Forums

Hi All, I hope you are well.

I have spent the past couple of weeks researching PM qualifications and from looking at job postings that interest me PRINCE2 is very common (at-least in the UK?).

The major issue I have is that I am on a major budget, already funding may way to a degree at night school, so want to make sure I pick the correct qualification.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I need to be able to study over a long period of time and perhaps the ability to build upon it in the future.

If you do have some recommendations could you point me towards some learning resources please?

I hope that this post does not seem like I am trying to get out of researching the qualifications, I promise you it is not. I have spent a long time researching this area but there seems to be so many!

I look forward to your replies.

CalKen's picture

Gareth;

Unfortunately I have not done Project Management in the UK (I have seen Prince but have not used it much). One possibility would be the PMP certification, which can be earned by passing a test but does require a certain level of experience and formal training (which your night classes may apply to if they are project management or business-related). The PMP does not focus on Prince but covers the fundamentals of project management and is acceptable throughout the world (there may be some places that don't recognize it but I have seen companies in the UK accept it). Check to see if there is a PMI branch in your area (www.pmi.org).

The test can be difficult, especially if you have little or no project management experience. Taking the test can be taken without membership into PMI or previous studying (although they do ask for a certain number of hours of experience and at least 35 hours of training). There may be other certifying bodies out there also. As for Prince, I would recommend whatever entry-level experience in a position that gives you exposure (and many employers also provide Prince training for employees, which could be asked for). I have used a couple of PM tools but I have never had formal training in them and as such I could not help you with possible training opportunities in this tool.

With this being said I would highly recommend gaining experience, possibly in volunteer service (which I used when I first started my project management experience). I do not know your specific circumstance, but if I can help you please let me know and I would be happy to help you out.

itilimp's picture
Licensee Badge

Hi Gareth,

It depends on what your objective is in achieving the certification really as to which one is appropriate for you.

Prince2 is a methodology only. It will not teach you how to be a good project manager, it simply provides a framework of processes, components and techniques that you can use to manage a project. If that's all you need, then you can do the Foundation exam self-study for a few hundred pounds. It isn't recommended to do the next exam, Practitioner, self-study - but there are upgrade courses available.

If you need more than the methodology alone then going for a PMP cert. is still a valid way to go in the UK.

Hope that helps :)

CalKen's picture

itilimp;

I have not seen Prince2 much outside of the UK (if at all). Is this considered the main PM certification or process for project management in the UK? Or is the PMP are more accepted (or as accepted) as Prince2?

Just an idle curiosity....

itilimp's picture
Licensee Badge

Hi CalKen,

It depends on the sector really. Public sector, Prince2 most definitely. Private sector, PMP is probably as accepted as Prince2 though I know there are lot of people here who do both to cover all the bases because they are different beasts.

Peter.westley's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

In my experience, Prince2 is definitely predominantly found in the UK and PMP most everywhere else. Prince2 is generally known about and accepted elsewhere, but if you're not targeting the UK, focus on PMP.

Also, as someone else mentioned, one of the biggest things looked for is experience. Get it anywhere/anyhow you can and document / log it.

That's not to say either is better, but probably the question to ask is where is your market?

pmhut's picture

I deal with a lot of Project Managers from all over the world, and honestly, I have rarely seen PRINCE2 outside the UK. Companies in the the Americas, most of Europe, and the Middle East, when asking for a Project Management Certification, usually ask for PMP (based on the PMBOK).

You can check this series on [url=http://www.pmhut.com/?s=%22How+PRINCE2%E2%84%A2+Can+Complement+PMBOK%C2%... difference between PRINCE2 and PMBOK and how they can complement each other.[/url].

Hope that helps...

corinag's picture

[quote="itilimp"]

Prince2 is a methodology only. It will not teach you how to be a good project manager, it simply provides a framework of processes, components and techniques that you can use to manage a project. If that's all you need, then you can do the Foundation exam self-study for a few hundred pounds. It isn't recommended to do the next exam, Practitioner, self-study - but there are upgrade courses available.

If you need more than the methodology alone then going for a PMP cert. is still a valid way to go in the UK.

[/quote]

My feeling was that the PMBOK was also more of a set of tools than skills. I took a recent course based on the PMBOK in my MBA (it was conceived as a both a PM course, and a way to gather the requisite 35 hours for PMI) and found it was only partially useful (I have managed projects, but only occasionally and not in a project environment). I liked the structure that the book provided, but found that if you do not have the experience and want to learn about project management, gather skills, and perhaps exercise some abilities, then a different course then PMI is better. My experienced project manager MBA colleagues, who have PMI certification reported that once you have the skills, then the certification is truly worth it.

erikko's picture

[quote="itilimp"]Hi CalKen,

It depends on the sector really. Public sector, Prince2 most definitely. Private sector, PMP is probably as accepted as Prince2 though I know there are lot of people here who do both to cover all the bases because they are different beasts.[/quote]

i agree, PM methodologies also depend on the industry you are working on