Finding the right
Project Management Courses

The APM PFQ project management course covers the basic principles required by those working regularly on projects, some of which include :

• Creating a business case
• Agreeing the project scope
• Devising a realistic plan for delivering the project
• Monitoring everyday project tasks and interdependencies
• Tracking and reporting project progress
• Identifying and managing risk factors

By taking part in this project managers course you will learn highly practical skills and develop the necessary knowledge required to assist in the delivery of a successful project. For those wanting to progress their career to a leading role in a project environment it will provide the essential basics for developing leadership skills. This is a widely recognised professional qualification and the first step to becoming accredited as a project professional.

Here are some of the areas covered on APM PFQ project management courses

Exam details

The APM PFQ exam is a one-hour multiple-choice paper with 60 questions and a pass mark of 60%. It can be taken either in a classroom environment, or online via an online proctoring service. The on-line exam can be taken at any time convenient to you and you will be observed by a remote proctor using a web cam.

Learning materials

Parallel Project Training worked in partnership with the APM to write the official study guide for the APM PFQ qualification, which is included with this project management course. We also include a wide range of other learning materials so that you have the flexibility to study in a variety of ways. The following are all included with this course:

• The Parallel fundamentals study guide written by Parallel Project Training

• 20 bite-size video lectures presented by the authors of the Parallel fundamentals study guide
• 18 reflection exercises in which you consider how to apply the principles to your projects
• 25 podcasts which you can download and listen to whenever convenient
• 24 case study episodes in which you watch a new project manager apply the principles of project management to their first project
• 104 sample multiple choice questions to check your progress with the course
• A full sample exam paper

By attending our APM PMQ project managers course, you will learn how best to apply the principles of project management to the types of projects you already manage. You will also learn practical skills to improve your project delivery capabilities and be able to articulate the benefits of structured project management within your company.

The course leads to a widely recognised qualification from the APM, the chartered body for the project management profession.

Here are some of the subjects covered on APM PMQ project management courses

• Project Context – Projects are carried out within various regulatory, political and business environments so candidates will look at ways in which projects transform day-today operations and support organisational transformation.
• Project Structure – Investigation of the various types of companies in which project work is undertaken; and the responsibilities of key players such as the project manager, sponsor, stakeholder and PMO.
• Project Lifecycle – Cover the APM project lifecycles and learn about the benefits of using different lifecycles for a project. Understand the importance of regular project reviews and the advantages of capturing lessons learned from projects.
• Communication – Learn about the processes that can be used to effectively identify and manage project stakeholders and the key elements impacting effective communication. The contents and structure of a communications plan, negotiation skills and approaches to conflict resolution will also be covered on this course.
• Leadership and Teamwork – Covers the leadership qualities required to be a successful project manager. Explore the principles of developing, motivating and leading project teams. Learn about the advantages of adopting situational leadership models within an organisation.
• Project Scope – How to define the scope of every project and how to efficiently manage scope throughout the project lifecycle. Requirements management and configuration management for both linear and agile project approaches will be covered. As will the relationship between change control and configuration management.
• Planning for Success – This topic looks in detail at the management of stakeholders in relation to the communications plan. It also covers estimating techniques and how best to provide accurate estimates.
• Scheduling and Resource Management –Techniques are learnt such as dependency networks, timeboxing and critical chain analysis. Resource management in relation to the scheduling process, budgeting and cost management, and earned value management are also part of this topic area.
• Risk Management – A detailed examination of the risk management process and the advantages of proactively managing project risk. This topic also covers the difference between risks and issues, and the importance of an escalation process.
• Quality Management – Quality planning, assurance and control are all part of this topic. Candidates will also learn how best to apply quality management processes in real-world project environments.
• Procurement – Learn how to find the right suppliers and with them effectively and efficiently throughout the project. Explore procurement strategy, contractual relationships and payment types according to the APM BoK.

Exam information

The APM PMQ exam consists of a 3-hour written exam in which 10 questions must be answered out of a selection of 16 questions. It can be taken either in-person in a classroom or remotely via an online proctoring service. The online exam can be taken at any time and will be observed by a remote proctor using a web cam. The pass mark is 55%.

Learning resources

Parallel Project Training are proud to have worked in partnership with the APM to write the official APM PMQ study guide. It is included in all of our APM project management courses. In addition, a wide variety of other learning resources are available to all candidates to offer flexibility and choice in ways to study. Learning resources that we provide with this project managers course are:

• The Parallel Project Management Qualification study guide written by Parallel Project Training
• 8 on-line e-learning modules which are closely integrated with the study guide
• 25 podcasts which you can download and listen to whenever convenient
• Online tutor support via our study group
• A full sample exam paper