PRINCE2 Foundation is for students wanting to learn the basics of PRINCE2.
Successful candidates can perform effectively on a PRINCE2 project.
Course is based on PRINCE2 7th edition and includes exam.
Accreditation: PeopleCert
Prerequisites: None
Format: Instructor-led or self-paced online
PRINCE2 Practitioner is for students wanting to apply PRINCE2 on projects.
Successful candidates can apply PRINCE2 on non-complex projects.
Course is based on PRINCE2 7th edition and includes exam.
Accreditation: PeopleCert
Prerequisites: See Practitioner course page.
Format: Instructor-led or self-paced online
PRINCE2 is the most popular project management methodology in the world and is the default standard for project management in the UK public sector and the United Nations. PRINCE2 is especially popular in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
PRINCE2 stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments. PRINCE2 is used by private, public, and 3rd sector organisations to help them deliver better outcomes from projects.
PRINCE evolved from an early project management method called PROMPT II (Project Resource Organisation Management Planning Techniques).
In 1989, a UK government body, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), adopted a version of PROMPT to manage government IT projects.
This method was named ‘PRINCE’, standing for ‘PROMPT II IN the CCTA Environment’, but was later re-named to ‘PRojects IN Controlled Environments.
In 1996, the 2nd version of PRINCE was released – PRINCE2 – which was a generic project management approach suitable for any type of project. PRINCE2 was owned by HM Government in the UK until it was sold to AXELOS in 2013.
In September 2023 the latest version of PRINCE2 – the 7th edition – was released. PRINCE2 7th edition includes an important element missing from earlier versions, that of people. It also included additional guidance about commercial management, sustainability management, and digital and data management. It is expected that further revisions of PRINCE2 will be made in the future to reflect changing trends in project management.
PeopleCert is the awarding body for PRINCE2 and provides examinations and certification in a range of global best practice methodologies. These include PRINCE2, ITIL, MSP, Scrum, and others.
In June 2021, PeopleCert bought AXELOS, thereby acquiring the intellectual property to these best practice methodologies, including PRINCE2.
A methodology outlines the practices, techniques, and rules for a specific discipline. For project management, a methodology is a model for planning, executing, and delivering projects. PRINCE2 is such a methodology, offering a process-based approach with principles, practices, and processes guiding projects from start to finish. PRINCE2 also includes a people aspect of project management.
PRINCE2’s comprehensive framework can be adapted to any project, epitomizing a true methodology.
In September 2023, the latest edition of the PRINCE2 manual – Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2® – was released. The manual forms a comprehensive guide to the application of the PRINCE2 methodology and forms the basis for the PRINCE2 examinations.
The PRINCE2 manual is published by PeopleCert, the owners of PRINCE2.
The seven PRINCE2 principles are the guiding obligations that determine whether the project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2 and ensure effective application and tailoring of PRINCE2 to any project.
The seven principles are: ensure continued business justification, learn from experience, define roles, responsibilities, and relationships, manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, and tailor to suit the project.
Since PRINCE2 7th edition was released in 2023, People have been at the heart of PRINCE2. Projects require individuals, both participants and the people impacted by projects. Understanding their needs, skills, motivations, and interrelationships is vital to how the project is established and managed.
The seven PRINCE2 practices outline essential project management elements that need consistent application throughout the project. They explain the specific treatment required of each aspect to ensure that the PRINCE2 processes are effective.
The seven practices are: business case, organizing, plans, quality, risk, issues, and progress.
The seven PRINCE2 processes cover the entire project lifecycle, from initiation to closure, as well as one pre-project process. Each process provides a list of suggested activities and their associated responsibilities to be performed both before the project starts, and during each of the PRINCE2 stages.
The seven processes are: starting up a project, directing a project, initiating a project, controlling a stage, managing product delivery, managing a stage boundary, and closing a project.
The project context, alongside the principles, people, practices, and processes, is the fifth element of PRINCE2. The project context refers to the unique environment, both internal to the business organization funding the project, and its external environment. It is within this unique project context that the project manager must tailor the method to suit the project’s needs. This covers the steps taken by the people involved in the project to apply the principles, practices, processes, roles, and management products to ensure that they are fit for the project context.
In addition to the five main elements of PRINCE2, the manual defines seven project management team roles with associated responsibilities.
These seven roles are: project executive, senior user, senior supplier, project manager, team manager, project assurance, and project support role.
PRINCE2 recommends a set of management products which can help the project management team plan, manage, and control a project. The PRINCE2 manual provides a set of templates for the management products and these can be adapted to the needs of any project, and to fit in with existing organizational processes.
For effective PRINCE2-based project management, everyone in the organization must understand and apply it consistently. It’s not just about introducing the method but ensuring it’s uniformly adopted and pragmatically used. “Embedding PRINCE2” refers to consistently implementing a customized project management method across all organizational projects.
To understand how various organizations have integrated PRINCE2, reviewing some PRINCE2 case studies which describe how they adopted PRINCE2 can be useful.
PRINCE2 is the world’s most popular project management certification. Earning a PRINCE2 certification can enhance one’s project management career prospects. While it requires time and effort, the potential career growth and increased job opportunities make it a worthwhile investment.
PRINCE2 offers two certification levels: Foundation and Practitioner. The choice depends on the individual’s situation and career objectives.
Those who achieve the PRINCE2 Foundation certification are equipped to work effectively in a project management team within a PRINCE2 environment. Most candidates prepare for this through classroom or online courses. To earn the certification, they must pass the 1-hour PRINCE2 Foundation exam, typically included in accredited training.
Individuals with the PRINCE2 Practitioner certification are trained to apply the PRINCE2 method to real projects, though not always for every scenario. Their success in applying the method depends on their personal experience, project complexity, and the support received.
Most earn this certification by attending a classroom course or online course. They must pass the 2.5-hour PRINCE2 Practitioner exam, usually included in accredited training. Many opt for a combined Foundation and Practitioner course to achieve this qualification.
PRINCE2 Agile is based upon the core PRINCE2 method but is only suitable for agile project environments, guiding practitioners when adapting the PRINCE2 method to agile projects.
PRINCE2 Agile has two certification levels: PRINCE2 Agile Foundation and PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner. Most students gain their certificate by taking exams as part of an accredited PRINCE2 Agile course. Or PRINCE2 Agile online course.
Both Foundation and Practitioner certifications have their own PRINCE2 exam. The Foundation exam, being shorter and simpler, has a 95% first-time pass rate in the UK. The 2.5-hour Practitioner exam sees a 73% first-time pass rate.
For students seeking the PRINCE2 Agile certificate, PRINCE2 Agile examinations are also available at both Foundation and Practitioner levels.
Typically, these exams are part of accredited PRINCE2 training programs.
Most individuals seeking certification enrol in an accredited classroom PRINCE2 training course. Or self-paced online PRINCE2 course. Only PRINCE2 Accredited Training Organisations (ATO) offer this training, having undergone a stringent accreditation process to ensure high-quality course delivery.
PeopleCert provides a complete list of all PRINCE2 ATOs but it is worth reading about how to choose a good PRINCE2 training provider and ensure you choose a provider with good PRINCE2 reviews.
Choosing the right PRINCE2 study format requires some care because some people might be better suited to learn PRINCE2 with self-paced online courses, rather than instructor-led classroom PRINCE2 training. Choosing a PRINCE2 course at the best price is also important.
PRINCE2 offers numerous benefits for organisations and individuals. Many organisations choose to use PRINCE2 within their project management processes so they can achieve a repeatable, documented process. These benefits can enable an organisation to gain a competitive advantage over others in their industry or sector because it helps to achieve better decision-making over investment decisions.
For individuals, many people choose to gain their PRINCE2 certification to help them achieve their career goals, but it is important they choose the best PRINCE2 qualification for their goals.
For students interested in learning more about PRINCE2 this PRINCE2 glossary might be useful. For students interested in PRINCE2 Agile this PRINCE2 Agile glossary can also be useful.
Here is a useful list of articles about PRINCE2.
All PRINCE2 courses are designed to get students up to speed with the PRINCE2 project management methodology. Courses are suitable for students who participating in, supporting, managing, or directing projects and want to learn a robust project management method.
Each PRINCE2 course includes an exam taken as part of the course.
PRINCE2 online courses are for students wanting to learn about PRINCE2 but prefer to study at their own pace.
Each PRINCE2 online course includes online exams taken as part of the course.
PRINCE2 Agile courses are for students wanting to learn to apply PRINCE2 in an agile environment.
Learn about PRINCE2 Agile using self-paced elearning.
