| (Note: The MSP Advanced Practitioner Certificate is | | | | scenario. |
| the same as the old MSP Practitioner Certificate. This | | | | The programme scenario will be provided at the time |
| change was made by the APM Group (APMG) in | | | | of booking the examination. Additional materials may |
| September 2007). | | | | be included with individual questions. Each of the three |
| The MSP Practitioner Certificate is awarded for the | | | | questions will be based on different syllabus units (see |
| comprehensive understanding of the principles and | | | | below). Candidates will be required to analyse and |
| theory of Managing Successful Programmes, the | | | | evaluate aspects of the programme scenario based |
| programme management methodology developed by | | | | on a thorough understanding of the MSP methodology |
| the Office of Government Commerce and used | | | | and their own professional experience. |
| throughout the public and private sector. The | | | | The MSP syllabus units: |
| methodology is outlined in the MSP manual, and is | | | | 1. Overview and Programme Management |
| taught by Accredited Training Organisations (ATOs) in | | | | Principles |
| preparation for the MSP Practitioner exam. | | | | 2. Governance Themes Overview |
| The awarding-body for the MSP qualifications is the | | | | 3. Organisation |
| APMG, which is also responsible for the PRINCE2 | | | | 4. Vision |
| Project Management qualifications. According to the | | | | 5. Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement |
| APMG, the pass-rate for the Advanced Practitioner | | | | 6. Benefits Realisation Management |
| exam is 70%. | | | | 7. Blueprint Design and Delivery |
| Who should take the Advanced Practitioner exam? | | | | 8. Planning and Control |
| The MSP Advanced Practitioner exam is intended for | | | | 9. The Business Case |
| current and aspiring Programme Managers. It is also | | | | 10. Risk Management and Issue Resolution |
| highly suitable for Business Change Managers and | | | | 11. Quality Management (including Configuration |
| Programme Office Managers, as well as anybody | | | | Management and Issue Management) |
| who needs to have a thorough grasp of the MSP | | | | 12. The Transformational How |
| methodology . | | | | 13. Programme Office |
| Anybody who wishes to gain the MSP Advanced | | | | Revision and Exam Strategies |
| Practitioner qualification must first pass the MSP | | | | • Learn how to say what the examiner wants |
| Foundation and Practitioner exams. These can be | | | | to hear: your trainer should have a copy of the MSP |
| taken as a single course or as separate modules. | | | | official syllabus. The APMG has provided in this |
| The Exam Structure | | | | syllabus detailed descriptions of what the examiners |
| • Essay based | | | | require of the candidate in each answer. Once you |
| • 2.5 hours duration | | | | know what capability it is you are expected to prove, it |
| • 3 questions | | | | is a great deal easier to set about proving it. |
| • 75 marks available | | | | • Preparation is the key: your exam scenario |
| • 50% (38/75) pass mark | | | | will be provided at the time of booking the Advanced |
| • Open-book (MSP manual, course notes, | | | | Practitioner examination. Ensure that you study this |
| examples and copies of presentations etc. can be | | | | carefully, working out which questions you would ask if |
| used during the exam, although no electronic aids are | | | | you were setting the exam questions. Practice making |
| allowed) | | | | MSP documents related to the exam scenario. |
| The Content | | | | • The most important exam strategy is good |
| If the Foundation exam tests general understanding of | | | | timing. There are 3 sections and 150 minutes, which |
| the MSP method, and the Practitioner exam tests the | | | | allows 50 minutes per section. This does not include |
| candidate’s ability to review the method’s | | | | reading time, so make sure that you study your exam |
| application, then the Advanced Practitioner exam | | | | scenario carefully in advance. Above all, keep one eye |
| requires the candidate to themselves apply the MSP | | | | on the clock and be strict about concluding each |
| Best Practices and principles to a complex programme | | | | section within the time allowed. |