What is PMI-ACP: A Complete Guide

Are you looking to build a promising and successful career in Agile Project Management? If yes, then consider obtaining a PMI-ACP Certification. But What is PMI-ACP? It is a Certification that equips professionals with the skills to deliver successful projects efficiently.

According to Project Management Institute (PMI), there are approximately more than 800,000 individuals with a PMI-ACP certification. The institute further states that ACP is the fastest-growing certification worldwide.

So, it is time to shine bright and impress the Hiring Managers with your ACP certification, knowledge, and skills. Become closer to landing your dream job in top-tier companies. Read this blog to learn more about PMI-ACP, its benefits, and how to get PMI-ACP Certification.

Table of Contents

1) What is PMI-ACP Certification?

2) What is the Job Scope After Obtaining PMI-ACP?

3) Who Should Apply for PMI-ACP?

4) What is the Application Process for PMI-ACP?

5) PMI-ACP Certification Exam Format

6) How to Prepare for the PMI-ACP Exam?

7) Benefits of Obtaining PMI-ACP Certification

8) Conclusion

What is PMI-ACP certification?

Project Management Institute’s Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) is a globally recognised certification. It validates the candidate’s knowledge of Agile Principles and frameworks. It further helps the candidates demonstrate their skills in implementing Agile techniques across real-time projects and their efficiency in being a part of the Agile Team.

The certification covers various Agile Tools, principles and frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP) and Test-Driven Development (TDD). Therefore, enhancing the candidate’s ability, versatility and adaptability in working with Agile.

What is the job scope after obtaining PMI-ACP?

ACP Certification is registered under the ISO 9001 standard offered by PMI, which every organisation expects job seekers to obtain. Therefore, if you are PMI-ACP certified and are looking for a job, then you have an edge over your uncertified fellows.

Wondering how? Well, organisations across domains offer higher average annual compensation to PMP-ACP-certified professionals. Some of the best job roles that you can obtain after this certification are as follows:

1) Agile Project Manager

2) Agile Coach

3) Scrum Master

4) Software Development Manager

5) Technical Project Manager

6) Agile Business Analyst

7) Product Owner

8) Software Development Team Member

Therefore, one can say that the job scope after obtaining PMI-ACP Certification is incredible.

Who Should Apply for PMI-ACP?

PMI has set certain standards for obtaining the Agile Certified Practitioner Certification. Therefore, it is better to check up on those prerequisites and standards before applying for the certification examination. Here are the eligibility criteria and prerequisites for PMI-Agile Certified Professional Certification:

Eligibility Criteria

Anyone working in Project Management using Agile or organisations willing to adopt Agile Project Management are eligible to obtain PMI-ACP certification. As part of the PMI ACP Requirements, it includes all working professionals across job roles, such as Project Managers, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and even Software Development Team members.

Prerequisites

1) A bachelor's degree or a High School Diploma

2) 21 contact hours of Agile training

3) Either 12 months of hands-on experience in Project Management within the last five years or a PMP or PgMP Certification

4) Eight months of Agile Project Management experience within the last three years

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What is the application process for PMI-ACP?

After you have checked whether you are eligible to obtain the ACP Certification, it's time to go through the application process in detail. Here's how you can apply for the PMI-ACP Certification:

Step 1: Become a PMI member

Although it is entirely optional to register on PMI’s site to become a member, but it is better that you do so. This comes with many perks that can help you get the process done. The fee to become a PMI member is £120, including a one-time application fee of £8.

Step 2: Fill out the application form

The application form is available on PMI’s website, which consists of the following sections:

1) General information such as name, address, educational background and other personal information

2) Agile Project Management experience. As mentioned earlier, you must have experience in Project Management and, in particular, Agile Project Management too.

3) Training experience in Agile. You must confirm that you have acquired 21 hours of contact training on Agile practices.

Step 3: Pay the exam fee

Upon successfully completing the application form, PMI takes approximately three to five days to review it. Once the review is done, you’ll receive a confirmation email from the institute prompting you to pay the examination fee. The next and final step in the application process is to pay the exam fee and schedule your test. During this period, it's a good idea to start familiarizing yourself with PMI ACP Exam Questions to ensure you're well-prepared.

Note: After getting the application approval and paying the exam fee, it is necessary to appear for the examination within a year. Also, you are allowed to give three attempts for the PMI-Agile Certified Professional exam within a year.

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What is the cost for PMI-ACP?

The cost structure for PMI’s ACP Certification differs for PMI and non-PMI members and for online and paper tests as well. So, let’s have a look at the cost of PMI’s ACP Certification exam:

Note: The examination fee also includes the training fee

In order to maintain your certification, it is essential to renew it from time to time. In this case, the candidates must earn 30 PDUs every three years to maintain certification.

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PMI-ACP certification exam format

Before appearing for the PMI-ACP certification exam, it is crucial to review the examination format. This is a similar preparatory step taken when considering other project management certifications, such as those discussed in PMI-ACP vs PMP comparisons. It gives you an idea about exam duration, number of questions and much more. Most importantly, this gives you information on how to attempt the exam properly. Following is the ACP exam format:
 

How to prepare for the PMI-ACP exam?

The most important question that arises is: how to prepare for the PMI-ACP Certification exam? You need not worry about your preparation. Consider the following while preparing for the exam:

1) Take up a certification course: Today, many institutes are accredited to provide certification courses to prospective candidates. These courses are mainly designed to provide one-on-one tutoring experience, problem-solving sessions, practice tests and feedback on your performance.

2) Refer handbooks: PMI provides many handbooks to prepare for the ACP exam, available online and in paperback. These handbooks contain everything, beginning from course summaries to practice tests. Some of these are Agile Practice Guide by PMI, Agile Estimating and Planning by Mike Cohn, and Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products by Jim High Smith.

3) Browse YouTube: YouTube videos are one of the candidate’s favourite resources. They are usually helpful a few days before the exam when candidates want to revise the syllabus.

4) Become a part of online boards: Online discussion boards can prove extremely helpful as the candidates can interact with their peers and coaches. This also allows them to clear doubts and get information that has been overlooked.

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Benefits of obtaining PMI’s ACP certification

PMI’s Agile Certified Practitioner Certification is beneficial in several ways. Let’s have a quick look at some of the Benefits of PMI-ACP Certification:

1) High demand in the market: According to KPMG’s Global Agility Survey, 91% of organisations consider it a priority to adopt Agile for product development. This means that there is an increased need for organisations to hire certified Agile professionals. Therefore, PMI-ACP-certified candidates have the edge over non-certified candidates to land their dream job.

2) Globally recognised: The ACP Certification offered by PMI is recognised and accepted worldwide. It allows candidates at different locations to easily apply and appear for the exam.

3) High salaries: High demands for certified professionals have also increased the PMI Agile Certified Professional salaries. Today, the average annual salary of a certified Agile professional is £54,000, according to PayScale.

4) Career growth: Once the candidate has entered Agile Project Management, their career is set to grow. Earning the PMI Agile Certified Professional certification validates their knowledge of Agile practices, tools, methodologies, and frameworks. Successfully Passing the PMI ACP Exam not only demonstrates their expertise but also impresses employers by proving their ability to take on challenging projects in an Agile environment.

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Conclusion

PMI-ACP certification is widely recognised by employers and demonstrates candidates’ potential to work in an Agile environment. Any professional working using Agile can obtain this certification. The choice between PMI ACP offers a clear distinction in the types of Agile environments you may work in. After earning PMI’s ACP certification, the candidate’s professional growth is ensured. So, kick start your preparation now and enhance your career.

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