Essentials for PMO Managers

A PMO is a business function that has two primary aims. One primary aim is to help businesses make better decisions regarding the projects and programmes they chose to run. The other is to help businesses get better at running projects and programmes by increasing capability. 

House of PMO is the professional body and a home for PMO professionals where they can develop themselves, support the development of others and contribute to the development of the PMO profession. The House of PMO Essentials course range helps to develop PMO practitioner skills and knowledge through courses for every career level in a PMO.
 

The examination forms part of the Essentials for PMO Managers course. The course and exam are aimed at those working within a Managerial role within a PMO; those who are moving to the role of PMO Manager – either from a PMO Analyst role or directly from another role with some project management content, such as Project or Programme Manager.
 

Yes, training is mandatory. The full list of Essentials for PMO Managers ATOs can be found on this page.
 

Training for Essentials for PMO Managers is available from the network of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) who are assessed and certified by APMG-International. The full list of Essentials for PMO Managers ATOs can be found on this page. Only these organizations and registered partners/affiliates are authorized to deliver Essentials for PMO Managers training.
 

Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) usually include the examination as part of their training course – please check with your ATO before booking.
 

If you are sitting the examination through an accredited training organization, the cost of the exam is generally included in the course fee but please check with your training provider at the time of booking.
 

You need practitioner level knowledge of projects, programmes or portfolios – any formally recognised Project Management certification or the appropriate level of practical experience will be accepted. For example, any of the following are appropriate:

•    Essentials for PMO Analysts Certification

•    A Practitioner certificate in either P3O®, PRINCE2®, Praxis Framework™, AgilePM®, MSP®, PRINCE2 Agile, APM PFQ, PMQ, PM4SD™, PMP®, PgMP®, or CAPM or equivalent

•    3 years’ experience of working within a PMO, project, programme or portfolio environment.
 

The Essentials for PMO Managers examination is supported by the following 3 texts:

•    PMO Competency Framework
•    PMO Services Catalogue
•    Praxis Framework
 

The Essentials for PMO Managers exam is only available in English.
 

For individuals studying with an accredited training organization, Foundation style courses are generally delivered over 3 days. It is well worth investigating with individual providers, as some will offer tailored, online, or blended learning solutions.
 

No, the Essentials for PMO Managers exam is only available as closed book.
 

Yes, all candidates can access a sample exam paper to practice on via the Candidate Portal. Access to the Candidate Portal is given once your ATO has registered your exam date and time with APMG.
 

The Essentials for PMO Managers certificate does not expire.
 

Provisional results for the examination are fed back to candidates either orally by the invigilator or on-screen at the end of an online exam. 

For online exams APMG will formally process and confirm results via the Candidate Portal within 2 working days of receipt of the completed papers.

For paper exams APMG will issue formal notification of your exam result once your exam paper has been received back into our office. All results will be made available in your Candidate Portal.
 

Candidates will be able to claim their digital badge and electronic certificate from their APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of their exam result being issued.
 

Digital badges allow you to easily showcase your achievements online.  When you pass an exam - you'll instantly have the option to claim a digital badge representing your new certificate. Your badge can be embedded on an email signature, website, social media or digital CV. With just one click employers, customers and clients can easily view and verify your credentials and skills. 

Please download our digital sharing presentation for more information.

Once you’ve been notified that you’ve passed your exam - you will have the option to create a digital badge in APMG's Candidate Portal. Visit APMG's Candidate Portal, view your exam results and select 'Create Badge'. This takes you to the Credly website where the digital badges are hosted. You will be guided through the Credly account creation process.

Once you have created an account with Credly - login into the account and accept your pending badge.
 

You can always access all your electronic certificates and badges via the APMG Candidate Portal. Once you have logged on to the Candidate Portal, click on the ‘Badges and Certificates’ option from the menu bar at the top of screen. From here you should click on the ‘Create Badge/Certificate’ button. This will take you to the Credly platform to create and account and download your badge and certificate.

Step-by-step guidance is available to download from the ‘Badges and Certificates’ area in your Candidate Portal.

Electronic certificates are environmentally friendly, but you can print the certificate yourself at home or work, if required. If you have any problems with accessing your digital certificate, please contact our Customer Interaction Team - servicedesk@apmg-international.com.
 

Pass marks for the Essentials for PMO Managers exam is 30/60 (50%).
 

To be eligible to apply to become an Essentials for PMO Managers trainer, individuals must hold the certificate for the course that you wish to teach. All trainers must be ‘sponsored’ by an APMG accredited training organization. To find out more about becoming a trainer, please contact your local APMG representative.
 

An organization wishing to become a Essentials for PMO Managers ATO must first contact our Service Desk. They will put you in touch with your local business development manager who can discuss the accreditation process with you. 
 

Candidates who have passed the Essentials for PMO Managers examination can put “Essentials for PMO Managers” certified on their business cards.
 

Only organizations licensed to do so are allowed to use the Essentials for PMO Managers logo. Such organizations include Essentials for PMO Managers Accredited Training Organizations who have been approved by APMG-International. Individuals are not permitted to use the Essentials for PMO Managers logo, however, all individuals who pass the exam are awarded with a digital badge which can be shared on social media and embedded into your CV/resume.