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What are the PRINCE2 qualifications and what will they teach me?
There are two PRINCE2 qualification levels: PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner.
A PRINCE2 Foundation qualification will teach you the PRINCE2 principles, terminology and when qualified you will be able to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2 methodology within a project environment supporting PRINCE2.
A PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification is the highest level of PRINCE2 qualification and will teach you to apply PRINCE2 to the running and managing of a project within an environment supporting PRINCE2. Once qualified you will be able to apply and tune PRINCE2 to address the needs and problems of a specific project scenario. You will have a comprehensive knowledge of the relationships between the PRINCE2 processes, components, techniques and PRINCE2 products and will understand the principles underpinning these elements.
How do I get a PRINCE2 qualification? How do I get PRINCE2 certification?
For a PRINCE2 Foundation qualification you should complete an accredited PRINCE2 computer based training course or PRINCE2 classroom course including the official exam for the PRINCE2 basics and terminology and to gain PRINCE2 Foundation certification.
To become a registered PRINCE2 Practitioner, which is the highest level of PRINCE2 qualification, you need to complete an accredited PRINCE2 Practitioner blended learning course or PRINCE2 Practitioner classroom course, both of which include the PRINCE2 Foundation qualification and both exams.
What will a PRINCE2 qualification do for me?
The PRINCE2 project management methodology is the de-facto standard for project management in the UK and is practiced worldwide. It covers the management, control and organisation of a project.
A qualification in PRINCE2 will not only boost your skills and confidence when managing projects but will greatly improve your employment prospects. Many organisations, both private and public, mandate the use of PRINCE2 and therefore require their staff to be competent and qualified to practice the method.
What is the origin of the name PRINCE?
PRINCE is an acronym derived from Projects IN Controlled Environments.
What is PRINCE2?
It is a method for managing projects, there is no Hardware or Software (apart from supporting tools) just a best practice approach to running Projects in a consistent and referenceable framework.
PRINCE2 is flexible, adaptable and as much as a Project method can be, friendly.
PRINCE2 may be similar to what you currently use, but what it does best is pull together common names and descriptions into a structure that anyone familiar with PRINCE2 can understand, regardless of background and Industry.
How do I buy PRINCE2 and how much is it?
You cannot buy PRINCE2 as such, it is free to use under licence by any person or company, all you need to pay for is training and possibly assistance in implementation.
To understand if PRINCE2 is right for your company requires an investment of time, or help from an accredited PRINCE2 Consultancy organisation.
How do I get recognised in PRINCE2?
It depends on if you are an individual or company. To get recognised in PRINCE2 as an individual you need to achieve certification at either Foundation or Practitioner level. As a very rough guideline if you are involved in Projects in a supporting role (you may be in a marketing, administration or technical job), Foundation level may be suffice. If generally you are leading projects then Practitioner is the level you should aim at.
For companies wishing to adopt PRINCE2, the route tends to be slightly different. The biggest decision is decide if PRINCE2 is right for you, and that requires an investment of time, collecting and reviewing information from the marketplace.
You could just take the view that with over 30,000 people having taken the PRINCE2 exams so far, it must be pretty proven and successful, otherwise it would not have the worldwide take-up it does.
Once you have decided to implement PRINCE2, then you need to plan an adoption strategy. The most common approach is to train an initial group of people, then run a PRINCE2 project to decide if PRINCE2 is right for you, or run a pilot PRINCE2 project. Remember that PRINCE2 is configurable, so from the initial Project you can start to look at what parts of PRINCE2 you may or may not use.
Why do I need a PRINCE2 qualification?
Individual
The majority of people that consider PRINCE2 as a qualification do so for career and personal development reasons. Often this is driven by a change of job or career, where you notice that to get to the top of the CV pile, you need to have an extra qualification like PRINCE2 (even if you have been managing Projects successfully for many years without it). In many advertised positions PRINCE2 has become a prerequisite, particularly in Public Sector jobs.
Company
The majority of companies that implement PRINCE2 also encourage their employees to take the exams. If your staff have accredited PRINCE2 qualifications, then you can present your company as using PRINCE2. This works particularly well where you tender for or supply to any Public Sector companies, such as Police, NHS, local and central government.
What do PRINCE2 qualifications consist of?
This is fairly straightforward! The two levels of qualification are Foundation and Practitioner. Foundation confirms your understanding of what PRINCE2 is, Practitioner shows your knowledge in the application of PRINCE2.
If your role is one of being on the periphery of Projects, perhaps Project Administration, sponsor or on secondment, then Foundation level may be suffice. It tells people that you can work within a PRINCE2 project effectively.
If you are a contractor or Project Manager, then chances are Practitioner level is the right certification, as it demonstrates the ability to run PRINCE2 projects.
For individuals, we would say that the majority do eventually go to Practitioner level, some in stages, others in one go.
Most companies generally train everyone involved in the project to Foundation Level, with a core of Project Managers to Practitioner Level.
Can I just use the PRINCE2 manual to study?
You can, as the PRINCE2 manual contains pretty much everything you need. However it is hard work, and often your own interpretation of PRINCE2 may be different to that required. If you are working on a shoestring budget, then this may be the only option open to you, but with all the extra study involved, your time may be better spent learning using an accredited course such as the ILX Groupmultimedia training CD.
Visit our online bookstore to purchase a copy of the manual.
Where can I sit the exams and how much are they?
Exams can be taken at any accredited training company or there are open exam centers in Milton Keynes, York and Winsford. These Exams run only on certain days and places are pretty much booked in advance, sometimes there is a 4-6 weeks waiting list. Bear this in mind when planning your training.
If you are based outside the UK and wish to complete a PRINCE2 exam, it is usually possible to sit them in a British Council office. Please contact the APM Group directly for more information on public exams.
You can Telephone: +44 (0)1494 452 450 to arrange the exam, email info@apmgroup.co.uk or visit the website www.prince2.org.uk
Foundation = £190 including VATPractitioner = £350 including VAT
Both = £540 including VAT
Do I get my name on a list to prove I have done the exams?
The APMG run an online register to show candidates that have passed Foundation and/or Practitioner. This can be found at www.prince2.org.uk
As an employer you can also check the validity of peoples PRINCE2 certification, prior to contract or employment.
I want to go straight to Practitioner training!
In order to be eligible for the Practitioner exam you must have successfully completed the Foundation exam. This is important as the Foundation level covers all of the theory of PRINCE2, which is essential for passing the Practitioner exam.
You can however take a fast track route by combining the two levels. This can be achieved through blended learning or a five day classroom course.
Here is a quote from the Police IT Organisation (PITO):
..."The PRINCE2 Foundation course has proved an excellent investment for us. We took the PRINCE2 exam brimming with confidence and all passed..."
We require training that combines classroom as well!
No problem, in fact around a third of our customers use the multimedia to facilitate training, and the opportunity to integrate in specific changes or details unique to their organisation. One such organisation was BT, who combined workshops with the multimedia approach.
This quote is from Ewart - Project Director, BT
..."I'd like to thank you for the very positive, flexible support I received from you throughout the delivery of the Computer Based Training which resulted in a 100% pass rate and saw some 80+ project managers attain the PRINCE2 accreditation..."
How big does a project have to be before PRINCE2 can be used?
PRINCE2 can be applied to all sorts of projects, from the very small to the very large. Even projects lasting only a few days will benefit from selective application of PRINCE2 guidelines. The key to success with PRINCE2 is to remember it is highly configurable, and so can be adapted for all project types regardless of industry and marketplace.
Is PRINCE2 aimed at any particular type of project?
PRINCE2 is designed to be applied generally to all types of project, be they construction, engineering, IT, business, financial or whatever. In the past, it has been aimed at IT projects, and so it is still well used in this area however there has been significant growth recently in other industries, especially Telecoms and Finance.
Do I need a computer based planning tool to implement PRINCE2?
No! PRINCE2 makes no recommendation on which tools you should use to assist you manage your projects but it does recognise that such tools are widely used. PRINCE2 will sit quite happily alongside a paper-based planning system or any other tool which you find to be effective in your environment.
Is PRINCE2 suitable for non-IT projects?
Yes! Unlike the first version of PRINCE, PRINCE2 is designed to be generic and can be used for projects of any nature.
Does PRINCE2 guarantee a successful outcome to projects?
No! but applied sensibly it will increase the chances of your projects being successful.
Who owns/sells PRINCE2?
The copyright of PRINCE2 belongs to the UK Office of Government and Commerce (OGC) , the material itself is therefore Crown Copyright. The marketing of the manuals is carried out by The Stationery Office (formerly known as HMSO).
How do I become PRINCE2 certified and how much does it cost?
The ILX Group, as well as providing PRINCE2 resources, also offer a range of fully accredited training courses.
These are offered via e-learning, classroom or a mixture of both.
To look at the various options and prices visit our training website, http://www.ilxgroup.com/prince2.htm or contact one of our training advisors by email at training@ilxgroup.com.
Are there any prerequisites before taking the course?
No, but general Project Management training is ideal.
If you need to study a generic project management course then our APM Introductory Certificate course may be of interest.
What countries recognise PRINCE2?
Most organisations around the world recognise PRINCE2 as a standard methodology.
How many exams would I need to take?
You need to take two exams to become fully qualified, PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner.
- Foundation exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, you need 50% or more correct to pass.
- The Practitioner exam has a scenario background and 3 questions.
- Each of the 3 questions is worth 50 marks.
- Overall score of 75 out of a possible 150 is required to pass.
- Three hour duration open-book examination. (only paper-based reference material is allowed)
I've done the Foundation training and exam already how do I become a Practitioner?
You need to sit a two day upgrade course - this is available as an intensive course or as an e-learning course combined with a workshop.
Visit http://www.ilxgroup.com/prince2.htm for more details. or contact one of our training advisors on training@ilxgroup.com.
How can I sit the exams if I am overseas?
Please contact the APM Group to arrange this.
Please email info@apmgroup.co.uk or Tel: +44 (0)1494 452 450
Where do I go if I still require further information?
There is an active PRINCE2 Discussion Forum on this Web site where you can ask any other questions.
Also here are some other key contacts on the Web:
APM Group
The governing body for PRINCE2 worldwide, they look after accreditation, exams and licensing of PRINCE2. Telephone: +44 (0)1494 452 450 or visit their Web site at www.apmgroup.co.uk
TSO
The Stationery Office own the copyright to the PRINCE2 Manual and other supporting documents. They can be contacted at www.tso.co.uk
OGC
The Office of Government and Commerce owns PRINCE2, and has a responsibility for management and updates for PRINCE2. The OGC can be contacted at...
The Office of Government and Commerce
Rosebery Court
St Andrews Business Park
Norwich NR7 0HS
Help Desk: 0845 000 4999
General Tel: 01603 622 211
Fax: 01603 704 817
Email: servicedesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk
Web: www.ogc.gov.uk
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