FAQs
We've gathered answers to our most frequently asked questions, covering everything from when you will receive your exam results to how to become an approved trainer. For questions about a specific certification or product, please see the product tab.
FAQs per product
Public-Private Partnerships (CP3P) Certification
The PPP Certification Program Guide (the PPP Guide) compiles good practices in the PPP industry and is organized into eight modules that reflect the stages a PPP project lifecycle. It was written by a team of experts, chosen for their experience in PPP programs and projects in the target markets. Authors are listed on this website.
Contents of the PPP Guide have been peer reviewed by a wide group of PPP practitioners and leaders with relevant expertise. It will be updated periodically to reflect the needs, opinions, lessons and changing culture of the industry it serves. There is no need to get recertified every time the PPP Guide is updated.
This PPP Guide compiles good PPP practices from a wide variety of regions and sectors and provides the basis for courses and examinations. This publication has undergone a robust peer review process. It was reviewed by a panel comprising a wide range of PPP practitioners and MDBs covering all regions and sectors.
The Foundation exam covers chapter 1 of the PPP Guide: Introduction and Overview, including Appendix A and the Glossary. This is a compulsory module and exam in order to proceed to next stages.
The Preparation exam covers chapters 2 to chapter 5 (sections 1 to 5.8 and section 9.9 of chapter 5 only); and
The Execution exam covers chapters 5 to chapter 8.
The Foundation exam is available in English, Albanian, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin American Spanish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian and Vietnamese.
The Preparation exam is available in English, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Latin American Spanish and Russian.
The Execution exam is available in English, Chinese and Russian.
PuMP® Certification
PuMP is a practical and engaging performance measurement approach to develop KPIs that are meaningful and measure what matters. You can watch an introductory video and read more about PuMP here.
The PuMP certification is valid for a period of five years.
The exam is available in English.
Candidates must achieve a score of 30/40 (75%) to pass the PuMP examination.
Scrum Training and Certification
Scrum is a framework for developing, delivering and sustaining complex products through effective team collaboration. It allows people to address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value.
Scrum is not a process, technique or definitive method. Rather, it is a framework within which various processes and techniques can be employed.
The framework consists of Scrum Teams and associated roles, events, artefacts and rules.
There are 3 key roles within Scrum: Product Owner, Development Team and Scrum Master.
Scrum Masters demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Scrum and their ability to apply it in real-world situations. They are responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide and do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values.
The Scrum Master helps those outside of the Scrum Team understand which of their interactions with the Scrum Team are helpful and which aren’t. The Scrum Master helps everyone change these interactions to maximize the value created by the Scrum Team.
The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. How this is done may vary widely across organizations, Scrum Teams, and individuals.
The Product Owner is also accountable for effective Product Backlog management.
Approved training is available via APMG’s global network of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs). Details can be found above. Only these organizations and registered partners/affiliates are authorized to deliver training services for the APMG/ABC certifications.
No, however attending an accredited training course is recommended.
Individuals also have the option of self-study to prepare for the examinations. APMG-International administer online exam sessions, allowing those who self study the opportunity to sit an online exam from the comfort of their own home or office.
Courses and exams are based on the latest edition of the official Scrum Guide and ABC's Agile Manifesto and Expanded Guidance. The Scrum Guide is available online, free of charge.
The ABC Agile Manifesto and Expanded Guidance will be made available through your ATO, or for public candidates, can be requested via APMG Customer Service by emailing - customerservice@apmgroup.co.uk.
The ABC/APMG Scrum Master exam is currently available in English, Italian, Chinese and Polish.
The ABC/APMG Scrum Product Owner exam is currently available in English and Italian.
The ABC/APMG Scrum Essentials exam is currently available in English.
The Scrum Guide and the Agile Manifesto have both been translated into a variety of languages. For full details, please visit the websites:
The ABC/APMG Scrum Master and Product Owner Training courses are usually delivered over 2 days.
The ABC/APMG Scrum Essentials Training courses are usually delivered over 1 day.
Please check the course duration with your training provider before booking.
The structure of the exams are:
- 50 multiple-choice questions
- 50 minutes
- Closed-book
- Pass mark: Scrum Master / Scrum Product Owner / Scrum Essentials - 30/50 (60%)
The Agile Business Consortium Scrum Master, Product Owner and Essentials certifications are valid for life and do not expire. There are no mandatory rec-certification requirements.
Examinations can be marked on location with provisional results provided immediately after marking. Exam packs are then returned to APMG for formal confirmation within 5 working days of receipt.
You will need to score 30/50 (or more) to pass the APMG/ABC Scrum Master, Product Owner and Essentials exams.
There are a number of reasons why individuals may choose the APMG/ABC Scrum courses and exams over alternatives, from less IT-focused content to greater exam and certification flexibility. For more, take a look at our "Why ABC-APMG Scrum certification" document.
SFIA Assessments
SFIA is the Skills Framework for the Information Age. It is a comprehensive skills framework that defines the skills and competencies needed by individuals who design, develop, implement, manage and protect the data & technology powering the digital world.
It provides a framework consisting of professional skills on one axis and seven levels of responsibility on the other. It describes the professional skills at various levels of responsibility, allowing individuals and businesses to easily identify relevant skills.
A SFIA assessment is an assessment of an individual’s skills and competencies against the SFIA framework. Usually, a small number of skills are selected (e.g. up to 6) and the individual’s prior work experience is reviewed to determine which level of responsibility they are working at.
General training for SFIA is available from the network of Training Partners who are assessed and approved by SFIA Foundation.
Training is available at the following levels:
- Foundation
- Practitioner
- Consultant
Further details on SFIA general training can be found on the SFIA website.
A SFIA Assessor course is currently being piloted and further details will be available on the SFIA website in due course.