PRINCE2 is a leading structured project management methodology designed to provide organizations with clear guidance on managing projects effectively, offering seven principles, themes, and processes for successful implementation. It benefits individuals by enhancing career prospects, salary, and confidence while also improving organizational project management practices. The document emphasizes the importance of PRINCE2 certification and training for both job seekers and organizations to adapt to the evolving project management landscape.

1. PRINCE2 Resources
e-book 1
Phone: +44 (0)207 148 5985
Email: info@knowledgetrain.co.uk

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRINCE2 Methodology Explained
PRINCE2 and your career
PRINCE2 benefits, advantages and disadvantages
Will a PRINCE2® qualification help me get a job?
10 reasons your boss should fund your
PRINCE2® training
PRINCE2 certification
Selecting the best PRINCE2® training provider
PRINCE2® qualifications and AXELOS membership
PRINCE2® from an employer's perspective
PRINCE2 FAQs

3. PRINCE2 Methodology
Explained
PRINCE2 Methodology - Introduction
PRINCE2 is the world’s leading structured project management
methodology. PRINCE2 is structured to provide clear guidance
about the best ways to manage projects. It helps organizations
get better control over projects and better return on investment.
The PRINCE2 method is structured into 7 well-defined processes
to address typical project management needs.
PRINCE2 consists of 4 integrated elements:
1. Principles
2. Themes
3. Processes
4. Tailoring to the project environment.

4. PRINCE2 Methodology - Principles
The 7 PRINCE2 principles are:
1. Continued business justification
Justify every project otherwise it could be a waste of time and/or
resources. Even compulsory projects need justification.
2. Learn from experience
Enables organisations to improve their project management
abilities. Avoid repeating bad things from previous projects.
Repeat the good things.
3. Define roles and responsibilities
Every decision-maker must understand their responsibilities. This
avoids ‘passing the buck’.
4. Manage by stages
Break down the project into 'management' stages. These form 'go
or no-go' decision points. If the project is still worthwhile, proceed
to the next stage. Otherwise close the project.
5. Manage by exception
In PRINCE2 Senior management delegates day-to-day
responsibility to a project manager. It delegates authority by
setting permitted 'tolerances' – e.g. 10 days +/- 2 days. If a plan
will exceed tolerances, it's an 'exception' to be escalated for a
decision.
6. Focus on products
The project must deliver the right outputs to achieve the desired
outcomes. When planning, focus on whether the products will
meet the users' needs.
7. Tailor to the project environment.
All projects are different. Adapt the PRINCE2 methodology to suit
the project's needs.
PRINCE2 Methodology - Themes
Themes in the PRINCE2 method are project management areas
which must be managed throughout the project. In the PRINCE2
methodology themes equate to Knowledge Areas in the PMBOK
Guide® [1].

5. The PRINCE2 method has 7 themes:
1. Business case
Document the project's justification. Maintain the justification in
the form of a business case. It should contain a cost-benefit
analysis to to weigh up the benefits versus costs, times and risks.
2. Organization
The highest level of decision-making is the project board. It
delegates to a project manager who delegates to team managers.
It 'manages by exception' and doesn’t need regular progress
meetings with the project manager.
Project assurance monitors the project’s performance and
products. It advises the project board and project manager.
A change authority decides about changes. Project support
assists project and team managers.
3. Quality
The users must get the right products. Otherwise, they won't get
the outcomes and benefits expected. Products must be delivered
to user specifications.
4. Plans
Different plans (project, stage, team) are needed by the project
board, project and team manager.
Plans define the what, when, who and how much? After approval
manage baseline plans under change control.
5. Risk
Risk is any uncertain event which could have a negative or
positive impact on the project. Manage risks regularly. Escalate
risks to senior management if necessary.
6. Change
Change always happens - either from outside (e.g. new laws) or
inside (e.g. users’ requirements change). In PRINCE2 a change
authority uses a change budget to pay for changes.
7. Progress
Track progress using regular time-driven reports. Take decisions
using ad-hoc reports. Send reports to the next highest
management level.

6. Compare what's happened against what should have happened.
Adjust the plan to get things 'back on track'.
PRINCE2 Methodology - Processes
Processes in PRINCE2 describe:
1. What decisions are required?
2. Who takes decisions?
3. What management products (e.g. plans or reports) support
decision-making?
4. When decisions are taken?
The PRINCE2 Processes are where the principles and themes
within the methodology get applied. Processes within the
PRINCE2 methodology equate to ‘Process Groups’ in the PMBOK
Guide®.
The PRINCE2 method has 7 processes:
1. Starting up a project
Decides whether the project’s idea is good or not. This requires a
project brief which answers why, what, how and who? (Equates to
the Project Charter in the PMBOK Guide®).
2. Directing a project
The project board 'manages by exception' and receives regular
and ad-hoc reports. It approves all major plans and commits
resources. It authorises the project, management stages and
project closure.
3. Initiating a project
The project manager plans the firm foundations for the
management and control of the project. He/she develops a
project initiation documentation (PID) for project board approval.
(Equates to the Project Management Plan in the PMBOK Guide®).
It answers detailed questions about: why, what, when, who, how
much, what if?
4. Controlling a stage
The project manager manages risks and issues day by day,
assigns and checks work done by teams. He/she reports progress
to the project board at regular intervals, escalates exceptions and
takes corrective actions if needed.

7. 5. Managing product delivery
The team manager gets the team to design, build and test the
'specialist' products (e.g. an IT system). Hands products over as
agreed. Reports regular progress to the project manager.
6. Managing a stage boundary
The project manager plans the next stage and reports progress of
the stage about to finish.
7. Closing a project
The project manager checks whether users ‘accept’ the project's
products. If so, hands products over to the customer. Reports
lessons learned and the achievements of the project.
Recommends closure to the project board. Closes and archives
all project documentation.
PRINCE2 Methodology - Tailoring
The PRINCE2 methodology must be adapted to meet the unique
needs of each project by applying the ‘tailor to the environment’
principle.
When tailoring, consider the project’s scale, geography,
complexity and level of risk, and the organisation maturity and
corporate culture.
Summary
PRINCE2 is a proven methodology used by organisations globally
for over 20 years. It is continuously being improved as project
management practices evolve.
To learn more, consider taking a PRINCE2 course to gain
understanding of this successful project management
methodology.
[1] The PMBOK Guide® (from the Project Management Institute
(PMI®)) is a project management standard describing project
management techniques, processes and knowledge areas.
PMI and the PMBOK are registered marks of Project Management
Institute, Inc.

9. PRINCE2 and your career
Why should I study PRINCE2?
There are 11 good reasons to study PRINCE2:
 PRINCE2 is the top project management method
 More project managers are needed
 Many roles require project management skills
 PRINCE2 can boost your career
 PRINCE2 can boost your salary
 PRINCE2 will make you more confident
 PRINCE2 will make you a better project manager
 PRINCE2 qualifications are quick
 PRINCE2 isn’t difficult
 PRINCE2 can open global doors
 You can gain respect from your peers
More details about the reasons to study PRINCE2 can be found
on our site.

10. What’s the best course to get into project
management?
If you’re UK-based and want a professional certificate in project
management, choose one of these:
Choose one Certification What you’ll get
I’m not in the
software
industry
PRINCE2 Foundation and
Practitioner
Understanding of how
to manage any type of
project
I’m in the
software
industry
AgilePM® Foundation
and Practitioner
Understanding of how
to manage agile
projects
If you’re UK-based and want to learn some practical project
management skills choose one of these:
Choose one Certification What you’ll get
I want a 1-
day practical
course
Introduction to
Project
Management
Basic understanding of
projects and some core tools
and techniques to use on
projects
I want a 2-
day practical
course
Fundamentals of
Project
Management
Wider understanding of
projects and more advanced
tools and techniques to use on
projects
Read more about which course to choose to help you get into
project management.
Can PRINCE2 get me a job?
Yes absolutely. Read the interview with PRINCE2 student Lisa
Gobell. Taking a PRINCE2 course helped her land a job in project
management.
Or watch this video with another PRINCE2 student (Dan Morgan)
who landed a project manager job after taking PRINCE2.
We cannot guarantee you that PRINCE2 will get you a project
management job. Job candidates often need experience too.
Without PRINCE2 though, it is unlikely you will get an interview.

11. PRINCE2 or Agile - which is best?
It depends upon the industry or sector you work in and your
background.
Software and creative industries
Agile methods are often used by developers in the software
industry. Creative industries like marketing often use an iterative
agile approach too.
If you work in these industries take an AgilePM® course instead
of PRINCE2.
Public sector
If you work in the UK public sector, PRINCE2 is the main
qualification. You’ll see it on many job adverts. A PRINCE2
course is better for you.
Other industries and sectors
For anyone else based in the UK, take PRINCE2. PRINCE2 will
give you a good understanding of project management. You can
then apply it on any project.
From outside the UK
If you hold a non-UK qualification such as the PMI PMP, then
consider taking PRINCE2. It's a great compliment because of the
knowledge it provides. You’ll also get PMI PDUs by attending a
PRINCE2 course.

12. PRINCE2 benefits, advantages
and disadvantages
How does PRINCE2 benefit me?
As an individual becoming PRINCE2 certified gives you 4 key
benefits.
1. Career
Gaining PRINCE2 certification can boost your job prospects.
Read Lisa Gobell’s interview or listen to Dan Morgan about how
they both landed project roles after getting PRINCE2 qualified.
2. Salary
Gaining PRINCE2 can boost your earnings. In 2019, jobs in the
UK requiring PRINCE2 ranged between £30-75k (according to
www.indeed.co.uk).
3. Skills
Studying PRINCE2 will give you some core project management
skills to take part in or manage projects.
4. Confidence
Your PRINCE2 knowledge can boost your confidence to apply it
at work.

13. How does PRINCE2 benefit my organisation?
PRINCE2 offers an organisation many benefits.
1. Best practices
PRINCE2 embodies best practices. It is a proven approach to
managing projects.
2. Generic
PRINCE2 is generic. Use it on any project in any industry or sector.
3. Communication
PRINCE2 promotes better communication by providing a
common vocabulary.
4. Accountability
It makes people accountable by defining roles and responsibilities.
5. Outputs
PRINCE2 focuses on what a project delivers. It concentrates
minds on how the outputs will benefit the organisation.
6. Adaptable
PRINCE2 can be adapted to suit the needs of each project.
7. Saves senior managers’ time
PRINCE2 does away with regular progress meetings. Instead it
depends upon reports. This saves time for busy senior managers.
8. Business-focused
PRINCE2 focuses on achieving benefits. This avoids a project
becoming an end-in-itself.
9. Involves stakeholders
PRINCE2 encourages the involvement of stakeholders in
decision-making.
10. Continuous improvement
PRINCE2 has an in-built mechanism for continuous improvement.
11. Consistency
PRINCE2 uses a common language. It promotes consistency and
re-use of assets across projects.
All the benefits above are all great reasons to get your boss to
fund your course.

14. Read more: 10 reasons your boss should fund your
PRINCE2® training >
PRINCE2 advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
1. Widely known
2. Easy to recruit people with certification
3. Based upon project management best practices
4. Is a full project management methodology
5. Can be used on any project type or size
6. Principles can be applied universally
7. Can be used with agile
8. Complements the PMBOK® Guide
9. Certification is quick (compared with PMP®)
10.No prior qualifications needed.
Disadvantages
1. Only has 2 tools and techniques (over 100 in
PMBOK® Guide)
2. Doesn’t cover soft skills
3. Easy to run PINO projects (PRINCE2 IN name Only)
4. Requires senior management buy-in to be successful
5. Requires experience to apply it well
6. Has (unfair) reputation that it’s documentation-heavy
7. Has (unfair) reputation that it only supports waterfall
approach.

15. PRINCE2 benefits infographic

16. Will a PRINCE2® qualification
help me get a job?
A career in project management is varied and exciting. It's a role
requiring strong leadership, communication and organisational
abilities, along with specific project management knowledge.
Because it's a challenging role, project managers often command
excellent salaries. PRINCE2 is a project management
methodology which can assist all project managers. Read this
article to discover more about PRINCE2 and how it can help you
enter this exciting profession.
Project manager jobs in demand
As a PRINCE2 training course provider, we receive many
enquiries from people who want to know why they should get
PRINCE2 qualified.
Requiring strong organisational and leadership abilities rather than
specialist industry knowledge, project management provides a
varied, exciting and challenging career.
With 1.5 to 2 million people in the UK earning their living as
project managers[i], and over 21 million new project management
roles estimated to be created globally from 2017 to 2027[ii], the

17. popularity of project management as a career choice shows no
signs of slowing down.
In the UK, it is estimated that the demand for project manager
roles will increase by 20% between 2017 and 2027 [3].
Many jobs require certification
When looking for roles, many jobseekers will find that certification
in a project management method is a prerequisite for many jobs.
The most popular method in the UK is PRINCE2, widely renowned
as the method of choice amongst organisations across all
industries and seen as a standard in the public sector.
As the two-tier PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner
qualifications are prerequisites for many project management
positions, getting fully PRINCE2 certified is certainly a step in the
right direction.
How do I get in?
Although becoming PRINCE2 certified will provide a boost to your
CV, getting a project management job can require several years of
experience within a technical role appropriate to the project.
Junior roles
If you are taking your first steps into project management, there
are a growing number of junior and trainee project management
roles available, as well as graduate internships, which can all give
you a solid starting point in which to work your way up.
It is also possible to gain relevant experience by working in an
administrative position within a project team.
Working in project support gives you an excellent insight into the
way project managers work and gives you a lot of experience in
working on actual projects.
If you are finding it tough to get into an entry-level project role,
boosting a CV that lacks practical experience can be done by
gaining certification in a project management method or software,
and you can always add relevant experience from your personal
life.

18. PRINCE2 certification
The most widely used project management method in the UK is
PRINCE2, so becoming familiar with the terminology, principles
and structure of this methodology will make any candidate stand
out for a project support role.
Knowledge of project management software such as MS Project
can also prove to employers that you are equipped with the
practical skills needed for the role.
Remember – all skills count
If you have no formal ‘on the job’ experience in projects, why not
take inspiration from your personal life?
Remember that time you expertly planned a fund-raising event for
charity, or when you managed your sister’s wedding? Add it to
your CV.
Experience can also be gained from getting involved in voluntary
work, such as conservation projects, voluntarily teaching people
new skills or planning fundraising events.
By taking on projects outside of the formal business environment,
you are still gaining the vital experience and skills needed for the
role, as well as providing a boost to your CV.
Moving up
Beyond the administrative roles, positions such as project
planner and project analyst provide useful stepping-stones for
those wanting to pursue a project management career.
These usually work alongside the project manager, thereby
gaining in-depth knowledge of the specific project and insights
into the practical application of project management methods.
Project manager role
The fundamental role of a project manager is to coordinate a
finite set of resources - people, money, materials - in order to
deliver products (or outputs) which the customer has specified.
Some examples of products might be a new IT system, the
staging of a concert, or a marketing campaign.
The project manager is responsible for planning, communication
with different stakeholders, reporting to senior management,

19. managing issues and risks, and monitoring the progress of the
project.
Typical pay
According to the UK government’s National Careers Service [4],
the average starting salary for a project manager is around
£22,000 a year, which rises to £70,000 a year with experience.
Programme manager role
A natural career progression for a project manager with
experience is the programme manager role. This role is
responsible for the planning and coordination of multiple related
projects, each managed by a project manager.
Programme managers usually have at least eight years of
experience behind them, including senior project management
positions and the organisation of large project teams.
Programme management qualifications are also a frequent
'desirable' at this level, the most common in the UK being MSP.
A well-paid and demanding role, programme management
requires in-depth understanding of the project management
process, and the ability and drive to make each project happen.
Typical pay
The average salary for a programme manager is around £65,000
per year, rising to over £90,000 for the most experienced
people [5].
As a career with excellent progression and salary opportunities,
gaining certification such as PRINCE2 will help you make that vital
first step.
Conclusion
As you can see from this article, the demand for project managers
will increase in the coming years. There are not enough qualified
and experienced project managers who can fill these roles.
Setting foot into a project management career can be helped by
gaining professional project management certification. In the UK,
that usually means PRINCE2.
The added advantage of gaining PRINCE2 is that you will also
learn the world’s most popular project management methodology

20. which will stand you in good stead when you land your first
project manager role and need to put your theory into practice.
References
[1] National Centre for Project Management. (2014). Background.
Available: http://www.eis.mdx.ac.uk/ncpm/background.html. Last
accessed 21 Nov 2018.
[2] [3]Project Management Institute. (2017). Project Management
Job Growth and Talent Gap 2017 & 2027. Available:
https://www.pmi.org/-
/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/job-growth-report.pdf.
Last accessed 23 Nov 2018.
[4] National Careers Service. (2018). Job profiles – business
project manager. Available:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/business-
project-manager. Last accessed 21 Nov 2018.
[5] PayScale. (2018). Average Program Manager, IT Salary.
https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Program_Manager
%2c_IT/Salary. Last accessed 21 Nov 2018.

21. 10 reasons your boss should
fund your PRINCE2® training
Projects help organizations change, grow and move forward.
Organizations also perform projects to benefit their customers,
clients or the general public.
If you’re a project manager and you want your boss to fund
your PRINCE2 training, how do you convince them to pay for it?
Read this article for 10 reasons to help you sell your training
course to your boss!
1. Return on investment
If you go on a PRINCE2 course
and come back brimming with
knowledge and ideas about how
to better manage your projects,
then your organization will
benefit as you begin to manage
your projects more effectively.
Therefore, your boss can expect
a better return on investment
(ROI) from your future projects.

22. So, investing a small amount now to get a much bigger ROI in
future is surely a no-brainer!
2. Generic
No matter how big or how small
your project is, no matter what
type of project it is, you can still
use PRINCE2. That’s right – it
can be used on all types and
sizes of projects. That means
your marketing projects as well
as your IT projects can all be
managed with the same
method.
3. Save your boss’s time
Nobody likes to attend meetings,
especially the boring progress-
type meetings. Your boss is
probably already extremely busy
and when your next project starts,
he or she is probably dreading
the extra meetings required.
Well, the good news for your
boss is that PRINCE2
recommends not having regular
meetings between the project
manager and project sponsor
because the information about
progress can be conveyed in
reports. Applying PRINCE2
therefore will save your boss time.

23. 4. Most popular for a reason
PRINCE2 is the world’s most
popular project management
framework. More people are
certified in PRINCE2 than any
other project management
certification.
It's widely practiced especially
in the UK, but increasingly
internationally. That’s in both
the public and private sectors.
Many international
organizations use PRINCE2 to
help them manage their
projects.
There’s a good reason why
these organizations use it – it’s a proven and effective method
which works. It can work for your organization too.
5. Best practices
PRINCE2 is based upon
modern best practices in
project management. In other
words, it was developed by
some very experienced project
managers, so you will benefit
from their enormous experience.
There’s no need for your
organization to create its own
project management method. Just apply PRINCE2 and tailor it to
suit your organization’s needs accordingly.

24. 6. Common
vocabulary
If you study PRINCE2 with
others from your
organization, you’ll learn a
common vocabulary which
you can use on all your
projects. This can help to
make your project
communications more
efficient.
7. Continuously
improve
There’s an inbuilt mechanism in
PRINCE2 to continuously
improve your organization’s
project management practices.
It’s one of PRINCE2’s most
important features. Over time, if
you use PRINCE2 you will learn
to make fewer mistakes and
your projects will become more
efficient. This will help save
your organization time and
money.

25. 8. Works with other methods
If you work in the IT industry, the
chances are that you will have
heard of Agile. These are
development methods recently
designed to assist teams of
software developers deliver
software more efficiently. If your
organization uses agile methods,
they will work alongside PRINCE2.
In fact the latest version of
PRINCE2 was designed to work
alongside such agile methods and
fills many of the holes which exist
with agile methods.
9. Clear structure
PRINCE2 is very clear about
which project management role
is responsible and accountable
and for what. You mean there’s
a bunch of roles defined in
PRINCE2, not just project
manager? That’s right, there’s
team manager role as well as
project manager. There’s a
support role and more senior
roles too.
A great thing about PRINCE2 is
that it specifically describes
which role is responsible for
taking which decisions and when.
This can be of enormous benefit to your projects because it helps
everyone understand who is responsible.

26. 10. Decision points
Every project has a beginning, a
middle and an end. Wouldn’t it
be great if everyone involved
knows what decisions need to
be taken and when? Well, if you
go on a PRINCE2 course, this is
one of the things that you’ll
learn about. This means that
when you plan your project you
can plan the key dates when
your boss will need to be involved in taking decisions.
Summary
So that concludes our 10 ways to sell PRINCE2 training to your
boss.
We’ve shown you in this article how PRINCE2 can be of benefit to
your organization. The relatively small cost involved in you
attending a PRINCE2 training course will be far outweighed by the
benefits once you start to apply PRINCE2 on your projects.
So, don’t delay any longer. Book that meeting with your boss and
explain to him how you think PRINCE2 is going to help him and
your organization better manage its projects

27. PRINCE2 certification
Who certifies PRINCE2?
PRINCE2 is owned by AXELOS. AXELOS keeps PRINCE2 up to
date and sets the PRINCE2 exams and syllabuses. AXELOS
outsources PRINCE2 exam management to PeopleCert.
PeopleCert also manages the PRINCE2 accredited training
organizations.
What is PRINCE2 certification?
PRINCE2 is a leading project management method. PRINCE2
certification consists of 2 well-known globally-recognized
qualifications. The 2 levels of certification are:
Foundation
 This is the entry-level qualification.
 Suitable for people working on or supporting projects.
 If you pass this exam it shows that you understand the
terminology and key concepts of the method.
 Exam is 1-hour and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.
 Pass mark is 55%.
Practitioner
 This is the higher-level qualification.

28.  Pass the Foundation exam before sitting the Practitioner exam.
 If you pass this exam it shows that you can apply PRINCE2 to
simple projects.
 Exam is 2.5-hours and consists of 68 multiple-choice
questions.
 Pass mark is 55%.
What is accredited PRINCE2 training?
Accredited training means a course has been certified by
PeopleCert – the PRINCE2 accreditation body.
If you want to get PRINCE2 qualified, you should only attend
an accredited PRINCE2 training course, or study an accredited
online course.
These are offered by training companies which have been
accredited by PeopleCert on behalf of AXELOS.
Do not pay for training by a company which is not accredited. You
have no idea of the quality of the training. It’s not likely to be very
good.
Which PRINCE2 certificate should I get?
There are 2 PRINCE2 certificates you can aim for.
PRINCE2 Foundation
 Entry-level qualification
 No experience or qualifications required
 99.5% pass rate
 Teaches you:
o a basic understanding of PRINCE2
o how to act as an informed member of a project
management team using PRINCE2.
 Suitable if you want to participate effectively on projects.
Eligibility requirements
None.
Gaining the PRINCE2 Foundation qualification is a prerequisite for
the PRINCE2 Practitioner certificate.

29. PRINCE2 Practitioner
 Higher-level qualification
 No experience required
 Prior qualifications required: Foundation exam
 83% pass rate
 Teaches you:
o to apply PRINCE2 to a project within an environment
supporting PRINCE2
o how to tailor the PRINCE2 themes, processes and
management products to a non-complex project.
 Better suited if you want to manage projects
 More jobs require Practitioner
 Looks better on your CV.
Eligibility requirements
Before taking the PRINCE2 Practitioner examination you must
show proof of passing one of these project management
certifications:
 PRINCE2 Foundation
 PMI® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
 PMI® Project Management Professional (PMP)®
 IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director)
 IPMA Level B® (Certified Senior Project Manager)/li>
 IPMA Level C® (Certified Project Manager)
 IPMA Level D® (Certified Project Management Associate)
In the United Kingdom the Association for Project
Management (APM) is the IPMA chapter. The APM Project
Management Qualification (PMQ) certificate is the IPMA Level D
certification. Out of date certifications do not qualify.
PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner
The PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner qualification will teach you the
following:
 How to combine PRINCE2 with agile methods such as Scrum
 How to tailor PRINCE2 principles, themes and process on an
agile project.

30. Eligibility requirements
Before taking the PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner examination you
must show proof of having passed:
 PRINCE2 Foundation certification.
Students normally gain PRINCE2 certification after
attending PRINCE2 Foundation training. Students can also study
PRINCE2 Foundation online.

31. PRINCE2 Certification infographic

32. Selecting the best
PRINCE2® training provider
There are many PRINCE2 training providers to choose from. All
have their selling points and different prices. But which one
should you choose? Having provided accredited PRINCE2
courses for the past 13 years, we've seen a lot of providers come
and go. As a result, we know what makes a provider good or bad.
Read on to discover what to look for in a PRINCE2 training
provider. Essential reading for any individual or organization
currently trying to choose a provider.
Sales pitch
We’ve all seen the reviews: “Voted the Best PRINCE2 Course”
“It’s official – we train more PRINCE2 students than any
other!” ”100% Pass Rate for PRINCE2!” “Luxury location…”
“FREE training materials. FREE PRINCE2 templates. FREE
PRINCE2 manual.”
Of course, nothing is really free. It’s a sales pitch. And, more than
likely, the training location is not luxury and the statistics have
been fiddled. The past few years have seen an explosion of cheap
PRINCE2 training providers, all sporting variations on these tag
lines. Why is it that these remain effective, despite the fact that

33. most prospective PRINCE2 students are fully aware of the illusory
nature of sales strategies and marketing?
One reason is perhaps the difficulty of knowing the best way to
select a PRINCE2 training provider. There are many factors
involved, not immediately apparent to the PRINCE2 novice. The
nature of PRINCE2 training means that there are a narrow range
of end results for any PRINCE2 course (i.e., choosing PRINCE2
Foundation or Practitioner), and most courses tend to be the
same length. Thus, the only remaining variable seems to be cost,
which can be strikingly different from one training provider to
another.
The training experience matters
However, while cost may be the most obvious variable from the
purchasing end, it is perhaps the least important from the
perspective of the experience and effectiveness of the training.
Understanding the PRINCE2 methodology and passing the
PRINCE2 examinations is dependent upon a training experience
that allows students sufficient time to absorb the material, to
communicate with an experienced PRINCE2 trainer, and to
discuss the PRINCE2 method in relation to their own project
management situations.
All too often, cost-cutter training courses preclude these aspects
of the PRINCE2 training experience. In order to offer students
cheap courses, training providers cut back in four basic areas:
materials, venue, time and trainers.
Materials
PRINCE2 is a comprehensive methodology, and it is vital that
students have access to clear and reliable training materials, in
order to grasp the ins and outs of each process, the interrelation
of the management products, and the role each principle and
theme plays in the overall framework.
Death by PowerPoint
Cheap training courses have a preference for PowerPoint, often
printed six to a page. There are some PRINCE2 training providers
who offer their students more than 360 PowerPoint slides in 3
days. Talk about death by PowerPoint!

34. Ask about the materials
When selecting PRINCE2 training for yourself or your team, take a
few minutes to enquire about, or peruse the training materials
available: Are they printed, for example, in black and white or
colour (a significant concern, given the quantity of PRINCE2
charts and diagrams)? Are training materials available online?
What kind of pre-course materials are offered?
Need to be continuously improved
Less reputable training providers will not devote time to improving
their course materials because they see this as a cost. If they can
get away with using the same materials time after time, even
though they aren’t effective, then they will do so.
Better training providers know how important the whole learning
experience is, and take the time to improve their materials over
time.
"The team and trainers at KT were great and the materials much
better than what I have seen from other providers."
Venue
Avoid supermarket courses
Pile ’em high, sell ’em cheap—that’s the motto of a growing
number of PRINCE2 training providers, and in today’s tight
financial climate, the strategy has its successes. However, it also
results in students crammed thirty to a room (yes, you read it right
– more than thirty!), sharing desks, training materials, and
sometimes even chairs. (I’m not kidding – these are all examples
taken by students who have attended such courses with other
providers, failed and then came to Knowledge Train to take
another course with us).
The bigger the size, the lower the educational value
The problem with high class sizes means the higher the ratio of
students to teacher, the less one-to-one communication is
possible, and the harder it becomes for the student to grasp the
course material. In other words, the more students in the class,
the less the educational value (and comfort level) for each.
You need to be able to ask questions
This is starkly illustrated by the situations of some classrooms, in
which students are barred from asking questions, as there are

35. simply too many for any kind of interaction beyond the lecture
theatre set-up. One student who came to Knowledge Train after
failing their exam with another provider said the first thing the
trainer told his students on the first morning was that “nobody
could ask questions because otherwise I don’t have enough time
to get through the materials”.
Time
Most PRINCE2 trainers will ask their students to study in advance
of the course, and to complete a certain amount of homework and
revision before their PRINCE2 exam. In cost-cutting training
organizations, however, this can be taken to extremes.
Avoid huge amounts of time beforehand
With less time available in class to ask questions to the trainer,
cheap training providers compensate for this by making their
students spend more time preparing for the course in advance
(often up to 15 hours) and more time doing homework.
While I wouldn’t want to prevent any keen student from going that
extra mile, it is important to be aware, when choosing your
PRINCE2 training, that such excessive extra study time is a clear
indication that the classroom hours and environment are not
sufficient to support a high success rate or effective PRINCE2
training.
"Everyone thought the course was very enjoyable and engaging,
much more than they were expecting. I am definitely looking to
get more staff onto this course."
Trainers
Good trainers cost money
One crucial way that cheap training providers use to save money
is to employ inexperienced trainers. Those trainers just starting
out in their training career are glad to get any work. The most
experienced PRINCE2 trainers (and therefore more costly) can
pick and choose who they work for.
By choosing the cheapest PRINCE2 training providers, it’s very
likely that your trainer will be relatively inexperienced in delivering
PRINCE2.
We’ve even heard of one academy bringing PRINCE2 trainers in
from India to deliver courses in the UK. There’s no shortage of

36. qualified, experienced PRINCE2 trainers in the UK, so they can
only be doing this to save money.
"The best thing about the course was the tutor who made the
material really easy to understand and the exam a much less
stressful process. I would recommend this course as I now feel
I’m much more able to steer projects in a more meaningful way."
Company size
Big is not better
Some companies like to tell you they are the largest provider. You
know what large companies are often like – think of your mobile,
or gas or electric provider. Good customer service? Probably not.
It’s the same with training providers.
The sales staff trying to sell you a course cares nothing about you,
or your career goals. They are only interested in their sales
commission. That’s why they will try to sell you a course which
might be totally unsuitable for you. That includes making all kinds
of untrue claims simply because they want to close the sale.
Don’t be treated as a sales target
It’s generally the case that the larger the company, the less the
individual customer is valued. You just become a number, a sales
target, something to be shifted between departments as part of a
system.
A smaller provider is much more likely to treat you as an individual,
not as a potential sales target. The best providers will try to
understand your training needs before offering you advice about
which course (if any) would suit you.
Is the provider ethical?
You might think that all training organizations are ethical in the
sense that they advertise a course, you pay for it, and then you
attend and hopefully get accreditation at the end. Sounds simple
doesn’t it?
However, there are some unethical training organizations who
have no intention of ever running a course in a particular location.
They advertise it however, will take your money but often don’t
deliver.
The typical way this works is that the unethical provider will
advertise the same course running in 5 or 6 cities in the same

37. country all on the same date. They will then advertise the same
course in the same cities the next month. They hope to get one or
two people from each city and will then cancel all the courses
except one and tell people from the other cities the location has
changed and they must travel to the other city to attend the
course, take their online learning instead, or lose their money.
Terms and conditions
Can you get your money back? The law is quite clear in the UK -
you should be able to get a full refund if the company is not able
to provide you with the goods or services which you have paid for.
Read carefully the terms and conditions on the supplier’s website.
You might be in for a nasty shock.
Unethical providers will keep your money and will make it
extremely difficult for you to get a refund. Be clear what you are
getting yourself into. If you do fall foul of abusive practices,
contact your local trading standards office to make a complaint.
Tactics to help you
PRINCE2 training providers operate in a keen market place. This
puts the potential PRINCE2 student in the position of selecting
from a wide range of providers.
It is easy, for example, for training providers to fiddle their
statistics (anyone can have a 100% pass rate, if you take into
account only a few selected examinations), and to make the kinds
of claims we considered at the beginning of this article. In this
case, how can the new PRINCE2 student cut through the sales
guff to choose the truly optimum course?
We’ve put together 12 questions to ask before buying a course in
an article. By asking these questions you can save yourself a lot
of money and disappointment later by choosing a reputable
training provider.
Don’t just consider cost
Finally, do not be deceived by cost. A training course several
hundred pounds cheaper than the rest is likely to be lacking
something crucial – good quality training materials, experienced
trainers, training time, or training space, all essential components
for an effective and fulfilling PRINCE2 training experience.

38. Don’t forget the old adage: “if it seems too good to be true, it
probably is”.
PRINCE2® qualifications and
AXELOS membership
Receiving the all-important PRINCE2 certificate is perhaps the
most rewarding part of your course. However, many students
often ask questions about the qualification and how long they are
valid for.
The answer to these questions is also connected with the
AXELOS membership scheme which was announced in 2017.
This article contains a list of common questions and answers
about PRINCE2 validity and the AXELOS membership scheme.
How long is PRINCE2 Foundation valid for?
The PRINCE2 Foundation certificate never expires. It is valid for
as long as you keep it. The certificate comes in the form of a PDF
e-certificate. Even if you do lose it, you can always order a
replacement from the PRINCE2 exam institute which issued it.

39. How long is PRINCE2 Practitioner valid for?
If you passed your PRINCE2 Practitioner prior to 31st December
2017 AND your exam was based upon the 2009 syllabus, then
your Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner status will last for 5 years.
If you passed your PRINCE2 Practitioner on or after 1st January
2018 then your Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner status will last
for 3 years.
Does PRINCE2 expire?
 The PRINCE2 Foundation certificate never expires.
 Candidates passing the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam are
recognized as a "PRINCE2® Registered Practitioner" for 3
years. This status can be extended by retaking the Practitioner
exam after 3 years.
What’s the Successful Candidate Register?
The PRINCE2 Successful Candidate Register from AXELOS
shows the list of people who have previously sat one of the
two PRINCE2 exams. Your name only appears however if you
previously asked for it to appear.
Also, if you opted for your name to appear on the AXELOS
Successful Candidate Register, anyone can search for you and
see that you successfully passed the exam.
What is AXELOS Membership?
AXELOS Membership is an online membership service designed
for anyone in the IT service management, project management
and programme management community. The aim of AXELOS
Membership is to support individuals in their job role and when
undertaking AXELOS qualifications.
After passing one of our AXELOS accredited exams (PRINCE2,
MSP or PRINCE2 Agile) you will be contacted by AXELOS
regarding membership. The annual membership fee will be £50
+VAT. Getting a second subscription will cost £30 +VAT per year
and a third subscription will be £20 +VAT per year.
What does AXELOS membership provide?
Becoming a member provides access to Best Practice guidance,
content, templates, resources and other tools that will support

40. you in your role. You will also gain access to the Continuous
Professional Development (CPD) recording tool.
What are CPD points?
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points are points
gained by performing activities in your professional life. By logging
your activities on your membership portal, you will gain CPD
points which go towards maintaining your PRINCE2, MSP,
PRINCE2 Agile or ITIL certification. You will also be provided with
a digital 'badge' to enhance the validity and legitimacy of your
qualification.
CPD points can be earned by performing the following activities:
 Professional experience – for example, applying best practice
at work, coaching colleagues or shadowing senior colleagues.
 Training – this could be gaining AXELOS qualifications or other
professional qualifications. This includes courses gained in-
house or via eLearning.
 Community participation – for instance, organizing/attending
industry events or contributing to online forums and writing
blogs.
 Self-study – this can be reading books, publications, forums,
articles, white papers, blogs or listening to podcasts and
webcasts.
Other accreditation bodies have a similar system of collecting
points to maintain certification. The accreditor for PMP
qualifications, PMI, have Professional Development Units (PDUs)
and the Association for Project Management (APM) have CPDs.
What is a digital badge?
Digital badges are icons that can be used online via social media,
email, LinkedIn, online CVs or portfolios. They provide proof you
have successfully gained a PRINCE2, MSP, PRINCE2 Agile or
ITIL® qualification. Digital badges are issued directly by AXELOS
and maintained with CPD points.
Your digital badge will be issued once you sign up for
membership and your certification has been verified. You will be
required to keep your badge up-to-date by logging 20 CPDs every
12 months (a process which also keeps your certification updated).

41. How does the CPD system affect PRINCE2?
In 2017 AXELOS announced that PRINCE2 Practitioners will no
longer need to re-register their status every 5 years and PRINCE2
Practitioner status will instead expire after 3 years.
In order to keep your PRINCE2 Practitioner status up-to-date, you
now have two options. You can either:
a) Just take another Practitioner exam after the 3 years is up.
b) Sign up for AXELOS Membership and renew your status with
CPD points. You will need to log 20 CPD points per year to
extend your PRINCE2 Practitioner status by 1 year. If you log 20
CPD points per year over 3 years, then your certification will be
renewed automatically. This saves you having to sit the PRINCE2
Practitioner exam again.
If you hold 2009 PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, rest assured
that your status is still valid for 5 years. However, when it does
expire, you will need to take the 2017 PRINCE2 Practitioner exam.
What are the benefits of AXELOS Membership?
As noted previously, both PMI and APM already have successful
membership and CPD-style systems in place. AXELOS have
obviously seen how beneficial this system is and have decided to
introduce it themselves.
Signing up for AXELOS Membership gives you access to a wealth
of resources. You will gain Best Practice guidance, exclusive
content, templates and other tools to help you when managing
projects or programmes at work. Since all of these resources
come direct from AXELOS, you can be sure you are getting official
and correct information.
Another benefit of being an AXELOS member is the CPD system.
Having a CPD system in place enables individuals to keep
certification up-to-date without the need to spend money on re-
registration exams. It is a much cheaper way to maintain
certification. The CPD system also adds value to qualifications,
which need to be kept updated by recording professional
activities.

42. PRINCE2® from an employer's
perspective
Many students on our PRINCE2 courses are seeking to gain
certification to boost their careers. This is a wise choice, as
PRINCE2 is recognized by employers around the world as proof
of project management knowledge. We interviewed Lindsay Scott,
Director at Arras People, a project management recruitment
consultancy, to find out what employers really think about
PRINCE2. Read this interview if you want to start a career in
project management and are trying to weigh up the benefits of
gaining PRINCE2 certification.
Why do UK employers look for candidates with
PRINCE2?
PRINCE2 has had an interesting history – over ten years ago,
practitioners took their PRINCE2 training because they wanted to
learn more about a standard or method to deliver a project which
was mandated by the UK government. That was a strong selling
point – something official in the project management world which

43. was focused very much on the method – as opposed to the
techniques and processes approach favoured by PMI and APM.
Over the last decade or so – organisations thought that by using
PRINCE2 as a requirement in their job advertisements it would be
a good way to distinguish between those people who had done
‘project management’ versus those that had actually trained in it.
I think what those organisations ideally wanted was both –
someone with practical experience in projects plus some form of
accreditation to support that. Truth is, it could have been anything
– but PRINCE2 it was – and it was a government thing so that was
good too.
The fact remains that many employers hiring project practitioners
who still ask for PRINCE2 – and PRINCE2 alone – are by and large
quite immature project organisations. It’s these organisations that
find it hard to articulate what kind of project practitioners they
want so fall back on box ticking exercises like ‘must have
PRINCE2 accreditations” regardless of the fact that the
organisation doesn’t even run PRINCE2 projects. It’s one of the
bizarre things about project management in the UK!
Do PRINCE2 Practitioners earn more money?
It’s difficult to definitely say one way or another because it’s the
practical experience that goes alongside an individual’s
accreditations. One thing we have seen is that PRINCE2 alone
does not guarantee a higher salary – we see people with higher
salaries who have done more than PRINCE2 – say MSP, APM,
PMI etc., but they are also doing higher level roles like Senior
Project Manager, Programme Manager, PMO Manager, Portfolio
Manager etc.
Salaried Project Practitioners
To
£29,999
£30,000 -
£49,999
£50,000 -
£74,999
Over
£75,000
IC - APM Introductory
Certificate
16% 39% 29% 16%
CAPM - PMI Certified
Associate in Project
17% 50% 25% 8%

44. Management
Prince2 6% 42% 41% 12%
APMP - APM 3% 41% 45% 12%
PMP - PMI Project
Management
Professional
0% 17% 67% 16%
MSP - Managing
Successful
Programmes
2% 27% 50% 22%
PgMP - PMI Program
Management
Professional
0% 0% 100% 0%
CPM - APM
Certificated Project
Manager
0% 0% 66% 34%
P3O - Portfolio,
Programme and
Project Offices
6% 28% 45% 22%
MoV - Management of
Value
0% 50% 50% 0%
MoP - Management of
Portfolios
0% 24% 47% 29%
PfMP - PMI Portfolio
Management
Professional
0% 0% 0% 100%
M_o_R - Management
of Risk
5% 35% 39% 22%
Risk Management -
APM Certificate
8% 42% 34% 16%
RMP - PMI Risk
Management
Professional
0% 100% 0% 0%
ITIL - IT Service
Management
4% 38% 43% 16%

45. Six Sigma 3% 27% 52% 20%
None of the above 18% 68% 77% 36%
Contract Project Practitioners
To
£299
£300 -
£499
£500-
£749
Over
£750
IC - APM Introductory
Certificate
33% 44% 11% 11%
CAPM - PMI Certified
Associate in Project
Management
0% 50% 0% 50%
Prince2 10% 46% 38% 6%
APMP - APM 11% 51% 33% 4%
PMP - PMI Project
Management Professional
14% 37% 43% 6%
MSP - Managing Successful
Programmes
5% 42% 42% 10%
PgMP - PMI Program
Management Professional
0% 0% 0% 0%
CPM - APM Certificated
Project Manager
0% 50% 33% 17%
P3O - Portfolio, Programme
and Project Offices
6% 45% 34% 17%
MoV - Management of Value 0% 40% 20% 40%
MoP - Management of
Portfolios
0% 14% 50% 36%
PfMP - PMI Portfolio
Management Professional
0% 25% 50% 25%
M_o_R - Management of Risk 8% 46% 40% 7%

46. Risk Management - APM
Certificate
0% 33% 33% 33%
RMP - PMI Risk Management
Professional
0% 0% 33% 67%
ITIL - IT Service Management 4% 46% 47% 3%
Six Sigma 2% 31% 55% 12%
None of the above 30% 74% 73% 19%
What jobs exist for candidates without work
experience?
It’s a tricky one – it depends on their work experience to date.
Straight out of university for example with no work experience, a
degree and a PRINCE2 Foundation is not likely to help anyone get
into PMO unless it’s a specific graduate role. If people are wanting
to transition into project management, having worked in a
previous role of any nature and decided to take their PRINCE2 to
help get a foot in the door – it depends heavily on what works
experience they do have. Our advice is that you have to utilise

47. that and capitalise on it. How to do that is only something you can
do when you’re advising someone one-to-one.
What additional jobs are available to PRINCE2
certified candidates?
The ones where the job advertisement stipulates the candidate
must be PRINCE2 accredited! Having said that, if a person’s
experience is absolutely bang on what the organisation is looking
for, they will overlook the PRINCE2 requirement.
What experience is required for entry-level roles?
This is kind of related to the other question about getting into
project management – it depends. It depends also on what you
class as an entry-level role. Many people make the mistake of
thinking that a position like Project Administrator – because it is at
the lower end of the pay scale – that it is a role that you could
step into with minimal experience. They have to remember that
actually there are many people out there that are experienced
Project Administrators – who are not using it as a stepping stone
to another role like PM – therefore these people are the
competition when someone with minimal experience tries to apply
for a role like that.
How can beginners gain work experience?
Often I’ll tell people that if you’re in a current role at the moment
which is not necessarily related to projects, why not use some of
that PRINCE2 training and start bringing in some of the principles
and processes of good project management into what you do.
Bottom line is there are two types of project management – formal
and informal – this explains it.
So in the first place, start with the informal project management
stuff. If there are projects within their current organisation – they
need to get closer to them – find out who the project managers
are – is there any chance of some shadowing work? Perhaps
getting that role as a co-ordinator or administrator.
It’s much tougher to gain the experience when you don’t have
opportunities like this – it’s the classic chicken and egg. One thing
people can do is volunteer – for something like a charity or take
up a position at your professional body – APM or PMI are always
wanting volunteers. The other thing to do is use their own network
– someone will be more willing to give an opportunity to someone

48. who they know and know what they are capable of – this is how
most people get into a more formal project management role.
How should a beginner write their CV?
They need to understand project management beyond PRINCE2 –
it’s only a method, they need to understand the wider best
practices, processes, tools, techniques etc. that make up project
management. They also need to understand the terminology.
When they understand these two things – they then need to think
about what transferable skills they have which are closely aligned
to project management. They then write about these using the
right terminology and demonstrate that they understand project
management by writing about their previous experiences in a way
that uses all the common keywords associated with project
management.
What are the top skills that employers look for on a
CV?
It depends. For PMO people it’s stuff like reporting and analytical
skills. For Project Managers it’s the demonstrable use of PM
techniques (both soft and hard) to deliver the project successfully.
For Programme Managers it’s the programme level standards plus
great stakeholder management. For each role, often the stumbling
block for a successful hire is not the skills someone has – it’s the
previous experience in the sector plus whether that person
culturally fits into that organisation.
What are the benefits of PRINCE2 certification for
contractors?
It’s purely a box ticking exercise for a lot of contractors – they
need to make sure they are marketable and competitive and they
would hate to lose out on a contract because they didn’t have that
on their CV. A lot of them resent it though – they’re experienced
people who don’t really need to be doing something like this every
5 years!
What roles open up after gaining experience?
The world is their oyster really – we’ve written a lot on career
progression and stuff like that. They can stay within project
management or use their project management skills in a more
senior executive position – start their own businesses – become

49. contractors – anything they want. Project management is a great
set of skills that just help anyone get organised and do stuff.
Lindsay is a Director at Arras People, the programme
and project management recruitment specialists. You
can find out more about Arras People and follow
Lindsay on Twitter. Lindsay also writes the careers column for
PMI's Network magazine and writes about project management
careers for a wide variety of outlets. She created the first PMO
Conference in the UK and currently runs the PMO Flashmob.

50. PRINCE2 FAQs
What does PRINCE2 stand for?
PRINCE2 stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments.
It’s the world’s leading project management methodology.
What is PRINCE2?
PRINCE2 is the world’s leading project management
methodology. PRINCE2 is based on modern best practices in
project management.
You can use PRINCE2 in any industry and on any type or scale of
project. PRINCE2 helps organisations achieve many important
things, including:
 Taking sensible investment decisions about projects
 Keeping control over things such as time, cost, quality, risk
and scope
 Delivering outputs which will help achieve its goals.
PRINCE2 gives guidance to people taking decisions on projects.
It answers questions about:
 What decisions to take?
 Who takes decisions?
 When to take decisions?

51.  What documents or reports are required to support those
decisions?
What's the history of PRINCE2?
1975 - Simpact Systems Ltd (UK) created a project management
method called PROMPT.
1979 - Adopted as the standard for all UK Government IT projects.
1989 - PRINCE was created by CCTA (the Central Computer and
Telecommunications Agency) by revising PROMPT.
1996 - PRINCE2 was created as a generic project management
method.
2017 - Most recent updates to PRINCE2 manual.
Who is PRINCE2 for?
PRINCE2 certification is for people who either:
 Work on projects or teams
 Support projects
 Lead teams
 Manage projects
 Direct projects
 Sponsor projects
 Manage operations.
What is the PRINCE2 methodology?
PRINCE2 is the world’s leading structured project management
methodology. PRINCE2 provides guidance about the best ways
to manage projects. It helps organizations get better control over
projects. In turn this enables a better return on investment.
The PRINCE2 method is structured into 7 well-defined processes
to address typical project management needs.
PRINCE2 consists of 4 integrated elements:
1. Principles
2. Themes
3. Processes
4. Tailoring to the project environment.
More details: PRINCE2 Methodology Explained >

52. What is PRINCE2 project management?
PRINCE2 project management refers to the application of the
PRINCE2 methodology to a project.
When applying PRINCE2, you must do the following:
1. Apply the 7 principles of PRINCE2
2. Adapt the 7 PRINCE2 themes to meet your project’s needs
3. Adapt the 7 PRINCE2 processes to meet your project’s
needs
4. Adapt the 26 management products of PRINCE2
5. Assign the roles and responsibilities defined by PRINCE2 to
a specific individual.
To learn how to apply PRINCE2 on different projects, people
normally study the PRINCE2 Practitioner level qualification.
Read more: What is PRINCE2? >
Is PRINCE2 right for me?
If you’re concerned whether you can understand and pass
the PRINCE2 exams, consider these facts.
 You don't need experience to attend a course
 Over 1.2million people have passed PRINCE2 exams since
1996
 In the UK, the average pass rates for exams for all training
companies are:
o 97% PRINCE2 Foundation exam
o 73% PRINCE2 Practitioner exam
If you apply yourself to studying, then you’ve got a great chance
of becoming PRINCE2 certified.
Do I need experience to take PRINCE2?
No. Many people attend courses having no previous project
management experience. Others come with some experience.
The course assumes students have no experience. We will teach
you a core understanding of project management using PRINCE2.
Before taking a Practitioner course, you need to have the
PRINCE2 Foundation qualification.

53. Foundation and Practitioner - what’s the difference?
Here are the main differences between PRINCE2 Foundation and
PRINCE2 Practitioner.
PRINCE2 Foundation PRINCE2 Practitioner
Entry-level qualification Higher-level qualification
No experience or
qualifications required
PRINCE2 Foundation required
Learn a basic
understanding of PRINCE2
Learn to apply PRINCE2 to simple
projects
For people working on or
supporting projects
For people managing or directing
projects, and operational managers
2-day course 2.5-day course
1-hour exam, 60 questions,
55% pass mark
2.5-hour exam, 68 questions, 55%
pass mark
How do I renew my PRINCE2?
To renew your PRINCE2 Practitioner, you need to pass the
Practitioner exam. We recommend you attend a course to learn
the latest 2017 version of PRINCE2. There are classroom and
online course options to choose from.
Is PRINCE2 software?
No. PRINCE2 is a method to help you manage projects. It’s not a
software tool.
What’s the latest version of PRINCE2?
The latest version of PRINCE2 is the 2017 version.
What is the PRINCE2 manual?
The official PRINCE2 manual contains guidance about the
methodology.
Title: ‘Managing Successful Projects Using PRINCE2® 2017
Edition’.
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780113315338
Published: 18 May 2017