Alongside the PMP, PRINCE2 remains one of the two benchmarks of the project management market. Since PeopleCert took over ownership and certification, several rules have changed without much noise: a raised pass threshold, a sharp distinction between Foundation and Practitioner on validity, and, since May 2026, a certificate that explicitly displays the version number.
The two exams, side by side
| Criterion | Foundation (version 7) | Practitioner (version 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 60 MCQ | 70 MCQ |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 150 minutes |
| Pass threshold | 60 % (36 correct) | 60 % (42 correct) |
| Permitted material | None (closed book) | Official manual only |
| Prerequisite | None | Foundation, or PMP / IPMA A-D |
| Validity | Unlimited | 3 years |
The 60 % threshold is worth underlining. The seventh edition raised it to align all PeopleCert Global Best Practice exams. Candidates preparing on older material sometimes still reason with the previous, lower threshold: that is a margin for error they do not see disappearing.
The difference nobody anticipates: expiry
This is the point that generates the most unpleasant surprises in organisations. Foundation does not expire. Practitioner expires after three years from the award date. Someone certified as Practitioner in 2023 and never renewed is therefore no longer certified today, even if the HR register still says otherwise.
PeopleCert offers three renewal routes:
- Continuing professional development: 60 CPD points across the three-year cycle, a rhythm of 20 points a year, logged through PeopleCert Plus membership.
- Another exam in the same product suite, passed before the renewal date.
- Retaking the Practitioner exam.
Note that the CPD route requires an active PeopleCert Plus membership. Without it, renewal necessarily goes through an exam. That is a recurring cost training plans rarely build in from the start.
New in 2026: the version printed on the certificate
Since May 2026, PeopleCert has standardised the presentation of its certificates across all its ranges — ITIL, PRINCE2, DevOps Institute, IASSC. The substantive change concerns naming: the version number now appears in the title, for example PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation VERSION 7.
Seemingly minor, the measure has a practical consequence: it makes immediately legible, on a CV or in a tender file, which edition a consultant was assessed against. Certifications obtained on earlier editions become easier to identify as such.
What this means for you
- Audit the award dates of your Practitioners, not merely the presence of the certification. Any award predating 2023 without renewal has lapsed.
- Decide between PeopleCert Plus and re-examination for your teams. Over three years and several staff, the difference in cost and workload is significant.
- Check the edition of your preparation material. A programme calibrated on the old pass threshold prepares candidates for an exam that no longer exists.
Helios Advisory designs preparation pathways for project management certifications, PRINCE2 and PMP, tailored to banking and insurance environments. Explore our training.
Sources
- Keep your certification current — renewal options — PeopleCert, official page
- PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation (Version 7) — PeopleCert, certification page
- Passing the PRINCE2 Foundation exam — Knowledge Train, detailed exam format
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