PRINCE2® Professional Qualification: Been There, Done That

Now I know the answer to the PRINCE2 practitioner question “What’s next?” Earlier in February I headed across the Atlantic to be a candidate in one of the pilot sessions for this new offering. The PRINCE2 professional qualification is very, very different from sitting an examination.  Working in small teams, I spent two and a half intense days completing a project scenario using both the method as well as my competencies in managing myself and a team of folks. What a kick!

The assessment center started on a Sunday evening with an introductory “meet and greet” from our moderator followed by dinner. Then we got right down to work, kicking off our scenario project and stepping through some of the tasks and deliverables you would expect to find in your project’s controlled start. During this initial session, we were being observed by an evaluator, who was looking for evidence of our ability to apply the method and to work effectively with our peers. Being watched while you are working as a team is an interesting situation to find yourself in!  The good news is that you get used to it quickly since the evaluator is taking notes but not speaking or participating in the work in any way.

During the afternoon on Sunday, I decided to sit in the lounge and read a book for a bit. Much to my surprise, someone came into the room and said my name.  It was Duncan Wade, the lead PRINCE2 trainer from Learning Tree, coming to attend the assessment center.  What a nice surprise!  I wasn’t expecting to see old friends when I was so very far away from home.

The second day was a long one, and it started quite early. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were provided across the second day.  I suppose you could call this the first full day of the assessment center. I was really pleased to have had a session the previous evening, since I felt like I knew what was happening and how to work within the assessment center framework. We had numerous sessions as we worked our way through the project life cycle.  By the end of the day, we were well into the controlled middle of a PRINCE2  project and working like crazy.  I must admit, I was beginning to feel like our scenario project was the real deal, and I was really enjoying digging into the project and getting work done..

The food and coffee breaks throughout the day were very welcome. I know these refreshments, especially the caffeine, helped me to stay on purpose and to work hard all day long. They also offered an opportunity to spend time with and get to know my fellow candidates.  We were quite the international group of 16 candidates, with folks from the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Scotland, England and America.

The third day (or the second full day) of the assessment center ended a bit earlier, just before 4 pm. It was very much like our previous long day, but there were fewer sessions to complete.  We worked our way through a controlled end to our scenario project and then got back together to wrap up the experience and provide feedback on what took place.  Like me, everyone else had a blast and found the assessment center and the qualification to be of value to PRINCE2 practitioners who wanted an advanced credential showing they knew how to use this method.

One of the best things about these two longer days in the assessment center was the opportunity to work with team members I had not worked with before. Each session had a different group of players, and oftentimes a different evaluator as well. By the end of the assessment experience, I had been evaluated by each evaluator more than once and worked with most of my fellow candidates.

Everyone in this pilot assessment center was well-versed in PRINCE2.  However, this assessment wasn’t about theory, it was about practice. Getting to do things on a scenario project with a group of experts where we were all striving for a tangible and realistic set of deliverables and a successful project outcome was more fun than I could have imagined.  I am happy to report that this assessment center tested everyone’s knowledge and their ability to actually use it. Now when someone asks me if I can use PRINCE2, I can say “yes” and tell them that in addition to the project work I have done in the past, I have a credential to back up my claim.

I am happy to report I heard back from the APMG and I did pass the qualification (whew!). I stayed on for the next pilot session that same week to qualify as an evaluator, which is another story. I hope to also qualify as a moderator and be able to lead sessions both in the US and elsewhere in the world.

Susan Weese

Learning Tree offers a range of PRINCE2 certification courses in the UK for those who are interested. PRINCE2®: Achieving Practitioner Certification is also available in the US and in Canada.

PRINCE2® Professional Qualification: What Gets Assessed?

The PRINCE2 Professional qualification assesses your capability to manage a non-complex PRINCE2 project across all aspects of the project life cycle. If you decide to take this next step after achieving practitioner certification, you will discover that this particular assessment takes place at an assessment center over two days.  Throughout the two days you and your fellow candidates are provided with opportunities to demonstrate evidence of your competence in managing a project using PRINCE2.  You are also asked to provide evidence of your broader competencies as a working Project Manager. 

Evaluators at the two day session collect evidence of a your competence through observation of group activities and exercises as they watch you discuss and solve problems relating to a project case study. You are also interviewed individually by the Evaluators at some point during the event.

The capabilities required of the candidate in applying their knowledge and experience to a non-complex project across its life cycle, include 19 different areas of performance criteria. These criteria are:

• Preparing the Project Product Description
• Preparing an outline Business Case for the project
• Designing the project management team structure for the project
• Tailoring corporate strategies to fit the project
• Performing Product-Based Planning
• Applying the risk management procedures for the project
• Applying the communication management procedures for the project
• Planning the project
• Refining the project’s Business Case
• Preparing the project’s Benefits Review Plan 
• Preparing an End Stage Report for a management stage in the project
• Capturing lessons learned
• Preparing a Work Package
• Applying the issue and change control procedures
• Planning and conducting the Closing a Project process
• Preparing an End Project Report that includes the Lessons Report
• Using interpersonal skills
• Managing project team performance
• Manage your own performance

Sounds like a fun and busy two days, doesn’t it?  It will be interesting to apply my PRINCE2 knowledge and experience when I attend this event in February and stay on to become approved as an Evaluator as well.  Stay tuned for details…

Susan Weese

The Learning Tree offers a range of PRINCE2 certification courses in the UK and the US for those who are interested.

Sitting your PRINCE2® Practitioner Re-Registration Exam

Many folks have asked me about what need to happen to keep their PRINCE2 practitioner certification current.  It’s pretty simple, really.  If you have taken the PRINCE2 practitioner qualification since October 2000, you are officially a Registered Practitioner.  To stay as such, you will need to re-register within 3 to 5 years of your original certification date by taking your PRINCE2 Re-Registration examination. 

This Re-Registration examination is a 1-hour examination that is set at the same standard as your original Practitioner examination. The PRINCE2 Re-Registration examination can be taken either in paper format or online at http://online.apmg-exams.com. Many Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs), such as Learning Tree, offer briefing sessions to bring you up to date and help you to prepare for this examination.  They may also allow you to sit the exam at their training facility.   

The format of the exam is pretty straightforward.  Like your original PRINCE2 exam, it is an objective testing examination that contains three questions. Each question is worth 12 marks for a total of 36 marks per re-registration exam paper.  You are allowed one hour to sit this exam either online or in paper format. It is an open book examination, so you can use your PRINCE2 manual for reference.  The passing grade is 55%, or 20 out of the 36 total marks.

The APMG can provide you with additional information on pricing and the process for taking your PRINCE2 Re-Registration Exam.  You can email them directly at servicedesk@apmg-uk.com with your questions, or contact your Learning Tree account representative in the US or the UK for details.

Susan Weese

Which Project Management Certification is Right for You?

A buddy of mine recently directed me to a website looking at the necessity project management certification in today’s world. This site got me thinking through the pros and cons of project management certification and what actually drives those of us in the profession to learn more and obtain certification credentials that say we know great and wonderful things.

One certification that I believe in is missing from the list is PRINCE2®. Let’ s see if we can get that corrected, since PRINCE2 is a very successful and capable project management method and road map for getting your project completed quite nicely. There is a place on this web page for you to enter your thoughts and comments on what is the BEST project management certification, so have at it. You can also read what other folks think, so take a look and make a contribution!

While we are on the subject of project management certification, let me remind you that Learning Tree has some excellent certification preparation courses on this and related topics.  The courses include the heavy hitters that prepare you for the PMP exam and the PRINCE2 foundation/practitioner exams:

Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam (5 days)

PRINCE2®: Achieving Practitioner Certification (5 days)

Then there are some specialty certifications for project managers, such as:

Preparing for the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)® Exam (3 days)

Preparing for the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® Exam (4 days)

Happy certification exam preparations and here’s to successful projects!

Susan Weese