The APM PFQ Project Fundamentals Qualification, formerly known as the APM Introductory Certificate, is a qualification developed by the Association for Project Management, the chartered body for the project profession. It is a practical course for those new to managing projects or members of project teams who want a better understanding of the processes, tools and language of project management.
At the end of the course, you will:
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Oct
17
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM BST – 05:00 PM BST
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Online | View |
Nov
21
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
Dec
18
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
Jan
10
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
Feb
15
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
Mar
07
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
Apr
03
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
May
16
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
Jun
11
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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom 2 days, 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM
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Online 2-day APM PFQ | View |
Project Management And The Operating Environment
We differentiate projects from non-projects, explore programme and portfolio management, the influence of the business and political context on project success
Project Lifecycles
Projects may be managed via a range of lifecycles including linear, iterative (such as Agile) and hybrid lifecycles. We will be exploring the different phases of the different lifecycles and their use
Project Roles
Here we will explore the various roles and responsibilities of the Project manager, Project Governance, Sponsor, Product Owner, and the Users. Working closely together these roles will be a powerful force towards the achievement of a successful project
Project Management Planning
This will include understanding the role of a project schedule, planning and managing key resources and budgeting and cost management. The role and purpose of the business case and the development of options will be explored
Project Planning
This is a significant section of the course. It includes several key areas including:
Scope Management
During this session we will be clearly defining how the scope for a project is derived, planned, and managed using a number of different techniques. We will cover the topic of change control as an essential part of preventing ‘scope creep’
Understand Scheduling and Resource Management
Scheduling is a key skill when managing projects. In this section we look at a number of different approaches to scheduling including, critical path, milestone planning, time boxing. For each we discuss how both internal and external resources can be planned, including external procurement
Risk and Issue Management
During this session we will look at systematic ways to understand, catalogue and deal with risks and issues. Using appropriate theory, we will explore the topic and provide useful tools to deal with them including the use of a risk and issue register. Importantly in this section we discuss the processes for issue resolution
Quality Management
Discussing and concluding adequate mechanisms for the management of quality on a project,including the use of various quality control techniques. The session will also cover the role of gate reviews
Understanding Communication
How to get the best from the team and how to undertake a suitable and focused level of project communications
Leadership and Teamwork
Working in teams is a natural and necessary undertaking in most job roles, in a project it is even more profound and the need to ‘get up and running’ quickly is paramount. Understanding some basic theory in this respect is valuable for new project managers.
What is the exam like? One-hour with 60 questions and a pass mark of 60%. The vast majority of people do well in this exam.
The APM PFQ exam can be sat in a classroom environment, or online via an online proctoring service. We will arrange your exam for both options, so please contact us for more details.
Virtual Classroom | Self Paced Learning | |
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Cost | £775 | £325 |
Delivery method | 2 Days of Classroom Training | Online |
Learning resources | e-Learning Portal | e-Learning Portal |
Printed learning materials | Study Guide | Study Guide |
Other learning materials | Podcasts | Podcasts |
Exam resources | Practice Online Exam Papers | Practice Exam Papers |
Book Now | Book Now |
We have professional trainers who make courses engaging and fun. All of our trainers are experienced project leaders who will help you acquire the skills and capabilities needed to be more successful in a project environment.
Our training solutions don’t mean sitting in a classroom (real or virtual) and simply listening to a trainer talking from the front of the room. They involve active participation in real-world tasks and collaborating with others using realistic case studies. Courses include watching webinars and listening to podcasts; getting involved in buzz groups, discussions, practical demonstrations, role-play and simulations. All intended to support your study goals and personal career development.
The PFQ is a 1-hour multiple-choice examination with 60 questions. The results are published in 10 to 12 weeks.
The APM PFQ examination can be sat in a classroom environment, or online via an Online Proctoring service. You can book your examination at a time to suit you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 360 days a year. We can arrange your exam for both of these options, so please contact us for more details.
For the distance learning course, Parallel worked in partnership with the APM to write the official study guide for this APM PFQ qualification based on the APM Body of Knowledge 7th Edition (BoK 7). Our distance learning course is presented by the authors of the study guide (John Bolton and Paul Naybour). As with our APM PMQ classroom course we include a wide range of learning resources, providing with you with a flexible approach to your study. You can study in print, on-line, or as you travel in the car or the train to develop a fundamental awareness of project management terminology.
The package includes:
We don’t expect you will use all these resources as we find that different people have different learning styles; some prefer the printed resources, some find the podcasts fit into their working week, whilst other prefer the on-line lectures.
Once you have completed your distance learning study you can take the APM Project Fundamentals Exam.
This is an on-line exam which you can take at any time convenient to you. During the exam you are observed by a remote proctor using a web cam, so you do need to book your slot 72 hours in advance.
As you register for the course we will send you a link to take the exam when you are ready. To help prepare for the exam we have included a sample paper from the APM in the study material.
These are presented a short bite-size presentations by the authors of the study guide (John Bolton and Paul Naybour) of the course contents. They cover all the areas required in this project management APM PFQ Project Fundamentals syllabus and are fast paced and engaging. They will help you develop a fundamental awareness of project management terminology. Topics included are:
During the Project Fundamentals course we also invite you to consider the implications of what we have learned and how you can apply these lessons to the projects you manage day to day. For example:
The aim of these reflection exercises is to help you think about the ways in which you can apply the key learning points from the course to the projects you manage day-to-day.
In this podcast the Parallel team discuss the following assessment criteria: