Better Business Cases Foundation course

No previous experience or formal prerequisites are required to study the Better Business Cases Foundation course. APMG International, the accreditation body for the Better Business Cases qualification, confirms that the Foundation level has no entry requirements, so anyone can enrol and sit the exam regardless of their background.

The course is designed to be accessible to a wide range of professionals, including those who are new to structured business case development. Typical attendees include:

• Project, programme, and portfolio professionals
• Senior Responsible Owners and project sponsors
• Finance, procurement, and commercial specialists
• Analysts and officers who review or support business cases

The Foundation course teaches the Five Case Model – the framework endorsed by HM Treasury and set out in the Green Book – from the ground up. It covers the purpose and structure of the model, different types of business case documents, and the key stages in developing a spending proposal, making it suitable even for those encountering the methodology for the first time.

If you already hold the Better Business Cases Foundation certificate and want to progress further, the Better Business Cases Practitioner course is the natural next step – and Foundation certification is the only prerequisite for that level.

The right format depends on how you learn best and how much scheduling flexibility you need – both options cover the same syllabus, include the APMG-accredited exam, and lead to the same Better Business Cases Foundation certificate.

Instructor-led (2 days, live online)

• Best for: learners who prefer structure, live interaction, and a fixed schedule to stay on track.
• Delivered over two days of live online sessions with an accredited trainer.
• Includes live Q&A, the official manual, mock exams, and one year of post-course resource access.
• Tutor support is available by email during the course and for up to three months afterwards.

Self-paced (12 hours, online modules)

• Best for: learners who need flexibility and prefer to study around work or other commitments.
• Interactive e-learning modules with 12 months of access – start at any time.
• Includes interactive content, the official manual, and mock exams.
• Tutor and technical support is available by email and phone throughout the access period and for up to three months after it ends.

Key differences at a glance

• Pace: instructor-led runs to a fixed two-day schedule; self-paced lets you study at your own speed over up to 12 months.
• Interaction: instructor-led offers live trainer Q&A; self-paced provides email and phone support.
• Exam: included in both formats.

If you value guided learning and peer interaction, choose instructor-led. If you need to fit study around a busy schedule, self-paced is the more practical choice.

The Better Business Cases Foundation exam is taken online through the APMG Candidate Portal, and it is included in the course fee for both instructor-led and self-paced study options offered by Knowledge Train.

Exam format at a glance

• Format: Multiple choice (objective test)
• Questions: 50
• Pass mark: 50% (25 out of 50 correct)
• Duration: 40 minutes
• Open or closed book: Closed book
• Prerequisites: None
• Results: Provisional results available the same day

How the process works

1. Register for a free APMG Candidate Portal account. This is where you book your exam, view your results, and download your certificate.
2. Complete your Better Business Cases Foundation course. Mock exams and the official manual are included to help you prepare.
3. Sit the exam online at a time that suits you. No specific sitting location is required.
4. Receive your provisional result immediately after the exam. Official results and a marks breakdown are published in the APMG Candidate Portal, typically within two working days.
5. Claim your digital badge and electronic certificate via the Candidate Portal, which links to a Credly account for badge hosting.

The Better Business Cases Foundation certificate is valid for life and does not expire, so there is no renewal or re-registration requirement.

Provisional results for the Better Business Cases Foundation exam are available immediately after you complete the online test, with official results and a marks breakdown published in the APMG Candidate Portal typically within two working days.

Here is what to expect after sitting the exam:

• Provisional result: Available immediately on screen at the end of your online exam session.
• Official result and marks breakdown: Published in your APMG Candidate Portal account, typically within two working days of completing the exam.
• Digital certificate and badge: Claimable 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 linked to your portal account.

To access your results, certificate, and badge, you will need a free APMG Candidate Portal account. Candidates register for this account as part of the exam booking process.

Once awarded, the Better Business Cases Foundation certificate is valid for life and does not expire, so there is no renewal or re-registration requirement at Foundation level.

The exam itself is taken online, consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, lasts 40 minutes, and has a pass mark of 50% (25 out of 50).

The Better Business Cases Foundation exam is considered accessible for most candidates, and Knowledge Train reports a 99% pass rate across its learners.

The exam itself is designed to test knowledge and understanding rather than the ability to apply the Five Case Model in practice – that is covered at Practitioner level. Here are the key facts about the exam format:

• Format: Multiple choice (closed book)
• Questions: 50
• Pass mark: 50% (25 out of 50 correct)
• Duration: 40 minutes
• Prerequisites: None

The closed-book format means you need to be familiar with the structure of the Five Case Model – including the Strategic, Economic, Commercial, Financial, and Management cases – as well as business case types and the key stages in developing a spending proposal. However, the 50% pass mark and multiple choice format make it one of the more achievable APMG-accredited exams.

Candidates who engage fully with the course material, work through mock exams, and take the official manual seriously tend to find the Foundation exam straightforward. The course includes both the official manual and mock exams to help you prepare. Results are available on the same day as the exam.

If you hold the Foundation certificate and want to deepen your knowledge, the Better Business Cases Practitioner course is the natural next step, though that exam is longer and more demanding.

Yes, you can retake the Better Business Cases Foundation exam if you do not pass, but an additional exam resit fee applies.

The Better Business Cases Foundation exam is sat online and results are available on the same day. If you do not reach the pass mark of 25 out of 50 (50%), you are eligible to resit, but the resit is not included in the original course fee – you will need to pay a separate resit fee to book another attempt.

A few practical points worth knowing before you sit:

• Exam format: 50 multiple choice questions, 40 minutes, closed book.
• Pass mark: 50% (25 out of 50 correct answers).
• Results: Provisional results are available immediately after the exam; official results and a marks breakdown are published in the APMG Candidate Portal, typically within two working days.
• Certificate validity: The Better Business Cases Foundation certificate, once awarded, is valid for life and does not expire.

Both the instructor-led and self-paced versions of the Better Business Cases Foundation course include the exam as part of the course fee, along with mock exams and an official manual to help you prepare. Knowledge Train reports a 99% pass rate for Better Business Cases Foundation learners, which suggests the preparation materials significantly reduce the risk of needing a resit.