APM PMQ course with expert online training

The APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) has no formal prerequisites, but it is designed for people who already have substantial hands-on project management experience.

While there is no mandatory entry requirement, the APM PMQ is not suitable for complete beginners with little or no project experience. It is aimed at practitioners who are already working at a meaningful level in project delivery. Ideal candidates include:

• Project managers and leaders who manage projects end-to-end
• Senior team members moving into full project management responsibility
• PMO and programme staff who work closely with projects
• Professionals leading major workstreams within larger programmes

Holding the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) – the introductory-level APM qualification – is helpful but not required. If you are new to project management, the APM PFQ would be a more appropriate starting point, as it covers core concepts and terminology before progressing to the deeper, broader content of the PMQ.

The APM PMQ is accredited by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered body for the project profession in the UK, and is benchmarked against the APM Body of Knowledge. The qualification is designed to align real-world experience with structured best-practice methods, so existing practical exposure is what makes the course content most valuable.

The right format depends on how you learn best and how much flexibility you need around your work schedule.

Instructor-led APM PMQ training runs as five days of live online sessions with an accredited trainer. It follows a fixed schedule, which provides structure and momentum. This format suits learners who prefer direct interaction, real-time answers to questions, and a clear start-to-finish timetable to keep them on track.

Blended APM PMQ training combines approximately 40 hours of self-paced online modules with around 35 hours of live evening sessions. You can start at any time and study around your work commitments. This format suits independent learners who need flexibility but still want tutor support and live interaction at key points.

Both formats include:

• The APM PMQ exam
• The official APM guide and sample papers
• Access to an accredited trainer for live Q&A
• 12 months of post-course resource access

As a practical guide:

• Choose instructor-led if you benefit from a structured timetable, group learning, and concentrated study over a defined period.
• Choose blended if you need to fit study around work commitments or prefer to revisit material at your own pace before live sessions.

Tutor support by email is available on both formats, with responses within one business day.

The APM PMQ (Project Management Qualification) exam is taken online and is included as part of your course with Knowledge Train.

Here is what to expect from the APM PMQ exam:

• Format: The exam consists of 40 questions worth a total of 90 marks.
• Question types: Multiple response (20 questions, 1 mark each), select from list (5 questions, 2 marks each), short response (5 questions, 2 marks each), and long response (10 questions, 5 marks each).
• Duration: 2.5 hours, with an optional break of up to 30 minutes between the two parts of the exam.
• Closed book: No reference materials are permitted during the exam.
• Prerequisites: None – there are no formal entry requirements to sit the APM PMQ exam.
• Access: The exam is taken online.
• Results: Exam results are returned within 8 weeks.
• Pass mark: A pass requires achieving 65% or above.

Your exam is included in the course fee, and Knowledge Train provides official study materials and sample papers to help you prepare. The long response questions in particular require detailed written answers, so practising with sample papers before your exam date is strongly recommended.

APM PMQ candidates receive their exam result, along with a PDF certificate if successful, via email within 8 weeks of completing the examination.

The APM PMQ exam is taken online and is a closed-book assessment consisting of 40 questions worth a total of 90 marks. The exam runs for 2.5 hours, with an optional break of up to 30 minutes available between the two parts. Because the exam includes written response questions – not just multiple choice – manual marking is required, which accounts for the longer results turnaround compared with fully automated assessments.

A few practical points to be aware of:

• Results and the PDF certificate are delivered by email, so it is worth checking your spam or junk folder if you do not receive communication within the expected timeframe.
• The pass mark for the APM PMQ exam is 65%.
• The certificate is issued by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered body for the project profession in the UK, which was granted a Royal Charter in 2017.
• If you do not pass at the first attempt, you will need to rebook the exam separately.

If you have concerns about your results after the 8-week period, contact your training provider or APM directly for guidance.

The APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) is the right course for you if you already have substantial hands-on project experience and want a recognised, in-depth qualification that goes well beyond the basics.

The APM PMQ is a strong fit if you are:

• A practising project manager who leads projects end-to-end or manages major workstreams
• A senior team member moving into full project management responsibility
• A PMO or programme professional who works closely alongside project delivery
• Someone looking for a stepping stone towards APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status

The APM PMQ may not be right for you if:

• You are new to project management with little practical experience – the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) is the more appropriate starting point
• You are looking for a short introductory overview rather than a rigorous, exam-based qualification

The APM PMQ exam is 2.5 hours long, closed book, and includes multiple-response, short-response, and long-response questions worth 90 marks in total. The pass mark is 65%. The qualification covers governance, planning, risk, stakeholder engagement, leadership, and more – all aligned to the APM Body of Knowledge, the professional standard published by the Association for Project Management (APM), the UK’s chartered body for the project profession.

If you hold the APM PFQ already, that prior knowledge is helpful but not a requirement for enrolment.

APM PMQ learners at Knowledge Train receive live trainer interaction throughout the course, plus email-based tutor support both during and after the course ends.

The exact support you receive depends on the delivery format you choose:

• Instructor-led (online): Live interactive sessions with an accredited trainer over 5 days, including live Q&A throughout. Email tutor support is available during the course and for up to 3 months after the course ends, with responses provided within 1 business day.
• Blended learning: Access to interactive online modules for 12 months, combined with live evening sessions. Tutor support is available by email during your 12-month access window and for up to 3 months after access ends, again with a 1 business day response time.

Both formats include the official APM PMQ guide and sample exam papers, which are practical resources to use alongside tutor support when preparing for the 2.5-hour APM PMQ exam.

The post-course support window is particularly useful for APM PMQ candidates, as exam results are released within 8 weeks of sitting, meaning tutor support is available throughout the results period for most learners.

For organisations training a team, all instructor-led APM PMQ courses are available as private group deliveries, either online or onsite, for teams of 4 or more people.

The APM PMQ course price at Knowledge Train is all-inclusive, covering everything you need to sit the qualification – with no hidden costs.

Depending on the delivery format you choose, the following is included:

• APM PMQ exam – the online, closed-book assessment is included for both instructor-led and blended options
• Official APM study guide – included with both formats
• Sample exam papers – to support your exam preparation
• Tutor support – available by email during the course and for up to 3 months after it ends, with responses within 1 business day
• Post-course resource access – 1 year of access to supporting materials on the instructor-led format; 12-month access on the blended format
• Interactive e-learning content – included on the blended format, alongside live evening sessions with an accredited trainer

The instructor-led format runs over 5 days of live online sessions. The blended format combines approximately 40 hours of self-paced study with around 35 hours of live sessions, giving you more scheduling flexibility.

Both formats are delivered by accredited trainers with real-world project management experience. Knowledge Train uses transparent, all-inclusive pricing, so the figure quoted covers your training, exam, and materials in full.

The APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) is a genuinely challenging, intermediate-level qualification that requires serious preparation, but it is achievable for experienced practitioners who study thoroughly.

The PMQ exam is more demanding than entry-level qualifications such as the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ). The exam lasts 2.5 hours and contains 40 questions worth 90 marks in total, covering four question types:

• Multiple response – 20 questions, 1 mark each
• Select from list – 5 questions, 2 marks each
• Short response – 5 questions, 2 marks each
• Long response – 10 questions, 5 marks each

The long-response questions in particular require candidates to apply project management knowledge in context, not simply recall definitions. The exam is closed book, meaning no reference materials are permitted during the assessment.

The pass rate for the APM PMQ is 65%, which reflects the level of preparation required. The qualification is designed for practitioners who already manage projects, not complete beginners. Candidates with little or no practical project experience are likely to find it significantly harder.

Thorough study across the full curriculum – covering governance, life cycles, risk, planning, procurement, stakeholder engagement, and leadership – is essential. Sitting the exam as part of a structured course, with access to official study materials and sample papers, gives candidates the best preparation.

Yes, you can retake the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) exam if you fail, but an additional exam resit fee applies.

The APM PMQ exam is not included as a free second attempt. If you do not achieve the required pass mark, you will need to pay a separate resit fee to sit the exam again. The resit is not bundled into the original course price.

It is worth understanding the exam format before you prepare for a resit, as the APM PMQ exam is more demanding than many other project management assessments:

• Duration: 2.5 hours, with an optional break of up to 30 minutes between the two parts
• Total marks: 90 marks across 40 questions
• Question types: multiple response (20 questions), select from list (5 questions), short response (5 questions), and long response (10 questions)
• Format: closed book, taken online
• Pass mark: 65%
• Results: sent by email within 8 weeks of sitting the exam, with a PDF certificate if successful

To give yourself the best chance of passing first time, Knowledge Train courses include the official APM guide and sample papers. Tutor support is also available by email for up to 3 months after the course ends, which can be useful for targeted revision before a resit.

APM PMQ candidates receive their result – along with a PDF certificate if successful – via email within 8 weeks of completing the examination.

This timeline is set by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered body for the project profession in the UK, and applies to all candidates sitting the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) exam regardless of how they prepared for it.

A few practical points worth knowing before you sit:

• The APM PMQ exam is taken online and is closed book, so no reference materials are permitted during the 2.5-hour paper.
• Results are not issued immediately after the exam – the up-to-8-week window reflects the time needed to mark and moderate the written response questions, which include short and long answer sections worth up to 5 marks each.
• If you do not pass, you will need to pay an additional resit fee before booking a second attempt.
• The pass mark is 65%.

Because the result can take several weeks to arrive, it is worth factoring this into any career planning or professional development timelines – for example, if you intend to use the APM PMQ as a step towards chartered status or a future role that requires the qualification.

No, APMP is not the same as PMQ. APMP (Association for Project Management Professional) was the previous name for the APM Project Management Qualification (APM PMQ).