About USM Certification
Overview
Unified Service Management (USM) Training and Certification
Benefits of USM Certification
For Organizations
- USM can be applied to all organisations operating with an Enterprise Service Management Framework (ESMF).
- It provides a system to control healthcare data, civil data while realizing compliance to professional management standards such as ISO 27001 and ISO 20000 at a fraction of the cost and is simple to implement.
- USM is an easy-to-use methodical approach, which are based on the individual business’ principles and functions.
Useful links
Useful links
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USM Portal
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Join a free USM Masterclass
Success in 1 2 3
Over 2.6 million people in 192 countries have an APMG certification. Our certifications are used by 80% of the FTSE 100 and a third of the Fortune 500 and S&P 500, and are proven to deliver better outcomes.
Select your certification
APMG certifications can advance your career, build your confidence and help you transition into a new field. Browse our careers section for inspiration or visit our certification pages for details of what you’ll learn and how you will benefit from certification.
Choose your learning style
APMG is not a training provider. Please contact accredited training organization's listed on our website for prices and dates. Alternatively, you can self-study for an exam directly through APMG.
Pass the exam & receive a certificate
When you are ready to take your exam, book an online timeslot yourself with APMG, or your training organization may organize this for you. If you pass your exam APMG will issue you with a digital badge for you to share!
USM Certification levels
Ready to start your learning journey?
Choose a Training Organization
APMG accredits Training Organizations (ATOs) to make sure they are delivering our products and certifications to high standards.
Buy a training course and exam through one of our Training Organizations below.
Training organizations for USM Certification
Testimonials
I think the simplification of this is brilliant, makes it usable and clear.
This is what we should have learned before all the practices.
Einstein would love it.
Thought-provoking simplification!
Simplified approach, great thinking!
SFIA
This APMG certification has been informally mapped against the SFIA Framework to indicate the skills that are addressed and referenced by the certification. Although it is not yet possible to claim this digital badge, the indicative skills can be used to plan your professional development through assessing the skills you have and the skills you need for the role you want.
knowledge
USM Foundation
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3
Same as above plus Generic attribute Knowledge level 4, Methods and Tools up to level 5, Business Process Improvement level 5, Organisational Capability Development level 5
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FAQs
USM is a universal methodical approach for service management, providing a standardized management system for a service organization to manage its people, its processes, its technology, and its services, based on an explicit service management architecture. Find out more at the USM website.
The Core Guidance for the USM Foundation exam is the ‘USM – An Introduction’ manual, which is available at the USM Portal, at Amazon, and through your ATO.
The USM Foundation examination is available in English and Dutch.
The core guidance is available in print and in e-books in English, in Dutch. For Public Education Institutes it is also available in an online format in Spanish.
For individuals self-studying it is almost impossible to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time available for study, it varies from person to person. We suggest you buy the manual and have a look through for yourself before deciding how long you need to spend learning.
For those studying with an accredited training organization, the USM Foundation courses are two-days long.
Summaries of the structure of the USM Foundation examination and the USM Practitioner assessments are below:
USM Foundation
- 60 minute duration
- Multiple choice
- 40 questions
- 26/40 required to pass
- Closed book
USM Professional – divided into four roles
- USM Trainer
- USM Coach
- USM Tool Auditor
- USM Product Expert
USM Professional – a 3-day training course including the USM Foundation Exam. An elevated exam score of 30 out of 40 is required for access to the Train the Professional courses that are provided by the Scheme Owner.
USM Professional Bridge: a 1-day training course aimed at individuals who have already successfully completed the USM Foundation course and the USM Foundation Exam and wish to transition to a USM Professional role. An elevated exam score of 30 out of 40 is required for successful completion of the USM Professional Bridge course. If the elevated score hasn’t been achieved, a re-take of the exam will be required.
No, the USM Foundation exam is closed book.
The USM Foundation certification does not expire.
USM Professional roles must be maintained in line with APMG’s and SURVUZ Foundation guidelines.
Pass marks for the USM examinations are as follows:
Foundation: You will need to score 26/40 to pass the foundation exam.
- Candidates progressing to a USM Professional role must pass the foundation exam with an elevated score of 30/40 and successfully complete their assessment.
- Provisional results: After completing the Foundation examination, candidates may receive provisional results either orally from the invigilator or on-screen at the end of an online exam.
- Official results: Once processed, official results, including a PDF breakdown of marks by syllabus area, are available in the APMG Candidate Portal. Results are issued as the total number of marks achieved.
- Processing time: Exam papers are usually marked immediately after the exam. APMG formally processes and confirms results via the Candidate Portal within 2 working days of receiving completed papers.
- Outstanding payments: In exceptional cases, results may be withheld until full payment has been received.