PRINCE2 Conversion Course

ABajaninCork

Looking for a bit of help if possible...

I am currently unemployed. My PRINCE2 accreditation expired last month. I need to renew by doing a two day refresher course and re-taking the exam. I'm pretty certain there are no APM centres in Cork, and am uncertain if there's any in Dublin.

I did a bit of digging at home in London. Course will cost £500 including exam fees. Add into that air & train fares and possible hotel accommodation (If I stay with friends/family, I won't get a minute's peace to study!:P).

My question is two-fold: I know there used to be a bit of budget for training courses (about E500). Does anyone know whether it's possible to take the conversion course here in Ireland (APM say it isn't?) And would it be possible to get some of this budget from FAS to help cover the cost?

TIA

seamus

Sureskills do the PRINCE2 practitioner course & exam, but as far as I know you need to hold a current PRINCE2 foundation or practitioner certification in order to do it.

http://www.sureskills.ie/training_and_certification/service_management_and_project_management/project_management/ctl/viewcoursedetails/mid/989/coursecode/ssz942

That is, if your accreditation has expired, I think you need to do both exams/courses again.

ABajaninCork

Thanks for the link!

But no - if your accreditation is only expired you DON'T have to do the course again! All you need to do is the conversion course as you simply need to renew.

Stheno

seamus wrote: »

Sureskills do the PRINCE2 practitioner course & exam, but as far as I know you need to hold a current PRINCE2 foundation or practitioner certification in order to do it.

http://www.sureskills.ie/training_and_certification/service_management_and_project_management/project_management/ctl/viewcoursedetails/mid/989/coursecode/ssz942

That is, if your accreditation has expired, I think you need to do both exams/courses again.

OP doesn't have to there is a specific course called PRINCE2 reregistration, or re-reg in industry slang, which is basically a shortened version of the practitioner exam. OP can also just do the two day practitioner course and the full or re-reg exam. http://www.prince-officialsite.com/Qualifications/ReRegistrationExamination.aspx

OP FAS actually sponsor a lot of people through PRINCE2 training usually only for Foundation and practitioner, and run regular training programmes one day a week over five weeks so that people are not impacted in terms of their welfare payments. You just need to do the practitioner, so if you can find the information you can certainly make a case. I believe however they are only run in Dublin
Also if you are qualified since before 2009 you'd be as well off doing the two day practitioner (and even if you are not, as the exam has changed recently too) and then just the re-reg exam.

Best of luck. By the way, you are correct, there are no APMG open centres in Ireland where you can just take the exam. Not surprising as there are just four throughout the UK, none in NI either.

Stheno

Here you go: details of the next five P2 foundation/practitioner courses which are being funded by FAS.

cronos

Stheno wrote: »

Here you go: details of the next five P2 foundation/practitioner courses which are being funded by FAS.

Do you have to be unemployed to do this course through FAS? Where in dublin city center is it done? How much does it cost?

ABajaninCork

Thanks very much for the info. Looks as though I'll have to try to get home to take the Conversion then, as I live in Cork. It'd probably be easier (and cheaper!) to spend a week in London, than trying to get to Dublin once a week for five weeks. I wonder if it's possible to do online, then travel up for the exam??

My accreditation only expired two weeks ago though.

Stheno

cronos wrote: »

Do you have to be unemployed to do this course through FAS? Where in dublin city center is it done? How much does it cost?

You do have to be unemployed to do it through FAS, dunno exactly where it is done, and it is free for the participants.

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Thanks very much for the info. Looks as though I'll have to try to get home to take the Conversion then, as I live in Cork. It'd probably be easier (and cheaper!) to spend a week in London, than trying to get to Dublin once a week for five weeks. I wonder if it's possible to do online, then travel up for the exam??

My accreditation only expired two weeks ago though.

DUH, you just reminded me, you can do the course and exam online irrc also, if you are happy with that type of training, usually it's significantly cheaper than attending a course, and you'll save on the travel costs too. No-one in Ireland offers online training for this though.

I'll have a look for you. Here's one company offering both the course (re-reg and practitioner) online, the re-reg is more expensive than the practitioner though. If you google "PRINCE2 practitioner online course" you'll get a fairly good selection and can compare them

Remember also that the one day a week for five weeks is for both foundation and practitioner, you just need to do practitioner, so it's one day a week for two weeks.

ABajaninCork

Went to check the price of the PRINCE2 2009 version book (which you need for the course) on Amazon. £75 is the cheapest for a new copy! :eek:. That'd be a stretch on my jam roll that's for sure...

Off to see if I can get a second hand copy (still £35 plus P & P). Does anyone know if FAS will help with the cost of the book too?

TIA

Stheno

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Went to check the price of the PRINCE2 2009 version book (which you need for the course) on Amazon. £75 is the cheapest for a new copy! :eek:. That'd be a stretch on my jam roll that's for sure...

Off to see if I can get a second hand copy (still £35 plus P & P). Does anyone know if FAS will help with the cost of the book too?

TIA

If you end up on one of the FAS courses, the book is included

Alternatively you could see if you know someone with it and borrow it.