APM Project Risk Certificate Level 1 eLearning

There are no formal certification prerequisites for this course.

Learners should have a good understanding of project management and a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts of project risk management. The course is particularly suitable for those involved in project risk management at any level, including learners who hold the APM Project Management Qualification.

This course is most suitable for learners who:

• Are involved in project risk management and want a recognised qualification in the discipline
• Have a good understanding of project management and want to deepen their risk management skills
• Work as a project team member, project manager, programme manager, risk professional, or in a related role
• Need to apply risk management techniques in projects or programmes

Target audience

This course is designed for professionals who need to understand and apply project risk management principles, processes, and techniques.

It is suitable for:

• Project team members who contribute to risk identification, assessment, and response planning
• Project managers who need to manage uncertainty and support better project outcomes
• Programme managers who need to understand risk at project and programme level
• Risk professionals who support project or programme risk processes
• Professionals with related responsibilities who need to apply risk techniques in project environments
• Learners who want to consolidate their project risk knowledge and prepare for Level 1 certification

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• State the key principles of risk management
• Explain the benefits of managing project risks effectively
• Understand the need for clear risk descriptions and write effective risk statements
• Plan effective risk reduction actions
• Use a range of techniques to keep the risk management process active
• Apply risk management at both project and programme level
• Understand how organisational and control factors affect risk management
• Apply quantitative assessment techniques to project schedules
• Prepare for the optional APM Risk Certificate Level 1 exam

Overview of project risk management

Learners begin by exploring the purpose, value, and principles of project risk management. This section establishes why uncertainty is a major feature of project work and how structured risk management supports better decisions.

Topics include:

• The nature of uncertainty in projects
• The relationship between uncertainty and risk
• The benefits of effective project risk management
• Core principles that underpin risk management
• How risk management contributes to project success
• The role of risk management across projects of different sizes and complexity

Initiation: define and focus

This section focuses on setting up the risk management process so it is relevant, practical, and aligned to project objectives.

Topics include:

• Defining the scope and focus of risk management activity
• Establishing the context for project risk management
• Understanding organisational and control aspects of risk
• Linking risk activity to project objectives
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities in the risk process
• Creating the conditions for consistent and useful risk information

Risk identification

Learners explore how to identify risks clearly and describe them in a way that supports analysis and action.

Topics include:

• The purpose of risk identification
• Techniques for identifying project risks
• Writing clear and useful risk descriptions
• Understanding causes, events, and effects
• Involving the right stakeholders in risk identification
• Keeping risk identification active throughout the project

Qualitative risk analysis

This section introduces techniques used to assess and prioritise risks.

Topics include:

• The purpose of qualitative risk analysis
• Assessing probability and impact
• Prioritising risks for action
• Using risk information to support decision-making
• Understanding the limitations of qualitative assessment
• Maintaining useful and current risk information

Risk planning, assessment, and reporting

Learners examine how risk responses are planned, assessed, and communicated to support effective control.

Topics include:

• Planning risk reduction actions
• Selecting suitable risk responses
• Maintaining active risk management processes
• Reporting risk information clearly
• Reviewing risk status and response effectiveness
• Using risk information to support proactive control
• Ensuring risk actions remain aligned to project needs

Programme and corporate risk management

This section explores how risk management applies beyond a single project and supports wider programme or organisational objectives.

Topics include:

• Applying risk management at programme level
• Understanding portfolio and corporate risk perspectives
• Escalating and communicating risk across governance levels
• Aligning project risk activity with organisational priorities
• Managing risk information across related projects
• Supporting better decisions across programmes and portfolios

Quantitative risk analysis

Learners explore quantitative techniques used to assess risk and uncertainty, with particular focus on project schedules.

Topics include:

• The purpose of quantitative risk analysis
• Quantitative assessment techniques for project schedules
• Understanding risk impact on time and delivery confidence
• Interpreting quantitative analysis outputs
• Using quantitative information to support planning and control
• Introduction to advanced quantitative risk analysis

Human and cultural dimensions in risk management

This section focuses on the behaviours, culture, and communication factors that influence risk management effectiveness.

Topics include:

• The role of people in effective risk management
• Cultural factors that affect risk identification and reporting
• Encouraging open and constructive risk conversations
• Supporting stakeholder engagement in the risk process
• Understanding bias and behaviour in risk decisions
• Building a risk-aware project environment

Scenario-based application and exam preparation

The course uses project scenarios and case studies to help learners apply risk management concepts in context.

Topics include:

• Applying risk principles to realistic project situations
• Practising risk identification and assessment
• Reviewing risk planning and reporting examples
• Using quizzes and sample questions to check understanding
• Consolidating learning before the optional exam
• Identifying areas for further revision

Exams and assessments

There is no examination included with this course. Learners may choose to sit the optional APM Risk Certificate Level 1 exam after completing the digital learning.

Learners must complete the digital course before booking the exam with QA’s Exam and Certification Team. Access to the digital course and exam booking window is available for 12 months from the time of booking.

The APM Risk Certificate Level 1 exam is:

• 1 hour
• Closed book, with no study materials permitted
• 60 multiple-choice questions
• Passed by achieving 30 marks out of 60, equal to 50%

Hands-on learning

This eLearning course uses project scenarios, case studies, videos, written content, quizzes, and sample exam questions to help learners apply risk management principles and techniques.

The content is designed to embed theory through practical examples, helping learners build confidence in identifying, assessing, planning, reporting, and controlling project risk.

Learners benefit from:

• 12 months of access to digital learning content
• Approximately 16 hours of online content
• Self-paced study that can be completed around work commitments
• Digital progress tracking to support independent learning
• Project scenarios and case studies that support practical application
• Quizzes and sample exam questions aligned to the syllabus
• A focused route to developing recognised project risk management knowledge