PRINCE2, Projects in Controlled Environments, is a widely used project management method, which navigates you through all the essentials for running a successful project. Since its introduction in 1989 as a government standard for IT project management, PRINCE2 has been taken on by both the public and private sectors and is now recognised as a de facto standard for project management. PRINCE2 is a flexible method and although originally designed for the management of IT projects it is now aimed at all other types of project. PRINCE2 takes all the simple and obvious lessons learned by thousands of professionals in the past 20-odd years and presents them in a checklist for present clients, managers and their teams. Cabinet Office own the methodology.
The APM Group (APMG) is the Certification Body and is responsible for the running of examinations and accreditation of training organisations (ATOs), trainers, consulting organisations (ACOs) and consultants. APMG have received UKAS accreditation in accordance with EN45011 and ISO17024 for our certification activities of Practitioners, ATOs, Trainers, ACOs and Consultants.
As PRINCE2 is a very successful project management qualification, a large number of people and organisations have used and implemented PRINCE2. A number of case studies have been commissioned as examples of how successful PRINCE2 has become within their organisations. The full list for information and downloads can be found at: www.prince-officialsite.com/Resources/Resources.asp
I would like someone to come to my company and advise on how to implement PRINCE2?
The APM Group is the best place to contact as they have a list of PRINCE2 consultants who can give you advice on PRINCE2 in your workplace. Please visit the following link to view the list of Accredited Consulting Organisations:
Cabinet Office do not keep a record of all companies who use PRINCE2. However if you wish to contact other users of the framework you can do this via the Best Practice User Group (BPUG). BPUG is located at the following URL:
Training for PRINCE2 is available from accredited training organisations coordinated through the APM Group. The exams can be taken with your chosen training organisation as part of your training course, or directly through the APM Group who have open centres where you can take the exams without needing to do the training course. The open centres where the exams take place are located in London, Milton Keynes, York and Chester.
Please contact Apollo Consulting Group regarding the PRINCE2 exam. You will need to contact the individual organisations for details of fees and formats. APMG does not hold information on the ATOs individual courses but we ensure the training provided by the ATOs meet APMG's required standards in accordance with EN45011.
Exams are run in London, Milton Keynes, York and Chester on a monthly basis. We do not provide training, just exams only. If you wish to book, you can do so online at:
What are the main publications for PRINCE2 and where can I purchase them?
PRINCE2 has one main manual, published by The Stationary Office, called "Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2". This can be purchased from the APMG online bookshop at www.apmg-businessbooks.com.
The manual contains information that provides projects with:
- A controlled and organised start, middle and end - Regular reviews of progress against plan and against the business case - Flexible decision points - Automatic management control of any deviations from the plan - The involvement of management and stakeholders at the right time during the project - Good communication channels between the project management team and the rest of the organisation - Agreement on the required quality at the outset and continuous monitoring against those requirements
It also helps project managers to:
- Establish terms of reference as a prerequisite to the start of a project - Use a defined structure for delegation, authority and communication - Divide the project into manageable stages for more accurate planning - Ensure that resource commitment from management is part of any approval to proceed - Provide regular, but brief, management reports - Keep meetings with management and stakeholders to a minimum but at vital points in the project.
There are also some other publications relating to understanding and using PRINCE2, which support the main text. For example, there is the PRINCE2 Pocketbook, (available in packs of 10, ISBN 0113309791), and a publication titled Tailoring PRINCE2, (ISBN 0113308973). For a full list of PRINCE2 publications please visit www.apmg-businessbooks.com.
What languages are the PRINCE2 examinations available in?
Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish – Castilian. All languages will be available at the launch of the PRINCE2: 2009, English is currently available, and the Chinese will be available in Oct, 2009.
How long will it take to learn the PRINCE2 material?
Unfortunately it is difficult to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time on their hands, 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.
What is the structure of the PRINCE2 Examinations?
The PRINCE2 Foundation examination is a one hour long, multiple choice paper of 75 questions.
Once this examination has been taken and passed you may then take the PRINCE2 Practitioner examination to become a Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner.
The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam is a three hour long objective testing examination. There are 9 questions, with a scenario background and appendices, each of the 9 questions is worth 40 marks, an overall score of 180 out of a possible 360 is required to pass. This examination is open-book allowing only for the PRINCE2 Manual to be taken into the examination.
PRINCE2 Registered Practitioners must take the Re-registration examination every 3-5 years to maintain their registered status as a PRINCE2 Practitioner.
Please can you give me more details on PRINCE2 Re-registration?
As of December 2000 the PRINCE2 Examinations at Practitioner level gave candidates a PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner status. You will need to take the Re-Registration Examination between 3 and 5 years after the date shown on your original certificate in order to maintain your status as a Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner. If you do not take the Re-registration exam within this timeframe then you will lose your 'registered' status. Please note that you are then not required to sit the Practitioner examination again - you can still sit the Re-registration exam.
For Candidates that took the PRINCE2 Practitioners Examination prior December 2000, the Re-Registration exam does not need to be taken, although the APM Group would highly recommend that these candidates take the Re-Registration exam to keep their knowledge up to date with the latest PRINCE2 information and to gain current status as a Registered PRINCE2 Practitioner.
You can take the re-registration exam at the ATO. Please contact Apollo Consulting Group if you need to take the re-registration exam.
The Objective Testing format is 3 questions, with a scenario background and appendices:
Results turn around time for the PRINCE2 Examinations
Result turn-around time for the Practitioner exam is roughly 2 - 3 weeks with the Objective Testing Format. APMG will send out confirmation of your Foundation exam result within a week. If you have taken your exam via an ATO, results are sent by APMG to that particular ATO. It is the ATO's responsibility to notify you of your result. If you sat the foundation and practitioner exam in the same week, your results will not show on the Successful Candidate Register until two weeks after the results for the practitioner exam have been released. Certificate turn-around is usually two weeks after you have been notified of your result.
A Foundation Certificate will be dispatched to you approximately 2 weeks after we have received your exam paper back into our offices if you only took the Foundation exam.
A Practitioner Certificate will be dispatched 2 weeks after the Practitioner results have been released.
Please note that if you have taken your examinations via an ATO; the certificates will be dispatched to the ATO. Therefore if you have not received your certificate in the above time frames please contact the ATO directly who can contact the APM Group on your behalf for a replacement.
How can I advertise myself as a PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner on my business card?
Candidates who have passed the PRINCE2 Practitioner examination can put PRINCE2 Practitioner on their business cards. You can also include a web address on your business card (www.p2registeredpractitioner.com) which takes you to an online list of PRINCE2 Registered Practitioners.
Only ATOs and ACOs are allowed to use the PRINCE2 logo. The PRINCE2 logo is a registered trademark of Cabinet Office and must not be used without their permission.
Apollo course participants can earn professional development units (PDUs) for attending the PMI courses through our partner Protrain China for all Project Management Program courses.
PMBOK vs PRINCE2
