PRINCE2 Qualification Scheme

The PRINCE2 Qualification Scheme is developed by the APM Group Ltd in partnership with the Cabinet Office and The Stationery Office (TSO).

The APM Group accredit a network of Accredited Training Organisations including their trainers and course materials, to be able to offer PRINCE2 courses and examinations.

The PRINCE2 Qualification Scheme is based on Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 - 2009 Edition. Download the PRINCE2 Qualifications Brochure for more information on the scheme. Further info on how to take the exams can be found here.

 Download the PRINCE2 Syllabus (PDF).

Foundation Examination

The purpose of the foundation qualification is to confirm you have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the PRINCE2 method to be able to work effectively with, or as a member of, a project management team working within an environment supporting PRINCE2. The foundation qualification is also a pre-requisite for the practitioner qualification.

• Multiple choice format
• 75 questions per paper
• 5 questions to be trial and not counted in scores
• 35 marks required (out of 70 available) to pass - 50%
• Closed book.

Practitioner Examination

The purpose of the practitioner qualification is to confirm you have achieved sufficient understanding of how to apply and tailor PRINCE2 in a scenario situation.

• Objective testing
• 8 questions - 10 question items per question, each worth one mark
• 44 marks or more required to pass (out of 80 available) - 55%
• Two-and-a-half hours (150 minutes) duration, no additional reading time
• Open book exam (official PRINCE2 manual only).

Re-Registration Examination

All PRINCE2 Practitioners should be re-registered within 3-5 calendar years of their original certification. Find out more about the PRINCE2 Re-Registration Examination.

PRINCE2 Professional

The PRINCE2 Professional qualification is the next step for PRINCE2 Practitioners looking to further demonstrate their expertise in the PRINCE2 method. This level will test your ability to manage a non-complex PRINCE2 project across all aspects of the project lifecycle.

• 2 ½ day residential Assessment Centre
• Group activities and exercises
• Based on a fictional project case study
• Assessment is against 19 individual performance criteria (there is no written examination).

How to take the Exam

There are two routes towards obtain the PRINCE2 qualifications - you can sit the exams at the end of a training course, or study privately and then book the exam without a training course at one of APM Group's Open Centres. Find out more about Open Centre exams here.

For details of training courses, please contact one of the PRINCE2 Accredited Training Organisations.

Route to Certification

Candidates must pass the Foundation Exam before the Practitioner Exam, either on the same day or separately. If a candidate has previously passed the Foundation Exam, they qualify to sit the Practitioner Exam without needing to re-sit the Foundation.

If a candidate sits the Foundation Exam only, and passes, they will receive a "Foundation Examination" certificate stating that they have passed. However, if a candidate sits both the Foundation and Practitioner Exam on the same day, and passes both, they will receive a "Practitioner Examination" certificate, but not a "Foundation Examination" one.