PRINCE2 Practitioner level certification tests whether a candidate can apply and tailor PRINCE2. Successful Practitioner candidates should be capable of, with suitable direction, applying PRINCE2 to a real project but not to do this appropriately for all situations.
The candidate’s project management experience, project complexity and the support provided for the use of PRINCE2 will be factors that impact what the candidate can achieve.
PRINCE2 Practitioner audience
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification is suitable for anyone who:
- Is a current or aspiring project manager or professional who manages projects.
- Is involved in the design, development and delivery of projects, including:
- Project Board members (e.g. Senior Responsible Owners),
- Team Managers (e.g. Product Delivery Managers),
- Project Assurance (e.g. Business Change Analysts),
- Project Support (e.g. Project and Programme Office personnel),
- Operational line managers or staff.
- Wants to start using PRINCE2 to manage projects.
- Already holds a PRINCE2 Foundation, or other prerequisite qualification.
PRINCE2 Practitioner training
The choice of PRINCE2 Practitioner training option largely depends on each candidate’s personal learning style, budget, and schedule. To gain PRINCE2 Practitioner certification, choose to study from one of the
training course options below.
| PRINCE2 Practitioner (& Foundation) live classroom training | PRINCE2 Practitioner (& Foundation) virtual classroom training | PRINCE2 Practitioner (& Foundation) self-paced online eLearning | |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days | 35 hours |
| Times | 09:00 to 17:00 | 09:00 to 17:00 | 12 months’ access |
| Suitable for | Students wanting certification quickly and prefer to study in a live classroom. | Students wanting certification quickly but don’t want to travel to a course. | Students preferring to study at their own pace in a cost-conscious way. |
| Homework | 2-3 hours per night | 2-3 hours per night | N/A |
| Pre-course reading | 3 hours | 3 hours | N/A |
| Help from trainer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes AXELOS membership [2] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes exam(s) [3] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes mock exams | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes resit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Most expensive. Get discount code. | Less expensive. Get discount code. | Cheapest option. Get discount code. |
| PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner live classroom training | PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner virtual classroom training | PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner self-paced online eLearning | |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days | 35 hours |
| Times | 09:00 to 17:00 | 09:00 to 17:00 | 12 months’ access |
| Suitable for | Students wanting certification quickly and prefer to study in a live classroom. | Students wanting certification quickly but don’t want to travel to a course. | Students preferring to study at their own pace in a cost-conscious way. |
| Homework | 2-3 hours per night | 2-3 hours per night | N/A |
| Pre-course reading | 3 hours | 3 hours | N/A |
| Help from trainer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes AXELOS membership [2] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes exam(s) [3] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes mock exams | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Includes resit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Most expensive. Get discount code. | Less expensive. Get discount code. | Cheapest option. Get discount code. |
Notes:
[1] Questions to qualified, experienced trainer answered within 1 working day.
[2] One-month free AXELOS membership when redeeming the exam voucher.
[3] Exam voucher redeemable within 12 months for online examination.
[4] Two full sample Foundation mock exam papers.
[5] Two full sample Foundation and two full sample Practitioner mock exam papers.
PRINCE2 Practitioner learning outcomes
- Apply the PRINCE2 principles in context.
- Apply and tailor relevant aspects of PRINCE2 themes in context.
- Apply and tailor relevant aspects of PRINCE2 processes in context.
PRINCE2 Practitioner course content
All training options include the following course content:
- Tailoring the PRINCE2 themes (business case, organization, quality, risk, plans, change, progress).
- Tailoring the PRINCE2 processes (starting up a project, directing a project, initiating a project, controlling a stage, managing product delivery, managing a stage boundary,
closing a project). - Tailoring the PRINCE2 management products (benefits management approach, business case, change control approach, checkpoint report, communication management approach,
configuration item record, daily log, end project report, end stage report, exception report, highlight report, issue register, issue report, lessons log, lessons report, plan, product description, project brief, project initiation
documentation, project product description, product status account, quality management approach, quality register, risk management approach, risk register, work package). - Tailoring the PRINCE2 roles and responsibilities.
For more information, download the PRINCE2 Practitioner syllabus.
PRINCE2 Practitioner exam
If you purchase a training course, you receive a PRINCE2 Practitioner exam voucher which is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase of training.
Format: Online.
Style: Objective.
Questions: 68.
Pass mark: 55% (38/68).
Duration: 150 minutes.
Rules: Open book.
Results: Same day.
Registration: Via a training organization or PeopleCert.
Prerequisites: Candidates must hold a current version of any of the following qualifications:
PRINCE2 Foundation (5th or 6th edition).
APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ).
APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ).
PMI® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®.
PMI® Project Management Professional (PMP)®.
IPMA® Levels A, B, C or D.
IPMA® is a registered trademark of IPMA in Switzerland and other countries. “PMI”, “PMP” and “CAPM” are registered marks of Project Management Institute, Inc.
PRINCE2 Practitioner exam study guides
PRINCE2 Practitioner exam questions
Download a PRINCE2 Practitioner mock exam.
PRINCE2 Practitioner PDFs
To help with revision for the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam, these articles enable you to download in PDF format:
- PRINCE2
- PRINCE2 benefits
- PRINCE2 certification
- PRINCE2 embedding
- PRINCE2 exams
- PRINCE2 Foundation
- PRINCE2 glossary
- PRINCE2 principles
- PRINCE2 themes
- PRINCE2 Practitioner
- PRINCE2 processes
- PRINCE2 process model
- PRINCE2 management products
- PRINCE2 methodology
- PRINCE2 roles
- PRINCE2 tailoring
- PRINCE2 training courses
PRINCE2 Practitioner exam PDFs
PRINCE2 Practitioner videos
When preparing for the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam these videos might be helpful to use as revision aids.
PRINCE2 Practitioner benefits
There are 5 main benefits of gaining PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.
1. Validates knowledge.
PRINCE2 Practitioner validates a candidate’s knowledge in a globally recognized project management methodology.
2. Enhances employability.
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification makes a candidate more competitive in the job market.
3. Boosts confidence.
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification can boost candidate’s confidence to contribute more on projects.
4. Job opportunities.
PRINCE2 is widely adopted in many countries and industries and opens more job opportunities.
5. Higher salaries.
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification can potentially lead to higher salary due to the demand for certified professionals.
Can I take the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam only?
You can purchase the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam without buying a course. However, before sitting your PRINCE2 Practitioner exam you must hold one of the prerequisite qualifications.
Can I take the PRINCE2 Practitioner without Foundation?
You can only sit the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam if you hold one of these qualifying certifications:
- PRINCE2 Foundation (5th or 6th edition).
- APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ).
- APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ).
- PMI® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®.
- PMI® Project Management Professional (PMP)®.
- PMA® Levels A, B, C or D.
However, you can purchase a PRINCE2 Practitioner course independently of a PRINCE2 Foundation course.
IPMA® is a registered trademark of IPMA in Switzerland and other countries. “PMI”, “PMP” and “CAPM” are registered marks of Project Management Institute, Inc.
Does PRINCE2 Practitioner certification expire?
No, the PRINCE2 Practitioner certification does not expire. However, it does have a renewal date set 3 years after the exam date. After that there are 3 options to renew certification:
- Re-take and pass another PRINCE2 Practitioner exam.
- Pass one of these related AXELOS exams (PRINCE2® Agile, MoR®, MSP®, MoV®, MoP®, and P3O®).
- Pay for annual AXELOS membership.
How do I prepare for the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam?
Preparation methods can include attending classroom training, taking online self-paced eLearning, or self-study with the official PRINCE2 manual
Whichever study option you choose, ensure that you practice the exams, and understand the minimum requirements of the PRINCE2 themes, and processes, and know how to navigate around the PRINCE2 manual.
How long does PRINCE2 Practitioner take?
PRINCE2 Practitioner study duration varies depending on your prior knowledge, study option, and learning pace.
The fastest method is to attend a 2-day Practitioner classroom course.
The next fastest is to study Practitioner using a self-paced online eLearning course. This requires a minimum of 15 hours of study time.
Self-studying using the PRINCE2 manual might take some anywhere from 30 hours or more of study.
How long is PRINCE2 Practitioner valid?
The PRINCE2 Practitioner certification recommends renewal every 3 years. You should consider one of these 3 options to renew:
- Re-take and pass the Practitioner exam.
- Pass one of these related AXELOS exams (PRINCE2® Agile, MoR®, MSP®, MoV®, MoP®, and P3O®).
- Pay for annual AXELOS membership.
How long is the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam?
The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam lasts 150 minutes and consists of 68 objective-style questions. For non-native speakers, 25% additional time can be requested, making the exam 188 minutes in total.
How to book my PRINCE2 Practitioner exam?
You can book your PRINCE2 Practitioner exam directly through the Accredited Training Organization (ATO) from which you bought your training course. Or, if you purchased the exam from PeopleCert, you must contact them directly.
Is the PRINCE2 Practitioner equivalent to PMP?
No, PRINCE2 Practitioner and PMP (Project Management Professional) are not equivalent. They are different certifications from different organizations, each with their unique focus and methodology. However, there is one similarity which is that both qualifications are commonly found as a requirement on job postings.
Is the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam easy?
Not really. The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam is generally considered by most people to be reasonably difficult, although this varies with people’s background in project management and their level of preparation. With sufficient understanding of the PRINCE2 methodology and ample practice, 73% of candidates pass the Practitioner exam on the first attempt.
Is PRINCE2 Practitioner an open book exam?
Yes, the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam is an open book exam. This means that the only reference materials allowed during the exam is your annotated copy of the PRINCE2 manual.
Is PRINCE2 Practitioner worth it?
Yes, the PRINCE2 Practitioner is widely regarded as valuable, especially in the UK and Europe. It validates your knowledge in a globally recognized project management methodology, potentially increasing your employability and salary prospects.
What are the minimum requirements for PRINCE2 Practitioner?
To sit the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam requires you to hold one of the following qualifications:
- PRINCE2 Foundation (5th or 6th edition).
- APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ).
- APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ).
- PMI® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM).
- PMI® Project Management Professional (PMP)®.
- IPMA® Levels A, B, C or D.
What comes after PRINCE2 Practitioner?
PRINCE2 Practitioner is the highest PRINCE2 qualification. To advance your project management career further, you should consider getting a programme management qualification such as MSP, or a project management qualification such as APM PMQ. Alternatively, if you work on agile projects, it will be worth it to seek PRINCE2 Agile certification.
What happens if you fail PRINCE2 Practitioner?
If you do not pass the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam, you can retake it. There is no limit on the number of times you can sit the exam. However, it’s advisable to review and understand the areas you struggled with before attempting again.
What is PRINCE2 Practitioner?
PRINCE2 Practitioner is the highest-level certification in the PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) project management methodology. It validates your understanding of how to apply PRINCE2 in a fictional project
scenario.
What is the cost of PRINCE2 Practitioner exam?
The cost of PRINCE2 Practitioner varies by country and training provider. For the current prices check the PRINCE2 Practitioner course page.
What is the Practitioner level of PRINCE2?
The Practitioner level of PRINCE2 confirms whether a candidate can apply and tailor the PRINCE2 project management method to a fictional project scenario.
What is the pass rate for PRINCE2 Practitioner?
The pass mark for the PRINCE2 Practitioner is 55%, meaning you need to get at least 38 out of 68 questions right. The actual Practitioner pass rates can vary, but with proper preparation, over 73% of Practitioner candidates pass on their first attempt.
What is the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam format?
The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam consists of 68 objective-style questions. The exam is open book, meaning it is allowed to use your PRINCE2 manual during the exam. The exam is taken online. Candidates require a desktop computer, internet connection, audio, and video camera to show their photo ID to the remote proctor.
What is the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam length?
The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam is 150 minutes long unless you are a non-native speaker, in which case you can request an additional 25% of time, making the exam 188 minutes in total.
What is the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam pass mark?
The pass mark for the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam is 55%, which equates to 38 out of 68 correct answers.
What qualifications are equivalent to PRINCE2 Practitioner level?
The most obvious equivalent if PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner. Other similar project management certifications include the Agile Project Management (AgilePM) Practitioner, and the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ).
Where to take a PRINCE2 Practitioner exam?
The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam can be taken through an Accredited Training Organization (ATO) or through the official PRINCE2 examining body. The exam is taken online.