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APM Project Management (PMQ)

Step up to the qualification that proves you can run projects, not just support them. The APM Project Management Qualification is the UK’s benchmark for practising project managers. APM recommends around two to three years’ experience, but there’s no formal entry requirement.

Enrol Now — £395
Duration
3–6 weeks
Format
100% online
Exam
Closed book
Access
12 months

About this qualification

What Is the APM PMQ?

The UK’s leading intermediate project management qualification — the standard for practising project managers.

The qualification explained

The APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) is an intermediate-level qualification from the Association for Project Management (APM), the UK’s chartered body for the profession. It builds broad, practical knowledge across the whole project life cycle — from governance and planning to risk, stakeholders, and leadership.

There’s no formal prerequisite, though APM recommends around two to three years of project experience to get the most from it. If you’re newer to projects, the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) is the ideal starting point.

PMQ is widely regarded as the benchmark qualification for practising project managers in the UK. It sits at RQF Level 4 and is a recognised step on the pathway towards APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status.

L4
recognised at RQF Level 4 (SCQF Level 7 / EQF Level 5)
APM
awarded by the Association for Project Management, the chartered body for the profession
ChPP
a recognised step on the pathway to APM Chartered Project Professional status
2–3 yrs
the project experience APM recommends before sitting — though it’s not a formal requirement

Is this for me?

This Course Is for You If…

The PMQ is for people already working in or around project management who want the qualification that proves it.

Practising Project Managers

Running projects already and want the qualification that backs up your experience.

Coordinators Stepping Up

Moving from coordinator or support roles into full project management.

PFQ Holders

You’ve got the fundamentals and want the next, more advanced APM qualification.

Engineers, IT & Construction

Moving into project management from a technical or delivery background.

Future Chartered Professionals

Working towards APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status.

Anyone Serious About PM

Ready to commit to project management as a career and prove it with a benchmark qualification.

Course structure & curriculum

What You’ll Learn — Module by Module

The course covers the full PMQ syllabus across 8 themed modules, from project setup through to exam preparation. It’s a substantial qualification — APM suggests around 60 hours of study.

Projects, Programmes & Governance
Where projects sit · Life cycles and reviews · Governance and the project environment
~6 hrs
Setup, Business Case & Benefits
Developing the business case · Benefits management · Success criteria and stakeholders
~8 hrs
Planning & Scheduling
Scope · Estimating · Scheduling · Resource management
~8 hrs
Budgeting & Cost Management
Cost planning · Budgeting · Earned value basics
~6 hrs
Risk, Issue & Quality Management
Risk and issue management · Quality planning and control · Change control
~8 hrs
Procurement & Contracts
Procurement strategy · Contracts · Working with suppliers
~5 hrs
Leadership, Communication & Conflict
Leadership and teams · Communication · Stakeholder engagement · Conflict and negotiation
~8 hrs
Exam Preparation & Mock Papers
The PMQ exam format · Working long-response questions · Full-length mock papers · Final revision
~6 hrs

What the syllabus covers

Governance and the project environment

Business case and benefits management

Scope and requirements

Estimating and scheduling

Resource and budget management

Risk and issue management

Quality planning and control

Change control

Procurement and contracts

Monitoring and reporting progress

Leadership and teams

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Conflict management and negotiation

Communication and methods/governance

What’s included

Everything You Need to Succeed

Each course includes the materials, practice, and support you need to learn the method properly and walk into the exam ready.

12 Months Course Access

Full access to all accredited course materials for 12 months. Study on any device, online 24/7. Never lose your progress.

Add Your Official Exam

The official APM PMQ exam is an optional add-on at checkout — so you only pay for it when you’re ready. We arrange the booking with APM.

Exam details →

Practice Exam Papers

Full-length practice papers and sample questions modelled on the real PMQ exam, so you walk in knowing exactly what to expect.

Know what to expect →

APM AI Tutor Chat

Get instant answers to your project management questions from our AI tutor — trained on the course material and available 24/7.

Available around the clock →

Certificate & Digital Badge

Pass your exam and you receive an official APM certificate and a shareable digital badge for your LinkedIn and CV.

Shareable & verifiable →

Dedicated Account Manager

A dedicated account manager to support you from enrolment through to booking your exam.

Support all the way →

In practice

Project Management in the Real World

The PMQ covers the whole project life cycle. Here’s how that breadth shows up on real projects.

IT & Technology

Leading a system migration with a real budget on the line

Migrating a company onto a new platform meant a defined business case, a detailed plan, and money to account for. The PMQ toolkit — estimating, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management — turned a high-stakes job into something the project manager could plan, track, and report on with confidence.

PMQ skills in action A clear risk register and regular progress reporting meant the steering group could see early that a key milestone was slipping — and approve extra resource before it became a crisis.

Construction

Coordinating contractors on a fixed-deadline build

A build with multiple contractors and a hard handover date relied on solid procurement, scheduling, and stakeholder management. Knowing how to structure contracts, sequence the work, and keep every party informed kept the project moving and the client confident.

PMQ skills in action Treating procurement as a planned activity — not an afterthought — meant long-lead materials were ordered in good time, so the schedule held even when one contractor fell behind.

Business Change

Running a business transformation programme

A transformation touching several departments needed strong governance, a clear business case, and real leadership of people. The PMQ’s breadth — from benefits management to communication and conflict — gave the project manager the range to hold it all together.

PMQ skills in action By tying every workstream back to the business case and its benefits, the project manager could cut scope that no longer earned its place — keeping the programme focused on what actually mattered.

Exam details

About the APM PMQ Exam

The official APM exam is an optional add-on at checkout — once you’re ready, we arrange the booking with APM. The PMQ is an online, closed-book exam of 40 questions worth 90 marks, with a mix of multiple-choice and written answers (modernised in 2024 from the old essay format).

Format
Online
Questions
40 (90 marks)
Pass mark
≈55%(flexible)
Duration
2.5 hours
Type
Closed book
Booking
We arrange it

What to Expect on Exam Day

You sit the exam online through APM’s remote invigilation platform. Here’s the full process, from booking to results.

Booking

When you feel ready, contact your account manager. We handle the booking with APM and confirm your exam date, time, and joining instructions — usually within 5–10 working days.

Equipment required

You need a laptop or desktop computer (not a mobile or tablet), a working webcam and microphone, and a stable internet connection.

On the day

Log in 15 minutes before your scheduled start. The invigilator will verify your identity using photo ID and ask you to scan your room. The 2.5-hour timer then begins (with an optional short break). The PMQ is closed book — no notes or materials are permitted.

Results

You get a provisional pass or fail result as soon as you finish. Your official APM certificate and digital badge follow shortly after, with your result available in your APM candidate portal.

Rescheduling

If you need to reschedule, contact us at least 48 hours before your exam time. We will arrange a new date at no additional charge.

Your instructor

Learn From a Certified Expert

Derek Bell, APM tutor
Derek Bell
APM Fellow
APM Fellow & Course Tutor

This course is developed and delivered by Derek Bell, a Fellow of the Association for Project Management with over 30 years’ experience in project and programme management, agile, and risk training, consultancy, and coaching. He has delivered training in more than 25 countries for organisations across engineering and energy — from Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems to BP and Shell — and brings that real-world breadth to every topic in the PMQ.

APM Fellow 30+ Years Experience Multi-Sector APM Accredited

Last reviewed and updated:

Student reviews

What Our Students Say

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1,247 verified reviews

The majority of students pass first time, based on an internal student survey conducted in May 2026.

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Career Growth Path

Where This Qualification Takes You

The PMQ is the benchmark for practising project managers. See the roles it supports — and where to go next.

Where You Are Now

Some PM experience

APM PMQ

£45k–£65k avg.

You are here

Senior Project Manager

£60k–£80k avg.

Delivery Manager

£70k–£90k avg.

Programme Manager

£85k–£110k avg.

PMQ is widely treated as the benchmark qualification for UK project managers
Project Managers are among the top 10 most in-demand roles in the UK (LinkedIn 2025)

Pricing

Simple, Transparent Pricing

One course. Everything included. No hidden extras.

PMQ + exam — right for you if…

You want the qualification and the official APM exam to go with it. Add the exam at checkout.

New to project management?

If you don’t yet have project experience, the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) is a better place to start.

Pay Monthly

From £25.11/month

CAREER SMARTER LTD is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Social Money Limited t/a Payl8r who is authorised by the FCA under Ref. Number 675283. Credit is subject to creditworthiness and affordability assessments. Missed payments may affect your credit file, future borrowing and incur fees. Representative Example: £440.00 over 12 months at 2.50% fixed per month. Rep APR 65.5%. Monthly: £47.67. Total repayable: £572.04. 0% interest rate applies only where the loan is repaid in full within 3 months.

Team & Corporate

Bulk discounts available

Training 3 or more employees? Get volume pricing, a dedicated account manager, and custom reporting.

Talk to Our Team

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before you enrol.

Does APM PMQ expire?

No, the APM PMQ certification does not expire.

How long does the course take?

The APM recommends 75 hours of learning time, and two to three years of project experience. This highlights the depths of this course, and should be regarded as an intermediate to advanced level course.

Is PRINCE2 or APM better?

Both courses work together, one focusing more on the project management role and the other on the PRINCE2 method.

Is the APM PMQ exam open book?

No, the exam is closed book.

What is the exam format?

The exam is conducted online and takes 2.5 hours to complete, with an optional 30-minute break available between the two parts.

What is the APM PMQ pass mark?

The pass mark is 55% of the total available marks. This may be changed on the recommendation of the Senior Examiner Team during the lifetime of the qualification.

What level is APM PMQ equivalent to?

The APM PMQ is recognised on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 7. The SCQF Level 7 is equivalent to the Level 4 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which applies to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The lower end of Level 5 on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

What types of questions will I encounter and how are they weighted?

The exam includes four different question types:

Multiple response (20 questions worth 1 mark each)
Select from list (5 questions worth 2 marks each)
Short response (5 questions worth 2 marks each)
Long response (10 questions worth 5 marks each)

How many questions are in the exam?

The exam contains 40 questions in total, worth a combined 90 marks.

What is the APM PMQ exam cost?

PRICE (inc. VAT)
£528.00 Members
£648.00 Non-members
£471.60 Exam resit

What are the new APM Competence Framework topics added?

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Sustainability
Ethics, Compliance, and Professionalism
Transition Management

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RQF Level 4

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