Accreditation overview
APM Accreditation is a widely recognised mark of quality for organisations, training providers and academic institutions. It offers assurance for those wanting to access the best project management professional development services available.
Training provider accreditation
Accredited Providers have proven they deliver our qualifications to a high standard, ensuring candidates receive the best experience while studying towards their exam. We work closely with our Accredited Providers, sharing best practice and the latest advice which they pass on to their candidates, putting them in good stead for success.
Benefits
There is a high demand for professional qualifications from across the profession and your accreditation signals to those seeking it that your organisation will offer the highest possible standard of training, exam preparation and delivery.
By gaining accreditation, you have the right to use our signifier that carries our name and reputation and we’ll work closely with you to ensure both you and APM benefit from that alignment.
This includes ongoing training, audits, and guidance to keep you to speed with the latest advice and ways of working; you’ll also gain access to our exam booking system to ensure a smooth learner journey from start to finish.
Case study: Discover how 'Realise' experienced their transition to the new APM Accredited Standard
How to gain training provider accreditation
Stage 1
Contact APM and talk to one of our business development managers. They will help you evaluate your readiness to apply.
Stage 2
To apply, you will need to complete our application form, answering the questions as fully as possible. Here you will explain how your organisation meets the Accredited Training Provider Standard.
Stage 3
Our assessor will conduct a desk assessment of your application and arrange an interview with you. A report will then be issued to APM with the assessor’s recommendation and we will inform you promptly of the outcome. You will receive a copy of the report and advice on areas that require development in order to meet the accredited training provider standard, if necessary.
Stage 4
Once your organisation has been awarded APM accredited training provider status, a continual assessment approach will be adopted by APM.
You will have your performance against the standard continually reviewed and reported on to ensure we are working proactively with you to support areas which would benefit from improvement. We do this through the use of performance metrics.
What are performance metrics?
Performance metrics are set criteria that have been established at qualification level to encourage organisations to continue to offer the best possible experience for the learner over the course of the twelve-month period of accreditation.
What are they?
There are six distinct metrics. All six metrics must be met, to maintain your accredited status, per qualification, at point of annual renewal.
Gold status is recognition that you consistently excel in all 6 metrics and if eligible will be awarded at point of renewal. All metrics will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Academic accreditation
Academic Accreditation is designed to help students choose project management education to support their professional project management career. It recognises universities (HEIs) that engage with the project management profession and who offer modules/courses/programme frameworks to students which demonstrate alignment to the APM Body of Knowledge. Academic Accreditation assesses relevant degree-based modules, courses and programme frameworks.
Benefits
- A certificate, valid for three years
- An APM Accreditation logo to use on all relevant promotional material
- A listing and link on the APM website
- A copy of the assessor’s report to use for further development of your programme.
- The experience plus qualification route to APM Full Membership (route 1) will be available to any student who has successfully completed an accredited module or course, subject to meeting any eligibility date ranges that may be applied.
Students on accredited academic courses are eligible for free APM Student Membership, offering access to APM events.
How to gain accreditation
Stage 1 – Initial discussion
Once you register your interest in accreditation a business development manager will discuss your needs and your readiness to apply.
Stage 2 – Completing your application
You should answer the questions in the application form as fully as possible and provide relevant course materials.
Stage 3 – The assessment
Your application will be sent to an assessor who will assess whether it meets the requirements of accreditation. An online ‘site visit’ will be arranged to clarify any outstanding issues.
Stage 4 – Assessment decision
Our assessor will complete a report, making recommendation to APM. We will inform you promptly of the outcome. You will receive a copy of the report and advice on areas that require development in order to meet the standards of accreditation, if necessary.
Stage 5 - Re-assessment
If your application is unsuccessful you will be provided with the assessor's report plus advice on areas requiring development. You may re-submit at any time. This will be treated as a new submission.
Stage 6 – Annual renewal
On the anniversary of your accreditation you will be sent an annual report template and invoice and be asked to confirm that the standards recognised through your initial assessment have been maintained. On the third anniversary of your assessment you will be invited to go through a full re-assessment.
View full list of academic accreditations
Ready for academic accreditation?
Benefits
A certificate, valid for three years. An APM Accreditation logo to use on all relevant promotional material. A listing and link on the APM website. A copy of the assessor’s report, to use for further development of your programme.
How to gain corporate accreditation
Stage 1
Contact APM and talk to one of our business development managers about our scheme. They will help you evaluate your readiness to apply.
Stage 2
To apply, you will need to complete our application form, answering the questions as fully as possible. Here you will explain how your organisation meets the criteria for accreditation.
In particular, our Assessors will look for evidence of your organisation’s commitment to the APM FIVE Dimensions of Professionalism. A full set of guidance notes is provided and you will also have the support of your APM business development manager throughout.
Stage 3
Our assessor will conduct a desk assessment of your application and a site visit will normally be arranged. A report will then be issued to APM with the Assessor’s recommendation and we will inform you promptly of the outcome. You will receive a copy of the report and advice on areas that require development in order to meet the standards of accreditation, if necessary.
View full list of corporate organisations
Looking for Corporate Partnership Programme?
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Professional Course Accreditation
APM Professional Course Accreditation is designed to help learners choose the best course in support of their professional project management career. Professional Course Accreditation identifies those courses which are aligned to the APM Body of Knowledge, but do not lead to, or cover the syllabus of, formal APM professional qualification.
Benefits
- increased credibility for course/s by being accredited by APM;
- recognition that APM accredited professional courses support the APM professional advocacy via the FIVE Dimensions of Professionalism;
- recognition to end-users of the training providers’ support of APM professional advocacy model;
- recognition and awareness of training to support improved project delivery capability;
- a reference point for corporate institutions to inform their choice of training courses.
For APM Professional Course Accreditation, only those courses that have a significant element of project management which can be mapped to the APM Body of Knowledge will receive accreditation. Courses and course delivery will also be evaluated to identify how they support the APM advocacy via the FIVE Dimensions of Professionalism. APM Professional Course Accreditation is only available to APM Accredited Providers.
Accredited organisations
- Wellingtone - PMO Practitioner, PMO Leader, Assurance Practitioner, Sponsoring Successful Projects, Change Management Practitioner, Agile for PPM Professionals, Project Management in the Public Sector, Legal Project Management Foundation Course
- Elite Training & Consultancy (Scotland) Ltd - SRO and Executive Sponsor Fundamentals (UK Parliament)