PRINCE2 Professional assessment explained

The official accreditor for PRINCE2 and other OGC Frameworks - APMG - have been working on the development of a higher level qualification for some time, known as the PRINCE2 Professional. After a successful candidate pilot earlier this year, OGC have requested two further pilots be run for approved trainers and consultants to garner further feedback.

This is a good indication of the level of seriousness that these organisations have with regard to new qualifications.


What is the PRINCE2 Professional qualification?
The PRINCE2 Professional qualification tests, through a 2-day Assessment Centre, a candidate’s ability to apply the PRINCE2 method when managing a non-complex project. In order to test this, the PRINCE2 Professional qualification moves outside of the boundaries of the PRINCE2 method and syllabus, and includes globally recognised project management competencies. This Assessment Centre is not a course. No training is provided.

Suitable candidates will have experience of managing non-complex projects or will have been a team member of a more complex project. Candidates wishing to take the PRINCE2 Professional qualification must also have passed the PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification.

What is assessed?
The PRINCE2 Professional qualification assesses a candidate’s capability to manage a non complex PRINCE2 project across all aspects of the project lifecycle. For the purpose of the PRINCE2 Professional qualification, the assessment of a candidate’s capabilities takes place within the boundaries of a Case Study and the Assessment Centre.

How is the PRINCE2 Professional qualification assessed?
The assessment takes place at a residential Assessment Centre, held over two days.

Assessors collect evidence of a candidate’s competence through observation of group activities and exercises. Candidates are observed discussing and solving problems relating to the project Case Study. In addition, all candidates are interviewed by their assessor(s) on an individual basis during the Assessment Centre. Assessors and the Moderator must judge that a candidate is capable of managing a non-complex PRINCE2 project of the type used as case material during the Assessment Centre.

Assessment Teams
An Assessment Centre needs to operate with between six (APMG strongly recommends no less than 8) and sixteen candidates with an assessment team comprising two to four people depending on candidate numbers, plus one Moderator appointed by APMG.

The design of the PRINCE2 Professional qualification assumes the following: -

• A minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 groups of candidates
• Each group containing either 3 or 4 people
• 1 approved Assessor per group
• 1 Moderator per Assessment Centre

Assessors of the PRINCE2 Professional qualification must hold the qualification themselves and be accredited by APMG. Assessors are responsible for gathering evidence of the candidates’ competence against the performance criteria.