Calvin: I did the course last year at work and I've still got the materials at home. I'll PM you about it.

I found a 3 day "Fundamentals of Project Management Course" with APM really useful. It isn't a formal qualification but it does help you to understand and use basic PM techniques.

Prince3 coming out soon and keeping you powder dry..what unearth..where did you get that information from, prince3???? Without a shadow of a doubt, Prince2 is the preferred project management qualification in any government projects. I too have seen many training courses and centres but so far I've been impressed with Firebrand Training Prince2 certification I didn't even want insert a link but I guess real questions deserve proper answers.

Timothy - I did say it might not be called Prince 3 - they stuck with Prince 2 and merely "refreshed" it with a launch date of June 2009 (you'll note that my previous post is from March of that year).

More details here and elsewhere if you would but take the trouble to look, but for ease of reference, here's an extract explaining why they did not, in the end, change the name to Prince 3:

As you say, proper questions deserve proper answers.

I'd still like to know about the different courses and difference between Prince2 and the APM stuff, and where these extremely expensive and specialist courses actually take you and what they actually do for you. My employer is ceasing to pay for these courses due to budget cuts; there is no longer any training budget where I work, a public sector company, at least not for the forseeable future and only where there are health and safety implications.
I've worked in project management for 20 years without these qualifications and only even at certain times using Microsoft Project. if anyone knows the answers to the sort of questions I'm asking please chip in!

Having a qualification.
When asked what qualifications do you have? You might claim to have certain one in a certain field, but it is not worth the paper it is written on, most say only that you had attended a course in that category.
Although you were tested by the Invigilator standing behind you for the duration of the three hour test, not even allowing you to leave to go to the toilet, the document given does not say what marks you attained, or what the course did entail.
To mention a Prince course does indicate to me that you are not qualified, there are so many parts which one did you select to follow, it could be nothing to do with the post offered.
My memories of being on an interview panel for Southwark Borough Council, there was three a S.O. ( Senior Officer ) and two Departmental Managers, one for the department that the candidate was applying, so the list of set questions that were asked, only one of these would know if you were giving the correct answers, this was obvious as the questions asked by the others in the panel had no idea of what was required.
These days if you have taken classes in a subject you can just search and learn the parts you need.

My advice is this, it is what I do.
When entering the room you are to be seated in front of the interview panel.
I enter and go along the group and offer my hand and say Hello, they have no option other than refusing it, once you get a hand shake you have made physical contact with them, and the shake does indicate if they are Masons, you might respond as they expect although you are not a member. If one is, then you answer all questions looking at him, he will think you are an ally and now going to be the most suitable candidate.
A lot of Posts that are advertised give a false version of what is to be your position, get that sorted out before you accept, if it is with Southwark Council, you might envisage a nice central heated office in the newer building only to find that you have a desk facing a door with white tiled walls in a multi occupied office in an ancient building, situated in a remote back street.
As for the job you might never be asked to use those qualifications as you have a position with a very nice name but holds no authority.

I have a lot of experience of public sector projects and all have used Prince to a greater or lesser degree. I can't remember anyone having formal training beyond the 2/3 day introductory course.

If you want to work on government projects (if there are any in the next few years) it would be very helpful to understand the basic framework of Prince and the most widely used terminology.

If you are an experienced project manager you'll recognise most of it, though Prince may have different terms and is more formalised. I wouldn't recommend spending alot on training courses unless you are sure it will be required to get employment.