What is the best PRINCE2 qualification?

Introduction

There is no ‘best’ PRINCE2 qualification. Each PRINCE2 certification is designed for specific levels of knowledge and understanding. What is ‘best’ depends on what you do, what you want to do and where you want to take your career.

Below, you’ll find information about each PRINCE2 course to help you find the best PRINCE2 qualification for your level of expertise.

PRINCE2 Foundation course

The PRINCE2 Foundation qualification is a great place to start for beginners. You’ll learn the basic PRINCE2 principles and some of the terms used by project managers. If you’re new to project management, or if you want to work your way up to a higher PRINCE2 qualification, this is a great place to start.

This course will show you how work alongside project managers and understand what they’re trying to achieve. Topics include the 7 PRINCE2 principles, People, the 7 PRINCE2 practices, the 7 PRINCE2 processes and much more.

To complete this course, you’ll need to sit a 1-hour exam. To pass, you’ll have to show that you’ve gained a solid understanding of the relationships, processes, and roles involved in project management.

If you study a PRINCE2 Foundation course with Knowledge Train, you can choose to attend one of our classroom courses or study online. Our courses are some of the best around and we pride ourselves in delivering courses that are engaging and informative. If you’re considering obtaining your first PRINCE2 qualification, why not look at some of the courses we have on offer.

PRINCE2 Practitioner course

If you’re currently supporting a project or working alongside a project management team, the PRINCE2 Practitioner course will teach you how to apply PRINCE2 to the running of a project.

This course requires you first hold the PRINCE2 Foundation qualification and understand the basics of PRINCE2. When you gain your Practitioner qualification, you’ll have a great understanding of the relationships between PRINCE2 principles, people, practices, and processes, and be able to apply these to specific scenarios.

If you pass the exam which comes with this course, you’ll become a qualified PRINCE2 Practitioner. This is an internationally recognized qualification and brings with it a world of new job opportunities. The average salary of a qualified PRINCE2 project manager is £32,000^[1].

Successful passing of both the Foundation and Practitioner exams is required to become a registered PRINCE2 practitioner. If you study with Knowledge Train, you can complete both in just a 4-day course. If you’d like to know more, take a look at our combined PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner course.

PRINCE2 Professional

The PRINCE2 Professional certificate used to be the highest level of PRINCE2 qualification. Sadly though, AXELOS retired the Professional qualification some years ago. The PRINCE2 Professional used to require an assessment by a board of examiners over 3-days to determine whether you could effectively solve complex project management problems.

Candidates gathered at an assessment centre and worked in groups to demonstrate their competence in project management. If you were lucky enough to be invited, you’d be assessed on more than 20 individual criteria necessary to become a PRINCE2 Professional.

PRINCE2 Agile

PRINCE2 Agile has both Foundation and Practitioner level qualifications test students’ abilities to adapt PRINCE2 to fit within an agile business framework.

If you don’t already have a standard PRINCE2 qualification, we recommend you first aim for a PRINCE2 Foundation qualification. If you have agile experience, then we recommend you first aim for a PRINCE2 Agile Foundation qualification.

If you are already PRINCE2 Foundation qualified, and you have agile experience, then becoming qualified at PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner level is the best option.

Becoming PRINCE2 qualified

You can become PRINCE2 qualified by sitting and passing an exam. Passing the 1-hour PRINCE2 Foundation exam will get you your PRINCE2 Foundation qualification.

Passing the 2.5-hour PRINCE2 Practitioner exam will get you your PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification. Before sitting the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam or PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner exam, candidates must prove they hold one of the following project management qualifications:

• PRINCE2 Foundation (5th or 6th edition)
• PRINCE2 Agile Foundation
• APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
• APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ)
• PMI^® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^®
• PMI^® Project Management Professional (PMP)^®
• IPMA^® levels A, B, C, and D.

Note: The IPMA^® mark is a registered trademark of IPMA in Switzerland and other countries.

Reasons to get a PRINCE2 qualification

Here are 11 reasons why it’s worth getting a PRINCE2 qualification.

1. PRINCE2 is the world’s number 1 project management qualification

   Gaining a PRINCE2 qualification means you’ll learn to use and speak the language of PRINCE2 on projects the world over.

2. Demand for project managers is increasing

   In 2017 the ‘Job Growth and Talent Gap’ ^[2] report from the Project Management Institute (PMI)^® reported that globally during 2017-27 there will be 20 million new project manager jobs. In the UK there will be over 200,000 new such jobs.

   Becoming PRINCE2 qualified is a vital first step to getting a related role.

3. Project management is becoming a basic business skill

   In 2017 AXELOS surveyed project professionals in The Future Project Manager Report ^[3]. 76% of respondents believed project management was becoming a basic business skill.

   Many professionals need project management skills and the best way to achieve them is by getting PRINCE2 qualified.

4. PRINCE2 qualifications can boost your career

   In the UK and Europe employers often expect PRINCE2 qualifications from candidates. For entry-level jobs a PRINCE2 Foundation qualification is often needed.

   Employers also prefer project managers who are qualified PRINCE2 Practitioners.

5. PRINCE2 qualifications can boost your salary

   Salaries for project-oriented professionals are 85% higher than non-project professionals ^[1]. Getting your PRINCE2 qualifications is the first step to a better paid project role.

6. PRINCE2 will boost your confidence

   With a PRINCE2 qualification, you can return to work feeling more confident about your project role. You’ll have confidence to know what is to be done, who needs to do it, and when.

7. PRINCE2 will make you a better project manager

   PRINCE2 describes the best practices in project management which work best when managing projects. By applying them on your projects, you will be more likely to be successful. With your PRINCE2 qualifications and successes, your promotion and employment chances should get better.

8. PRINCE2 qualifications are quick

   It only takes only 2 days to get a PRINCE2 Foundation qualification. It takes another 2 days to get the higher level PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification. You can also get qualified by taking a PRINCE2 course online.

9. PRINCE2 qualifications aren’t difficult

   Some people think getting PRINCE2 is hard. Compared to some other project management qualifications it’s not. In the UK, average pass rates for PRINCE2 Foundation exams are 97%. Practitioner exam pass rates average 73% ^[4].

10. PRINCE2 qualifications can open global doors

    Lots of multinationals and governmental organisations recognise PRINCE2. Gaining PRINCE2 qualifications can provide opportunities for employment abroad. The United Nations requires PRINCE2 qualifications for many of its jobs.

11. Gain respect from your peers

    All professional qualifications can help you gain respect from your peers. PRINCE2 is no different. With a PRINCE2 qualification you can gain respect at work and see your career grow.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. There isn’t a ‘best’ PRINCE2 qualification, you’ll have to decide what’s best for you and your career. What’s certain is that PRINCE2 qualifications are more widely recognized and more flexible than most other project management certifications on the market.

Whether you’re just starting out in project management or are a seasoned professional, there’s really no substitute for a PRINCE2 qualification.

References