APM Chartered status briefing

This briefing was first published on 26 September 2016. This was updated at 12:30pm on 14 October 2016 following the Privy Council’s issue of an Order of Grant at their meeting on 12 October 2016.

APM continues to be committed to achieving Chartered status on behalf of the project management profession. This will:

• raise standards through a robustly assessed register of project professionals who are committed to professional development and a code of conduct;
• enhance the status and recognition of project management as a means of delivering effective change that improves our economy and society;
• facilitate continued collaboration and research with other professions to develop the practice and theory of delivering successful change across sectors and industries.

Progress and next steps

This broad outline summarises the phases involved in order to establish an operational Chartered body.

Stage 1 – The Grant of a Royal Charter by the Privy Council 
The Privy Council has now considered APM’s application for Chartered status and issued the Order of Grant on 14 October 2016. As a result, APM can now be granted a Charter. However, the process is not yet complete. A Charter must be printed on vellum and sealed as the final stage in the process. This process is now underway.  

Stage 2 – Activation of the new Chartered organisation 
Building on extensive previous preparations, APM’s executive has set up a project to plan and undertake various procedural, legal and accounting steps necessary to activate the new Chartered organisation. 

One of the first steps in this process is for members attending the AGM on 21 November 2016 to consider the following resolution which will be proposed as an Ordinary Resolution:

“That the directors are hereby authorised to transfer the assets and liabilities of the Company to a new Chartered Body Corporate after it has been constituted with the name “the Association for Project Management” at such time as they may determine and it is agreed that members of the Association for Project Management shall become members of that new Chartered Body Corporate in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Charter, By-laws and Regulations of that new Chartered Body Corporate.”

Pursuant to that resolution, further steps would include replacing the existing association with a Chartered organisation with the same membership and transferring its assets to the new Chartered organisation. This would require registration of the new Chartered organisation as a charity.

Stage 3 – Launch of the register of Chartered Project Professionals 
To launch its register of Chartered Project Professionals, the new Chartered organisation would be required to conduct a consultation on aspects of the new Chartered designation. It would give due consideration to the results of the consultation in order to finalise the applicable criteria for admission to the register. Once these regulations are in place, it would begin accepting applications to the register of Chartered Project Professionals. It is anticipated that Registered Project Professionals would have already demonstrated the competence level required for any future Chartered standard.

APM has been working towards the objective of creating a Chartered organisation for some time. It is well placed to deliver the benefits of Chartered status for members and wider society. APM will continue to communicate proposals and progress.

14 October 2016: APM takes significant step towards Chartered status

Background information on APM’s application for a Royal Charter

Road to Professionalism: the timeline of APM’s application for a Royal Charter

Visit the Privy Council website for more information about Chartered status