What is an Agile Certified Practitioner?
Introduction
The Agile project management methodology is being embraced by a large number of companies worldwide. This is primarily because using this methodology has many advantages, such as dividing large tasks into smaller ones and regularly reviewing the project at various phases. However, this approach works best for projects with a predetermined scope, requirements, and budget. The agile methodology also helps in the creation of the budget for each phase of the product. To be able to properly apply Agile practices to a project, you need to get a PMI-ACP certification. To earn the certification, you must take PMI-ACP certification training and pass the PMI-ACP exam. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the prestigious PMI-ACP certificate including tips to help you pass the examination on the first attempt
Black Friday
What is Agile Certified Practitioner Certification?
The Agile Certified Practitioner certification (PMI-ACP) is a globally recognized and accepted certification which is offered by Project Management Institute (PMI), a global professional organization for project management professionals.
The PMI-ACP certification covers many agile tools and methodologies like Kanban, Scrum, Lean, Extreme Programming (XP), Test-Driven Development (TDD), etc. With the credential, you can become an Agile Project Manager, Scrum Master, or Agile Trainer. However, the goal of the PMI-ACP certification is to increase a practitioner’s professionalism and adaptability when using Agile project management techniques and apply their diversified skills to effectively undertake projects.
Agile is an approach to project management that focuses on delivering a product to the client in smaller sprints throughout the project, rather than delivering the whole product at the end of the project. This allows the client to give early feedback which will help make any corrections and ensure the product is developed to meet the client’s expectations.
Is agile certified practitioner certification worth it?
The answer to this question is yes, the certificate is worth it. Obtaining the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Certification would be highly beneficial to career growth in Project Management.
Here are some of the benefits of obtaining a PMI-ACP Certification
Professional growth
By obtaining the PMI-ACP certification, you can establish that you have the required Agile experience, thorough knowledge of Agile tools and methodologies, and the professional resources to handle any project based on Agile practices. It shows your employer your level of professionalism in the Agile methodologies required for project management, enhances your professional adaptability in project management tools and techniques, aids in your learning of different Agile methods, and improves your adaptability to Agile technologies, all of which eventually improve customer satisfaction and work quality.
Higher Salary
The PMI-ACP certification is highly prestigious and is recognized by many employers and organizations. Therefore, project management professionals who possess the PMI-ACP certification tend to earn higher salaries due to the increased credibility of the certification holder and the ability to demonstrate their skills and proficiency in agile methodologies. According to a recent survey by the Project Management Institute, Agile-certified professionals are estimated to earn between 20% and 30% more than their non-certified colleagues. Candidates who hold a PMI-ACP certification can expect to make 28% more salary than non-certified professionals.
Black Friday
Discount
- Industry Recognition
The PMI-ACP® Certification is recognized as evidence of your professional accomplishment globally which gives you the freedom to work anywhere in the world regardless of the differences in demographics, sectors, and cultures. It shows your degree of knowledge and proficiency in agile project management, which will quickly grab the employer’s attention
It Boosts Your Resume
The PMI-ACP certification is one of the most valuable certificate programs for your career in Agile project management. It is quite helpful because it opens you up to more collaborations, employment prospects, and opportunities for professional progression. Employers typically give preference to individuals that have the PMI-ACP certification over those without it. Additionally, a lot of employers are making a PMI-ACP certification a requirement, so if you don’t have this credential, you can’t apply for some jobs. If you want to advance in the present organization where you are already employed, the PMI-ACP certification can be of great use. Because of it, you have a huge advantage over your coworkers in terms of climbing the professional ladder.- Proves Your Commitment to your Career
Obtaining the PMI-ACP Certification proves that you are committed to pursuing project management as a long-term career. If you are an associate to qualify for the PMI-ACP Certification you must have 8 months of experience working on project teams that used agile approaches in addition to 12 months of general project experience. A bachelor’s degree holder, however, needs to have 36 months of job experience. A PMI-ACP certification shows that you are committed to developing your professional skills, credentials, and expertise. A professional that puts effort into their education is a valuable addition to any organization. - High Demand
As more organizations all over the world continue to adopt agile practices, the demand for proficient agile practitioners continues to increase. This is primarily because using the agile methodology has many advantages, including splitting huge jobs into smaller ones and regularly assessing the project’s various phases. Because most companies require agile skills, a valid PMI-ACP certification will prove your expertise in agile project management skills. - It helps you acquire relevant skills
With the PMI-ACP certification, you learn essential skills for career success. You will learn a number of hard and soft skills in order to acquire PMI-ACP qualifications. It increases knowledge of basic project management methodologies, tools, and processes. Additionally, it exposes you to cutting-edge trends and agile project management best practices. It is not easy to clear the certification exam without extensive preparation therefore, you need to be able to apply the knowledge you have gained practically.
Black Friday
Discount
Here are six tips on how to pass the PMI-ACP examination
- Prepare a study plan
To prepare for the PMI-ACP exam properly, you need to create a plan for your exam preparation and approach it like a project. since you are a project manager, this will be simple for you. You need to create a flexible study plan that accommodates your important daily activities and can easily be modified if need be. You need to dedicate at least 3-5 hours daily studying for the exam, if this time frame isn’t enough you can increase it. - Attend PMI-ACP Training
It is compulsory to take the PMI-ACP training because one of the eligibility criteria for the PMI-ACP exam is the completion of 21 hours of PMI-ACP training and certification. The training is also a great way to prepare for the exam because you will learn agile tools and methodologies of PMI-ACP like Scrum, Kanban, Lean, Extreme programming (XP), etc. Other information, knowledge areas, and learning resources required to pass the examination will also be provided during the training. The training also provides you the opportunity to take PMI-ACP mock exam, access past questions, and answers, ask questions, and receive answers to confusing concepts and challenges you might face during self-study. You can choose to take the training online or in a physical classroom. - Read the PMI-ACP Handbook
It is advised that you read the PMI-ACP handbook which is available on the PMI website because it contains all the guidelines and requirements of the PMI-ACP exam as well as foundational information you will need to increase your chances of passing the exam.
This handbook discusses the application of the best agile techniques as being important for project management. It facilitates the professional understanding and application of agile techniques. The handbook also contains the prerequisites for taking a PMI-ACP test. Make sure to read through the eligibility conditions if you are not familiar with them. The exam blueprint, which provides a summary of the domains and question distribution for PMI-ACP exam preparation, is next presented. Additionally, it contains thorough information on the application procedure and the exam schedule.
Study Past Questions
Self-assessment is very important while preparing for the PMI-ACP exam and taking practice tests is the best way to do that as it will help you understand your knowledge gaps and improve on them which makes studying more efficient. Here at DenonaLearning, we provide you with past questions and answers you can practice with. You can also practice using PMI-ACP sample questions and examination stimulators which are available on the internet. Choose whichever works for you, what matters is that you ensure the questions are updated and you keep practicing regularly.- Join PMI-ACP Study Group or Forum
Joining a community of professionals allows you to network with people who have gone through the exact entire process or can currently in the same stage as you and you get to learn from their experience. You will find several helpful tips and resources for your PMI-ACP exam preparation. Also, you can ask some pressing questions and receive feedback. - Use PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline
The Project Management Institute (PMI) itself provided the detailed PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline on its website, this document will guide you throughout your exam preparation. You will find all the topics and study materials you require for the PMI-ACP exam there. It contains information about Agile tools and approaches that is crucial for the exam. Furthermore, it contains Agile skills and knowledge that are relevant to the PMI-ACP exam. By using this content outline, you will focus more effectively on the study resources that are necessary rather than spending time on every piece of information you come across. This will help you understand the key items you need to study and grasp.
However, the content outline covers the following areas; - Agile principles and mindset
- Team performance
- Adaptive planning
- Value-driven delivery
- Problem detection and resolution
- Continuous improvement
- Stakeholder engagement
How long is agile practitioner valid for
The PMI-ACP certification is valid for three years after which it expires and you will have to retake the certification exam. Once you have earned your certification, you need to earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) every three years to maintain it. PDUs can be earned in two ways: through education and through volunteer work in your industry. A minimum of 18 PDUs must be from education to expand your Technical Project Management, leadership, strategic and business management skills. A maximum of 12 PDUs can come from professional volunteer work you do in the industry. Some activities you can engage in to earn the volunteer PDUs include; Create Content, Working as a Practitioner, Volunteer, and Share Knowledge through teaching and mentoring others. To make earning your education PDUs easier you need a PMI-approved training provider. The training provider will also provide you with a certificate that shows you have completed the training.
You must pay a renewal fee after fulfilling your PDU requirements. The price is $150 for non-members and $60 for PMI members.
Your certificate will be suspended for one year if you don’t renew by the due date which is exactly three years after the exam date. Your certificate will expire and you will need to reapply if the requirements are not met within that timeframe.
About the PMI-ACP Exam
The PMI-ACP exam is made up of 120 multiple choice questions 20 out of the 120 questions are called ‘pre-test’ questions, Although they are not part of your exam, these questions are being evaluated to determine whether they should be added to subsequent exams. However, since you won’t be able to tell which questions are test questions, you have to answer every question as if it will affect your exam grade. The agile certification test will last three hours. There are no set breaks, but you are allowed to take them if you feel the need to.
The PMI-ACP exam can be taken in person at a dedicated testing center or online. If you take the exam online, Pearson VUE’s online proctoring service must be used to monitor it. A proctored exam means that your webcam will be switched on and monitored during the exam while you take the exam online from your home, office, or wherever you are.
A locker will be provided for your possessions at the testing facility if you are taking the exam in person. The only items you may bring inside the test room are your government ID and your locker key. You have the option to complete a quick evaluation survey after you have finished and submitted your exam.
After taking the exam, you will find out immediately if you passed. Your certificate will be mailed to the address you provided on your PMI exam application. A package containing your PMI-ACP certificate, a congratulatory letter, and recertification guidelines will be sent to you within six to eight weeks.
With all this information about the certification exam at this point, you might be asking “is the PMI-ACP examination hard?” The examination is not hard if you dedicate the right time and concentration to preparing for it.
Conclusion
The Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) certification is a widely recognized and in-demand standard certification that proves you have the training, knowledge, and expertise needed to lead and manage agile projects. In this post, we discussed what Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) is in detail and everything you need to know to pass the certification examination and become a PMI – Agile Certified Practitioner.