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PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Syllabus

PRINCE2 certification is the key to getting advanced learning about the PRINCE2 methodology and how it works in any organization. Due to the flexibility and higher demand, more and more employers are looking for PRINCE2 certified professionals.

AXELOS provides a globally recognized PRINCE2 certification that the candidates can go for in order to build a successful career in project management. It offers the certification in two qualifications, foundation and practitioner. The PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner certification examinations also have specific concepts that are tested in the examination. Let's go through each of them in detail.

PRINCE2 Foundation Syllabus

According to AXELOS, the syllabus that must be mastered in order to successfully complete the PRINCE2 Foundation certification is as follows.

Understand key concepts relating to projects1.1 Recall
  • The definition and characteristics of a project.
  • The six aspects of project performance to be managed.
  • The integrated elements of PRINCE2: principles, themes, processes and the project environment.
  • what makes a project a PRINCE2 project
1.2 Describe
  • The features and benefits of PRINCE2.
  • The customer/supplier context on which PRINCE2 is based
Understand how the PRINCE2 principles underpin the PRINCE2 method 2.1 Explain the PRINCE2 principles
  • Continued business justification.
  • Learn from experience.
  • Defined roles and responsibilities.
  • Manage by stages.
  • Manage by exception.
  • Focus on products.
2.2 Explain which aspect of the project to be tailored
  • Who is responsible?
  • How are tailoring decisions documented?
Understand the PRINCE2 themes and how they are applied3.1 Business Case theme
  • Purpose of the business case theme business case, benefits management approach
  • PRINCE2 minimum requirements for applying the business case theme
  • key concepts related to business justification, and the differences between them: outputs, outcomes, benefits & dis-benefits
3.2 Organization theme
  • The purpose of the organization theme and communication management approach.
  • what PRINCE2 requires as a minimum requirement for applying the organization theme.
  • The role and responsibilities of project board, executive, senior user senior supplier, project assurance, change authority, project manager, team manager, project support.
  • key concepts related to organizations like stakeholders and the three project interests
3.3 Quality Theme
  • The purpose of the quality theme, product description, project product description, quality management approach, quality register.
  • PRINCE2 minimum requirements for applying the quality theme.
  • Key concepts related to quality, and the differences between them such as quality planning and quality control, project assurance and quality assurance, customer quality expectations and acceptance criteria.
3.4 Plans Theme
  • The purpose of the theme, project plan, stage plan, exception plan, team plan.
  • PRINCE2 minimum requirements for applying the plans theme.
  • Recall the steps in the recommended approach to planning
3.5 Risk Theme
  • The purpose of the risk theme including the purpose of a risk budget, risk management approach, risk register.
  • PRINCE2 minimum requirements for applying the risk theme.
  • Define key concepts related to risk, and the differences between them.
  • Describe the recommended risk management procedure.
3.6 Change Theme
  • The purpose of the change theme includes the purpose of a change budget, change control approach, configuration item record, issue register, issue report, product status account.
  • PRINCE2 minimum requirements for applying the change theme.
  • Describe types of issue, the recommended issue and change control procedure.
3.7 Progress Theme
  • The purpose of the progress theme. Learn about the daily log, lessons log, lessons report, work package, end stage report, end project report, checkpoint report, highlight report,exception report.
  • PRINCE2 minimum requirements for applying the progress theme.
  • Key concepts related to progress like event-driven and time-driven controls tolerances and exceptions, including how tolerances are set and exceptions are reported.
Understand the PRINCE2 processes 4.1 Explain the purpose of PRINCE2 processes
  • Starting up a project, including the purpose of the project brief.
  • Directing a project, including the purpose of the project initiation documentation (PID).
  • Initiating a project.
  • Controlling a stage.
  • Managing product delivery.
  • Managing a stage boundary.
  • Closing a project.
4.2 Explain the brief objective of the processes
4.3 Explain the context of the PRINCE2 processes

PRINCE2 Practitioner Syllabus

According to AXELOS, the syllabus that must be mastered in order to successfully complete the PRINCE2 Practitioner certification is as follows.

1. Apply the PRINCE2 principles in context 1.1 Analyze the application of PRINCE2 principles in context.
2. Apply and tailor relevant aspect of PRINCE2 themes in context 2.1 Business Case Theme
  • Apply the PRINCE2 requirements for the business case theme, demonstrating an understanding of:
    1. Benefits management approach & business case.
    2. The recommended roles and responsibilities.
    3. Outputs, outcomes, benefits and dis-benefits.
  • Assess whether an approach to applying the business case theme is effective and fit for purpose.
2.2 Organization Theme
  • Apply the PRINCE2 requirements for the organization theme, demonstrating an understanding of:
    1. Communication management approach.
    2. The recommended roles and responsibilities.
    3. The recommended project management team structure.
  • Assess whether an approach to applying the organization theme is effective and fit for purpose.
2.3 Quality Theme
  • Apply the PRINCE2 requirements for the quality theme, demonstrating an understanding of:
    1. Product description, project product description, quality management approach, quality register.
    2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
    3. Quality planning, quality control, quality assurance.
  • Assess whether an approach to applying the quality theme is effective and fit for purpose.
2.4 Plans Theme
  • Apply the PRINCE2 requirements for applying the plans theme, demonstrating an understanding of:
    1. Project plan, stage plan, exception plan, team plan.
    2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
    3. The recommended approach to planning, including the recommended approach to defining and analyzing the products.
2.5 Risk Theme
  • Apply the PRINCE2 requirements for applying the risk theme, demonstrating an understanding of:
    1. Risk management approach, risk register.
    2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
    3. The recommended risk management procedure.
2.6 Change Theme
  • Apply the PRINCE2 requirements for applying the change theme, demonstrating an understanding of:
    1. Change control approach, configuration item record, issue register, issue report, product status account.
    2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
    3. The recommended issue and change control procedure.
2.7 Progress Theme
  • Apply the PRINCE2 requirements for controlling progress, demonstrating an understanding of:
    1. Checkpoint report, daily log, end project report, end stage report, exception report, highlight report, lessons log, work package.
    2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
    3. Tolerances and raising exceptions
3. Apply and tailor relevant aspect of PRINCE2 processes in context 3.1 Starting up a project

Carry out the starting up a project process activities, demonstrating an understanding of:

  1. The recommended associated actions.
  2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
  3. How the themes may be applied.
3.2 Directing a project

Carry out the directing a project process activities, demonstrating an understanding of:

  1. The recommended associated actions.
  2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
  3. How the themes may be applied.
3.3 Initiating a project

Carry out the Initiating a project process activities, demonstrating an understanding of:

  1. The recommended associated actions.
  2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
  3. How the themes may be applied.
3.4 Controlling a stage

Carry out the controlling a stage process activities, demonstrating an understanding of:

  1. The recommended associated actions.
  2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
  3. How the themes may be applied.
3.5 Managing product delivery

Carry out the managing product delivery process activities, demonstrating an understanding of:

  1. The recommended associated actions.
  2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
  3. How the themes may be applied.
3.6 Managing a stage boundary

Carry out the managing a stage boundary process activities, demonstrating an understanding of:

  1. The recommended associated actions.
  2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
  3. How the themes may be applied.
3.7 closing a project

Carry out the directing a project process activities, demonstrating an understanding of:

  1. The recommended associated actions.
  2. Recommended roles and responsibilities.
  3. How the themes may be applied.

Conclusion

The PRINCE2 certification syllabus might look a bit intimidating with all the advanced project management terminologies. But, with a proper guidance, structured learning path and exam preparation one can easily clear PRINCE2 certification. Join our PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner certification program, and take your project management journey to the next level.

FAQs for PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner Syllabus

Refer to these questions to know more about the PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner syllabus.

1. How Long Does it Take to prepare for the PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner exams?

The PRINCE2 Foundation exam is not very difficult, and you can take it in two to three weeks. PRINCE2 Practitioner examination is however a little more difficult and you may need approximately three months to prepare for it.

The exam cost for PRINCE2 foundation certification is 245 EUR. And for the PRINCE2 practitioner exam, the exam cost is 405 EUR.

PRINCE2 practitioner certification can be a little tricky since it requires you to apply the learning of the PRINCE2 foundation and tailor those learning in the context of PRINCE themes and processes. So a recommended path would be to go for a structured learning provided by an authorized training organization along with mock tests, case studies and webinars for an enhanced learning experience.

Syllabus of PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Certification Training

Areas of Study

  • Managing projects using globally-recognized PRINCE2 methodology
  • Delivering projects that meet budget, timelines, quality, and minimize risks
  • 7 principles, processes, and themes described in the PRINCE2 guidelines
  • Managing interdependencies and identifying new opportunities within a project
  • Using standard approaches with controls to deliver projects successfully, and more
Download Syllabus

  • There are no pre-requisites to take up PRINCE2 Foundation Exam. But, in order to sit for the PRINCE2 Practitioner examination you must have passed any of the below mentioned exams:

  • PRINCE2 Foundation Exam Format:
  • Multiple choice format 60 questions
  • Examination duration: 1 hour
  • Questions are based on the 2017 edition of ‘Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2’
  • 33 marks or more are required to pass (out of 60 available), equivalent to 55%
  • Closed book
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam Format:
  • Objective testing
  • 68 questions - 10 question items per
  • question, each worth one mark
  • 38 out of 68 required to pass, equivalent to 55%
  • Exam duration: 150 minutes (two-and-a-half hours)
  • Open book exam (official PRINCE2 manual ‘Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 2017 Edition’ only)

  • The examination cost in United States is USD 600.

  • Job roles that can benefit from PRINCE2 training include, but are not limited to:
  • Project Managers
  • Aspiring Project Managers
  • Project Board members
  • Product Delivery Managers
  • Project Support Staff
  • Operational Line Managers
  • Team Leads / Team Managers

FAQs on PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner Certification

Who should take up the PRINCE2 Foundation course?

Job roles that can benefit from PRINCE2 Foundation training include, but are not limited to:

  1. Project Managers
  2. Aspiring Project Managers
  3. Project Board members
  4. Product Delivery Managers
  5. Project Support Staff
  6. Operational Line Managers
  7. Team Leads / Team Managers

There are no prerequisites to take the PRINCE2 Foundation certification examination.

PRINCE2 Foundation certification does not have prerequisites as such, which essentially means a candidate can enroll in a certification prep program. After the completion of the certification from the Axelos ATOs(Accredited Training Organization), they can appear for the PRINCE2 Foundation certification exam.

PRINCE2 Foundation Exam Format:

  1. Exam duration: 60 minutes
  2. Number of Questions: 60 Questions
  3. Passing Criteria: 55%, i.e, approximately 33 out of 60 questions should be answered correctly
  4. Exam Type : Closed Book

Yes, PRINCE2 certifications can be a very good boost to your professional and financial growth along with project management skills.

Yes, the exam can be tough. But, going through an online ATOs PRINCE2 Certification Training can help you learn and study for the exam in a structured way.

Job roles that can benefit from PRINCE2 training include, but are not limited to:

  1. Project Managers
  2. Aspiring Project Managers
  3. Project Board members
  4. Product Delivery Managers
  5. Project Support Staff
  6. Operational Line Managers
  7. Team Leads / Team Managers

There are several eligibility criteria that must be met before writing the PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam. Once the eligibility criteria are fulfilled, the candidate can follow the same procedure as they did for PRINCE2 Foundation Certification.

To sit for the PRINCE2 Practitioner examination you must have passed any one of the below-mentioned exams:

  1. PRINCE2 Foundation
  2. Project Management Professional (PMP)
  3. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
  4. IPMA Level A® (Certified Projects Director)
  5. IPMA Level B® (Certified Senior Project Manager)
  6. IPMA Level C® (Certified Project Manager)
  7. IPMA Level D® (Certified Project Management Associate)

PRINCE2 Practitioner Exam Format:

  1. Exam duration: 150 minutes
  2. Number of Questions: 68 Questions
  3. Passing Criteria: 55%, i.e, approximately 38 out of 68 questions should be answered correctly
  4. Exam Type: Open Book

The PRINCE2 practitioner certification is valid for 3 years.

You can either take the PRINCE2 practitioner exam before the expiry date, or you can go for the CPD points and a digital badge to maintain the certification which will cost around 50 EUR.

The PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner certification costs are as follows:

  1. PRINCE2 Foundation 6th Edition - USD 363
  2. PRINCE2 Practitioner 6th Edition - USD 488
For more details on how to book the exam and queries related to certification training, reach out to us at support@invensislearning.com

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