FAQs

Earned Value Management is a project control process based on a structured approach to planning, cost collection and performance measurement. It facilitates the integration of project scope, time and cost objectives and the establishment of a baseline plan for performance measurement.

The establishment of a Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) is essential to conducting successful EVM and consists of:

Defined scope and assumptions
Activities scheduled in logical sequence
Resources / costs (labour and materials)

(APM Body of Knowledge 5th Edition)

APMG-International have developed a qualification scheme working in partnership with the Association for Project Management (APM) Earned Value Specific Interest Group.

Our Earned Value Management qualification scheme has one main supporting publication called Earned Value Management Handbook. This can be purchased from APMG-Business Books.

The Earned Value Management examinations are currently available in English only. Translations are considered based on demand.

The Earned Value Management Handbook publication is currently available in English only. Translations will be considered based on demand.

For individuals self-studying it is almost impossible to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time available for study, 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.

For those studying with an accredited training organization, foundation courses are typically delivered over 2-3 days, with combined foundation and practitioner courses typically delivered other 5 days. We recommend investigating with individual providers, as many will offer tailored and blended learning solutions.

The certifications are not valid for a defined period and will not expire.

Foundation: Candidates must achieve a score of 26/40 (65%) to pass.
Practitioner: Candidates must achieve a score of 40/80 (50%) to pass.

ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance. It is a structured approach used to evaluate how organisations operate responsibly, manage risk, and create sustainable long‑term value.

• Environmental considerations focus on how an organisation manages its impact on the natural environment, including climate change, emissions, energy use, waste and resource efficiency.
• Social considerations examine how an organisation manages relationships with people and society, including employees, customers, suppliers and communities. This includes areas such as human rights, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and social responsibility.
• Governance considerations relate to how an organisation is directed and controlled, including leadership, ethics, transparency, compliance, risk management and accountability.

Together, ESG provides a consistent framework for integrating sustainability, ethical behaviour, and good governance into organisational decision‑making. It is increasingly used by organisations, regulators, investors and stakeholders to assess resilience, performance, and long‑term organisational value.

No, there is no official training course associated with the ESG Certifications.

APMG uses a global pricing structure; therefore, the cost depends on the country in which the exam is taken. Find out the cost in your region.

No, there are no pre-requisites for the ESG Certification Executive and Generalist examinations.

The ESG Certification Executive and Generalist exams are available in English.

The format of the Executive exam is:-

• 45 multiple choice questions
• Pass mark is 30 (or more) out of 45
• Exam duration: 60 minutes
• Closed book (no reference materials permitted)

The format of the Generalist exam is:-

• 45 multiple choice questions
• Pass mark is 30 (or more) out of 45
• Exam duration: 60 minutes
• Closed book (no reference materials permitted)

No reference materials are permitted during the ESG Certification Executive and Generalist exams.

The ESG Certification Executive and Generalist exams are valid indefinitely and do not expire.

You will need to score 30 marks or more (out of 45) to pass the ESG Certification Generalist exam.

You will need to score 30 marks or more (out of 45) to pass the ESG Certification Executive exam.

Only organizations licensed to do so are allowed to use the ESG Certification logo. Individuals are not permitted to use the ESG Certification logo, however, everyone who passes the exam is awarded with a digital badge which can be shared on social media and embedded into your CV/résumé.

The foundation examination is currently available in English and Polish.

The practitioner examination is currently available in English only.

Further translations will be considered subject to market demand.

Foundation only courses are generally delivered over 3 days. Combined foundation and practitioner courses are typically delivered over 5 days. However, we recommend investigating with individual providers, as many may offer tailored learning solutions.

The qualification is not valid for a defined period and will not expire.

APMG has been appointed as an Examination Institute by ITEMO, the owners of FitSM, to accredit training organisations and their trainers to deliver the FitSM certifications.

The FitSM examinations are based on the FitSM standards. The standards are available to download free of charge from the FitSM website.

All parts of the FitSM standard and related material published by the FitSM working group are licensed under a Creative Commons International License.

There is a one day Foundation course which provides basic IT service management knowledge and introduces the FitSM model.

After passing the Foundation exam, candidates can then take one of the two Advanced level courses: Service Planning and Delivery (SPD) or Service Operation and Control (SOC). Both courses are delivered over 2 days.

Candidates who pass both of the Advanced level examinations can complete the 2 day Expert course, which covers practical aspects of implementing and improving IT service management in a leadership role.

For individuals self-studying it is almost impossible to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time available for study, it varies from person to person.

We suggest you download the FitSM standards and the training materials, and have a look through for yourself before deciding how long you need to spend learning.

FitSM training material can be downloaded for free from the FitSM website.

For those studying with an accredited training organization, the FitSM Foundation courses are generally delivered over one day. Please check with your training provider before booking the course.

There is no expiry date on the FitSM certificates.