important APMP certification updates

APMP has recently updated its certification program and implemented significant changes.

We have summarised them for you:

1. New Practioner Exam (Objective Testing Exam - OTE)

APMP has replaced the the 33-question essay assessment (PPAQ) by a new objective testing exam (OTE) for the Practitioner Level certification. Since July 22, 2019, the new OTE is the only route to achieve Practitioner Level certification:

• The Practitioner OTE is a multiple-choice exam based on a scenario provided. Members will use their industry knowledge and professional experience to match the correct answer to the scenario situation.
• The exam takes 2.5 hours to complete (non-natives get 25% more time). It can be completed online with a proctor, or during a regional certification day associated with chapter symposia or at Bid and Proposal Con. This is not a paper-based exam; it is only an online exam.
• Just as it was before, the Practitioner Level certification is designed for professionals with 3 to 7 years of experience. The only requirements for taking the new Practitioner OTE is that you must have passed Foundation and you must have at last three full years as a bid and proposal professional.
• Individuals who achieved Practitioner Level certification through the legacy assessment method will still maintain their credential; no action is needed on their part.
• The exam will be clearly more challenging. But it will also be more commensurate to accurately measuring your experience and knowledge of APMP industry best practices–the work you do every day. The new exam rigorously tests the experiences and thought processes behind being a successful bid and proposal manager.
• It is also a lot less arduous to complete than the 33-question legacy exam.
• If you intend to pursue Practitioner, it is advised to contact an approved training organisation (ATO). Also, to prepare for the exam, we recommend to study APMP's Body of Knowledge or CSK's 'The Ultimate Bid and Proposal Compendium' in detail.
  
  

2. New time limits for non-native English speakers (Foundation AND Practitioner exams)

Those who are non-native English speakers get 25% additional time when sitting the exam. For the Foundation exam, they get 75 minutes in total, and for Practitioner, they get 185 minutes (plus 10 minutes for breaks).

3. Updated rules for collecting CEUs

APMP has updated the rules for collecting CEUs: https://www.apmp.org/page/certification_faq_2019

In particular, members of the APMP are now obliged to log their CEUs directly in their member profile on the APMP member website. This way, it is very easy to keep track of the CEUs earned throughout the two-year certification period.

1. Login to www.APMP.org
2. On the Home Page, find the My Profile block. Select "Manage Profile"
3. Scroll down to the Content & Features section. Select “Professional Development” and complete your CEU journal.

Non-members however, must track and maintain evidence of their CEUs via whatever means necessary, in case of an audit.

4. Proctored online exams

With the introduction of a new exam platform, APM Group (the organisation that runs and administers the exams for APMP) has also introduced an online proctoring system (ProctorU) to validate the candidate. Before taking the online exam, candidates should get acquainted with ProctorU by going through this guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4jUrGCjHsI

5. Introduction of Digital Badges

APMP now offers members the opportunity to share their success in achieving Certification at Foundation, Practitioner and Professional level with so called Digital Badges:

Digital badges are verifiable, portable badges with embedded metadata about skills and achievements linked to APMG, our independent examining body. They comply with the Open Badges Specification and are shareable across the web. Each Badge is associated with an image and information about the badge, its recipient, the issuer, and any supporting evidence. All this information is packaged within a badge image file that can be displayed via online CVs and on social networks such as LinkedIn.

To get your Digital Badge, simply follow the instructions on APMP's website: https://www.apmp.org/page/digitalbadges

Please visit our website for further news on the APMP certificatin scheme: https://www.cskmanagement.com/en/our-services/education-training/apmp-certification