APM: Project Management Qualification

The Project Management Qualification (PMQ), is a knowledge-based qualification developed by APM, the chartered body for the project profession.  You will be able to demonstrate an understanding of how all elements of project management interact and how your project fits into your strategic and commercial environment.  By taking this course you will achieve a broad level of project management knowledge sufficient to participate in projects from individual assignments through to large capital projects.

Awarded by the Association for Project Management (APM), PMQ is targeted at project professionals with two to five years' experience in leading projects.  Learners without this level of experience should consider the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) instead. 

Prerequisites

The PMQ, awarded by APM, the only organisation in the world for the project profession is aimed at project management professionals seeking to validate their knowledge or looking to take bigger, more significant projects.  The PMQ is the second qualification in the progressive suite of internationally recognised APM qualifications.  The ideal candidate would already be participating in on managing individual assignments or large capital projects.  The course would cover a range of key project management topics from the APM Body of Knowledge, offering a deep understanding and enhance capabilities of existing project professionals. Learn more here.

Still unsure?  Contact cpd@uws.ac.uk.

 

Learning outcomes

By attending this course, you will:

1. Understand how organisations and projects are structured
2. Understand project life cycles
3. Understand the situational context of projects
4. Understand communication within project management
5. Understand the principles of leadership and teamwork
6. Understand planning for success
7. Understand project scope management
8. Understand schedule and resource optimisation
9. Understand project procurement
10. Understand risk and issue management in the context of project management
11. Understand quality in the context of a project

The full syllabus can be found here.

 

Delivery

The PMQ preparation course is delivered as an online programme.  Participants work through the course on our dedicated virtual learning environment, which offers:

• Live online sessions will facilitate an induction/welcome to the course, tutor-support, and exam preparation
• Video lectures
• Learning materials for each topic
• “Test your knowledge” resources
• Sample assessments
• Delegate handbook and exam preparation tips
• Administrative and study support from the UWS Centre for Continuing Professional Development

 

APM recommends a total of 75 study hours in preparation for the examination:

• 32 hours of guided learning  
• 40 hours of directed development 
• 3 hour dedicated assessment

 

The exam

The APM PMQ syllabus assesses breadth of knowledge in all areas of project management and covers knowledge areas from the APM Body of Knowledge, including:

• budgeting and cost management
• conflict management
• communication
• earned value management
• Leadership
• negotiation
• procurement
• sponsorship
• teamwork

There are two examination routes for the qualification:

• A three-hour paper with an additional 15 minutes’ reading time at the start where candidates must answer ten from sixteen questions.
  or
• If you are a PRINCE2® Practitioner, you will take a two-hour paper with an additional 10 minutes’ reading time at the start that recognises prior learning.  In this paper you must answer six from ten questions.

You can choose to take the exam with us at the end of the course, or you can choose to book your exam directly with APM here.  If booked through us, one attempt at the exam is included in the course fee (additional attempts, cancellations and rescheduled exams are not funded); the exam is delivered online and monitored remotely.  

 

How long do I have to complete the course?

The course will be delivered over a thirteen-week period (including a welcome week and exam preparation week), and you will have a 4-week window thereafter in which to book your exam via the UWS CPD Centre.  You will be able to choose a time and date to suit you, with the exam being taken remotely in the comfort of your own home or place of work.  Note that all live online sessions will be delivered in weeks 1 and 2; these will be recorded. 

 

About the Association for Project Management (APM)

The range of qualifications developed by APM, the chartered body for the project profession, offers a progressive structure for career development, from courses offering the ‘fundamentals’ of project management through to ‘management’ and ‘professional’ levels of understanding, requiring more advanced learning and assessment. 

APM qualifications offer a clear route to achieving both the Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) and the APM Registered Project Professional (RPP) standards, recognising the competence and success of project professionals. 

 

Project Management studies at UWS

The UWS training team deliver project management training at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and bespoke contracts to organisations, both in the UK and overseas.  For further details about our MSc Project Management please visit UWS MSc Project Management.