2 Prince or not 2 Prince?

[deckster]

I would check with your accountant. I am not qualified to comment but as far as I am aware training is a tricky issue. If the training is to keep you current in skills you already have, then its tax deductable. If, however, it provides you with new skills it is not tax deductable.

Correct to a point, but I think they would be hard pressed to argue that PRINCE2 isn't relevant to anybody in IT. It's more to stop a developer sending themselves on a plastering course at their company's expense.

[Mustang]

Have progressed to Programme Management and currently doing MSP

What's your opinion of MSP? Any recommendations for vendors offering the course?

[Mustang]

Correct to a point, but I think they would be hard pressed to argue that PRINCE2 isn't relevant to anybody in IT. It's more to stop a developer sending themselves on a plastering course at their company's expense.

Understood........just wanted to highlight the point.

It's 100% relevant to somone contracting as a PM or Prog Mgr. Knowing HMRC they might not consider it relevant to a software developer.

It's worth checking with someone that knows IMHO!

[Svalbaard]

You can do the P2 Foundation and Practitioner in the comfort of your own home these days. SPOCE do a passport course. I think you can even do the exam online.

Does it pay for itself? Yes without question. It is quite right that no companies implement P2 the way it is in the manual, but it is still the main ticket to have if you want to work as a contract PM in the UK. I would conjecture that the £1400 or so it cost me to initially certify + the £400 recertification cost every 5 years or so has been one of the best investments I ever made in terms of cash return.

[Svalbaard]

What's your opinion of MSP? Any recommendations for vendors offering the course?

Not widely required in the contract market. In my 15 year experience, most programme/portfolio managers that I have come across have been promoted to the role internally, or are permanent employees.

This is not to say though that it is a bad string to have on your bow - I believe that MSP concentrates on financial calculations a lot more which would benefit anyone seeking to progress up the ladder.

[Svalbaard]

Correct to a point, but I think they would be hard pressed to argue that PRINCE2 isn't relevant to anybody in IT. It's more to stop a developer sending themselves on a plastering course at their company's expense.

I would agree that to claim it as an expense you will need to prove that it is relevant to your current role or skillset, which should be OK as you say you are already managing projects - as long as you can formally prove this to your accountant.

If you can't it might be easier to suck up the cost out of your own pocket and then make sure you work hard at landing some contracts with juicy day rates to repay that outlay.

[kanulondon]

Got both ITIL(Red Badge) and Prince2(Prac)

Both were instructor led. Definitely worth the effort, although the ITIL exam took 3 months of my life.

It's definitely worth getting the ITIL foundation (1 week) and full Prince 2 if you can.

Has definitely opened doors for me.

Once I got in front of the interviewer, I let my mouth do the rest (no pun intended)

Get it done asap

KL

[Mustang]

the £400 recertification cost every 5 years or so

How did you do your recertification?

[Svalbaard]

How did you do your recertification?

When you receive your P2 Practitioners certificate it has a certification date on it. As I said previous, I did mine with SPOCE and they are good at reminding you to do it, or just approach any decent training provider saying you need to recertify.

My next recert is in a year or so, so I will probabaly do an online refresher to bring me up to date with the changes to the method, and then do the online exam.

http://www.spoce.co.uk/prince2/re-re...n-options.aspx

[TykeMerc]

I find Prince2 Practitioner to be a very useful "tick in the box" to get roles.

I certainly don't regret what I paid for a course and the exams (£1500 ish if memory serves) I was lucky and had a very interesting and experienced trainer so it was 5 days well spent.

Obviously a Prince2 Practitioner cert doesn't actually make you into a real PM, but it's a handy door opener for those of us that are.