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Frequently Asked Questions

MSP FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

  • What Is MSP?

    Programme Management, like project management, is a management tool for bringing together people, activities and information to achieve something. Programme Management is a way of approaching the setting up and running of a programme. So, what is a programme? A programme is made up of a specific set of projects identified by an organisation that together will deliver some defined objective, or set of objectives, for the organisation. The objectives, or goals, of the programme are typically at a strategic level so that the organisation can achieve benefits and improvements in its business operation.

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  • What does MSP stand for?

    Managing Successful Programmes

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  • Where can I train for the MSP Examinations?

    Training for MSP is available from accredited training organisations coordinated through the APM Group. The exams can be taken with your chosen training organisation as part of your training course, or directly through the APM Group who have an open centre in Milton Keynes or London where you can take the exams without needing to do the training course.

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  • MSP Examinations through an ATO

    Contact details for MSP ATOs can be found at:

    http://www.apmgroup.co.uk/apm_Search.asp

    You will need to contact the individual organisations for details of fees and formats. APMG does not hold information on the ATOs individual courses but we ensure the training provided by the ATOs meet APMG's required standards in accordance with EN45011.

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  • MSP Examinations through an Open Centre

    Exams are run in Milton Keynes or London. All available dates for the exams are posted on the website www.apmgroup.co.uk/MSP. Complete the application form which is also online and return to The APM Group along with payment details. The application form can be found by following the below link:

    www.apmgroup.co.uk/MSP/Qualifications/MSPOpenCentreExams.asp

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  • Cost of the MSP Examinations through an Open Centre

    Foundation Exam: £190
    Practitioner Exam: £245
    Advanced Practitioner Exam: £245
    Practitioner Re-Registration: £150
    Advanced Practitioner Re-Registration: £150

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  • How can I take MSP Examinations outside the UK?

    For candidates outside the UK we use the British Council to run the exams for us on an ad-hoc basis. Exams (but not training courses) are available in many countries through the British Council. Please visit the following site for information on whether they offer exams in your area.

    www.britishcouncil.org/home-contact-worldwide.htm?mtklink=contact-us-worldwide-corporate-homepage-link>

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  • Which book should I buy to study for MSP and where can I buy them?

    OGC has developed a best practice guide on Program Management called "Managing Successful Programmes". The book can be purchased online through the Best Management Practice Portfolio Library at www.best-management-practice.com/Portfolio-Library/.

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  • How long will it take to learn the MSP material?

    Unfortunately it is difficult to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time on their hands, it varies from person to person. We suggest you buy the manual and have a look through for yourself before deciding how long you need to spend learning.

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  • Structure of the MSP examinations

    Foundation Examination: the foundation examination consists of a simple multiple choice style, closed book examination consisting of 50 questions to be completed within 40 minutes. Candidates need to achieve a mark of 25+ to pass the paper. This is a closed-book examination (Note you will need to score 30 out of 50 to progress to the Practitioner or Advanced Practitioner examination). From the 1st September 2008 you will need to score 30+ to pass the foundation exam.

    Practitioner Examination: the Practitioner examination has been changed to an objective marking style, open book paper (Manual Only). The paper will consist of 9 questions with a total of 180 marks available to be completed within two and a half hours. Candidates need to achieve a mark of 90+ to pass the paper. The Practitioner exam is designed to test the candidate's knowledge of basic concepts and understanding of MSP. A pre-requisite for this exam is 60% at Foundation level for candidates that have taken the Foundation exam after 1 March 2008. Candidates that have taken their Foundation exam prior to 1 March 2008 are exempt from this rule.

    Advanced Practitioner Examination: the Advanced Practitioner examination will remain an essay based, open book paper (Manual and additional notes allowed). The paper will consist of up to 3 questions with a total of 75 marks available to be completed within 2 and a half hours. Candidates need to achieve a mark of 38+ to pass the paper.

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  • MSP Re-Registration Examination

    Since 1 January 2008, Re-registration exams for MSP have been available. From the start of the qualification, there has always been a requirement for all MSP Practitioners and/or MSP Advanced Practitioners should be re-registered within 3-5 years of their original certification. This qualification is now available.

    All Practitioners/Advanced Practitioners who have taken the MSP Practitioner/Advanced Practitioner qualification have agreed to this requirement as part of their initial application and so are now designated as Registered Practitioners.

    All Practitioners/Advanced Practitioners certified have the opportunity to take the Re-registration examination in order to demonstrate their commitment to professional development. This is particularly important following the recent upgrading of the MSP Manual.

    By taking the Re-registration examinations, candidates are able to demonstrate to Employers and prospective Employers the recency of their knowledge and commitment to Continuing Professional Development.

    Re-registration exams are available for both Practitioner and Advanced Practitioner. A candidate will only be required to sit the Re-registration exam for the highest level of qualification they have achieved. For example, a candidate who holds the Advanced Practitioner certificate would only be required to take the Re-registration exam for this level only.

    The format of the Practitioner Re-registration exam is 3 questions, with a scenario background and appendices:

    • Each of the 3 questions is worth 20 marks
    • An overall score of 30 out of a possible 60 is required to pass
    • One hour duration
    • Open-book examination.

    The format of the Advanced Practitioner Re-registration is:

    A 2000 – 4000 word "dissertation" (suggested target 2500 words) on a specific subject (selected from a range of topics) demonstrating application of MSP. It would ideally be based on a "real life" programme that the candidate has worked within. If this is not possible (if a candidate has not recently worked within a programme or their programme contains classified information), it would be acceptable to base it on the Advanced Practitioner Case Study "MSP Care". There are no time restrictions imposed on this dissertation. The dissertation will be marked out of a possible 75 marks with the candidate needing 38 marks to achieve a pass.

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  • MSP Practitioner exam lapsed can a candidate still take Advanced Practitioner exam?

    Yes you may go straight on to sit the Advanced Practitioner paper if your registration to the Practitioner exam has lapsed.

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  • Result Turn Around for MSP Examinations

    The result turn around period for the Foundation examination is roughly 3-5 working days.

    The result turn around period for the Practitioner examination is roughly 2 weeks from receipt of the examination papers back into the APM Group Office.

    The result turn around period for the Advanced Practitioner examination is roughly 4 - 6 weeks from receipt of the examination papers back into the APM Group Office.

    If you have taken your exam via an ATO, results are sent by APMG to that particular ATO. Your ATO should notify you of your results so please contact them for further details regarding this. If you sat the foundation and practitioner exam in the same week, your results will not show on the Successful Candidate Register until two weeks after the results for the practitioner exam have been released. Certificate turn-around is usually two weeks after you have been notified of your result.

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  • When will I receive my MSP Certifcate?

    A Foundation Certificate will be dispatched to you approximately 2 weeks after we have received your exam paper back into our offices if you only took the Foundation exam.

    A Practitioner Certificate will be dispatched 2 weeks after the Practitioner results have been released.

    An Advanced Practitioner Certificate will be dispatched 2 weeks after the Practitioner results have been released.

    Please note that if you have taken your examinations via an ATO; the certificates will be dispatched to the ATO. Therefore if you have not received your certificate in the above time frames please contact the ATO directly who can contact the APM Group on your behalf for a replacement.

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  • MSP Refresh Certificate

    APMG will not automatically be issuing new MSP certificates to show the name change on them. If you would like one of these, they are available to order from APMG at a cost of £15 + VAT. If you would like to order a certificate, please email the service desk at servicedesk@apmgroup.co.uk detailing your name, address, date of exam, candidate number and training organisation you sat the exam with (if applicable) we will take this as confirmation for the order and once payment has been received we will issue your certificate for you.

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  • Pass marks for the MSP Examinations

    Foundation Examination: You will need to score 30 out of 50 to pass the Foundation Examination.

    Practitioner Examination: You will need to score 90 out of 180 to pass the Practitioner Examination.

    Advanced Practitioner Examination: You will need to score 38 out of 75 to pass the Advanced Practitioner Examination.

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  • Pass marks needed to become a trainer in MSP

    • MSP Advanced Practitioner Examination (pre-July 2003) - 66 marks/100 marks
    • MSP Advanced Practitioner Examination (pre-July 2007) - 49.5 marks/75 marks
    • MSP Advanced Practitioner Examination (post-July 2007) - 49.5 marks/75 marks

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  • Did I score enough to be a trainer?

    If you wish to know if you scored enough to be a trainer please email servicedesk@apmgroup.co.uk noting your interest. The Service desk at this time will be happy to process your request and send you information on the procedure required for you to obtain this information.

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  • MSP Statistics

    Foundation Examination: there is a 97% pass rate for the MSP Foundation examination (January - December 2008 based on 2007 Manual).

    Practitioner Examination: there is a 91% pass rate for the MSP Practitioner examination (January – December 2008 based on 2007 Manual).

    Advanced Practitioner Examination: there is a 70% pass rate for the MSP Advanced Practitioner examination (January – December 2008 based on 2007 Manual).

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