The PRINCE2 training market is complex and dynamic. There are numerous suppliers, some with good credentials, others not so. When you source a PRINCE2 course you may shop around and hear claims from providers about the quality of their offerings, but how do you choose the right course for you and are all PRINCE2 training courses the same?

Firstly, make sure that you are talking to an accredited PRINCE2 provider.
Why is this important? Well, the accrediting body for PRINCE2 (APMG) accredit the training course, the training organisation and the trainer. This ensures that the course fulfils the curriculum set for the examinations and also ensures that the training provider has sufficient processes to handle the delivery of the training in a professional manner. More importantly, it ensures that the trainer has sufficient 'real world' experience and knowledge of PRINCE2 to answer questions raised during a course and can adequately bring the subject to life. You can find the current list of Authorised Training Organisations at http://www.prince2.org.uk/TrainingOrganisations/ATOs/ATOListing.asp

Why should I avoid talking to a grey or unauthorised provider?
They are not accredited and are unlikely to have any external assessment of quality. They cannot offer a formal exam as part of their course and it is likely they will refer you to a public exam centre - at an additional cost and risk

Once you've established that you're talking to an accredited provider make sure that you get answers to the following:

1. How many delegates will be on the course and what's the absolute maximum number that the provider will allow? The last thing you need is to be on a course with 15 or 16 other delegates and unable to get the full attention of the trainer!

2. Find out the exact location of the training venue and decide if it is easily accessible by car or public transport. If you're driving, does it have a free car park and how near near is it to the venue? Car parking and trave/hotel expenses can add considerably to the cost of a 3 or 5 day training event.

3. Make sure that your course materials are in full colour rather than tones of grey. There is now a body of research that shows that colour is important in both cognition and recall.

4. Make sure the training method that the organisation uses is based on Activity Based Learning or Accelerated Learning. Here the focus changes from what the trainer needs to deliver the course, to what the learner needs. With this kind of delivery, classes are designed around the exercises and games that stimulate learning. Emphasis moves away from lecture mode to practical engagement with the subject by the delegates.

5. Find out if there is any post course support. After the course you have to put your learning into practice for it to be consolidated into your experience and for it to become a habit or standard practice for you. Is there any support from the training provider to help you do this if you want it?

For a full list of our accredited PRINCE2 courses please see the main website by clicking here. This includes dates and locations at centres across the UK for the PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner courses.

Further details of our other professional best practice, IT and personal and management development courses can also be found at http://www.tts-uk.com/