That Association for Project Management (APM) are the UK body for professional project management. They have 14, 000 members, mostly in the United Kingdom. They are a member association which offer a wide range of development activities including an annual conference, honours and a structure of regional branches, specialist interest groups and publication. The most significant publication of the Body with Knowledge, this acts a reference guide in many organisations. The Body of Knowledge acts as the foundation for some qualifications including:

APM Introductory Certificate (APM IC)

The course is ideal for those people who are new to project management. The idea covers the main topics with a focus on the basic planning and control processes. Some of the more advances and challenging topics, such as earned value management and governance are excluded. The APM IC is a relatively simple one hour 60 multiple choice examination.

APMP

The APMP is ideal for people with 3-4 years experience. This wide ranging training course covers all the main areas of the APM Body of Knowledge. It helps to consolidate understanding if the basics and practice of projects and forms a solid foundation for future development. The assessment is with a three hour written question paper in which the candidates have to complete 10 out of 16 questions. This is akin to the work package manager level D on the International Agile Project Management Certification framework.

APM Teacher (APM PQ)

The APM Practitioner qualification is for managers with 5 years experience who can demonstrate enable you to apply the BoK to non complex projects. You need to be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the Body of Know-how. Assessment is by a 3 day assessment centre using a wide variety of exercise and tests. This is equivalent to that manager of non complex projects (level C) on the IPMA framework.

APM Project Professional

This is a innovative standard that is based on the ability to manage the most complex and challenging situations. It is the precursor the hoped for chartered project managers standard. You must be at the highest level and demonstrate a commitment to professional standards, an archive of CPD, a set of defined competences and a track record of successful delivery. This is equivalent to the manager of sophisticated projects (level B) on the IPMA competence framework.