APM Courses

What is APM?

APM is the Association for Project Management — the only chartered membership body for the project profession, with over 45,000 members worldwide. Its qualifications take a broad, knowledge-based view of project management and are well recognised across UK industry, which makes them a strong alternative or complement to a method-based qualification like PRINCE2.

The APM PFQ

The Project Fundamentals Qualification is the entry point. It’s aimed at people who are new to project management and want to learn the basics, along with project team members and career starters. The course covers the project lifecycle, roles and responsibilities, planning fundamentals and the basics of risk. The exam is 60 multiple-choice questions in one hour, with a 60% pass mark, and there are no prerequisites.

The APM PMQ

The Project Management Qualification is the next step, for experienced project managers who want to formalise their knowledge and skills. Candidates typically have around two to three years of project experience, or are on a relevant apprenticeship or degree. The exam is a 2.5-hour online assessment of 40 questions worth 90 marks, with a 55% pass mark, using a mix of multiple-choice, select-from-list, short-response and long-response questions.

Career Benefits

APM qualifications support career advancement and open up more job opportunities, and they sit on the pathway towards Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status — the highest level of recognition in the profession. Becoming a project management professional through APM signals a serious, structured commitment to the field.

APM Student Membership

Students and apprentices aged 16 and over can join APM as student members for free. That gives access to free online resources and cheaper prices on training and books — worth setting up alongside your course.

APM or PRINCE2?

It’s the most common question. PRINCE2 is a structured method; APM is broader and knowledge-based. Neither is “better” — many project managers hold both. If you’re UK-based and want the most-requested single qualification, start with PRINCE2; if you want a rounded grounding in project management principles, APM is an excellent choice.

How much do APM courses cost?

Fees depend on the level. The APM PFQ (the entry qualification) costs less than the more advanced APM PMQ, and the current price for each is shown on the course pages above. Every course includes full exam preparation, and finance is available at checkout so you can spread the cost — if you’re weighing PFQ against PMQ on price and payoff, our team can help you choose the right starting point.

Related Courses

• PRINCE2® courses — the UK’s most recognised PM method
• AgilePM® courses — agile project management
• All project management courses