What is the APM PMQ and How Can it Help Your Career?

Project Management is a fantastic and exciting career path, allowing you to work with all sorts of people on projects and products that are clever, interesting and innovative. But how do you break into such a competitive career? And once you’re a Project Manager, how do you stay at the top of your profession?

Getting the competitive edge

As an entry-level Project Manager, you may be fresh out of university looking for a job, or you might already be in a Junior level position but looking to get a competitive edge over others. If this is the case, then gaining qualifications really can help and it is likely that you would start out with a Project Fundamentals course and qualification such as APM PFQ.

Likewise, if you are a mid-level Project Manager, working for a number of years perhaps, and are looking for further knowledge and expertise to get you noticed and allow your progression further up the ranks or within a different sector – training may be the best step for you too.

Which is the best project management qualification?

APM PMQ is a qualification offered by the Association for Project Management – a UK-based registered charity and the largest professional body of its kind in Europe. The APM PMQ is a knowledge-based qualification, recognised both nationally and internationally and allowing you to move fluidly between industries throughout your career. Note that it was previously known as the APMP.

Although well-known qualifications such as PRINCE2 are very useful, they allow you to train within a certain project management framework (PRINCE stands for PRojects In Controlled Environments) – you are being taught about a specific method rather than the all-emcompassing skills needed to excel as a Project Manager. The APM PMQ qualification is very different – allowing you to learn and understand the working knowledge that make a successful project management career across all industries – whether you want to work in the environmental sector, engineering, construction, the digital industry or more.

Why APM PMQ?

As a Project Manager, your major asset is knowledge of the job – allowing you to lead, negotiate, communicate, promote teamwork, budget effectively, manage conflicts, handle change and all the while keep your project moving in the right direction, within a specific timeframe. Though this is partly learned through experience, specific knowledge of techniques to help you plan and execute your project are vital and will help you become a better Project Manager. APM PMQ can help you get to this stage, whilst proving your ability to both your current and future employers.

The APM PMQ is suitable for those at entry-level and beyond, and although the course material is aimed at those with pre-existing knowledge, it is not a requirement. As such it is a brilliant option for any professional, experienced or otherwise, to consolidate their knowledge and learn how to become more successful in their chosen career path. It will equip you with greater confidence as you acquire an all-round understanding of your career, enabling you to think about areas as diverse as people management and business strategy.

Who runs APM PMQ project management courses?

The APM PMQ qualification is offered by a number of accredited training providers up and down the country and can be found on the Association of Project Management website. It is worth noting that APM membership will give you a discount on the cost of the course as well as other benefits such as a free magazine prescription, and discount on APM books and CDs.