PRINCE2® Foundation
PRINCE2 Foundation is the first and basic level of PRINCE2 certification that confirms the overall understanding, familiarity with the PRINCE2 vocabulary and capability to work as a member of a project management team.
Most people only get the Foundation certificate, but candidates also have the option to proceed to the PRINCE2 Practitioner certification after Foundation. However, if the goal is the Practitioner certificate, you can qualify for the Practitioner exam if you have a PMP, CAPM, or IPMA certificate as well, and the PRINCE2 Foundation certificate is not the only option.
Preparing for the exam
There are three main options for preparing for the exam:
- take classroom courses with accredited trainers,
- take eLearning courses, or
- do self-study.
Classroom courses with live trainers are the most expensive option and self study the most affordable one. The cost of eLearning courses is between the two. However, the other cost is the risk of failing the exam and having to pay for and buying an expensive voucher, and you should consider than when making your decision.
If you like, you can buy our PRINCE2 Foundation eLearning course, which we believe to be the best ;)
Exam format
- Multiple choice (choose A, B, C or D)
- 60 questions per paper
- 60% passing score
- 60 minutes time
If you’re taking the exam in a language other than your native language and work language, or if you have Dyslexia or one of the other conditions, you will get 15 minutes extra time.
Taking the exam
The Foundation exam can be taken at any Authorized Training Organization (ATO) or online.
The online exams can be taken from home or work, in a quiet and small room where no one other than the candidate exists. The session will be monitored by a remote invigilator through the microphone and webcam of the candidate’s computer. Online exams must be booked a few days beforehand.
Paying for the exam
According to PeopleCert, all Accredited Training Organizations must sell their courses with the exam voucher. So, if you use one of those, no extra step would be necessary. If you prefer to self study, you’d need to buy an exam without a course.
You’d better practice with sample questions before taking the main exam, to increase your chances of passing.
Certificate
Candidates receive their electronic certificates as soon as their results are finalized (usually takes a few hours to a few days).
Candidates can allow PeopleCert institutes to publish their information. In that case, their name will be added to AXELOS’/PeopleCert’s successful candidates register.
Certificate holders have to renew the Practitioner certificate in 3 years, with another exam or by a membership program in PeopleCert.
Note: The Foundation certificate used to be valid for life, but it has recently changed to be valid for 3 years.
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Written by Frank Turley.
If you have questions or doubts after using this wiki, you can ask for help on the Facebook or LinkedIn study groups.