MSP® 5th Edition Practitioner
Why Choose Us
The MSP® Practitioner certification will equip you with the knowledge you require in order to successfully manage, deliver, and realise the benefits of programmes. If you would like to ensure you possess all the skills needed to effectively manage a programme, this is the certification for you!
What’s included
In your MSP® 5th Edition PractitionerCourse
The MSP® 5th Edition Practitioner certification builds on your Foundation knowledge, giving you the expertise to apply the MSP principles, themes, and processes in real programme environments. You’ll learn how to manage and lead complex change initiatives, ensuring multiple projects align to deliver strategic outcomes. With expert guidance throughout, this advanced, industry-recognised qualification positions you for senior roles in programme and transformation management.
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What you will learn
The MSP 5th Edition Practitioner course takes you beyond the Foundation level to develop the ability to apply and adapt MSP in real programme environments. Building on your knowledge of principles, themes, and processes, Practitioner equips you with the confidence to manage programmes that deliver transformational change while aligning with organisational strategy. You will learn how to interpret MSP guidance in context, respond to complex challenges, and demonstrate your capability to lead at programme level.
Applying MSP Principles in Practice
Learn how to take the seven MSP principles and apply them to real scenarios. You will explore how principles such as focusing on benefits and outcomes, leading with purpose, and aligning with strategy can be interpreted in different organisational contexts. By the end of this section, you will be able to justify and defend how principles are used to support programme success.
Tailoring Governance Themes
Go beyond theory by applying MSP’s governance themes to practical programme situations. You will learn how to adapt themes such as organisation, justification, design, and assurance to the size, complexity, and risk profile of your programme. This section also shows how to strike the right balance between control and flexibility, ensuring governance is effective without becoming restrictive.
Using MSP Processes to Deliver Change
Develop the skills to apply MSP’s lifecycle processes to live programmes. You will learn how to apply the steps for identifying, designing, planning, delivering, and closing programmes, and how to tailor these to reflect the realities of organisational change. This section equips you with the ability to use processes as practical tools, not just theoretical models.
Designing and Delivering Programme Blueprints
Learn how to turn vision into reality by designing blueprints and target operating models. You will apply techniques for creating future state designs that guide change and define the capabilities required. By practising blueprinting, you will gain the skills to ensure programmes are designed for sustainable, long term benefit delivery.
Business Case and Benefits Realisation in Action
Gain confidence in applying business case and benefits management techniques to real programme environments. You will learn how to adapt business case structures, validate assumptions, and track benefits throughout delivery. This section also covers how to manage benefit dependencies across projects and how to ensure benefits are embedded after the programme ends.
Programme Risk and Issue Management
Learn how to manage programme level risks and issues in complex, changing environments. You will apply MSP techniques for identifying, assessing, and responding to risks that affect multiple projects or stakeholders. This section builds your ability to integrate risk management into decision making and governance, helping programmes stay resilient under uncertainty.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Strategies
Develop the ability to create stakeholder engagement strategies that respond to different attitudes, priorities, and cultural contexts. You will learn how to apply communication approaches that build trust, overcome resistance, and maintain alignment in challenging programme environments. This section gives you practical tools for managing relationships that are critical to programme success.
Programme Assurance and Quality Management
Learn how to apply assurance and quality management practices to maintain confidence in programme delivery. You will practise tailoring assurance activities, planning reviews, and monitoring quality against agreed standards. This section ensures that you can provide governance bodies with transparent reporting and evidence that outcomes are on track.
Adapting MSP for Complex Programmes
Understand how MSP guidance can be tailored for large, multi layered, or complex programmes. You will learn how to scale themes and processes, manage interdependencies, and adjust governance structures to suit different organisational environments. By mastering this adaptability, you will be prepared to apply MSP confidently in any context.
Career and Progression Prospects
The MSP® Practitioner qualification prepares you to step into senior programme and transformation roles, leading complex change and ensuring multiple projects deliver strategic results. It’s ideal for experienced project and change professionals ready to move into programme management or advance to leadership positions.
What You Could Earn
We want to help you achieve the best outcome in your studies so you can flourish in your desired path.
Junior Programme Manager
per year
Programme Manager
per year
Senior Programme Manager
per year
Included with your course.
Stay on track with direct access to expert recommendations, general support, and answers to all your questions. Kick-start your course with a 45-minute guidance session within 1-week of enrolment, followed by regular monthly check-in emails. You can also request a live session with your trainer halfway through the course.
Translate your theory into practical experience with exposure to real-life project management by shadowing a virtual project manager.
Connect with a thriving community of certified PRINCE2 Project Managers and current students to exchange essential course tips and industry-specific insights to help you along your journey.
Get personalised interview coaching from qualified professionals who know what employers are looking for to secure your dream job!
Stay motivated throughout your learning journey with a personal study coach who provides all the ad-hoc support you need to succeed in your certification.
Get instant help when you need it! Our live chat team is always ready to assist with prompt, real-time responses—and when not available, you’ll have an interactive 24/7 AI Tutor Bot standing by for immediate answers.
While you can finish the course in less time, we still want you to study at your own pace with 3 months of full access to your course materials; giving you plenty of time to revisit the content whenever you need.
MSP® Practitioner Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions, and we have all the answers
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) is a programme management methodology that provides a framework for managing programmes effectively. It outlines a series of steps, processes, and best practices to ensure that programmes are aligned with business objectives, deliver benefits, and achieve the desired outcomes. MSP® is perceived to be a holistic process; you might use MSP® to plan and coordinate a series of related projects or initiatives that aim to achieve a strategic goal.
MSP® Practitioner is targeted at anyone who manages programmes, or anyone looking to be a part of a Programme Team. It’s key for other staff involved in the design, development, and delivery of programmes, too.
The MSP® Practitioner certification is assessed and awarded by means of an examination. This exam comprises of 70 objective questions. Your exam will be 2.5 hours long, and you will be required to score 60% (42 out of 70) or higher in order to pass. This is an open-book exam, and so you will be able to make use of the Managing Successful Programmes 5th Edition handbook should wish.
This certification confirms that you are able to apply the MSP® framework and will essentially validate your knowledge and understanding of the MSP® so that you are able to work with, or as part of, a programme management team in a large-scale project environment. It will enhance your coordination, adaptability, communication, and management skills.
As of 2023, PeopleCert Best Global Practice certifications need to be renewed after 3 years of having obtained your qualification. This is to ensure your certification remains in line with current best practices within your industry.
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Learn more by speaking to one of our consultants
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