MSP^®:
Achieving Practitioner Certification

What is this course about?

This is an intensive exam preparatory course that offers a clear, comprehensive understanding of Managing Successful Programmes (MSP^®), a standardised, proven programme management framework widely accepted as best practice for managing strategic change programmes. Through practice questions from sample exams, workshops and evening study, you gain the knowledge required to take the MSP Foundation and Practitioner examinations in order to achieve certification. Expert MSP accredited instructors provide the necessary guidance to prepare you for the examinations through a series of interactive sessions and exercises that reinforce the concepts taught on the course.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is for anyone participating in an organizational change programme and those who want to achieve the MSP Foundation and Practitioner Certification. This course is ideal for:

• Programme Managers who need to appreciate or apply a formal programme management approach in practice
• Leaders of change programmes who wish to assess its relevance for their programme or its adoption across their organisation
• Business managers who are tasked with undertaking or contributing to a major change programme
• Project Managers who need to increase their understanding of how projects operate within a programme environment
• Programme/project support personnel and other specialist advisors who wish to understand the practical application and implementation of MSP
• Consultants who require the qualification in order to successfully implement the MSP® approach in their client organisations

What background do I need?

Some previous training or experience of working in a change programme or project environment would be an advantage and is highly recommended.

How much evening work is there?

You should commit to at least 2 hours of home study each evening.

Why should I use MSP?

MSP is a well established management framework used by numerous private and public sector organisations for bringing together people, activities and information to achieve change in organisations. MSP offers a structured framework of principles, governance themes and transformational flow processes that describe how to set up and run a change programme. MSP is often mandated by European and UK-based organisations and bodies and is sponsored by the UK Government. It is subject to a comprehensive review and update process to ensure quality standards.

How much pre-course preparation is there?

Prior to the course, Learning Tree sends you preparatory material designed to give you every advantage in preparing for and passing the examinations, including

• A copy of the official MSP guide, Managing Successful Programmes
• A Pre-Course Workbook to help structure your reading of the MSP manual

Prior to the course, we recommend at least 20 hours of study of these MSP materials. This course has been designed with the assumption that each attendee has completed the pre-course study.

Which edition of the MSP manual is used in the course?

This course uses the 2011 edition of Managing Successful Programmes. This is the latest and most recent release of the MSP guide.

Which MSP examination should I take?

There are two examinations available on this course and ideally you will sit both - Foundation and Practitioner. You cannot attain the Practitioner level without passing the Foundation level examination. Each successive level demonstrates a higher level of knowledge and understanding of how to apply MSP approaches to real programme situations.

How much time is spent on each topic?

Are examination fees included in the course price?

Yes.

How do the examinations work?

The Foundation examination is taken on day 4. This is a 60 minute, closed-book, multiple choice paper with no reference material allowed. There are 75 questions (of which 5 are trial questions that are not marked) and you need to score 35 marks or more to pass. The Practitioner examination is taken on Day 5. This is a 150 minute, open book objective test examination with 8 compulsory sections each worth 10 marks. Each section will address a single MSP syllabus area. The pass mark is 40 marks out of a possible 80.

What happens if I fail the Foundation or Practitioner Examinations?

If you fail the Foundation examination you will be given the opportunity to re-sit during the course. If you fail the Practioner examination you may retake it a later date but you do not have to re-attend this course. You are required to pass the foundation exam, taken on day four of the course, to be eligible to take the practitioner exam on day 5 of the course. If you pass the Foundation exam but fail the Practitioner exam you will receive an APM Group Foundation Certificate from Learning Tree. Additional cost is involved in retaking the Practitioner Examination.

How long does it take to receive results?

The APM Group strives to deliver results to Learning Tree within 2 weeks of receiving examination papers for marking. The growing popularity of MSP may however mean that this timescale may occasionally be a little longer. Learning Tree will mail your examination results as soon as they are received from the APM Group.

What is the relationship between Learning Tree, the APM Group (APMG) and the Cabinet Office?

Both Learning Tree and this course have been accredited by the APM Group. As an accredited training organisation (ATO), Learning Tree and its trainers have been approved to deliver this course and invigilate the MSP Foundation and Practitioner exams. APM Group is responsible for providing the examination papers, marking and notifying Learning Tree of the results. Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) is part of a suite of guidance developed and owned by the Cabinet Office aimed at helping organisations and individuals manage their projects, programmes and services.

Will I learn about programme management tools on this course?

No. This course covers the MSP approach. It does not cover any programme or project management tools or software.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

Learning Tree offers other courses in related subject areas. This course complements the following:

• 287, Complex Project Management provides you with the skills to manage complex projects by applying advanced tools and techniques to meet conflicting business and technical demands.
• 296, Project Management: Skills for Success provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to organise, plan, schedule, monitor, and control projects. For those with limited project management experience, this course is an useful pre-requisite to Course 176.
• 290, Management Skills provides new and experienced managers with the practical skills needed to lead effective teams of technical professionals.
• 211, Introduction to Business Analysis: Defining Successful Projects is valuable to those who need to apply the knowledge and skills of the business analyst role within their organisation.

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