The nine-module, online course requires 40 to 50 hours to complete. An estimated 1,000 CBRE employees are expected to earn certifications in the first year. The program spent 10 months in beta testing and also underwent stress testing from CBRE's up and coming future leaders, whose input was incorporated into the final product, according to Ari Reubin, vice president and director of quality and innovation assurance for the Dallas-based leadership team.

"Ultimately, it's our vision this will become an industry-wide platform," Ken Loeber, executive vice president of CBRE's project management group, tells GlobeSt.com. "If this tool had been available in the industry, we would have gone out and acquired it. We want to marry the individual talent and art of project management with the individuals we have and have a common process to support them." The CBRE development team included James Brown, managing director in Charlotte, NC and Richard Smith, a managing director in Phoenix.

PJM Foundations has three levels, with the upper two targeting management and senior-level professionals. CBRE's 2,400 project management professionals will be required to complete the first level of coursework. Level 1's modules are introduction, leadership and communications management, risk management, scope and design management, building infrastructure, scheduling and cost management, contracting for project managers, quality management and construction administration and occupancy management services.