PRINCE2? version 7 certification

Is it already possible to get certified in the PRINCE2 version?

Yes, certification in version 7 has been possible since September 4, 2023, when the launch of this version was officially announced.

In any case, we recommend that you check with your training agency whether it implements this certification, because all training companies (ATO′s) must be accredited to this new version.

How does the PRINCE2 certification and test work?

PRINCE2 version 7 is different from version 6 and even more different from version 5. Peoplecert therefore requires that you hold a PRINCE2 version 6 certificate in order to be certified as a PRINCE2 v7 Practitioner. There are no specific requirements for obtaining the Foundation certificate, it is enough to take the exam from version 7. The rule still applies that 55% of the correct answers out of a total of 60 questions are sufficient to obtain the PRINCE2 Foundation certificate.

The same applies to the Practitioner exam, but the final test has 70 questions. The time allotted for the exam is 150 minutes, but if the test is not in your native language, you have an extra 40 minutes. I have to admit that I used 20 minutes of this time and finished the test earlier than planned.

How is the exam conducted?

This is probably the question that interests you the most. For those who have PRINCE2 version 6 certification (originally called version 2017), this is nothing new. I found the practice test in version 7 easier than in version 6. Simple reasoning usually eliminates 2 answers. (I note that both the Foundation and Practitioner tests in version 7 are always multiple choice. The Foundation test is always one out of 4 questions, the Practitioner test may have more questions but only one correct answer).

So if you can rule out 2 answers, the remaining ones are true under certain circumstances. Well, here you have to consider which of those circumstances best suits the context in question.

Is the project script still in use?

Yes, the project scenario is part of the exam, but its importance is only marginal. In the manual "Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2" version 7, four sample scenarios are defined, one of which is used in the exam. It is a good idea to read these scenarios before the exam as part of your training or pre-course preparation. The essence of the question is explained in the question itself, that is, the individual questions are not related to each other in any way. The scenario project script is always available on the screen.

Is there a certain structure of the certification exam?

Yes. The questions are divided into blocks and you always know which block you are in. The questions on "Practices" (previously called themes) have such a format that first there is a table and it will be necessary to match the question with the relevant role or process, and then there are two separate questions with the possibility of one correct answer out of answers.

Is the Practitioner certification exam difficult?

First of all, I have to say that even the PRINCE2 Foundation exam is quite difficult, especially for those students who already have a PRINCE2 certificate. This is mainly due to the fact that the terms changes, but also the context.

The Practitioner exam in version 7 is probably as difficult as the exam in version 6 and significantly more difficult than in version 5.

How much should you study for the exam?

The final test in PRINCE2 version 5 could be passed successfully based on attentive listening during the classsroom training. The standard training and certification format was that the training started on Monday, on Wednesday the students took the Foundation exam, on Thursday the Practitioner training took place and on Friday there was the exam. Motivated students were able to pass both exams even though they did not prepare much for the training.

The exam in version 6 and 7 already requires self-study, especially after the implementation of classroom or online training. It is a good idea to prepare for the training by studying the pre-course preparation provided by the training agency, and after the training, you also need to devote some time to completing your studies.

Where can you get a PRINCE2 version 7 certificate?

Our company provides training for all three versions of PRINCE2. We still train in version 5, but from the International point of view, it is only possible to take the PRINCE2 Foundation Practitioner in English and in some more languages to which the documentation and certification are translated.

I would like to point out that next year the option of certification in version 5 and version 6 will be discontinued. It is not yet known whether the PRINCE2 Foundation or Practitioner exam will be translated to more international languages.

If you want to learn more, visit Project Academy or contact us at [email protected]. If you are not sure, check out our training reviews.