The good news is that there are still plenty of jobs in project management. And with the government’s promise to build its way out the economic crisis, the situation is likely to improve further. It’s a universal skill set, relevant in every industry sector. But many job adverts include PRINCE2 or the APM PMQ as essential qualifications. What are they, and what’s the difference between them? And most importantly, if you’re looking for a job in project management, which one should you go for?
What are they? PRINCE2 is a method; a set of principles, processes and document templates that can be tailored to fit any kind of project. The PRINCE2 Practitioner certificate demonstrates that you understand how the method works and can apply it to a project scenario. The Association for Project Management is the UK’s chartered body for project managers. Their Project Management Qualification (PMQ) tests your understanding of the principles of project management in the APM’s Body of Knowledge. In practical terms this means that both exams are based on a big, thick reference manual; Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2 weighs in at 400 pages, the APM Body of Knowledge at 395.
Broadly equivalent. The PRINCE2 Practitioner certificate and APM PMQ are seen as broadly equivalent by most employers. You won’t find either of them listed with Ofqual, as they’re not academic qualifications. But you will find them all over job adverts for project managers, especially in the public sector.
Preparation. Both qualifications require a similar amount of preparation. Pre-COVID, an intensive five-day spell in a classroom was the norm. Most training providers are now offering the same thing online, with varying degrees of success. Doing a crash course in PRINCE2 isn’t the best way to learn how to be a project manager. But if you already have some experience and need to turn it into a recognised qualification quickly, it’s probably the way forward. If you’re new to project management, I’d recommend the APM route. Deciding which one to go for may also come down to the way you prefer – or not – to take exams.
The exams. If you opt for PRINCE2 you’re in for 3 ½ hours of exams; a one-hour Foundation paper and 2 1/2 hours for the Practitioner. The APM PMQ is a three-hour exam. Both exams are currently only available online, and the pass mark is 55%. Other than that, the two are very different.
PRINCE2 Practitioner.
· Open Book. The PRINCE2 Practitioner exam is open book. You can use the official manual – but not any other references.
· Question Format. You don’t write anything. You answer each question by checking a box on an answer sheet. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. The questions are mainly multi-choice – but a quirky and quite complex form of multi-choice. You need to read each question carefully. There are very few obvious right answers and there’s a lot of information to process; the question itself, a project scenario which is part of the exam, and the PRINCE2 manual.
· Terminology. The project scenario and exam questions use PRINCE2 terminology throughout. There’s no flexibility. Getting your head around this terminology is one of most challenging aspects of learning PRINCE2. A good teacher will be able to relate the PRINCE2 language to your own industry experience.
· Sample Questions. You will need to practise as many questions as you can. A limited number of official sample papers are available online. These provide the answers, along with the correct answers and a detailed rationale behind each one.
· Timing. Time is a major factor in the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam. There are 68 questions, that’s an average of less than 2 ½ minutes per question.
APM PMQ
· Closed Book. The APM PMQ exam is closed book. You can’t use the APM Body of Knowledge on which it’s based – or any other references. There are two parts to the exam; a question booklet and as many blank answer sheets as you need.
· Question Format. You will do a lot of writing. The questions themselves are short, often one sentence e.g. “explain five steps in a typical project risk management process”. But the examiners expect you to answer using full sentences and paragraphs. You have to answer 10 questions from a choice of 16. A full answer requires 400-500 words – that’s a total of between 4000 and 5000 words for the exam. There’s no set correct answer – unlike PRINCE2, the APM encourages candidates to draw on their own project management experience to answer the questions.
· Terminology. The really good news about the PMQ exam is you don’t have to limit yourself to the terminology in the APM Body of Knowledge. You can use the language that you use in your own organization – as long as it’s relevant to the question.
· Sample Question. It’s a good idea to practise as many current PMQ questions as you can. The APM publish sample papers online but these do not come with model answers. You really need to get some feedback on your practice questions from someone who understands the exam.
· Timing. Like PRINCE2, time is a major factor in the PMQ exam. Three hours to do 10 questions is an average of 18 minutes a question. If you get your timing wrong and don’t answer all 10 questions, it’s very difficult to pass.
Summary. In summary, if you’re prepared to learn the terminology and you prefer processing information to writing answers, you might find the PRINCE2 Practitioner the easier of the two exams. If you prefer a more open ended approach that allows you to draw on your own experience and use your own language, the APM PMQ may be the way to go, provided you’re prepared to write up to 5000 words in three hours.
Choose the right training provider. Whichever qualification you choose it’s important to find a training provider who really knows what they’re doing with online delivery. The best ones will use a blended approach that involves some live interaction with an experienced tutor. Tackling the APM PMQ or PRINCE2 through self-study is extremely difficult and I wouldn’t recommend it.
