PRINCE2 vs. PMP – Which is Right For Your Career?

Leveling up your career in the field of Project Management can be tedious. The search for appropriate professional certifications never seems to cease. If the above pointers bother you then you must read this article on PRINCE2 vs PMP, which will definitely clarify all your doubts and will help you to understand all the distinctions between PMP and PRINCE2 Certification.

You can watch this video on PRINCE2 vs PMP for a detailed explanation.

But before I start this PMP® vs PRINCE2® blog, let me give you a quick overview of these certifications.

PMP^® Certification

PMP Certification stands for Project Management Professional Certification. This certification is proof of education and experience in the project management field of any project management practitioner. It is known as the golden standard of Project Management and is acknowledged by the organizations across the globe. Once you successfully clear the PMP^® Exam, you fall into the cream layer and will be preferred by the recruiters.

PRINCE2^® Certification

PRINCE2^® stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environment. The PRINCE2 certification focuses on a structured project management approach and practitioner certification program. It is a systematic process-based method that helps in delivering a successful project with clear templates, PRINCE2 process model, and steps.

PMP^® and PRINCE2^® both are certifications for experienced project management practitioners. One thing you must keep in your mind is, these certifications are “not” competing, rather they are mutually exclusive and complement each other. Moreover, if they are pursued together, can widen your horizon as a project manager. Thus, before opting for any one of these, you must have an unclouded understanding of what each of these certifications has to offer. Through this blog on PMP vs PRINCE2, I am going to throw some light on the major differences as well as advantages of each of them.

So, let’s begin our comparison of PMP^®  vs PRINCE2^®  certifications with the very first topic, i.e., PM Methodology.

PMP vs PRINCE2: Project Management Methodology

Project management methodology is a model, which organizations adopt for the design, planning, implementation, and fulfillment of project objectives. It depends on the industry or business domains as to what project methodology should be adopted for a particular project. You can consider these methodologies as the threshold on which these two certifications operate in the industry.

The next point of comparison between PMP vs PRINCE2  is the PM approach. So, let’s move ahead and see how they differ in their approaches.

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Project Management Approach

Project management approach is basically the framework used for handling the different factors of a project and achieving successful project completion.

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Industry/Geography-wise Relevance

Now that we have established clear differences between these three certifications, let us discover the industry-specific or geographical prominence of these three certifications.

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Certification Bodies

Well, these certifications are provided by the prominent certification bodies of project management and are equally prestigious. Having certification stamp of these institutes automatically beefs up your resume and puts you in the elite group of professionals.

PMP®	PRINCE2®

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Eligibility & Fee Structure

Now, prerequisites are the important factor which you must know before you apply for any of these certifications. PMP^® and PRINCE2^®, both have different requirements. Check out the table below, to know about them in detail:

Related Learning: PMP Certification Cost Breakdown!

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Exam Format

Being well acquainted with the exam format is the first step to cracking it. Being the most reputed certifications in the field of project management, clearing these exams is no joke. You must have a thorough knowledge of the exam you are going to appear for. Few of the major differences are listed below:

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Preparation Time 

Getting acquainted with the exam pattern is the first step in exam preparation. But for the actual preparation, you need to build a detailed schedule based on the time bracket you have and the syllabus you need to cover. But just creating schedule won’t do, adhering to it, is a must in order to succeed. So, for your reference, I have added a rough outline of prep time for all the three certification exams.

PMP®	PRINCE2®

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Average Salary

Now, last but not least. The driving factor that makes professionals take these certifications is the salary factor. Below is the summation of the average salary of a professional holding any of the certifications among PMP vs PRINCE2. 

PRINCE2 vs PMP: Companies

Big brands across the globe often hire professionals with these certifications. Few of the companies hiring PMP^® and PRINCE2^®  professionals are:

PMP^® 

PRINCE2^® 

Since you are familiar with the nitty-gritty of PMP® and PRINCE2® certification, in the next section, I will address the major question that you may have. You can learn more from the PRINCE2 foundation certification.

Which certification suits you better?

As I have already mentioned, both certifications are prominent in the project management field and hold paramount importance. So, you can opt for either of the two. But before you choose your certification, there are a few important aspects that you need to consider like:

1. Decide on where you want to work and what is your location preference?
2. In your project, during which phase you will be focusing on your clients?
3. Which work routine do you think will suit you better?

Major skills, including project initiation, planning, control, PRINCE2 Risk Management, change management, quality assurance, leadership, effective communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, are needed to become certified professionals in PRINCE2. When evaluating your readiness for certification, you may also wonder how long does a PRINCE2® qualification take to acquire these essential skills effectively.

This brings us to the end of this blog on PRINCE2 vs PMP. I hope I was able to give you a clear picture of each of these certifications and help you decide which to pursue. 

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