Entry Project Management

What is FAC–P/PM Certification?

The quality and effectiveness of the federal acquisition process depends on the development of a capable and competent workforce. Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Letter 05-01 Section 8(c) charged the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) to develop- and the Chief Acquisition Officers Council (CAOC) to approve - a Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) with the expressed intent to improve the competence of the federal acquisition workforce.

What is the Learning Tree FAC–P/PM Level I Curriculum?

Learning Tree designed and developed a comprehensive curriculum specifically based on the FAI competency standards. All the content within the Level I curriculum has been designed exclusively for the Entry Level federal acquisition workforce and has been validated by a team of former federal executives. The Federal Executive Board provided guidance and counsel throughout the curriculum development process to ensure the content addressed the unique challenges of large federal acquisitions.

The curriculum consists of the following courses:

• Course U156, Entry Project Management – Learn to develop work breakdown structures, create task estimation and task sequencing, and conduct resource allocation.
• Course U157, Entry Acquisition Management – Learn the importance of FAR Parts 10 and 12 in conducting market research and acquiring services to meet customer needs.
• Course U158, Entry Business Management for Government Applications – Learn basic budgeting laws and policies, baseline development and budget submissions.
• Course U159, Entry Leadership and Interpersonal Skills – Learn critical strategies for reporting data in written formats and through oral presentations.

Is the Learning Tree curriculum fully integrated?

Yes, by design, the Learning Tree FAC–P/PM training program was developed as a single, integrated (and comprehensive) training program, specifically aligned with the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) competency requirements for three competency levels and fully addresses the required domains: Project Management, Acquisition Management, Earned Value Management and Cost Estimates, and Leadership. This integrated and streamlined curriculum offers the following benefits:

• Fully integrated case study enables federal acquisition professionals to improve their analytical capabilities and decision-making through the implementation of a simulated federal project relevant in scope to Level I, II and III
• Competency-based content that is both specifically designed to address the challenges associated with federal projects and scalable to the relevant competency level -Entry, Journeyman and Senior/Expert.

What background knowledge and experience would help me in preparing for the FAC–P/PM Level I Certification?

Candidates are required to possess at least one (1) year of project management experience within the last five years. Project management experience includes a background of constructing a work breakdown structure; preparing project analysis documents; tailoring acquisition documents to ensure that quality, effective, efficient systems or products are delivered; analyzing and/or developing requirements; monitoring performance; assisting with quality assurance; and budget development.

Confirm your specific certification requirements with your agency's Acquisition Career Manager or Chief Acquisition Officer, as requirements vary between agencies.

Will this course address the development of a project management plan?

Yes. The course covers the development of a project management plan. You begin by writing a clear project goal, followed by defining the scope of the project using a WBS. Next, you develop the project schedule, by defining the activities, estimating resources and durations, sequencing the tasks using a project network diagram, and scheduling and resourcing the work.

How much time is devoted to each topic?

Program/Project Management Content, Level I

Is this course lecture–based?

No, this course is not lecture-based. Learning Tree has invested extensively in an acquisition simulation that extends through all four courses of the Entry FAC–P/PM program.

Participants are immersed in the simulation and gain practical skills to oversee, evaluate, and critique a total life cycle system management. Participants gain the necessary skills to oversee application of systems engineering concepts and a comprehensive Test and Evaluation Strategy.

Does this course address systems engineering issues that I typically face with my project?

Yes. This course provides an emphasis on the systems engineering disciplines related to performing and managing a technical process. Additionally, it addresses technical management and technical processes along with functional decomposition and allocation.

How does this course address risk identification, assessment and management?

The course covers risk and opportunity management by enabling participants to: identify project threats and opportunities; assess the probability of each happening; understand the impact on the project's objectives; and determine strategies on how to deal with them.

How will my skills and competence improve after investing in the Entry Program/Project Management course?

Participants who complete this course increase their ability to effectively perform the following key aspects related to successful acquisition management:

• Develop a clear project goal statement
• Define the project scope baseline using a WBS
• Develop a project schedule by defining project activities, estimating the resources and durations, developing a network diagram, scheduling the work, and optimizing the resources
• Monitor and control the project execution and implement a measurement program
• Integrate systems engineering activities into the plan
• Develop a validation plan
• Consider integrated logistics support
• Determine total ownership cost
• Identify risks and opportunities

What other related Learning Tree courses will help me maintain certification?

To maintain the mandated 80 continuous learning points (CLP) every two years, Learning Tree offers a comprehensive library of complementary courses in the areas of Management and Communication, Business Analysis, Project Management, SharePoint, and many other management and technology-related fields to maintain your Clinger-Cohen competencies. For additional information on these and other Learning Tree courses, please visit our Web site:http://www.learningtree.com