What is the Association for Project Management (APM)?
Key takeaways
APM is the UK chartered professional body that sets expectations for project delivery and professional development.
- APM supports better project, programme, and portfolio outcomes through standards, guidance, and a shared professional language.
- PFQ builds fundamentals, PMQ validates broader knowledge, and ChPP recognises assessed competence and judgement in practice.
- The APM Body of Knowledge helps standardise terminology and strengthens governance, decision making, and capability building.
- Membership grades signal career progression and provide CPD resources, networking, and professional recognition.
- APM is different from PRINCE2 and PMI, and many professionals combine routes based on role scope and employer needs.
Key facts
The Association for Project Management (APM) is a United Kingdom based professional association for project management. It supports the profession through membership, qualifications, standards, and guidance such as the APM Body of Knowledge.
Not to be confused with: APM can also mean Applications Performance Monitoring or other industry acronyms. This page is about the Association for Project Management in the UK.
| Full name | Association for Project Management |
|---|---|
| Acronym | APM (acronym) |
| Organisation type | Professional association (professional body for project management) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Buckinghamshire, England (UK) |
| Mission | To advance the discipline of project management and support project professionals and organisations. |
| Core services | Professional membership, qualifications and certification, events and community, publications and guidance, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) |
| Flagship qualifications | APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ), APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) |
| Membership types | Student, Associate, Full, Fellow (grade availability and criteria vary) |
| Official website | https://www.apm.org.uk/ |
What APM does for project management in the UK
The Association for Project Management (APM) is the chartered professional body for project management in the United Kingdom. In practice, it works to improve how projects, programmes, and portfolios are delivered by providing a recognised qualifications framework, professional standards, and membership pathways for a
project manager and wider delivery roles.
APM’s activities commonly relate to:
- Professional membership and recognition, including progression through membership grades.
- Qualifications and certification that assess knowledge and professional competence.
- CPD expectations and learning resources to support ongoing capability.
- Guidance on project governance, ethics, and good practice.
- Community building through events, interest networks, and publications.
APM qualifications and certifications
APM qualifications are designed to support learning and professional development across different career stages, from introductory project management to more advanced competence assessment. The best starting point depends on your experience, the
project management methodology used in your organisation (for example PRINCE2 environments), and whether you need knowledge validation or professional recognition.
APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ)
- Purpose: Introductory certification covering key concepts, language, and foundational knowledge in project management.
- Who it is for: Beginners, new starters, and people who work with projects (including stakeholders) but are not yet project managers.
- Prerequisites
- Format: Typically a short course plus a multiple choice exam.
- Outcomes: APM PFQ provides a baseline understanding of planning, roles, risk, and communication, supporting progression to more advanced study.
APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
- Purpose : Knowledge based certification aligned to the APM Body of Knowledge and common delivery practices.
- Who it is for : Practitioners who contribute to projects, including aspiring or current project managers.
- Prerequisites : No formal prerequisite, but some experience or prior study helps.
- Format : Assessed by a written exam.
- Outcomes : APM PMQ provides a stronger grasp of planning, governance, stakeholder management, and control, supporting improved performance in project delivery roles.
Chartered Project Professional (ChPP)
- Purpose : Competence based assessment recognising professional capability and judgement in project delivery.
- Who it is for : Experienced professionals working in project management, programme management , or portfolio management .
- Prerequisites : Demonstrable experience and evidence of professional practice, typically supported by membership and CPD.
- Format : Application with evidence and assessment (process can evolve over time).
- Outcomes : Professional recognition that you can apply good practice, leadership, and governance in real delivery contexts.
How APM qualifications relate to PRINCE2 and other methodologies
APM qualifications are generally methodology agnostic and focus on transferable principles and knowledge. PRINCE2 is a project management methodology used widely in the UK and beyond; many organisations use PRINCE2 alongside APM aligned learning. In practice, PRINCE2 may provide a structured method for managing stages and controls, while APM learning may broaden understanding across domains such as governance, stakeholder engagement, risk, and professionalism.
APM Body of Knowledge
The APM Body of Knowledge is a reference framework that describes key concepts, functions, and areas of knowledge used in project based work. It is used by learners, practitioners, trainers, and employers to build a shared language and improve capability across delivery roles.
It supports the profession by helping to:
- Standardise terminology across teams and organisations.
- Inform learning pathways and a qualifications framework.
- Provide a common basis for improving governance and decision making.
High level knowledge areas commonly associated with the APM Body of Knowledge include:
- Governance and organisational context, including project governance
- Planning and scheduling
- Risk, issues, and change control
- Quality management
- People, leadership, and teamwork
Is APM equivalent to PMI or PMP?
APM and the Project Management Institute (PMI) are different professional bodies. PMP (Project Management Professional) is a PMI certification, not an APM qualification. They are not direct equivalents, but both can be valuable depending on your location, employer expectations, and whether you need UK aligned chartered recognition or a widely used global certification route.
Is APM better than PRINCE2?
APM and PRINCE2 are not like for like. APM is a professional association offering membership, standards, and qualifications, while PRINCE2 is a project management methodology. Many professionals use both: PRINCE2 for method and controls, and APM learning for broader professional knowledge including governance, stakeholder management, and development pathways.
What is the APM Body of Knowledge used for?
The APM Body of Knowledge is used as a reference for learning and consistent practice across the profession. It supports a shared understanding of key topics such as governance, planning, risk, quality, people, and stakeholder management. It is often used by trainers, learners, and employers to structure development and align capability.
Does APM cover programme and portfolio management?
Yes. While APM is often associated with project management, its guidance and professional development coverage extends to programme management and portfolio management. This reflects how organisations govern and deliver change at different levels, linking individual projects to strategic objectives through structured governance, benefits focus, and stakeholder engagement.