APMG Change Management Practitioner course

The only formal prerequisite for the APMG Change Management Practitioner course is a valid Change Management Foundation certificate, accredited by APMG International. No specific work experience is required by APMG.

The Change Management Foundation certificate demonstrates that you already understand the core change management concepts, models, and terminology that the Practitioner course builds upon. The Practitioner level focuses on applying that knowledge to real scenarios – analysing stakeholder situations, planning communications, assessing organisational readiness, and tailoring the APMG Change Management framework to different contexts.

The course is designed for a broad range of professionals who hold the Foundation certificate, including:

• Change managers and change practitioners
• Project and programme managers working on change initiatives
• HR, organisational development, and learning and development professionals
• Business analysts and consultants involved in change
• Senior leaders and sponsors overseeing major change programmes

If you do not yet hold the APMG Change Management Foundation certificate, you can study for both qualifications together by choosing the combined APMG Change Management course, which covers Foundation and Practitioner content and includes both exams. This is a practical option if you are starting from scratch and want to reach Practitioner level in a single training programme.

The right format depends on how you learn best and how much flexibility you need – both options for the APMG Change Management Practitioner course include the exam and lead to the same qualification.

Instructor-led training

Instructor-led delivery runs over 2 days of live online sessions with an accredited trainer. It suits learners who benefit from structured schedules, real-time Q&A, and group discussion. You follow fixed scheduled dates, which can help with motivation and accountability. Tutor support continues by email for up to 3 months after the course ends.

Self-paced online training

Self-paced delivery provides 10 hours of interactive e-learning modules with 12 months of access. You can start immediately and study around work or other commitments. Tutor and technical support is available by email and phone throughout your access period and for up to 3 months afterwards. This format suits busy professionals who need flexibility over when and where they study.

Key differences at a glance

• Structure: Instructor-led offers a fixed timetable; self-paced lets you set your own pace.
• Duration: 2 days (instructor-led) versus approximately 10 hours spread across 12 months (self-paced).
• Interaction: Live trainer interaction versus email and phone support.
• Start date: Scheduled dates (instructor-led) versus start anytime (self-paced).

Both formats include mock exams and access to post-course resources. The APMG Change Management Practitioner exam is included in both options.

The APMG Change Management Practitioner exam is taken online and is included as part of the Practitioner course from Knowledge Train – no separate booking is required.

Exam format at a glance

• Format: Multiple choice (objective test)
• Questions: 4 questions worth 20 marks each (80 marks total)
• Pass mark: 50% (40 out of 80)
• Duration: 150 minutes
• Open book: Yes – you may refer to your materials during the exam
• Access: Online, via the APMG Candidate Portal
• Results: Provisional results are available the same day

Before you sit the exam

You must hold the Change Management Foundation certificate before taking the Practitioner exam – there are no exceptions to this prerequisite. If you do not yet hold Foundation, Knowledge Train offers a combined Foundation and Practitioner course that covers both qualifications.

Every candidate registers for a free APMG Candidate Portal account. This is where you book your exam, view your results, download your certificate, and claim a digital badge via Credly.

After passing

Passing the exam confers APMG Registered Practitioner status, which is valid for five years. To maintain Registered status, Change Management Practitioners must sit a shorter Re-Registration exam between years three and five of their certification period.

Provisional results for the APMG Change Management Practitioner exam are available immediately after you complete the online exam, with official results and a marks breakdown published in your APMG Candidate Portal typically within two working days.

Here is what to expect after sitting the exam:

• Provisional result: Available immediately after most APMG online exams, including the Change Management Practitioner exam.
• Official result and marks breakdown: Published in your APMG Candidate Portal, typically within two working days of sitting the exam.
• Digital badge and electronic certificate: These can be claimed from the APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of the result being issued. The digital badge is hosted via Credly, a third-party badge platform, and you will need a linked Credly account to claim it.

Every candidate must register for a free APMG Candidate Portal account before sitting the exam. This is where you book the exam, view results, download your certificate, and create your digital badge.

If you pass, you will gain APMG Registered Practitioner status, which is valid for five years from the date of certification. Between years three and five, you must sit and pass a shorter Re-Registration exam to maintain your Registered status. If Re-Registration is not completed within five years, the Practitioner certificate itself remains valid but Registered status lapses.

The APMG Change Management Practitioner exam is challenging but very achievable, particularly for candidates who hold the Change Management Foundation certificate and prepare thoroughly using scenario-based practice questions.

The exam format is worth understanding before you judge the difficulty:

• Format: Multiple choice (objective test), open book
• Questions: 4 questions worth 20 marks each (80 marks total)
• Pass mark: 50% (40 out of 80)
• Duration: 150 minutes

Because the exam is open book, you can refer to your materials during the assessment. However, the questions are scenario-based, meaning you need to apply and justify your change management choices in context – not simply recall definitions. This is where many candidates find the exam demanding, especially if they have only studied at Foundation level and are less confident applying the APMG Change Management framework to realistic situations.

Knowledge Train reports a 99% pass rate across its Change Management Practitioner courses, which suggests that well-prepared candidates consistently meet the pass mark. The course includes mock exams and scenario-based practice questions specifically designed to build the applied reasoning skills the exam tests.

The prerequisite for sitting the Practitioner exam is holding the APMG Change Management Foundation certificate. Candidates who come to the Practitioner course with a solid Foundation-level understanding and who complete the exam preparation module are well placed to pass.

Yes, you can resit the APMG Change Management Practitioner exam if you do not pass, but an additional exam resit fee applies.

The Change Management Practitioner exam is included as part of the Knowledge Train course fee, which covers your first attempt. If you do not reach the pass mark of 50% (40 out of 80 marks), you are eligible to resit, but you will need to pay a separate resit fee to book another attempt. The resit fee is not included in the original course price.

A few practical points worth knowing before you sit the exam:

• The exam is open book, so you can refer to the APMG Change Management manual during the 150-minute paper.
• You receive your provisional result on the same day, with full results and a marks breakdown available in the APMG Candidate Portal typically within two working days.
• Knowledge Train reports a 99% pass rate across its Change Management courses, which means most candidates pass at the first attempt.
• Thorough use of the mock exam questions included in the course is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of needing a resit.

If you are concerned about exam readiness, the instructor-led option gives you direct access to a live accredited trainer for questions both during and after the course.