Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)® Certification Course

Three Full Days or Six Half Days

Overview

The Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP®) certification is a globally recognized credential offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It validates advanced experience and expertise in managing and aligning a portfolio of projects, programs, and operations with organizational strategy.

PfMP® professionals are responsible for ensuring that investments deliver value, optimizing resource allocation, balancing competing demands, and establishing governance structures that support decision-making. The certification helps participants demonstrate mastery in aligning business objectives with portfolio management practices, giving them an edge in leadership roles and strategic decision-making.

Who Should Attend

• Senior project, program, or portfolio managers seeking global recognition

• Executives, directors, or PMO leaders accountable for investment decisions

• Professionals responsible for aligning portfolios with organizational strategy

• Individuals aiming to validate advanced business knowledge in portfolio management

Prerequisites

Eligibility is based on education and experience within the last 15 years:

1. With Secondary Diploma (high school, associate degree, or global equivalent):

• 96 months (8 years) professional business experience

• 84 months (7 years) of portfolio management experience

2. With Four-Year Degree (bachelor’s or higher):

• 96 months (8 years) professional business experience

• 48 months (4 years) portfolio management experience

3. With GAC-Accredited Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree:

• 96 months (8 years) professional business experience

• 36 months (3 years) portfolio management experience

Exam Format

• 170 questions, multiple choice

• 4 hours’ duration

• English only

Delivery Mode / Training

• Instructor-led sessions (classroom or virtual live training)

• Interactive workshops and case studies

• Exam-focused preparation with practice questions and test strategies

• Access to online resources, templates, and reference materials

• Flexible timing options across US, UK, Europe, Dubai, Middle East, India, and Asia-Pacific

Topics Covered

1. Strategic Alignment – 25%

• Evaluating organizational goals and strategic priorities

• Defining prioritization criteria such as ROI, dependencies, and stakeholder expectations

• Ranking and operationalizing strategic priorities with stakeholders

• Identifying and assessing potential portfolio components

• Developing portfolio scenarios using SWOT, risk, and financial analysis

• Recommending portfolio roadmaps and scenarios for governance approval

• Adjusting portfolio strategies based on changes in organizational goals

• Creating high-level portfolio roadmaps that show sequencing and dependencies

2. Governance – 20%

• Establishing governance models, boards, and decision-making structures

• Defining portfolio standards, rules, and best practices

• Designing processes for benefits realization, performance, communication, risk, and resource management

• Developing the portfolio management plan (roles, escalation, KPIs, change control)

• Obtaining governance approval for portfolio decisions and authorizations

3. Portfolio Performance – 25%

• Initiating the portfolio and activating approved components

• Collecting and consolidating performance metrics across the portfolio

• Monitoring performance with dashboards, reports, and audits

• Managing and escalating issues for decision-making and resolution

• Applying change management to improve portfolio outcomes

• Balancing and prioritizing portfolio components to optimize resources

• Analyzing resource capacity and conducting scenario planning

• Updating portfolio roadmaps to reflect changes and reallocation

• Measuring results against business objectives and strategies

• Maintaining compliance records and capturing portfolio artifacts

4. Portfolio Risk Management – 15%

• Determining acceptable risk levels based on stakeholder tolerance

• Creating the portfolio risk management plan

• Performing dependency analysis across and within portfolios

• Developing and maintaining a portfolio risk register

• Promoting stakeholder understanding and ownership of risks

• Recommending and securing approval for portfolio reserves

5. Communications Management – 15%

• Identifying internal and external stakeholder needs and expectations

• Creating comprehensive communication strategies and plans

• Engaging stakeholders to foster collaboration and support for the portfolio

• Maintaining and adapting the communication plan to meet evolving requirements

• Educating stakeholders on portfolio management processes and protocols

• Ensuring accuracy, consistency, and credibility in all portfolio communications

Learning Outcomes

By completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Align portfolio components with organizational strategy and priorities

• Establish governance models, portfolio plans, and approval processes

• Measure and optimize portfolio performance to maximize business value

• Apply risk management practices to identify, monitor, and respond to portfolio-level risks

• Develop and implement effective stakeholder communication strategies for portfolio success