This document provides information about applying for Fellowship of the Association for Project Management (FAPM). It outlines the key benefits of achieving FAPM, including gaining recognition from peers and serving as a role model. The criteria for eligibility and assessment are described, such as having 5 years of full APM membership. Applicants must demonstrate substantial professional achievement, contribution to the field, and ongoing development. A portfolio of evidence should include a CV, personal statement, and letters of support. The application process and potential outcomes are also summarized.

1. Women in Project
Management SIG
Stepping Up a Gear in your
Career: The Route to
Fellowship
Carol Bell RPP FAPM

2. “Why should I step up to FAPM?”
 To achieve the highest level of professional
membership awarded by APM
 To gain recognition from my peers for my
achievements in my career to date
 To be a role model to others in the profession,
particularly women

3. What you need to know
 Am I eligible to apply for Fellowship?
 What are the Assessment Criteria
 How do I demonstrate my Achievements?
 How do I prepare / present my evidence?
 Where can I get help and support?
 What happens to my application?

4. Am I eligible to apply for Fellowship?
 Yes – if
– You have been a Full Member for 5 years
– You are a non-member who can
demonstrate professional achievement
and equivalent practice and development
(possibly in another discipline, if approved by APM
Membership Department)

5. What are the Assessment Criteria?
– Substantial achievement in professional
practice
– Significant contribution to a broad area of
professional work / to a specific and
specialised context
– How your work has influenced the project
management community

6. What does Membership Panel need?
 Evidence that you have:
– Continued to develop the full range of
competences required for Fellowship
– Enhanced your professional, interpersonal,
intellectual, evaluative and analytical skills
within your sphere of professional activity

7. What does Membership Panel need?
 Evidence that you have:
– Contributed to the growth of the
profession’s body of knowledge by
practice, research or publication
– Analysed your personal contribution,
reflected on its outcome and evaluated its
significance

8. What does Membership Panel need?
 Evidence that you have:
– Developed and improved existing skills and
acquired and applied new skills
– Continued to develop professionally and
intellectually - with growing evidence of
innovative or original approaches to problems
or application of professional skills

9. What type of evidence is valid?
 a wide range of potential evidence, including
– Practical professional achievement
– Innovative professional work
– Involvement with professional organisations
– Published material (in any format)
– Research accepted by university or equivalent

10. How do I apply?
 Prepare a portfolio of evidence, comprising:
– A completed application form
– A project-based CV detailing your career
history, employer/s, project and programme
management skills and experience
– Documentary and other evidence

11. What else goes in the portfolio?
 A personal statement detailing your
reasons for applying and how you meet the
assessment criteria
 Two letters of support
– At least one letter should ideally be from a
Full Member or Fellow of APM

12. Who else can support my application?
 Senior colleagues – letter/s must comment on
the business/strategic impact of your work on
the professional standards of your organisation
 If you have been actively involved with APM in
a voluntary or consultative role you may
include a statement of support from your key
Head Office Contact

13. Where do I start?
 Download guidance and a FAPM
application form from the APM website
 Discuss the application requirements with
Membership Department before applying
 Prepare and submit your portfolio

14. What happens next?
 The Membership Panel will assess your
portfolio and may
– Consult with authors of letters of support
– Invite you to a Professional Review
– Have your portfolio externally assessed by
expert referees

15. How do I know whether I succeeded?
 Membership Department will
– Tell you when Membership Panel will
consider your application
– Write to advise you of the outcome of your
application within 10 days of the meeting
– Provide feedback on unsuccessful
applications and guidance on re-applying

16. What if I’m not ready – yet?
 Actively contribute to the Profession
– Volunteer for your Branch and/or SIG
– Participate in APM development activities
– Accept invitations to speak at conferences
– Undertake research and publish findings
– Submit your Project/Programme for Awards

17. So… if
 You know you are great at what you do
 You seek recognition of your achievements
 You want a fast-track route to RPP
… what’s stopping you???