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APM Project

Fundamentals

Qualification (PFQ)

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Management
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Professional
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Chartered
Courses

APM Project Fundamentals Qualification
(APM PFQ)

  • APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Feature

    Frequent Virtual Classroom courses running

  • APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Feature

    On demand Distance Learning (including exam)

  • APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Feature

    On-site courses for Larger Groups

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APM Project Fundamentals Qualification
What's covered...
Gain a broad understanding of project management.

Gain a broad understanding of the principles of the profession.

 Learn the principles of project management.

Learn the fundamental principles of project management.

 No prior knowledge or experience is required.

No prior knowledge or experience is required

Assessment
Multiple Choice Questions 60
Multiple Choice

Exam questions over a one hour period.

 Multiple Choice Questions 95%

APM candidates who beleive that taking an APM qualification will add value to their career.*

What is The APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)?

The APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ), 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 new project managers or members of project teams who want a better understanding of the processes, tools and language of project management.

At the end of the APM PFQ course, you will:

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    Be able to apply the fundamental principles of project management including:

    • Defining the business case
    • Establishing scope
    • Drawing up a plan for project delivery
    • Identifying and managing risk
    • Monitoring and tracking project progress
    • Controlling change
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    Be equipped with the practical skills and knowledge to successfully deliver benefits to your organisation through well-managed projects

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    Gain a recognised qualification to enhance your career prospects as a project professional

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    Develop the behaviours and leadership skills needed to become a successful project manager

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    Confidently sit the APM Foundation Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) examination

What's involved

Downloadable Content

2 days of Classroom Training Syllabus Online Study Group Guidance Notes e-Learning Portal Sample Answers

WHAT TOPICS WILL THE APM PFQ COURSE COVER?

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 project success.

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:

  1. The development of an overall plan for both linear and iterative lifecycles.
  2. The role of stakeholders in developing this plan, the business case and the delivery of the project.
  3. The role of a project schedule, the project baselines, planning and managing key resources and budgeting and cost management.
  4. The purpose of the business case, the development of options and definition success criteria and benefits. In this section we discuss the roles of the sponsor and project manager in the creation of the business case.
  5. Different techniques to develop a robust cost estimate including analytical, analogous and parametric estimating. In this section we also discuss how the accuracy of the estimate is improves during the project lifecycle.
  6. The purpose and benefits of project progress reporting.
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 it a key skill of all project managers. 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 multiple-choice questions 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.

How can I study and... What is Included?

Distance LearningClassroom Course
Cost £325 £775
Delivery methodOnline2 Days of Classroom Training
Learning resources Features e-Learning Portal Features e-Learning Portal
Printed learning materials Features Study Guide Features Study Guide
Other learning materials Features Podcasts Features Podcasts
Exam resources Features Practice Online Exam Papers Features Practice Exam Papers

What is The APM PFQ Classroom Course and Exam Like?

The APM Project Management Qualification is a three-hour written exam and with 10 questionsfrom a choice of 16. The pass mark is 55%. The results are published in 10 to 12 weeks.

The APM PMQ exam can be sat in a classroom environment, or online via an Online Proctoring service. We can arrange your exam for both of these options, so please contact us for more details.

APM Accredited

Upcoming Public Courses APM Project Fundamentals Courses (PFQ)

Aug 10
 APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom
Sale
2 days, 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Reduced to: £465.00 excl. VAT
  • £775.00 excl. VAT
Online View
Register
Sep 03
 APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom
Sale
2 days, 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Reduced to: £465.00 excl. VAT
  • £775.00 excl. VAT
Online View
Register
Sep 28
 APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom
Sale
2 days, 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • £775.00 excl. VAT
Online View
Register
Oct 01
 APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom
Sale
2 days, 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • £775.00 excl. VAT
London View
Register
Nov 19
 APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom
Sale
2 days, 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • £775.00 excl. VAT
Milton Keynes View
Register
Dec 07
 APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Classroom
Sale
2 days, 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • £775.00 excl. VAT
London View
Register

What's Included in the Distance Learning Package from Parallel Project Training?

For the distance learning course, Parallel worked in partnership with the APM to write the official study guide for this APM PFQ qualification. 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 materials, 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.

The package includes:

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    The Parallel fundamentals study guide written by Parallel Project Training

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    Twenty bite-size video lectures presented by the authors of the Parallel fundamentals study guide

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    Eighteen reflection exercises in which you consider how to apply the principles to your projects

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    Twenty five podcasts which you can download and listen to as you travel

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    Twenty four case study episodes in which you watch a new project manager apply the principles of project management to their first project

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    104 sample multiple choice questions to check your progress with the course

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    A full sample exam paper

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.

What's involved

If I study distance learning... How Do I Take the Exam?

Once you have completed your distance learning study you can take the APM Project Fundamentals Exam (APM PFQ). 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.

Sample Content Video Lectures

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 the APM Project Fundamentals syllabus and are fast paced and engaging. Topics included are:

  • Features Project Management Principles
    • Principles of project management
    • The project environment
    • Project life cycles
    • Project roles
  • Features Definition
    • The project management plan
    • Scope management
    • Estimating
    • Scheduling
    • Resources management and procurement
    • Risk management
    • Quality management
  • Features Project Concept
    • The project business case
    • Success and benefits management
    • Stakeholder management
    • Communications
    • Development
  • Features Issue management
    • Change control and configuration management
    • Leadership and teams
    • Project reporting
    • Project reviews
What's involved

Sample Content Case Study Episodes

During the course we will follow a new project manager, called Jayne, as she seeks to apply project management to her first project. You will meet the rest of her team, including the sponsor and venture capitalist, Zac Shallow, the IT manager, Karim and the operations manager Colin. In twenty-two short episodes you can follow Jayne each step of the way during the project life cycle. Watch as she:

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    Sorts out the roles for the project including the project sponsor and user.

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    Prepares and presents a business case for the project.

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    Works with the team to define the project management plan.

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    Manages the risks and issues that emerge along the way

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    Deals with changes introduced by the project sponsor.

This case study brings the application of project management to life.

What's involved

Sample Content Reflection Exercises

During the 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:

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    Considering the questions we would ask a sponsor at a start up meeting?

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    Considering the success factors, benefits and KPI for the case study project and how these apply to your project?

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    Analysis of the different stakeholder's in a project?

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    Considering the best structure for a project management plan?

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    Considering how to respond to a risk or and issue?

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.

What's involved

Technical Requirements and Compatibility

Our e-Learning system will support the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 9+, Microsoft Edge, Safari and Safari on iPhone iOS 8+ (iPhone 4s through current), Safari on iPads with iOS 8+ (iPad 2 through current) and Chrome on Android. We do not support IE8 which is no longer supported by Microsoft. For the exam you will need a web cam as well.

In simple terms, if you can play the sample videos on this page then our e-Learning will work on your system, as they use the same streaming technology. The requirements for the APM PFQ online exam (including a testing link) can be found here: https://ondemand.questionmark.eu/601315/ext/candidate

How Long Can I Access my Training for?

You will gain access to our e-Learning System for six months, but if you need to extend the access for a further six months at any time then please do get in touch. There is no time limit on you taking the exam, although we may ask for a small additional payment to cover any change in the exam fees by the APM.