Requirements & Prerequisites

PRINCE2 Foundation Requirements & Prerequisites

Everything you need to know before registering for the PRINCE2 Foundation, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.

Cost

$300-$400

Provider

AXELOS/PeopleCert

Validity

Lifetime (Foundation), 3 years (Practitioner)

Available

UK/Europe/Australia

Prerequisites & Eligibility

Education

Check official exam requirements

Experience

6-12 months of relevant experience recommended

Specific Requirements

  • None. PeopleCert publishes no prerequisite for the PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation exam, and the syllabus describes the qualification as intended for project managers, aspiring project managers, project board members, team managers, project assurance staff, project support staff and operational line managers.
  • A PeopleCert account, registered with first, middle and last names in Latin characters that match your ID document exactly.
  • One valid, original, government-issued photo ID containing your date of birth: driving licence, national ID card, passport, registration card or certificate, or residence permit or card.
  • For online proctored delivery: a computer meeting PeopleCert's published minimum specification, a 360-degree rotatable webcam, speakers and microphone, and at least 4Mbps broadband.
  • Candidates under 16 need a legal guardian's consent to register for an online proctored exam, and the guardian must be present during onboarding and consent to the recording.
  • Passing Foundation is itself the prerequisite for the PRINCE2 Project Management Practitioner exam.
Exam Format

Number of Questions

60 questions, each worth 1 mark, for 60 marks in total. There is no negative marking.

Duration

60 minutes. Candidates sitting the exam in a language that is not their native or working language may be awarded 25 percent extra time, giving 75 minutes. PeopleCert allows no breaks in exams shorter than two hours.

Question Format

Standard objective test questions: a question stem with four options, one correct, Missing word: a sentence with a word removed, choose the missing word from four options, List: four statements presented, select the two that are correct, Negative: a standard question with a negatively worded stem, used only where knowing that something should not occur is part of the learning outcome

Passing Requirement

36 marks out of 60, which is 60 percent

How It Is Delivered

Online proctored through PeopleCert's web-based exam driver, or classroom-based at an accredited exam centre. Online candidates need Windows 10 or 11 or macOS Mojave onwards, a dual-core 2.4GHz CPU with 4GB RAM, Edge, Chrome or Opera, at least 4Mbps broadband, a 15-inch or larger monitor at 1024 x 768 or higher, and a webcam that can be rotated a full 360 degrees. Mobile phones cannot be used as a webcam substitute.

Languages Offered

English, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Slovak, Spanish

Difficulty: MediumSalary Impact: $70k-$100k
How to Register
1

Visit the official AXELOS/PeopleCert certification page

2

Create an account and select your exam

3

Choose a test center or online proctoring option

4

Pay the exam fee and schedule your date

What to Bring on Exam Day
How PRINCE2 Foundation Is Scored

Score Scale

Raw marks out of 60. Each of the 60 questions carries exactly 1 mark, and the reported outcome is a mark out of 60 with a pass or fail, plus a percentage breakdown by topic.

Score You Need

36 marks out of 60, which is 60 percent

How It Is Calculated

Straight number-right scoring with no equating, no scaling and no negative marking, so 36 correct answers is 36 marks regardless of which questions they were. Questions sit at Bloom's levels 1 and 2, recall and understanding. List questions require both correct statements to be identified for the single mark, so a half-right answer scores zero. Scoring is compensatory across the five sections: a weak section can be offset by a strong one, and there is no per-section minimum.

When You Get Results

A preliminary result is issued on completion of the exam. PeopleCert's Quality and Assessment department then reviews it, and official results are announced within 2 business days of the answers being officially submitted. The digital badge is issued automatically once results arrive. Official results are withheld if information is missing from your PeopleCert profile.

  • Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
  • Appointment confirmation email
  • For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites for the PRINCE2 Foundation?

None. PeopleCert publishes no prerequisite for the PRINCE2 Project Management Foundation exam, and the syllabus describes the qualification as intended for project managers, aspiring project managers, project board members, team managers, project assurance staff, project support staff and operational line managers.. A PeopleCert account, registered with first, middle and last names in Latin characters that match your ID document exactly.. One valid, original, government-issued photo ID containing your date of birth: driving licence, national ID card, passport, registration card or certificate, or residence permit or card.. For online proctored delivery: a computer meeting PeopleCert's published minimum specification, a 360-degree rotatable webcam, speakers and microphone, and at least 4Mbps broadband.. Candidates under 16 need a legal guardian's consent to register for an online proctored exam, and the guardian must be present during onboarding and consent to the recording.. Passing Foundation is itself the prerequisite for the PRINCE2 Project Management Practitioner exam..

How much does the PRINCE2 Foundation cost?

The PRINCE2 Foundation exam costs $300-$400. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.

How do I register for the PRINCE2 Foundation?

Visit the official AXELOS/PeopleCert certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date

What should I bring to the PRINCE2 Foundation?

Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.

Ready to prepare for PRINCE2 Foundation?

Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.

View PRINCE2 Foundation Guide