AgilePM courses and training

The right choice depends on your current experience and how quickly you want to reach Practitioner level. Here is a straightforward breakdown to help you decide.

• AgilePM Foundation only – Best if you are new to agile project management or want a solid grounding in AgilePM concepts, roles, and processes before committing to Practitioner level. It has no prerequisites, takes 3 days or 23 hours of study, and earns you the APMG-accredited AgilePM Foundation certificate. It suits project team members, business analysts, Scrum Masters, and professionals moving from traditional to agile delivery.
• AgilePM Practitioner only – Best if you already hold the AgilePM Foundation V3 certificate and want to progress to applying AgilePM confidently in real-world projects. It takes 2 days or 20 hours and leads to the AgilePM Practitioner certificate. Note that the AgilePM Foundation V3 certificate is a formal prerequisite.
• AgilePM combined (Foundation and Practitioner) – Best if you want both qualifications in one programme. The combined course takes 5 days or 43 hours, includes both exams and the official digital manual, and earns you both certificates. It is the most cost-efficient route if you are confident you want to reach Practitioner level from the start.

If you are unsure of your readiness for Practitioner level, starting with Foundation and progressing later is a lower-risk approach. If you are already an experienced project manager committed to full AgilePM certification, the combined course saves time and avoids booking two separate courses.

Yes – holding the AgilePM Foundation V3 certificate is a formal prerequisite for the AgilePM Practitioner course and exam.

APMG International, the accreditation body for AgilePM, requires candidates to have passed the AgilePM Foundation exam before they can sit the AgilePM Practitioner exam. This applies regardless of how much practical agile project management experience you have.

What this means in practice

• If you do not yet hold the AgilePM Foundation certificate, you should complete the AgilePM Foundation course first (3 days instructor-led or 23 hours self-paced).
• Once certified at Foundation level, you can enrol on the standalone AgilePM Practitioner course (2 days instructor-led or 20 hours self-paced).
• If you want to achieve both qualifications in a single programme, the AgilePM combined course covers Foundation and Practitioner together (5 days instructor-led or 43 hours self-paced) and includes both exams. The combined course has no prerequisites, making it a practical route for those starting from scratch.

Which route is right for you?

If you are new to AgilePM, the combined course is often the most efficient option. If you already hold the AgilePM Foundation V3 certificate, you can go straight to the standalone Practitioner course without repeating Foundation content.

The AgilePM Foundation and Practitioner exams differ significantly in format, duration, difficulty, and what they test – Foundation assesses knowledge and understanding, while Practitioner assesses your ability to apply AgilePM in realistic project scenarios.

Here is a direct comparison of the two exams:

• Format: Foundation uses multiple choice (objective test); Practitioner uses scenario-based objective testing, where questions are set in the context of a project scenario.
• Questions: Foundation has 50 questions; Practitioner has 60 questions.
• Duration: Foundation is 40 minutes; Practitioner is 120 minutes.
• Pass mark: Foundation requires 60% (30 out of 50); Practitioner requires 50% (30 out of 60).
• Open or closed book: Foundation is closed book; Practitioner is open book, meaning you can refer to the official AgilePM manual during the exam.
• Prerequisites: Foundation has no prerequisites; Practitioner requires a current AgilePM Foundation V3 certificate.
• Results: Both exams provide results on the same day, with official results available in the APMG Candidate Portal typically within two working days.

Both exams are accredited by APMG International and are taken online. The Foundation certificate is valid for life, while passing the Practitioner exam confers Registered Practitioner status, which is valid for five years.

The AgilePM Foundation certificate is valid for life and never expires, while the AgilePM Practitioner certificate confers “Registered Practitioner” status that is valid for 5 years and requires renewal to maintain that status.

Here is how the validity works for each level:

• AgilePM Foundation: The certificate does not expire. Once awarded by APMG International, it remains valid permanently with no renewal or re-registration required.
• AgilePM Practitioner: Passing the Practitioner exam grants “Registered Practitioner” status, which is valid for 5 years from the date of certification. To keep “Registered” status current, AgilePM Practitioner holders must retake and pass the full Practitioner exam before the 5-year period ends. Unlike some other APMG qualifications, there is no shorter Re-Registration exam available for AgilePM – the full exam must be sat again.

It is important to note that if you do not renew within 5 years, your AgilePM Practitioner certificate itself is not revoked and remains valid. However, you will lose your “Registered Practitioner” status. To regain that status after the 5-year point, you must retake and pass the full Practitioner exam.

If long-term certification maintenance is a concern, this distinction between holding the certificate and holding active “Registered” status is worth factoring in when planning your professional development.

The AgilePM Foundation course takes 3 days in the instructor-led format or 23 hours in the self-paced e-learning format, while the AgilePM Practitioner course takes 2 days instructor-led or 20 hours self-paced.

Here is a quick comparison of the two levels:

• AgilePM Foundation – instructor-led: 3 days of live online sessions with a fixed scheduled start date, including the exam.
• AgilePM Foundation – self-paced: 23 hours of interactive online modules, available to start at any time, with 12-month access.
• AgilePM Practitioner – instructor-led: 2 days of live online sessions, including the exam. Prerequisites: AgilePM Foundation V3.
• AgilePM Practitioner – self-paced: 20 hours of interactive online modules, with 12-month access.

If you want to complete both levels without a gap, a Combined AgilePM Foundation and Practitioner course runs over 5 days instructor-led or 43 hours self-paced, and includes both exams.

The instructor-led format suits learners who prefer a structured pace and direct access to an accredited trainer. The self-paced format is better for those who need to fit study around work commitments, as modules can be paused and resumed across the 12-month access window.

Yes – the AgilePM Practitioner exam requires you to hold the AgilePM Foundation V3 certificate before you can sit it.

The prerequisite is set by APMG International, the accreditation body for the AgilePM qualification. You must have passed the AgilePM Foundation exam at version 3 (V3) before you are eligible to register for the Practitioner exam. Older versions of the Foundation certificate do not satisfy this requirement.

If you do not yet hold the AgilePM Foundation V3 certificate, you have two practical options:

• Take Foundation first, then Practitioner separately. The Foundation course takes 3 days or 23 hours of self-paced study. Once certified, you can enrol on the standalone 2-day or 20-hour Practitioner course.
• Take the combined Foundation and Practitioner course. This is the most efficient route if you are starting from scratch. It covers both levels in 5 days or 43 hours, and includes both exams. The official AgilePM digital manual is also included.

The combined course is particularly well suited to experienced project managers who want to move through both levels quickly, or to those who prefer to prepare for both exams in a single, structured programme.

Once you pass the AgilePM Practitioner exam, you gain Registered Practitioner status, which is valid for 5 years from the date of certification.

For most people working in agile project delivery, the AgilePM Practitioner qualification is a worthwhile progression from Foundation – it shifts your focus from understanding the framework to applying it in realistic, complex project scenarios.

The AgilePM Foundation certificate demonstrates knowledge of AgilePM concepts, roles, and processes. The Practitioner level goes further, developing your ability to tailor the AgilePM lifecycle, lead agile project teams, manage scope and risk using techniques such as MoSCoW prioritisation, and integrate governance and compliance into agile delivery. The exam is scenario-based (60 questions, open book, 120 minutes) and tests applied judgement rather than recall.

The Practitioner qualification is particularly relevant if you:

• Lead or plan to lead agile or hybrid projects
• Work as a Scrum Master, Product Owner, or PMO professional needing a project management lens
• Operate in environments where governance, risk, and financial control matter alongside agile delivery

One consideration worth noting is that passing the AgilePM Practitioner exam confers Registered Practitioner status, which is valid for five years. To maintain that status, you must retake the full Practitioner exam within that period – though the certificate itself does not expire if you choose not to re-register.

The AgilePM Practitioner course at Knowledge Train is available as a two-day instructor-led course or 20 hours of self-paced e-learning, with the exam included. Prerequisites are AgilePM Foundation V3.