Introduction
In 2017 the Association received a Royal Charter and became known as the chartered body for the project profession.
APM qualifications help you develop your career in the project profession by equipping you with a broad range of skills. They are also an excellent way to demonstrate your experience and knowledge to employers.
We offer APM training and qualifications to help you develop your project professional career and skillset.
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Start a career in the project profession
Project profession
The project profession is growing. The Project Management Institute (PMI)® expects a global increase of over 21 million new project management roles between 2017 and 2027 [1].
Such is the nature of projects in today’s organisations, that many people whose job is not a designated full-time project management role, still require a good understanding of project management to be effective in their role.
The type and scale of projects that project professionals might be involved in varies by industry and sector.
In the project profession today, there are a range of different jobs, not just project manager jobs. These are just some of the common job titles applicable to people working within the project profession:
- project manager
- project administrator
- project officer
- project controls manager
- project coordinator
- project deliver manager
- project lead
- project office support
- projects head
- project director
- PMO director or manager
- PMO officer
- programme office support
- programme planner
- programme manager
- programmes head
- programme director
- portfolio manager.
Why should you seek a career in the project profession?
Roles in the project profession can be challenging which is what makes them appealing to many. Each day is different, work can be fast-paced, and project professionals gain a ‘birds-eye-view’ of work that can make them feel like they’re an important part of something bigger.
Project professional salaries
High salaries are another good reason for seeking to enter the project management profession. In the UK in 2021, the average salary of a project professional was £47,500 per annum [2].
See the APM salary calculator tool for more information about salaries for project professionals in the UK.
Is a project career right for you?
Changing career directions can be tough process. That’s why it’s important to make the right decision. Before considering a career change into the project profession, you need to understand some of the skills needed in project roles.
Skills required in project roles
Project professionals require multiple skills to help them plan, manage, control, direct, or support projects. These include (but it not limited to):
- Communication
- Analytical ability
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- See the big picture
- Leadership
- Budgeting.
As you can see from this list, project professionals require a broad range of ‘soft skills’ , many of which are ones that you can learn from other roles. If you are thinking of moving into the project profession, you might already have many of these skills already.
In addition to these skills there is some basic project knowledge that you need to get a project role. These are what we will discuss next.
How can APM help you start a project career?
APM offers a broad range of project management qualifications that can be of benefit to anyone wanting to start a project career.
In particular, the Project Fundamentals Qualification (APM PFQ) provides a basic introduction to the most fundamental aspects of project management. The APM PFQ should be the starting qualification for anyone seeking to start a project career.
A more advanced qualification is the Project Management Qualification (APM PMQ). There are no prerequisites for taking the PMQ exam, but it is recommended to take the APM PFQ first.
By getting an APM qualification you are more likely to be able to get a job interview than someone without a qualification. Similarly, you are more likely to land a job than those without an APM qualification.
Further resources
To find out more about how APM qualifications can help you start a project career, check out some of these resources.
Learn to manage projects effectively
Gaining an APM qualification is the best way in the UK to learn the essential concepts and activities required by project managers today.
What you will learn
Here are some of the things you will learn by studying for your APM qualification.
APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)
- planning and scheduling
- communication
- teamwork
- resource manamanagement
- project risk management
- project reviews.
APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
- budgeting and cost management
- conflict management
- communication
- earned value management
- leadership
- negotiation
- procurement
- sponsorship
- teamwork.
If any of these areas are ones which you think your knowledge and/or skills need to be enhanced, then you should consider taking an APM qualification course.
Why apply APM concepts to my projects?
APM Body of Knowledge (BoK)
The APM Body of Knowledge (BoK) 7th edition is a fundamental resource, providing the concepts, functions and activities that form modern project management. The APM BoK forms the basis for the APM PFQ and APM PMQ qualifications.
Applying the concepts, tools and techniques provided by the APM BoK will make your project role considerably easier because you do not have to re-invent the wheel every time.
The APM BoK is based upon modern best practices in project management, and as such it means you are learning from the very best minds in project management, and the most experienced project managers.
Advance your career with an APM qualification
APM complements other qualifications
APM and PRINCE2
In the UK, the most popular project management qualification is PRINCE2. However, PRINCE2 is a methodology and does not describe the practical tools and techniques that project managers need for their daily role. PRINCE2 describes who does what and when.
The APM BoK describes how the project manager should plan and manage the many different aspects of a project.
Although the APM and PRINCE2 provide different perspectives on project management, the two are complimentary to each other, and having an existing PRINCE2 qualification can be enhanced with an APM qualification.
In fact, holding the PRINCE2 Practitioner qualifies you for a shorter version of the APM PMQ examination, since some of the topics in both examinations are the same.
APM demonstrates your dedication to professional development
Gaining an APM qualification shows employers that you are committed career development. This is a very positive thing for you to show your employer. It proves your commitment to developing your own skills and knowledge which is needed in your profession.
APM Competence Framework
To truly understand which APM qualification would complement your existing skills and experience, check out the APM Competence Framework. This sets out the competences required for effective project, programme, portfolio management and project management office (PMO).
The framework consists of 27 competences based around outcomes that project professionals need to achieve. Each competence includes a series of criteria covering knowledge and the application.
It also includes a Ratings Scale, a simple 5-point scoring system for assessing performance against the application and knowledge criteria (aware, practiced, competent, proficient and expert).
Global employment opportunities
APM qualifications are recognised internationally
APM qualifications are highly renowned by multi-national organisations, NGOs, and government institutions across the world.
If you’re searching for new work abroad, want to begin freelancing or work in an international consultancy, APM qualifications can help you secure that dream role.
About our training
Knowledge Train is an accredited training organization for APM.
Trainers
Our APM trainers have years of applied experience project management and the skills needed to help others learn from their experience.
We hire trainers who can engage and motivate students to help them learn the details of project management.
Our rigorous selection process for APM trainers and ongoing course improvements means you can be assured you’ll get the best training experience available.
For more information about our instructor-led courses which lead to APM qualifications, see our APM course page. For self-paced courses, see our APM online course page.
References
[1] PMI | 2017 | Project Management Job Growth and Talent Gap 2017-2027 | PMI [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.pmi.org/learning/careers/job-growth [Accessed 25 June 2022].
[2] APM. 2022. Salary and Market Trends Survey 2021. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.apm.org.uk/salary-survey-2021/. [Accessed 25 June 2022].
