APM PMQ Online Course: UK Providers

The APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) is one of the most widely recognised intermediate qualifications for project professionals in the UK. It sits at SCQF Level 7 and is built for people who already have some project experience and want a formal, knowledge-based qualification that proves it.

Since the September 2024 syllabus refresh, the PMQ has been aligned to the seventh edition of the APM Body of Knowledge (BoK8), and the exam itself has changed.

The old three-hour essay paper is gone. The PMQ is now a two-and-a-half-hour assessment of 40 questions worth 90 marks, with a variable pass mark set by the difficulty of each paper.

Studying online has become the default route for many candidates, whether through self-paced distance learning or live, tutor-led virtual classrooms. The trade-off matters: self-paced study suits disciplined learners who want flexibility, while live virtual delivery suits people who want structure, pacing and direct access to a trainer. Every provider below is APM-accredited, which means its course materials have been assessed against APM standards and it is permitted to deliver the qualification and its exams.

Before you book

What to check first

APM accreditationOnly accredited providers can deliver the qualification and arrange the exam. Confirm it directly rather than assuming it.
Delivery formatDecide whether you want self-paced distance learning, a live virtual classroom, or a blend of both. They are very different experiences.
Exam inclusionSome courses bundle the exam fee and APM membership into the headline price, others do not. Check what is included.
Materials and supportLook at what is provided: study packs, practice questions, mock exams, tutor access and how long you keep access to the online materials.
Study hoursAPM recommends a minimum of around 75 hours of learning for the PMQ, so be realistic about the time you can commit.
Current pricingPrices and inclusions change, so confirm the latest figures with each provider before you decide.

The providers

Where to study the PMQ online

Training ByteSize is featured first. Providers 02 to 09 are listed alphabetically, not ranked by performance. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and the right choice depends on how you learn.

Training ByteSize

Featured

Accreditation: APM Accredited Training Provider
Delivery: Online, virtual, classroom, blended, in-house
Exam: Included in most formats
Online access: 6 months, 12 modules
Lead trainer: Callum Downing, 15+ years
From: £250 +VAT (self-study)

An APM Accredited Training Provider whose materials, tutors and assessment approach are all approved by the Association for Project Management. Training ByteSize is a family-run company established in 2012, though its course development team has worked directly with the APM since 2000, and it was an early developer of accredited online learning for PRINCE2 and AgilePM. Class sizes are kept deliberately small so candidates get direct tutor support.

The PMQ is offered in more formats than most: self-paced online study over six months, a live virtual classroom, face-to-face training at its Nantwich and London centres (with a residential option), plus blended and on-site delivery for teams. Prices start at £250 plus VAT for self-study materials and rise through the exam-included online, virtual and classroom options to a residential package, with finance available through a learn-now-pay-later scheme and ELCAS funding for HM Forces personnel. Corporate bookings can save up to 30% on individual prices.

The online course is built around twelve modules covering the full PMQ syllabus, mapped to the eighth edition of the APM Body of Knowledge, with videos, downloadable materials, sample exam questions and 24/7 support. Because the long-response questions carry 50 of the 90 available marks, the exam preparation leans heavily on written-answer technique and command-verb interpretation rather than rote recall. Courses are led by Callum Downing, the lead APM trainer, who has more than 15 years teaching the qualification and sat the modernised exam himself when it launched in September 2024.

ILX Group

Accreditation: APM-accredited
Delivery: Self-paced eLearning, live virtual, blended
Best for: Flexible online study with a large provider

An established APM training provider offering the PMQ alongside other APM qualifications. Its flexible mix of self-paced eLearning, live virtual classrooms and blended routes suits learners fitting study around work, covering the core syllabus from governance and life cycles through to the business case, planning, resourcing and assurance.

Knowledge Train

Accreditation: APM Accredited Training Partner
Delivery: Online (PFQ and PMQ)
Best for: A clear PFQ-to-PMQ progression

An APM Accredited Training Partner approved to deliver both the Project Fundamentals Qualification and the PMQ. A recognised name in UK project management training, with online routes to the qualification and a natural step up for candidates moving from foundation level.

Oxford Professional Education Group

Accreditation: APM-accredited (APM Gold for PFQ)
Delivery: Virtual and classroom
Best for: A mix of virtual and in-person study

Delivering under the Oxford College of Management brand, this APM-accredited provider offers the PMQ and holds APM Gold status for its PFQ courses. It runs both virtual classes and face-to-face sessions at venues around the UK, which suits learners who want the option of a room and a tutor.

Parallel Project Training

Accreditation: APM-accredited
Delivery: Live online classrooms, distance learning, in-house
Best for: Named trainers and a paced virtual classroom

Delivers the PMQ through live, tutor-led online classrooms, distance learning and in-house corporate sessions. Its trainers are experienced project managers, the live virtual route typically runs over a five-week structure with named tutors, and courses are backed by podcasts and presentations for ongoing revision.

Provek

Accreditation: APM-accredited
Delivery: Self-paced online via the PM Channel platform
Best for: Self-directed video study with the exam included

Delivers the PMQ online through its PM Channel platform, built around directed video study of roughly 75 hours. Its online package typically bundles the course, a hard-copy APM study pack, the exam fee and practice materials, including an AI coach for mock questions and feedback.

QA

Accreditation: APM-accredited
Delivery: Online and classroom
Best for: Corporate teams wanting structured materials

One of the largest training providers in the UK, delivering the PMQ as part of a broad project management portfolio. Courses include learner guides and exercise workbooks, with trainers working through the syllabus via exercises, case studies and applied activities.

The Knowledge Academy

Accreditation: APM-accredited
Delivery: Online and classroom; live plus self-paced
Best for: Frequent dates and a choice of study mode

A high-volume global provider offering the PMQ in both online and classroom formats. It combines live, expert-led sessions with self-paced study, running scheduled instructor-led classes alongside flexible self-study, which gives learners plenty of start dates to choose from.

University of Westminster

Accreditation: APM Accredited Training Provider
Delivery: Course with remote exam via the APM platform
Best for: A university course with a revision gap before the exam

An APM Accredited Training Provider for the PMQ, with a teaching team of accredited trainers and experienced lecturers. The exam is sat remotely via the APM Online Examination Platform, typically two to six weeks after the course, leaving room for further revision before you sit it.

In short

Choosing the right fit

There is no single best provider, because the right choice depends on how you learn. If you are self-motivated and want maximum flexibility, a self-paced distance-learning course will suit you. If you want structure, pacing and a trainer to keep you on track, a live virtual classroom is the better route. If your employer is funding the training for a team, an in-house or corporate option may work out more cost-effective.

Whichever you choose, confirm three things before you commit: that the provider is genuinely APM-accredited, that you know exactly what is included in the price, and that the format matches the way you actually study best.

Get those three right, and the PMQ is an achievable, well-respected addition to your project management credentials.