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Original poster

Prince2 course advice

15 replies

mojoawol · 27/02/2018 16:28

Does anyone know if the online courses you can get for Prince2 are any good? Are they recognised by employers?
Groupon have some amazing offers (Under £100, whereas actual attendee courses are over £1000). But just not sure if they'd be a complete waste of time.
Any experiences or project management knowledge??

OP posts:

Polarbearflavour · 27/02/2018 18:16

In my old job in the Civil Service, PRINCE2 was being pushed out in favour of APM courses.

ArnoldBee · 27/02/2018 18:18

Agile methodology is the emperor's new clothes. Prince is very old hat now.

Original poster

mojoawol · 27/02/2018 18:25

Thanks. Where I work currently uses agile, but I thought agile was just used in software development. Is that not the case? Is it used industry wide? And as a project manager would you not be expected to know Prince2 as well?

OP posts:

daisychain01 · 27/02/2018 18:47

I wonder how you'd be able to gain a full Prince2 accreditation online - when I did mine it was an intensive 5 day classroom experience with an exam at the end and a massive tome which was like a doorstop. It could be fine but you'd need to make sure you know exactly what they're offering for £100 and if you do get the certification at the end and not an internet imitation.

Re Prince2 it's still a respected PM qualification. If you applied for a PM role with Prince2 on your CV it wouldn't hold you back, esp in Public Sector if you have experience. PMP is fine too - you'd probably have the edge on a Prince2 candidate, but if the Prince2 candidate's experience is more relevant, it may not necessarily sway opinion towards you because you have PMP and they don't. Agile is a software development methodology rather than a certification.

Boopear · 27/02/2018 18:53

It sounds like you are looking at Prince Foundation level qualification? TBH if you want your Prince qualification to have any weight you’ll really need Practioner level. Which not only needs the Pp’s 5 days in classroom plus exam but really also needs renewal every 5 years. It also usually costs about 5k. APM is even more effort (and probably money unf) - lots of different modules/exams.
If you are working with Agile now, have you looked at Scrum Master?

Original poster

mojoawol · 27/02/2018 19:18

The online Prince2 courses I've seen are Foundation and Practitioner, you have around 6 months to a year to complete them, they're APM accredited, so all look legitimate.
Basically, I work in a digital agency as an account manager, but there seems little career progression so I'm considering a sideways move into project management (there's a fair bit of overlap with PM role). Basically then using this to move beyond digital agency land. Will potential employers prefer to see both qualifications? And scrum master wouldn't be enough of a qual for a career move would it?
Sorry for so many questions!

OP posts:

MercianQueen · 27/02/2018 19:23

I'm a programme manager, and I did my Prince2 Foundation and Practitioner online - it's perfectly possible, but you need to be comfortable with self-study. There are online tutorials and drop in sessions with tutors to help you.

Do always check the Groupon offers though - make sure the price includes the course and the exam, and the text book. Some of the great prices exclude the exam, which can really cost you. But I did the whole lot for about £400. Good luck!

Catinthebath · 27/02/2018 19:25

I did P2 I’m classroom and found the tutor invaluable. Of course, pm’img in real life is nothing like P2

Bluegreencoloursflashing · 27/02/2018 19:40

May I ask a couple of questions? It's 15 years since I've worked in an office (long term SAHM) what is a project manager? I've only ever heard that job title for someone on a building site. And what is Prince2?

Last question: what is a digital agency?

Boopear · 27/02/2018 19:42

Others have answered the Prince 2 questions, but as a PP said it would also be good to concentrate on/highlight relevant skills. Do you have experience of writing proposals/business cases? Also planning/scheduling - if you get the chance to help to plan things like office moves that’s great experience. Budget management good. Presenting to senior management. Supplier management, inc contract/tender negotiation. Requirements gathering - even at a low level. AnythIng like that would be really useful. Prince has good theory but it may also be worth doing a pm skills (or planning) course as well to get/be able to ‘sell’ the more practical stuff.

Boopear · 27/02/2018 19:46

Oh, and to answer your questions - looks like Prince 2 still seems to be the go to qualification. You may also be best looking at similar sectors to that you are in at the mo as a start. Would be difficult to jump sectors and roles at the same time.

Loraline · 27/02/2018 19:55

Do shop around in terms of the online courses. Many are great and totally legit but a few years ago I started one that was woeful. Half of the functions didn't work on their platform and the course was really muddled and hopped around. Their 'support' was really unresponsive too. I ended up demanding my money back.

Blankiefan · 27/02/2018 20:02

It depends on the industry you work in. Prince2 is heavily used in the public sector and third sectors. Agile is common in IT.

For lots of PM roles you're ex0ected o have one or more of these typical qualifications
Obviously best if it matches the industry. Neither will teach you how to be a PM as a huge proportion of the role lies in the softer skills but understanding these widely used methodologies helps you work where they are being used.

I did Prince2 but don't work in a prince2 environment. It's still been helpful. I'm planning to so agile later this year to broaden my understanding.

I did p2 in a classroom environment. It must be really tough to do it alone / online. There's an enormous amount of content you need to rote learn for the foundation course. It's super dull and I'd never have had the discipline. Also, it's really helpful to have a teacher for the Practitioner qualification as a load of the success is in being able to work the techniques to answer the questions. It does feel all about passing the exam so feels a bit hollow but once I went back to work it did help me with a lot of the principles and ideas around solid project management.

(Work paid for my course and gave me the week off to do it)

BakewellTart01 · 27/02/2018 20:12

I work in software, so may be slightly different. I have Prince2 and Scrum Master and product owner qualifications.
I recently changed jobs and every PM job asked for Prince2. All agile qualifications were desirable.
To mirror other PP, having the instructor was invaluable.

cazinge · 28/02/2018 20:39

I run a project team in the 3rd sector, P2 is the go to. Years ago I did my foundation in the classroom then my top up to Practioner online. That was hard going but do-able. I've just re-registered my Practioner solely online which was easy but I have a good memory.

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