Association for Project Management

APM Qualifications are designed with the intention of demonstrating to employers, clients and suppliers that the recipient is a skilled and committed project professional. Through alignment with the four level certification programme of the International Project Management Association (IPMA) they also aim to provide international recognition. Membership grades and Qualifications are not automatically linked.

The 4-level certification programme comprises:

• Project Fundamentals Qualification, or PFQ (formerly known as Introductory Certificate), to assess fundamental knowledge of project management and professional practice. This is assessed by a multiple-choice test.
• Project Management Qualification, PMQ (formerly APMP), at SCQF Level 7, testing a broader range of knowledge, comprehension and basic skills. This is comparable to, though not equivalent to the PRINCE2 qualification. The qualification is assessed by means of a written paper.
• Project Professional Qualification, PPQ (was Practitioner Qualification) at IPMA Level C. There are two pathways to this, one involving interviews and workshops; the other by classroom (or equivalent study) and a series of assessments against the various PPQ (subject area) modules.
• Registered Project Professional (previously Certificated Project Manager), at IPMA Level B, providing recognition to qualified and experienced project managers.

The qualifications were rebranded in 2016.

The APM Project Management Risk Single Subject Certificate, also known as the Risk Certificate, is a two level qualification which focuses on the project management subject of risk management. Level 1 assesses knowledge of risk management, to the degree that a candidate may be able to contribute to project risk management; Level 2 additionally assess understanding and capability of risk management, to the degree that a candidate may be able to formally undertake project risk management.

Level 1 is assessed by a one-hour-long, 60 question, multiple-choice examination. Level 2 is assessed by a 3-hour and 15 minute written examination, consisting of three questions: one compulsory question and two questions selected from four optional questions. Level 1 is not a pre-requisite for Level 2, and the Level 2 certificate can be obtained without having the Level 1 certificate. However, the Level 2 certificate examination assumes that the candidate has the prior knowledge required to pass the Level 1 certificate examination.

Registered training providers offer training as well as the opportunity to sit both levels of the exam. An Open Exam for either level may also be taken directly with the APM.

The APM Body of Knowledge defines the breadth of the project, programme and portfolio management profession. It makes up one of the FIVE Dimensions of Professionalism. APM has created a unique online resource that allows its users to contribute to the organic growth of the APM Body of Knowledge. This is a growing resource from the Association for Project Management featuring definitions, discussions, case studies and articles on all areas of projects, programmes and portfolios.

The APM Project Management Awards recognise what people can achieve through project management and have been celebrating excellence in the profession for over 20 years. The robust judging criteria recognise the broadening range of possibilities within project management. With a focus on achievement; the judging criteria put an emphasis on the outputs and outcomes of projects; what they aim to achieve and what their success gives back to the profession.