impactful the PMO profession and its scope truly are.

Dr. David Hermida

Officer, AEW&C Mission Systems PMO, NATO

The CF course liberated my thinking on frameworks and their application in the business and research fields. It allowed me to contextualise business problems in different scenarios by trying options customised for the problem.

Wesley Bridgemohansingh

Project Management Consultant, Piaus and Associates Services Ltd

Thanks to the IPMO-P course, I now understand how to design, establish and evaluate the PMOs. Hopefully I will use all the knowledge gained in the PMO I am working currently. I am now better equipped to identify areas for improvement in my PMO.

Hussain Eid

Head of the Project Management Office, Wadi Jeddah

Get the official IPMO-P brochure

What You Get in the Brochure:

Full certification breakdown

Course dates, formats, & locations

Learning outcomes & benefits

Personalized course recommendations

Info about IPMO levels

Pricing & discount information

Frequently Asked Questions

You Ask, We Answer

What is the difference between Core, Specialist, and Master Class certifications?

Each of the certification categories serves a different purpose. The first category, “PMO Core Certifications,” shows that you have the competencies to design and build a service-orientated PMO with services that are needed by your project community. At the top-level (Expert) certification, you must show that you have the competencies to design and build one or more PMOs (called PMO topologies) within an integrated PMO Services topology. The second category of certifications is called the “Specialist” certifications because they directly relate to the ability to offer PMO services. If a PMO service is planned, then the PMO needs to have the capability to provide it. There are over 20 specialist courses at the time of writing. Project team members also need these courses. The third category of courses, called “Master Class” certifications, comprises three certifications that everyone needs, regardless of whether you are a PMO, project team member, or a PM/O director. These courses are the techniques and tools of a trade, so everyone, including project professionals, needs them.

What is the difference between IPMO-F, IPMO-P, and IPMO-E?

These three certifications are part of the PMO core certifications.

IPMO-F (Foundation) is for the PMO and project team members and covers topics related to working in a PMO and project team. It covers the lower part of the AIPMO Strategic Lifecycle framework.

IPMO-P (Practitioner) is for PMO managers, project managers, and senior PMO and project team members. It covers topics such as how to identify the need for a PMO and design it and how to justify and build a PMO and its services.

IPMO-E (Expert) is not for everyone. It is the top-level certification for PMO directors and consultants who manage, consult, or design enterprise PMO and PMO Service topologies.

I don't know which certification is right for me. How do I choose?

For now, it is best to ask one of our professionals. You can either call or chat online. They can provide you with expert advice on planning and advancing your career.

Are there any discounts if I take more than one course?

The short answer is yes. Bundles are shown on the website, but you can also call to ask if you can get a special discount. This will also be considered if you join the course as a group.

IPMO Advisory – The next step in your PMO career Excellence at every step