2 Prince or not 2 Prince?

**deckster** · 3 March 2009, 11:18

I put myself through the Practitioner course (through Global Knowledge in Wokingham) soon after I was benched last year. Cost me around £1400 including VAT. It's rare that a conversation with an agent goes by without it being mentioned, and I'm positive that it's got my CV in front of a number of clients where perhaps I wouldn't have been put forward otherwise which is I guess the reason that I did it so in that respect yes it was worth doing. Whether it was worth £1400 - I'm less sure.

The plus points of doing an instructor lead course were largely that it actually made me do it (as I'm a lazy sod at heart) rather than just sitting in front of a PC at home will all the attendant distractions. Also the practical sessions with other attendees were very useful in translating concepts from the page to reality.

However at the end of the day the exam was a complete piece of piss and if you have the discipline to sit down and do the home study yourself I can't see that you would have any great difficulty. Most of it is learning the terminology at any rate.

At the end of the day it's a tick in the box which in the current climate of agent-CV-overload is no bad thing.

**XLMonkey** · 3 March 2009, 11:38

I did it. Used skillsolve, who were pretty good. Cost me about 600 quid 3 years ago (I did the foundation without any training, and just turned up for a day and a half to scrub up for the practitioner). Equivalent course is now about 900 plus VAT.

Definitely worth it, though I agree with the other poster that the exams themselves are pretty straightfoward if you study the books and apply a bit of common sense.,

**maui50** · 3 March 2009, 11:51

Thanks both.

The Foundation exam looks pretty straightforward - 75 MCQs, 38 to pass. I might get the books and study for that and just do it.

The Practitioner stuff looks more in-depth so I think maybe instructor led training might work better for that - as you say deckster, it's useful to chat to other attendees for that kind of stuff. You never know, I might actually learn something!

I can write this training off for tax, right?

**NickNick** · 3 March 2009, 11:57

Yes, and you can claim the VAT back, assuming you are not on the flat rate scheme. If you are, then the cost would have to be over £2K IIRC.

**chris79** · 3 March 2009, 12:54

I did the practitioner in a 5 day taught course late last year to get it on my CV, as I wanted to head into PM.

It's worked as I'm now getting calls/interviews for project related stuff, even up to project manager level. Hasn't repaid itself yet, but I'm sure it will do further down the line. Personally I would suggest doing a taught one rather than self study, but everyone's different I guess.

**maui50** · 3 March 2009, 13:03

Ok, decision made, case closed, thanks for your help!

**Mustang** · 3 March 2009, 13:30

Originally posted by maui50 View Post

I can write this training off for tax, right?

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.

**Papa Maji wa Maji** · 3 March 2009, 13:37

Did both Foundation and Practitioner yeras ago, has definitely been worth it for me.Have progressed to Programme Management and currently doing MSP

**Grinder** · 3 March 2009, 14:13

Originally posted by Mustang View Post

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.

I would be very surprised if its not deductable. Its totally your core business to get trained and be marketable.

Anyone thought about ITIL? I have PRINCE2 practitioner but a lot of people say ITIL is more generally useful.

2 Prince or not 2 Prince?