APM Qualifications Compared
APM now offers three main examination-based qualifications in project management:
- Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)
- Project Management Qualification (PMQ), to be replaced by
- New Project Management Qualification (New PMQ)
- APM Project Professional Qualification 2nd edition (PPQ)
Note that PPQ is a Recognised Assessment for technical knowledge when applying via Route 1 for the APM Chartered Standard (ChPP) . This is a simplified route to achieving ChPP .
APM Qualifications compared
| Qualification | PFQ | PMQ | New PMQ | PPQ 2nd edtn |
| Original Title | Introductory Certificate | APMP | PMQ | - |
| SCQF level | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Based on | BoK7 | BoK7 | Competence Framework | Competence Framework |
| Approximate prior experience | None | 2 - 4 years | 2 - 3 years | 5 - 6 years |
| Total qualification time (hours) | 34 | 75 | 75 | 70 |
| Guided learning (hours) | 20 | 32 | 32 | 40 |
| Number of examinations | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Total cost of online APM examination non-member fees (to 31 March 2025) | £193 + VAT | £478 + VAT | Not known | £812 + VAT |
| Type of examination | Online | Online | Online | Online role play, oral and written report |
| Length of examination | 1 hour | 3 hours + 15 min | 2.5 hours | Total of 2hrs 35 min. |
| Pass mark | 60% | 55% | Not known | 50% in each assessment |
| What does the assessment test? | Knowledge | Knowledge and understanding | Knowledge and understanding | Knowledge and its application |
| Type of questions | Multiple choice | Essay type | Various | Scenario based |
| Questions to be answered/on the written paper | 60/60 | 10/16 | 40/40 | 1/1 |
| Membership level attained from award | Associate | Associate | Associate | Full |