No, the PFQ does not expire. Once you take the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification exam, you will not need to renew or retake the exam. This means that you will have an established foundation for your project knowledge and career.

APM PFQ Project Fundamentals Qualification

Q: How hard is the APM PFQ exam?

The APM PFQ exam is designed to test your knowledge of the fundamentals of project management. It is challenging but certainly achievable for our candidates. If you prepare well, you are very likely to get a good pass in the exam.

Q: How long does it take to get PFQ results from APM?

You will receive a provisional pass or fail response immediately when you finish your exam. The exact result and your certificate will arrive by email within 1 month, but we find that the majority of results arrive within a week or two.

Q: How to pass APM Fundamentals – 3 basic factors

The APM PFQ exam is a 1-hour multiple choice exam with 60 questions and the pass mark is 60%. To achieve this, you will need to: Take an APM PFQ course with an accredited training provider such as Parallel Project Training. Set aside plenty of time for private study. Complete as many practice questions as possible, along with the sample paper from the APM.

Q: Is APM PFQ exam open book?

No, the APM PFQ exam is not open book. The exam will be invigilated by remote proctor, and you will have to demonstrate that you have no study materials in your area.

Q: What is the pass mark for APM fundamentals?

The pass mark for the APM PFQ is 60% of the total available marks. There are 60 multiple choice questions each carrying a maximum of 1 mark. To pass you will need to get at least 36 of the 60 questions correct.

Q: Do I need PFQ before PMQ?

It is not a requirement that you take the APM Project Fundamentals exam before you take the PMQ, but it can provide an advantage. The PFQ (APM Project Fundamentals Qualification) will introduce you to principles that will carry through into the PMQ. Therefore, the PFQ can provide a useful first step into the APM PMQ.

Q: Does APM cover agile?

The APM qualifications cover an iterative life cycle, which shares some ideals with agile principles. The APM has produced a guide called Directing Agile Change which covers the agile approach and how to apply it to projects.

Q: How do you become APM accredited?

You can become a member of the APM at any time. You can visit their website to understand the different membership levels. If you wish to achieve chartership, the highest level of APM qualification, you need to demonstrate high levels of knowledge (potentially through taking other APM qualifications) and significant experience in the project profession managing projects.

APM PFQ

APM Project Fundamentals Qualification

The APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) is a course for people starting out in project management, who want to understand the basic principles and terminology of project management.

From £395

Aimed at: New project managers

Exam: 1 hour

Teaching type:

2-day online course
Distance learning
In-house classroom

2-day live online classroom
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Distance learning
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Run this course in-house
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APM Project Management Qualification

Your study options
Parallel offers a range of study options for the APM PFQ course. Whether you are an individual looking for training or a corporate client with large groups of candidates, we have an option to suit you.

Virtual classroom

Open to the public, these courses are suitable for anyone looking to gain the APM PFQ. Our live 2-day virtual classroom courses get excellent feedback and are led by our experienced project management trainers. Parallel PFQ training doesn’t just involve sitting and listening to the trainer talk for 2 days – you will be encouraged to participate in discussions and understand theoretical concepts through real-world examples.

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Distance learning

Study at your own pace and on your own timescale with our distance learning packages and online learning platform. Taking place online, you can work the course around your other commitments. The APM PFQ exam is an online 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.

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Corporate solutions

We have more than 15 years’ experience delivering APM PFQ training courses for corporate clients. We can provide dedicated virtual training for your team to help them achieve the APM PFQ. Our corporate clients value the APM PFQ for their staff. It provides a strong foundation and improves understanding of fundamental project management principles. Ultimately, this will help to improve project delivery and efficiency.

Course overview

The APM PFQ is a qualification developed by the APM, 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.

Parallel Project Training is an APM accredited training provider, ensuring you receive the best professional project management training available. Through the APM PFQ, we will give you the skills and knowledge to be able to start leading projects effectively and efficiently.

Pre-requisites

Benefits

What you will learn

At the end of the course, you will 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

You will be equipped with the practical skills and knowledge to successfully deliver benefits to your organisation through well-managed projects. This will enable you to develop the behaviours and leadership skills needed to become a successful project manager. Ultimately, you will be able to confidently sit the exam and gain a recognised qualification to enhance your career prospects as a project professional.

Exam information

practical exercise APM PMQ training course

Topics covered

communication methods in project operating environment

Project management and the operating environment

Understand how projects differ from business-as-usual. Learn about the influence of the external context on project success. Explore the different types of life cycle – linear, iterative (e.g., agile) and hybrid.

Project roles

Explore the various roles and responsibilities that contribute to project success. These include the project manager, project governance, project sponsor, product owner and the users.

Scope and project planning

Learn how to define the project scope and baseline and begin planning your project. Understand the role of scheduling, estimating and resource management and how to plan for different life cycles.

project manager communicating project risks

Risk and issue management

Understand the differences between risks and issues. Learn how to catalogue and manage risks and issues. Explore useful tools for dealing with risks and issues, such as risk and issue registers.

checking ROI for risk management on a project

Quality management

Understand the importance of quality management. Learn the difference between quality planning, quality assurance and quality control. Learn about the activities that constitute the different areas of quality.

group of people learning basic project management skills

Communication, leadership and teamwork

Learn how to get the best from the team and undertake a suitable level of, and focused approach to, project communications. Explore project leadership techniques and models to support team development.

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