A comparative of PMP, Prince2, AIPM & IPMA certifications

1. PMP, Prince2, AIPM and IPMA certifications
24 November 2104, Joel Dupont, https://www.linkedin.com/in/dupontjoel/

2. Bodies of Project Management
assessed
 PMI: Project Management Institute, founded
in 1969 pmi.org
 Prince2: Projects in Controlled Environment,
update to Prince in 1996 prince2.com
 AIPM: Australian Institute of Project
Management aipm.com.au
 IPMA: International Project Management
Association ipma.world

3. Prince2, PMP and AIPM approaches
& usage
PMBOK Guide (Fifth
edition)
Prince2 (Managing
Successful projects with
Prince2)
AIPM
Knowledge, skills,
competencies (explains
what you should know)
with tools & techniques
Methodology (explains
what you should do),
pragmatic & step by step
Based upon PMBOK
(Stakeholder Management not
a separate body of knowledge)
Descriptive (explains the
good practices)
Prescriptive (tells you
what to do)
Artefacts to be provided and
questions to be answered in
writing and discussed with the
evaluator for each body of
knowledge
Answers HOW questions Answers WHAT, WHEN,
and WHOM questions
Answers WHAT and HOW you
do things and the examiner is
interested in knowing WHY you

4. Prince2, PMP and AIPM
approaches & usage
PMBOK Guide (Fifth
edition)
Prince2 (Managing
Successful projects
with Prince2)
AIPM (part of IPMA)
a certificate conversion
from AIPM to IPMA available
since 2017
Focuses on the
project manager’s
role
Defines the role of
everyone involved in
the project
Focus on project
manager’s role real
experience/competen
ce supported by
artefacts
USA, Canada, Middle
East, Australia
UK, Europe, Australia Australia
PMP standard is a guide rather than a specific methodology. One
can use different methodologies and tools (e.g. agile, waterfall,
PRINCE2) to implement the project management framework.

5. PMP & Prince2 exams and
certifications
PMP Prince2 Foundation Prince2 Practitioner
PMI certification body Axelos certification
body– previously
owned by UK’ cabinet
office
Axelos certification
body
200 Questions 75 questions 8*10 questions
Multiple choice Multiple choice Objective Testing
Abstract questions Abstract questions Scenario based
questions
~ 62% pass mark 50% pass mark 55% pass mark
240 minutes 60 minutes 150 minutes
Closed book Closed book Open book

6. PMP & Prince2 exams pre-
requisites & renewal
PMP Prince2 foundation Prince2 Practitioner
At least 3 years of experience
in the project management
field (5 years if you don’t
have a four-year degree)
At least 4500 hours
experience in leading and
directing projects (7500
hours if you don’t have a
four-year degree)
35 hours of formal project
management education
None
PMP or Being certified as
PRINCE2 Foundation
Renewal every 3 years by
PDUs
It does not expire
Renewal: Take a shorter exam
every 3 to 5 years

7. PMI, Prince2, AIPM and IPMA
certifications
PMI Prince2 AIPM IPMA
Entry level Certified
Associate in
Project
Management
(CAPM)
Foundation
certification
Registered
Project
Manager Reg
PM CPPP
Certified
Practising
Project
Practitioner
IPMA Level D
Certified
Project
Management
Associate

8. PMI, Prince2, AIPM and IPMA
certifications
PMI Prince2 AIPM IPMA
Project
Management
Project
Management
Professional
(PMP)
Prince2
Professional
Prince2
Practitioner
Registered
Project
Manager Reg
PM CPPM
Certified
Practising
Project
Manager
Registered
Project
Manager Reg
PM CPSPM
Certified
Practising
Senior Project
IPMA Level C
Certified Project
Manager
IPMA Level B
Certified Senior
Project Manager

9. PMI, Prince2, AIPM and IPMA
certifications
PMI Prince2 AIPM IPMA
Program
Management
Program
Management
Professional
(PgMP)
Managing
Successful
Programmes
(MSP foundation,
practitioner and
advanced
practitioner)
Registered
Project Manager
Reg PM CPPD
Certified
Practising Project
Director
IPMA Level A
Certified Project
Director

10. PMI, Prince2, AIPM and IPMA
certifications
PMI Prince2 AIPM IPMA
Portfolio
Management
Portfolio
Management
Professional
(PfMP)
Management
of Portfolio
MoP
Registered
Project
Manager Reg
PM CPPE
Certified
Practising
Portfolio
Executive
Not available

11. PMI, Prince2, AIPM and IPMA
certifications
PMI Prince2 AIPM IPMA
Agile Project
Management
Institute – Agile
Certified
Practitioner (PMI-
ACP)
Prince2
agile
Not available Not available

12. PMI, Prince2, AIPM and IPMA
certifications
PMI Prince2 AIPM IPMA
Other
certifications
PMI-BA
Business
Analyst
PMI-RMP Risk
Management
Professional
PMI-SP
Scheduling
Professional
Management of Risk
foundation and
practitioner MoR
P3O Portfolio,
Programme and
Project Office
Foundation and
Practitioner,
Management of
Value MoV
Foundation and
practitioner
N/A N/A

13. PMP & Prince2 criticisms
 Prince2 criticism
 misses the importance of soft skills
 Little details and guidance on scope management and contract management
 Heavy in documentation
 PMP criticism
 Project Manager does it all: Planner, Problem solver, HR manager & key decision
maker
 Success is dependent on the project manager’s expertise, no step-by-step process

14. Prince2 concepts
 Principles
 Themes
 Processes
 Production descriptions (records, baselined products &
reports)

15. 7 Prince2 principles
 Continued Business justification
 Learn from experience
 Defined roles and responsibilities
 Focus on products
 Manage by stages
 Manage by exception
 Tailor to suit the project environment

16. 7 Prince2 themes
 Business case
 Organization
 Quality
 Plans
 Risk
 Change
 Progress

17. 7 Prince2 processes
 Starting up a project
 Initiating a project
 Controlling a stage
 Managing a stage boundary
 Managing product delivery
 Directing a project
 Closing a project

19. PMP concepts
 10 Knowledge areas
 5 Process groups
 47 Processes

20. 10 PMP Knowledge areas
 Project Integration Management
 Project Scope Management
 Project Cost Management
 Project Time Management
 Project Risk Management
 Project Quality Management
 Project HR Management
 Project Communication Management
 Project Procurement Management
 Project Stakeholder management

21. 5 PMP Process groups
 Initiating
 Planning
 Executing
 Monitoring & Control
 Closing

22. PMP Process example

23. Joel Dupont, https://www.linkedin.com/in/dupontjoel/