Achieving APMG Change Management Practitioner Certification

What is this course about?

This course prepares you for the APMG Change Management Foundation Exam, given on Day 4, and Practitioner Exam, given on Day 5. You learn how to build practical skill sets for delivering effective change within your workplace, including approaches to achieve buy-in and handle continuous change. This course provides examples of individual, team and organizational behaviors that exhibit the appropriate leadership styles to facilitate successful change.

Are there any pre-course study requirements?

Yes. A minimum of 15 hours of pre-course reading is required. The pre-course reading materials include Making Sense of Change Management, the APMG Change Management Practitioner Handbook and the Learning Tree Pre-course Study Guide, and are sent to you approximately three weeks prior the course. Furthermore, during the course, two hours of home study are required each evening.

What background do I need?

This course is applicable to both those effecting and those affected by change in the workplace. Previous Change Management experience is recommended but not required.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for individuals wishing to achieve the APMG Change Management Certification. Anyone who must interact effectively with others to facilitate or direct change will find this course useful.

Which Change Management exam should I take?

Ideally, you should take both exams. Two levels of certification are offered - Foundation and Practitioner. You cannot attain Practitioner level without first passing the Foundation exam. Both certifications are valuable, with the Practitioner Certification demonstrating a higher level of ability to apply Change Management within organizational situations.

Will I receive my Practitioner Exam score?

If you pass the exam, you will not receive your score. If you fail the exam, your score is provided to you together with feedback on your exam.

What are the benefits of achieving the APMG Change Management Foundation Certification?

The APM Group (APMG) is the international exam and accreditation authority responsible for offering a suite of qualifications including ITIL^®, PRINCE2^® and MSP^®. The APMG Change Management Certification recognizes knowledge and experience in dealing with the theories of how change impacts, and is affected by, individuals, teams, organizations and leaders of change initiatives. Successful completion of the APMG Change Management Certification demonstrates an individual's solid understanding of managing and leading change.

When are the exams offered? How many questions must I answer correctly in order to pass?

The Foundation Exam is taken on Day 4, starting at 11am. This is a one-hour, multiple-choice exam with no reference material allowed. There are 60 questions, and 30 of these questions must be answered correctly in order to pass. Since passing this exam is required to take the Practitioner Exam, the Foundation Exam is graded during the course. Once you have passed the Foundation Exam, you are eligible to take the Practitioner Exam on Day 5, starting at 9:30am. This three-hour exam contains 80 objective test questions. To pass the Practitioner test, 40 of the 80 exam questions must be answered correctly.

What happens if I fail the Foundation or Practitioner Exam?

If you fail the Foundation Exam, you can retake it during this course. If you do not pass, you may not take the Practitioner Exam. If you pass the Foundation Exam but fail the Practitioner Exam, you will receive an APM Group Foundation Certificate from Learning Tree. You will have the opportunity to re-sit the Practitioner Exam during a future course event. You do not have to retake this course. Additional cost is involved in retaking the Practitioner Exam.

How long does it take to receive results?

The APMG delivers results to Learning Tree within two to four weeks of receiving exams. However, with the growing popularity, it occasionally takes longer. Learning Tree will mail your Practitioner Exam results to you.

How much time is spent on each topic?

This course features extended hours. Monday through Thursday class meets from 9am to 5pm, with a 60 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks. On Friday class meets from 9am to 4.30pm with a 60 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks.

How much time is devoted to the workshops?

Approximately 45 percent of this course is spent performing exercises and sample exam questions. Activities include:

• Practicing exam questions
• Designing a practical framework for positive engagement
• Identifying leadership and motivational factors
• Creating your best practice model
• Highlighting the importance of combining individual, team, organizational and leadership aspects
• Developing an integrated strategy designed to reduce resistance to change

I currently hold the Foundation Certification and want to be Practitioner certified. Should I take this course?

If you already have the Foundation Certification, then about 45 percent of the material presented in this course will be review for you. If it has been three months or more since you took the Foundation Exam, then this course will provide an excellent refresher as you learn the new materials and prepare for the Practitioner Exam. If you present your Foundation Certificate, you are not required to retake the Foundation Exam on Day 4.

How is this course different from Course 3801, Achieving Change Analyst Certification within ITIL^® Service Management

Course 3801, Achieving Change Analyst Certification within ITIL^® Service Management, provides the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill the role of Change Analyst within ITIL Service Management. The Change Analyst Certification is a role-based qualification, focusing on the more technical and process aspects, function and responsibilities of the Change Analyst within the ITIL Service Management framework.

Course 288, by contrast, provides participants with the skills to deliver effective change within their organizations, and prepares participants for the APMG Change Management Foundation and Practitioner certification exams. These certifications focus on individual, team, organizational and leadership areas for the implementation of effective change management.

What is the relationship between Learning Tree and the APM Group (APMG)?

Both Learning Tree and this course have been accredited by the APMG. As an Accredited Training Organization (ATO), Learning Tree has been approved to deliver this course and proctor/invigilate the Change Management Foundation and Practitioner Exams. APMG is responsible for providing and scoring the exams and notifying Learning Tree of the results.