Human Centric Evaluation: Get tested on your real life experience and not jargon
- appliedpm
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
Tired of memorizing project management acronyms only to forget them after the exam? Fed up with certifications that test theoretical knowledge but leave you unprepared for actual project challenges?
This is the gap the Centre of Applied Project Management (CAPM) is on a mission to close. Instead of simply awarding certificates for memorizing frameworks, CAPM adopts a human-centric approach that evaluates what really matters—your ability to successfully deliver real projects in a constantly changing world.
Why Traditional PM Certifications Fall Short
Most project management courses follow a predictable pattern:
Read thick manuals packed with abstract theory.
Memorize frameworks that feel disconnected from reality.
Pass a multiple-choice exam.
Hope you’ll figure out application on the job later.
But anyone who has led a real project knows this doesn’t work. Projects aren’t controlled environments where everything goes by the book. They are dynamic, hybrid, and often unpredictable. Stakeholders change requirements halfway through, budgets shrink overnight, or priorities shift dramatically.
Certifications built on rote knowledge fail to prepare professionals for this messy reality. CAPM was designed specifically to address this problem.
Learning That Actually Helps
Centre of Applied Project Management has designed every unit using Kolb's Learning Cycle and adult learning principles because project management is best learned when you actually apply it.
Here's how our approach differs:
Watch: Get your concepts right with 10-12 concise videos per unit, averaging 7 minutes each. Short enough to keep your attention, deep enough to make it stick. No 3-hour lectures that put you to sleep.
Read: Articles and case studies handpicked for relevance, so you see exactly how the theory plays out in real projects. Every reading connects directly to situations you'll face as a project manager.
Do: Test your learning progress with quick quizzes, and start working like a pro from day one using the Project Manager's Toolbox—with 10+ ready-to-use templates that you can immediately implement in your current role.
Evaluation That Tests Real Competence
Centre of Applied Project Management's evaluation process grows more detailed as you advance, mirroring the increasing complexity of project leadership roles:
CPO (Certified Project Officer): Online assessment that tests practical application of fundamental project concepts through scenario-based questions, not rote memorization.
CPM (Certified Project Manager): Online assessment plus case writing evaluated by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). You'll document and analyze a real project you've managed, demonstrating how you applied course concepts to achieve measurable outcomes.
CPD (Certified Project Director): Online assessment, case writing, and interview—all evaluated by experienced SMEs. The interview dives deep into your project leadership decisions, stakeholder management strategies, and lessons learned from complex initiatives.
What Makes This Human-Centric?
Subject Matter Expert Evaluation: Your case studies and interviews are reviewed by practicing project management professionals who understand the messy reality of project work. They're looking for authentic problem-solving, not textbook answers.
Real Project Focus: Instead of hypothetical scenarios, you're evaluated on projects you've actually managed or contributed to significantly. This ensures your certification reflects genuine competence, not exam-taking ability.
Context Recognition: SMEs understand that project management looks different across industries, company sizes, and cultural contexts. They evaluate your decision-making within your specific environment rather than expecting one-size-fits-all solutions.
Practical Application: Every assessment component—from case writing to interviews—mirrors the actual work project managers do: analyzing performance, explaining decisions, and learning from outcomes.
The Centre of Applied Project Management Difference
Other certifications might ask:
“What does the PMBOK say about risk management?”
CAPM asks:
“How did you identify and mitigate the biggest risk in your last project—and what would you do differently next time?”
This human-centric approach produces professionals who don't just carry certifications—they deliver successful projects. Because at the end of the day, your stakeholders don't care if you can recite project management jargon. They care if you can get projects to "Done."
Ready to be evaluated on what really matters? Learn more about Centre of Applied Project Management's human-centric approach at appliedpm.org
