What are the APM certificates?
APM provides a certificate scheme in addition to offering practical guidance and membership to the project profession. There are 4 levels of APM certificates.
APM Project Fundamentals Qualification
The APMProject Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) is the entry-level APM certificate. PFQ offers a fundamental awareness of project management terminology giving you the knowledge to make a positive contribution to any project.
The PFQ is for people wanting a broad understanding of the principles of the project profession. You don’t need any prior knowledge or experience.
APM PFQ exam
- Style: Multiple-choice
- Questions: 60
- Pass mark: 60% (36/60)
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Materials allowed: Closed-book
- Prerequisites: None
- Results: Same day.
APM Project Management Qualification
The Project Management Qualification (PMQ) is the 2nd level of APM certificate. PMQ enables you to demonstrate your knowledge of all elements of project management. You can demonstrate an understanding of how these elements interact and how your project fits into your strategic and commercial environment.
APM PMQ exam
- Style: Essay-style
- Questions: 10 from 16
- Pass mark: 55%
- Duration: 180 minutes (plus 15 minutes reading time at the start)
- Materials allowed: Closed-book
- Prerequisites: None
- Results: Same day.
If you are a PRINCE2® Practitioner, you will take a two-hour paper with only an additional 10 minutes’ reading at the start. This recognises your prior learning, and, in this paper, you must answer six out of ten questions.
APM Project Professional Qualification
The APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ) is the 3rd level of APM certificate. PPQ assesses your capability in delivering professional projects.
PPQ is the APM’s most comprehensive assessment of professional project management capability. PPQ covers core competencies required across all areas of project management. Assessment is based on a pre-seen case study and is divided into three parts. Two of these (the scenario assessment and oral exam assessment) are done using video conferencing software. The 3rd element (a written report) is submitted via APM’s online platform.
APM PPQ assessment
- Style: Scenario assessment, oral exam assessment and a written report.
- Duration: 155 minutes
- Materials allowed: Closed-book
- Prerequisites: APM PMQ (or equivalent).
Chartered Project Professional (ChPP)
The Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) standard is the highest level of APM certificate. ChPP assesses your capability in delivering professional projects.
ChPP forms a professional benchmark that demonstrates attainment and of a defined level of technical knowledge, professional practice ethical behaviour. It forms the basis of the assessment that applicants must pass to gain ChPP status and inclusion on the Register of Chartered Project Professionals.
There are multiple requirements and routes to becoming a Chartered Project Professional so check out the APM web site for more details.
Earning your APM certification
To earn your APM certificate, you can enrol on an instructor-led APM training course. Our instructor-led APM courses take place in one of 2 ways:
- As a traditional physical classroom course – you must travel to the training venue, or
- As a virtual classroom course – you participate over the internet using a computer and headset (and optional video camera) using our advanced virtual learning technology.
In both types of instructor-led course you receive face-to-face tuition from one of our experienced project management trainers.
Instructor-led courses
All instructor-led training courses are taught by experienced APM trainers and offer the benefits of face-to-face learning with an experienced tutor. To participate in instructor-led APM training courses, you must be able to commit to a fixed classroom schedule.
To check whether there is a classroom instructor-led APM training course in your area, or a virtual instructor-led course hosted on the internet, please check the dates on the APM PFQ or APM PMQ page.
Instructor-led courses
If you cannot commit to a fixed classroom schedule, you can always obtain your APM certificate by enrolling in a self-paced APM online training course.