Majority of inquiry on Project Management (PM) trainings centers on the particular certification that would ensure a greater returns on PM career investment. Although there are other certifications, the debate is always between PMP and PRINCE2 certification. In this write-up, I will attempt to show the difference between the two certification from my unique perspective of being a practicing holder of the PMP and the PRINCE2 Practitioner credentials.
Delegates writing their mock exam in our first PMP Preparatory Training in 2010
- Career Development:
- The PMP credentials is more suited for career development as opposed the PRINCE2. The PMP certification which demonstrates competency in the application of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide is about developing the tools and techniques of a Project Manager. The focus of the PMBOK guide is ensuring successful project through best practice of the Project Manager. Hence, the Project Manager is fully accountable for the success of the Project.
- According to Project In Controlled Environment (PRINCE), different team members are accountable at different levels. The emphasis of accountability and responsibility is not on the Project Manager for the success of the Project rather the project success is based on how well we control all the environments involving team members, the processes and products involved. Tools and techniques that a Project Manager requires, are rarely mentioned.
- Accreditation
- In the lens of accreditation, PRINCE2 method appears more plausible. It was developed by the Office of Government Commerce in the UK and extensively used in more than 150 countries around the world. It is popular in UK, Europe and Australia. The method is based on experience drawn from thousands of projects and contributors.
- The PMBOK claims not to be a method but a guide which other methods can be developed from. It is developed by Project Management Institute (PMI) – a non-profit organization in the United States. It is popular in USA, Canada, Middle East and African Countries. The Guide is developed by experience Project Management practitioners.
- Testing and Modalities
- Since testing is based on ascertaining competency in either the PMBOK guide or PRINCE2 method, the modalities of achieving this competency is different:
- PRINCE2 requires success in the foundation exam level before obtaining the practitioner certification through another sets of exam. The PMP does not require an intermediary level exam however you must have the following 3 requirements – a minimum of 3-years’ experience in Project Management which you must document on a timesheet for approval, 35-contact hours training in Project Management and a Bachelors or equivalent degree.
- The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam is an open-book exam with 80 scenario based questions in 150 minutes with a 55% minimum score to pass while the PMP exam a closed-book exam with 200 multiple-choice questions in 24 minutes with about 62% minimum score to pass (not publicly acknowledged by PMI).
- The PRINCE2 exam is paper-based administered by APMG in UK through accredited training organization in the world while PMP computer-based exam is administered by Prometric and the paper based by PMI
- The PRINCE2 exam fee is not fixed as prices are set by the accredited training centers while the PMP exam is 400 USD for paper-based and 555 USD for computer-based.
- After passing their exams, you will be required to renew the certification for both PMP and PRINCE2. The PMP re-certification is based on obtaining 60 Professional Development Units (PDU) in a 3-year cycle while the PRINCE2 Practitioner is based on writing an exam within 3-5 year cycle.
Advice:
If your interest lies in working with a corporate body, go with PMP as you will develop the tools and technique for a successful Project Management career. If you own a company that has inclination for being “projectized”, go with PRINCE2 as you will develop the knowledge of running projects in a controlled environment.
PMP is more localized to the Project Manager, PRINCE2 is more generalized to the project.
However, you will realize that most software tools like Primavera and SAP PS Module model their scheduling engine on tools and techniques discussed in PMBOK guide.
N/B: Nothing is stopping you from having the two certifications – I will advise you to do the PMP first before PRINCE2 as the PMP is more difficult and the chance to get PDUs for your PMP.
