What is the Major Project Leadership Specialist Certificate?

The APM Major Project Leadership Specialist Certificate is an assessment designed to recognise the skills and competences of those who lead major projects, programmes and portfolios.

Who is it for?

The certificate is aimed at project professionals who have delivered in a leadership capacity on a major project. You are most likely to be:

• accountable for project delivery of a major workstream / major work package / high investment, if not the overall project / programme;
• managing very senior / public / political stakeholders;
• a project director;
• responsible for direct line management of people e.g. project managers as direct reports;
• established in role or moving up an organisational career path.

What are major projects?

A major project is defined as a project that has: 

• significant benefits and risks
• macro impact - has led/is leading a significant political, social, economic, technological, organisational transformation, legal, or environmental change.

Although the term 'project' has been used, candidates can also use evidence of programmes and/or portfolios they have led.

Hear more about the APM Major Project Leadership Specialist Certificate

STEP 1 - A written application that includes:

The context of a minimum of one and maximum of three major projects, including the benefits, main risks, macro impact, applicant role, and accountabilities (800 words per project context). The project context(s) need to demonstrate experience across at least two phases of delivery of a major project. Each project context needs to cover the minimum of one phase, including managing transition activities, where there is a clear handover of major pieces of work, either between phases or into operations.

Statements against each of the eight competence areas, demonstrating achievement of three of the assessment criteria in each competence (maximum 500 words per competence area).

STEP 2

A signed supporting statement from an individual who can verify the evidence presented in the application e.g. a senior stakeholder or sponsor. A signed supporting statement would be needed for each project context.

STEP 3

An interview with two assessors. The full list of competences you’ll be assessed against can be found in the Competence Coverage and Assessment Criteria.

What is assessed?

You will be assessed on the following competence areas:

• Engagement and relationship management of multi-level stakeholders
• Judgement, decision making and accountability
• Leadership in ambiguous environments
• Major project organisational architecture
• Strategic procurement and contract leadership
• Strategic risk management
• Systems thinking
• Investment management

Supporting resources

• Candidate Guidance
  
• Application Form
  
• Signed Supporting Statement Template
  
• Competence Coverage & Assessment Criteria

Pricing

Members              £962
Non-members    £1,062

How to apply

Please complete the application form and signed statement of support template, then return to us by emailing the team. 

Once the application has been initially reviewed and accepted, you will be contacted to provide credit card payment via phone.

Your written submission will be reviewed by one assessor to ensure the evidence is provided in the context of a major project.

If successful at this stage, you will be contacted to arrange your interview with two assessors.

If you have any special requirements, please notify us on the team at least seven days prior to the assessment date.

Accepted Route 2 qualification 

APM Major Project Leadership Specialist Certificate is an accepted qualification for Route 2 Full membership, join now as a Full member today.

Demonstrate your capability

On successful completion of the certificate, you will have the chance to share your achievement with our Major Project Leadership Specialist Certificate digital badge.

This badge can be shared across social networks and embedded into email signatures and CVs.