What Is PRINCE2 Certification?
PRINCE2 certification is a globally recognised project management qualification consisting of two levels: PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner. The certification is based on the PRINCE2 method. PRINCE2 Agile is an additional certification that combines expertise in both Agile and PRINCE2.
PRINCE2 (Projects In Controlled Environments) is a process-based project management method that maintains clear, structured stages in a project. It emphasises clarity on who should be involved at each stage, what they are responsible for, and what information is needed. While historically used for IT projects, PRINCE2 is designed to be applied and scaled in all industries. Project managers use the PRINCE2 method all over the world, but it is most common in Europe and Australia.
Learn more in this guide to PRINCE2 methodology.
PRINCE2 vs. PMP Certification
The PRINCE2 method is similar in some ways to — and compatible with — the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), which forms the basis of the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Both certifications are recognised by the Project Management Institute (PMI), but their approaches differ slightly.
| PRINCE2 | PMP | |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology | Process-Oriented: Focuses on a structured approach to project management, including processes, project practices, and necessary frameworks | Knowledge-Oriented: Focuses on techniques and skills required to manage and deliver projects successfully, such as leadership and strategic management |
| Framework | Focus on Framework: Emphasises the what, when, and who of project management | Focus on Activity: Emphasises the how and why of project management (activities, principles, decision-making) |
| Certification levels | Two Certification Levels: PRINCE2 Foundation (entry-level) qualification on basic principles and terminology; PRINCE2 Practitioner to apply the method to real-world projects | Single Certification Level: PMP certification offered by the Project Management Institute, which also offers the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) as entry-level certification |
| Exams | PRINCE2 Foundation:
PRINCE2 Practitioner:
| PMP Exam:
|
| Requirements | No Prerequisites: PRINCE2 Foundation is required to sit for PRINCE2 Practitioner | Some Prerequisites: Requires three to five years of work experience, 35 hours of training |
| Validity | PRINCE2 Practitioner certification is valid for five years | PMP certification is valid for three years; Professional Development Units (PDUs) are required to maintain certification |
| Location | Popular in Europe, the U.K., and Australia | Popular in the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East |
Learn more about PMP in this guide to PMP certification.
Types of PRINCE2 Certification
PRINCE2 certification has four levels: Foundation, covering core principles; Practitioner, focusing on real-world application; Agile Foundation, introducing PRINCE2 with Agile; and Agile Practitioner, teaching how to tailor PRINCE2 to Agile environments. The certifications equip project managers with structured, adaptable skills.
Here are the two certification levels associated with the PRINCE2 method:
- PRINCE2 Foundation: This exam tests the basics of the PRINCE2 method, including common vocabulary and the foundational knowledge and skills.
- PRINCE2 Practitioner: This exam is more application-based and tests your ability to manage projects using the themes and processes of PRINCE2.
Project managers often use the PRINCE2 method in collaboration with Agile. PRINCE2 is stricter on identifying and adhering to processes that ensure a project’s continued relevance and viability, while Agile focuses on continuous incremental improvement with minimal time spent on design.
“While PRINCE2 focuses on the standard Waterfall methodology, PRINCE2 Agile focuses on how to do Agile product delivery while still using the PRINCE framework,” says Robert Edward Pinnington, who trains teams in PRINCE2 and Agile through his company PDCA Consulting. Combined, PRINCE2 Agile offers the benefits of both the control of PRINCE2 and the flexibility of Agile.
Choose the best method for your project with help from this guide comparing Waterfall and Agile.
Here are the two PRINCE2 Agile certification levels:
- PRINCE2 Agile Foundation: This exam tests your understanding of how PRINCE2 principles, themes, and processes work alongside Agile practices, focusing on knowledge rather than application.
- PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner: This exam focuses on integrating PRINCE2 practices with Agile methodologies for flexible project management and tests the ability to apply PRINCE2 Agile in real projects.
Pinnington notes that there is little value in taking the PRINCE2 Foundation exams, other than as a prerequisite for the Practitioner exams. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy — a learning framework with the levels Remember, Understand, Analyse, and Apply — he says, “the Foundation exams are just levels one and two [Remember, Understand]. It’s learning by rote. They just want to know: Can you remember what’s in the books?”
Karina Ovanesian, a program manager at ScanAgile25 who recently passed the PRINCE2 Foundation exam, studied the PRINCE2 manual thoroughly, focusing on processes, practices, and principles. She also practiced using flashcards and sought out YouTubers who share their tips. “The exam is a bit more difficult than the examples,” she noted. “But don’t get stressed — it’s completely doable to pass the first time.” She also used the Mplaza PRINCE2 exam simulator, taking it several times and incorporating feedback.
It is possible to prepare for the Foundation exam without practicing with case studies, but the Practitioner exams focus on them. “You look at a case study and decide: Is this a good application of the PRINCE2 practice? So you need to study in a different way,” he says.
The tiers of PRINCE2 certification follow the PRINCE2 method — you can't move on to the next stage until you have the sign-off to continue.
Breakdown of PRINCE2 Certifications
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