PPQ is APM’s Project Professional Qualification. Use this page when you need to understand the older advanced APM route, especially if you are already on that path or comparing it against PMQ, PMP, or ChPP-related progression.
APM’s current public page says PPQ is being decommissioned. If you choose to start this qualification, APM says you must complete the assessment before June 30, 2026, and assessments taken after March 31, 2026 will not have a re-sit opportunity if unsuccessful.
Use the live PM Mastery routes first if you need active simulator practice now:
PMP
, PRINCE2 Practitioner
, PMQ
, PM Mastery Web App
, and Subscriber Login
.
PPQ legacy route snapshot
- Provider: Association for Project Management (APM)
- Official qualification name: APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ)
- Level shown by APM: SCQF Level 9
- Current APM note: qualification is being decommissioned
- APM completion note: candidates who start it must complete assessment before June 30, 2026
- Assessment structure shown by APM: pre-seen case study, scenario assessment, oral exam assessment, and written assignment
- Total assessment duration shown by APM: 2 hours 35 minutes on the same day
PPQ assessments are designed to reward stronger professional project capability, especially where leadership, governance, planning, and control must be demonstrated rather than only recognized in theory.
Who PPQ is for
- candidates already committed to the outgoing PPQ pathway
- project professionals comparing older APM advanced-route structure with today’s PMQ and broader global PM options
- candidates using PPQ as context for APM membership or chartered progression decisions
Why candidates still look at PPQ
- PPQ still matters for candidates already inside the legacy pathway who need to understand completion timing and assessment structure.
- It is the right comparison point when you are evaluating how the outgoing advanced APM route differs from the current PMQ path.
- It also helps when you need to understand older APM progression context before deciding whether to switch to PMQ, PMP, or PRINCE2 Practitioner.
What PPQ is really testing
- effective leadership and management
- effective governance and oversight
- effective planning and control
- whether professional project capability can be demonstrated across multiple assessment formats, not just a short exam
Best PM Mastery pages to use now
| If you need to practice… | Best page | Why |
|---|
| current broad project-leadership depth | PMP | Best live route when your real need is strong leadership, governance, and delivery judgment. |
| structured project-governance method language | PRINCE2 Practitioner | Best live route when the real need is scenario judgment inside formal governance structure. |
| current broad APM route comparison | PMQ | Best route when you need to compare the outgoing PPQ path against APM’s current main qualification. |
How PPQ differs from similar routes
| If you are deciding between… | Main distinction |
|---|
| PPQ vs PMQ | PPQ is the outgoing higher-level professional capability route; PMQ is the current broad APM qualification. |
| PPQ vs PMP | PPQ is an APM legacy qualification with mixed assessment formats; PMP is PMI’s current live project-leadership route. |
| PPQ vs PRINCE2 Practitioner | PPQ is broader professional project capability; PRINCE2 Practitioner is method-specific scenario judgment. |
What to do before choosing PPQ
- Check the current decommissioning deadlines first. This route only makes sense if you can still complete it inside APM’s published window.
- Compare PMQ early if you are not already committed to PPQ, because PMQ is the current APM route rather than a retiring qualification.
- Use PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner instead if your real need is live simulator practice now rather than legacy-route comparison.
How to use this legacy page well
- Check the current APM decommissioning note first before investing in this route.
- If you are not already committed to PPQ, compare PMQ, PMP, and PRINCE2 Practitioner early rather than assuming the legacy APM route is still the strongest fit.
- If you are already on the PPQ path, use the live PM Mastery alternatives below to sharpen governance, leadership, and project-control reasoning while you prepare.
Official sources
What to open next
- Need the current broad APM route instead? Open PMQ
.
- Need the APM entry route first? Open PFQ
.
- Need a live advanced PM simulator now? Open PMP
or PRINCE2 Practitioner
.
- Need the broader APM family map? Open the APM hub
.