APM Registered Project Professional

Editor's Notes

• #3: Explains the content of the presentation.
• #4: Explains the context for launching RPP.Point 1 – Reference to the speech by Sir Peter Gershon made at the 2010 APM Conference. Video of the speech on APM website.Point 2 – Still maintaining a dignified silence, but all interested parties confirm that launching the new professional standard is exactly the right thing to do for a professional body aiming for chartered status.Point 3 – The RPP standard is exactly the same as the standard defined for Chartered Project Professional (ChPP), there have been no changes to the process or the level of achievement required, so it is genuinely the chartered standard in all but name. If you wish, you can state that holders of RPP will automatically transfer to ChPP once APM becomes chartered. Please DO NOT use the ‘grandfathering’ term.Point 4 – Current standards (e.g. Prince 2 Practitioner) rely on knowledge-based qualifications to define professional standards. These have their place, but the combination of knowledge, experience, ethics and leadership that are assessed in RPP raise the bar for professionalism to a new level which, thanks to the input of key stakeholders, we know to be what the profession requires.
• #5: For society – RPP is a form of voluntary regulation with those achieving the standard agreeing to abide by the APM Code of Professional Conduct, hence the use of the term ‘accountable’.For organisations – For customers and supply chains, this new standard assures project management quality. You may wish to mention that for some organisations, there is competitive advantage in having RPPs working on a contract. In addition, P&PM communities previously did not have the professional recognition they needed when compared with other professions (e.g. engineering or surveying), RPP fixes that by raising the profile of the P&PM community inside and outside the organisation.For individuals – self explanatory, not just a benefit to have achieved the standard, but also the benefit of having gone through the process and taking time to assess yourself and your career to date. You may be able to support this from your own experience.To expand further on the benefits, check the ‘wear with pride’ orange leaflet.
• #6: Developed in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.Key opinion leaders in major organisations are supportive.APM is actively promoting the standard amongst employers and leading organisations to ensure that they are aware and understand the quality that RPP represents.High levels of interest and support across the community – reference the various blogs/websites.
• #7: Listed are organisations that were a part of the working group for RPP and gave their backing to the new standard.
• #8: This is the fundamental definition against which the portfolio of evidence is developed and the assessment is made, so its worth emphasising. NOTE – it’s important to talk about ‘a complex project’ and not ‘complex projects’, as that is a different level on the APM Competence Framework.The point about the 5 Dimensions of Professionalism is an important one. This is the theme that runs through all aspects of APM’s products and services to ensure that they are aligned and to make professionalism ‘tangible’.
• #9: This slide shows how RPP is positionedin relation to other standards in the marketCurrently, the most recognised qualification in the UK market is knowledge-based . As we know, the increasing drive for ‘professionalism’ means that employers are looking for more than a knowledge-based qualification. That is why we have launched RPP – to meet the requirements for an assessment that measure competence as well as ethics and leadership.
• #10: This chart provides an overview of the requirements. There are no minimum education or membership requirements and there is no requirement for ‘time served’. This recognises the diversity of professionals likely to apply and also that the requirement is for a robust standard and assessment with no process barriers. The competences have been selected from the APM Competence Framework – there are 47 competences identified.Red circle – The overall importance of the two critical competences: leadership and professionalism & ethics. These must be satisfied. Blue circle – The 29 core competences must be demonstrated in depth. The reason there are 29 is that they were selected by a group of pan-sector representatives to ensure that RPP meets the requirements of a pan-sector standard. Purple circle – For 18 complementary competences the working group agreed there was a knowledge only requirement at a level aligned with the requirements for full membership (MAPM).
• #12: Encourage people to join the online community to find out more about RPP so they can ask questions and post comments.
• #13: APM qualifications and certain levels of membership are recognised as satisfying some of the requirementsfor RPP. APM recognises these achievements as evidence of knowledge, CPD or competence, depending on the particular qualification or level of membership.Where the box is ticked in green it means that if someone holds that particular qualification or membership grade it satisfies that requirement for RPP.Where the box is ticked in orange it means that if someone holds that particular qualification it only partially satisfies that requirement for RPP.APM qualifications count for CPD if they have been achieved in the last 12 months. If you hold a qualification at APMP or above, or are MAPM, this is accepted as demonstrating the complementary competences.FAPM route for RPPs is still under development. CPM holders are required to demonstrate CPD if they achieved CPM more than 12 months ago and to provide a currency statement (or a current CV) to demonstrate they are professionally active, as opposed to a project track record. CPM holders who achieved CPM less than 12 months ago just have to provide a currency statement (or a current CV), as opposed to a project track record. However, CPM qualification details must be included with a reflective statement of how acquiring CPM has improved or enhanced their project management skills, knowledge or performance.
• #14: Overview of the process, full details in the candidate guidance notes. The professional review will be held with two RPP peer assessors and will be based on their portfolio of evidence. The professional review will take approximately 45 minutes. Candidates will need to prepare and present a talk of up to 10 minutes on why they meet the RPP standard at the beginning. Any supporting materials, including handouts and illustrative slides should be presented in hard copy only. The board approved a supplementary charge for members with the RPP designation to help cover the costs of making the register available to public scrutiny and of maintaining an appropriately comprehensive governance structure for it. The fee also covers the cost of auditing CPD.In 2011/12 this amounts to an additional £50 over the standard rate for full or fellow membership.As your membership subscription becomes due, you will be notified of the new rate.
• #15: There is a wide range of support available, designed to provide people with a self-service or supported route, depending on their preference.Point people to the APM website as the most thorough and up-to-date source of information. Some accredited providers will be trialling preparation workshops, these will be charged for – approximately £275 per day. At events offer self for further information and guidance. Try to avoid offering ‘advice’ as this may raise the expectations of the audience that you are there to provide coaching or mentoring support.
• #16: Overview – covered in detail in the candidate guidance notes.
• #26: Spare slide to add in your story.This can be moved to the start of the presentation if preferred.