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A plain-English guide to the world's most widely used project management methodology — and why it matters in South Africa.
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PRINCE2 7 Explained
What changed in the 7th edition of PRINCE2 — and what it means if you are getting certified today.
The short answer
PRINCE2 7 — the 7th edition — was released by PeopleCert in September 2023 and is the current version of PRINCE2. The headline changes are a new focus on people and leadership, the renaming of "themes" to practices, three new management approaches (sustainability, digital and data, and commercial), the addition of sustainability as a performance aspect, and greater emphasis on tailoring. All PRINCE2.co.za courses certify you in PRINCE2 7.
When was PRINCE2 7 released?
PeopleCert released PRINCE2 7 in September 2023, replacing the 6th edition (PRINCE2 2017). It is the most significant update to the method in years, refreshing PRINCE2 to reflect how projects are actually run today — including the realities of remote teams, digital delivery and sustainability.
What changed in PRINCE2 7?
If you learned the 6th edition, the structure will feel familiar — PRINCE2 7 keeps the seven principles and the process-based backbone — but several important things have changed:
A new focus on people
The biggest addition is a dedicated emphasis on people — leadership, team management, communication and culture are now integrated into the method, recognising that projects succeed or fail on the strength of the people running them.
"Themes" became "practices"
The seven themes are now called the seven practices, with added techniques, clearer links to management products and more real-world application guidance.
New management approaches
Three new management approaches were introduced — sustainability, digital and data, and commercial — reflecting modern delivery concerns that did not feature prominently in earlier editions.
Sustainability as a performance target
Sustainability joins time, cost, quality, scope, benefits and risk as a project performance aspect that managers are expected to plan for and control.
More flexibility and tailoring
PRINCE2 7 streamlines some of the more rigid rules of earlier editions, making it easier to tailor the method — including blending it with Agile ways of working.
Did the exams change?
The qualification structure is unchanged: you still take Foundation first, then Practitioner. The Foundation exam remains 60 multiple-choice questions (60 minutes, closed book, 60% to pass), and the Practitioner exam remains an objective-test, open-book exam of 68 questions (150 minutes, 55% to pass). The content reflects the 7th edition syllabus. You can see the full breakdown on our PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner course pages.
Do I need to upgrade from PRINCE2 6?
PRINCE2 7 is the current edition, so anyone certifying now should learn PRINCE2 7 directly. If you already hold a 6th edition certificate it still demonstrates your knowledge and remains valuable, but all new training and exams are based on PRINCE2 7 — which is what employers will increasingly expect. New to the method entirely? Start with our guide to what PRINCE2 is.
Frequently asked questions
When was PRINCE2 7 released?
PRINCE2 7, the 7th edition, was released by PeopleCert in September 2023. It is the current version of PRINCE2 and the one our courses certify you in.
What changed in PRINCE2 7?
A new focus on people and leadership, "themes" renamed to "practices", three new management approaches (sustainability, digital and data, commercial), sustainability added as a performance aspect, and greater emphasis on tailoring and flexibility.
Do I need to upgrade from PRINCE2 6 to PRINCE2 7?
PRINCE2 7 is the current edition, so new learners should certify directly in it. A 6th edition certificate remains valuable, but new training and exams are based on PRINCE2 7.
Which version does PRINCE2.co.za teach?
All PRINCE2.co.za courses teach and certify the current PRINCE2 7 (7th edition), for both Foundation and Practitioner.
Source: PRINCE2 7 release and changes — PeopleCert. Exam formats per the current PeopleCert PRINCE2 7 syllabus.
Get certified in the current PRINCE2 7
All our courses teach and certify the latest 7th edition.
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