What this means
- Your successful result can provide recognised technical-knowledge evidence for Pathway 2.
- The curriculum is mapped to relevant ChPP competence areas.
- Your workplace portfolio helps organise later professional-practice evidence.
Strategic PMO professional development
Certified PMO Professional
Level 6
Advance from capable practitioner to strategic PMO professional through an applied programme built around governance, integrated controls, risk, quality, stakeholder leadership and evidence-based reporting.
Completion provides recognised technical-knowledge evidence for APM ChPP Pathway 2, subject to APM eligibility, currency and application requirements. The programme does not itself award ChPP.
16 monthsTotal programme duration
4 modulesFour months each
2 hoursLive online each week
Level 6Critical analysis and autonomy
Professional recognition
A recognised route towards ChPP
The programme is designed for experienced PMO, project and project-controls professionals who want workplace impact and a credible technical-knowledge route towards Chartered Project Professional status.
Official APM listing
The Association for Project Management currently lists Kent Business College - Certified PMO Professional (Level 6) as a Pathway 2 recognised assessment for technical knowledge.
What it does not mean
- The programme does not automatically award ChPP.
- Professional practice, CPD, ethics and APM assessment remain required.
- Recognition and pathway requirements remain subject to APM.
Important: ChPP is awarded solely by APM. KBC provides the recognised technical-knowledge foundation, portfolio development and readiness support described in the enrolment offer.
Why this programme
From PMO process to strategic influence
The programme develops the technical, governance and behavioural capability expected from senior PMO and project controls professionals.
Strategic governance
Design decision rights, assurance and stage-gates that fit organisational context.
Integrated controls
Connect scope, schedule, cost, resources, change and performance into one credible control system.
Risk and quality confidence
Move from reactive issue handling to proactive uncertainty, assurance and continuous improvement.
Stakeholder leadership
Prioritise stakeholders, tailor communication and influence decisions with confidence.
Workplace evidence
Produce professional artefacts that can be used, discussed and improved in your organisation.
Chartered readiness
Translate learning into recognised technical knowledge and organised evidence for a ChPP journey.
Who should apply
For professionals who enable delivery
The programme is particularly relevant where your role sits at the intersection of governance, project controls, assurance, reporting and organisational decision-making.
PMO and portfolio professionals
PMO Analysts, PMO Managers, Portfolio Office Managers, Heads of PMO and TMO professionals.
Project controls specialists
Planners, schedulers, cost controllers, risk professionals, reporting analysts and controls managers.
Project and programme leaders
Project Managers, Programme Managers and delivery leads moving into governance or enterprise roles.
Assurance and transformation teams
Project assurance, change, transformation, benefits and governance professionals.
Typical progression opportunities
PMO Analyst
→
PMO Manager
→
Head of PMO
Planner / Controller
→
Controls Manager
→
Programme Controls Lead
GGovernance designAAssurancePIntegrated planningSSchedule analysisECost and EVMCChange controlRRisk analysisQQuality managementSTStakeholder engagementERExecutive reportingLLeadershipCPDReflective practice
GGovernance designAAssurancePIntegrated planningSSchedule analysisECost and EVMCChange controlRRisk analysisQQuality managementSTStakeholder engagementERExecutive reportingLLeadershipCPDReflective practice
Programme architecture
A 16-month professional development journey
Each four-month module builds on the last: governance first, then integrated controls, delivery confidence and finally strategic stakeholder leadership.
PMO fundamentals and organisational governance
Build the operating model, authority, assurance and governance foundations.
- Governance structures
- Life-cycle tailoring
- Assurance and reviews
Planning, scheduling and integrated controls
Create credible baselines, monitor performance and govern change.
- Critical path and EVM
- Cost and resources
- Change control
Risk, issue and quality management
Improve delivery confidence through proactive uncertainty, quality and learning.
- Qualitative and quantitative risk
- Quality assurance
- Continuous improvement
Stakeholder management and reporting
Influence decisions, tailor communication and demonstrate portfolio value.
- Stakeholder salience
- Executive reporting
- Benefits realisation
Curriculum
Four applied modules, one coherent professional portfolio
Select each module to review the core curriculum, outcomes, workplace evidence and assessment approach.
PMO Fundamentals and Organisational Governance
Establish the strategic purpose, operating model and governance arrangements of an effective PMO.
Core curriculum
- PMO typologies and operating models.
- Governance structures, decision rights and accountability.
- Predictive, agile and hybrid life-cycle tailoring.
- Business cases, benefits and strategic alignment.
- Assurance, health checks, stage-gates and lessons learned.
- Ethics, compliance, inclusion, sustainability and culture.
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate governance frameworks and authority.
- Analyse culture and working practices.
- Design proportionate governance arrangements.
- Reflect on judgement, ethics and improvement.
Governance organogramRACI matrixDecision logStage-gate templateAssurance reportReflective commentary
Knowledge assessmentCritical evaluation of PMO models and governance practice.
Practice portfolioDesign and justify a governance framework with authentic or approved simulated evidence.
Project Planning, Scheduling and Integrated Controls
Translate scope into credible, integrated baselines and use performance information to maintain delivery confidence.
Core curriculum
- Requirements, scope, WBS and configuration.
- Integrated planning across scope, schedule, cost, resources, risk and quality.
- Logic, dependencies, critical path and milestones.
- Estimating, cost baselines, cash flow and forecasting.
- PV, EV, AC, CPI, SPI, EAC and trend analysis.
- Change control, reporting and decision support.
Learning outcomes
- Critically evaluate integrated plan structure.
- Develop and critique schedule logic.
- Interpret schedule and cost performance.
- Protect baseline integrity through change control.
Work Breakdown StructureLogic networkBaseline GanttEVM status reportVariance analysisChange control log
Knowledge assessmentCritique planning and control choices across predictive, agile and hybrid life cycles.
Practice portfolioCreate, baseline and monitor an integrated schedule with professional evidence and reflection.
Risk, Issue and Quality Management in Projects
Anticipate uncertainty, resolve issues with discipline and build quality into delivery processes and outcomes.
Core curriculum
- Risk identification using workshops, PESTLE, SWOT and expert judgement.
- Probability-impact, exposure, scenario, bow-tie and Monte Carlo approaches.
- Risk response, ownership, contingency and opportunities.
- Issue logging, triage, escalation and change linkage.
- Quality plans, assurance, control, audits and acceptance criteria.
- Root cause, Kaizen, lessons learned, team leadership and conflict resolution.
Learning outcomes
- Design an integrated risk, issue and quality system.
- Justify qualitative and quantitative techniques.
- Operate a fit-for-purpose Quality Management Plan.
- Lead teams constructively through uncertainty.
Risk and issue registerRisk response planMonte Carlo outputQuality Management PlanAudit evidenceLessons learned log
Knowledge assessmentCritically evaluate contemporary risk, issue and quality techniques and their integration.
Practice portfolioImplement registers, quality controls, analysis and improvement evidence with reflection.
Stakeholder Management, Communications and Reporting
Use stakeholder insight, tailored communication and evidence-based reporting to influence decisions and realise value.
Core curriculum
- Power-interest, salience, influence, legitimacy, urgency and attitude mapping.
- Engagement strategy, trust, feedback and difficult stakeholder scenarios.
- Communication planning by audience, channel, frequency and owner.
- Status, highlight, exception, dashboard, assurance and benefits reporting.
- Vision, negotiation, emotional intelligence and evidence-based persuasion.
- Portfolio shaping, benefit realisation and trusted executive advice.
Learning outcomes
- Compare stakeholder and reporting frameworks critically.
- Plan and implement an engagement strategy.
- Produce decision-ready reports.
- Advise leaders on portfolio alignment and benefits.
Stakeholder registerSalience mapEngagement planException reportDashboard packEngagement metrics
Knowledge assessmentEvaluate stakeholder analysis, communication planning and PMO reporting practice.
Practice portfolioPlan, execute and assess an engagement strategy with authentic communications and metrics.
Assessment strategy
Demonstrate what you know and what you can do
Assessment tests both critical understanding and professional application. Both components must be passed in every module.
Critical knowledge assessment
Analyse concepts, compare approaches, evaluate limitations and make justified recommendations using professional and academic evidence.
Professional practice portfolio
Present authentic or approved simulated artefacts, explain your personal contribution and critically reflect on effectiveness and learning.
| Band | Indicative threshold | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | 50–59% | Sound knowledge and competent application with sufficient analysis and relevant evidence. |
| Merit | 60–69% | Strong breadth, clear critical evaluation, well-selected evidence and thoughtful reflection. |
| Distinction | 70%+ | Authoritative understanding, sophisticated critique, high-quality application and insightful professional learning. |
Your ChPP journey
Recognition plus professional evidence
The programme gives a recognised technical-knowledge foundation and helps you organise the workplace evidence, reflection and professional confidence needed for the wider chartered application.
1
Complete four modules
Pass knowledge and practice assessments.
2
Organise evidence
Develop project overviews, professional examples, CPD and reflection.
3
Readiness review
Identify gaps with structured tutor guidance.
4
Apply to APM
Use the pathway and process current when you apply.
5
APM assessment
Demonstrate professional practice, ethics, CPD and currency.
6
Achieve ChPP
APM awards chartered status to candidates who meet its standard.
Important: Completion of the programme does not itself confer ChPP. Chartered status is awarded solely by APM after the applicable professional practice, CPD, ethics and assessment requirements are met.
Learner and employer perspectives
What professionals value in an applied PMO programme
The testimonial component below is designed for approved learner and employer quotations. The current copy is clearly marked as illustrative and should be replaced before public publication.
“
The programme helped me move from producing reports to explaining what the information meant for decisions.Sample copy — replace with an approved quote
“
Governance templates gave our teams a more consistent way to define ownership, escalation and review cadence.Sample copy — replace with an approved quote
“
I became more confident discussing schedule logic, earned value and recovery options with senior stakeholders.Sample copy — replace with an approved quote
“
The applied portfolio approach translated learning into useful artefacts rather than leaving it in the classroom.Sample copy — replace with an approved quote
“
The ChPP readiness structure helped me organise evidence and identify gaps in my professional practice.Sample copy — replace with an approved quote
“
Risk, quality and stakeholder topics were connected into one operating system, which made the learning relevant to real work.Sample copy — replace with an approved quote
Funding options
Two routes to make advanced development accessible
Funding is confirmed before enrolment and depends on learner, employer and programme eligibility and the terms in force for the relevant intake.
Route 1
Levy-funded route
Potentially 100% funded
Available where the programme is delivered through an eligible apprenticeship arrangement and all statutory rules are met.
- The learner is employed and the employer approves training.
- The learner spends at least 50% of working hours in England over the apprenticeship.
- Residency, right-to-work and completion-time rules are met.
- Funding is available within the employer account, transfer or applicable mechanism and band.
Route 2
KBC bursary route
Up to 80% contribution
Kent Business College offers a limited number of discretionary partial scholarships for suitable self-funded or employer-funded applicants.
- 20 partial scholarships are available for each intake.
- Individual awards can contribute up to 80% of the programme fee.
- Every award is subject to bursary committee approval and budget.
- The applicant or employer is responsible for the remaining balance.
Funding note: Government rules, APM fees and programme arrangements can change. The offer letter and funding or training agreement confirm the route, contribution, included costs and exclusions that apply to each intake.
Questions before you apply
Frequently asked questions
Does completing the programme automatically make me Chartered?
No. The programme provides recognised technical-knowledge evidence for Pathway 2 and structured readiness support. ChPP is awarded solely by APM after the candidate meets the professional practice, CPD, ethics and assessment requirements in force when applying.
Who is the programme designed for?
It is designed for experienced PMO, portfolio, project controls, planning, risk, assurance, transformation, project and programme professionals who can work at Level 6 and access suitable professional evidence.
How is the programme delivered?
Delivery is live and online, normally for two hours each week. Learners also complete independent study, workplace application and evidence development between sessions.
How is each module assessed?
Each module includes a critical knowledge assessment and a professional practice portfolio. Both components must be passed.
Can I use confidential workplace information?
Evidence should be authentic and relevant, but employer information must be anonymised where necessary. Approved simulated evidence can be used when suitable live evidence is not available.
How do funding and bursaries work?
A levy-funded route may be available through an eligible apprenticeship arrangement. The KBC bursary route offers a limited number of discretionary partial awards, potentially contributing up to 80%, subject to approval, budget and programme terms.
Next step
Move from PMO process to strategic influence
Book an information session to discuss your role, experience, programme fit, funding route and readiness for Level 6 study.
