Getting Your PMI-ACP® Certification

There are some very good reasons to consider the PMI-ACP® certification.  However, before we get into the specifics of the credential, be sure to read out the value of credentials, from Mike’s post Credentials: Worthless, Essential or Somewhere In Between. So, assuming you believe a credential is useful for you, why consider the PMI-ACP® credential over the slew of other agile-related credentials available?

The Certification Covers Many Agile Approaches

First, unlike other most agile credentials, the PMI-ACP® credential is approach agnostic. It spans many agile approaches including Scrum, Lean, Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP), and Test-Driven Development (TDD). So, possessing the credential demonstrates knowledge and application to a broad array of approaches. This increases your versatility, showing employers you have skills and a wide range of commonly used agile approaches.

Shows Real-World Experience

Next, it requires (and demonstrates) real-world experience. Compared with other agile certifications that are based solely on training and exams, the PMI-ACP® certification is evidence of your real-world, hands-on experience and skill. When you apply, you must document 12 months of general project experience in the last 5 years. In addition, applicants need to have 8 months of working on agile project teams or with agile methodologies, in the last 3 years. PMI audits these experience reports to ensure accuracy. This gives hiring managers the confidence to trust the experience levels claimed by applicants.

Well Design Certification Process

The PMI-ACP® certification is the only agile credential that meets ISO/IEC 17204 requirements. This is the standard that PMI and many other reputable certification bodies use, such as those used for doctors and teachers. Hiring managers know that credential holders went through a well designed and properly administered testing process to obtain their certification. Furthermore, a comprehensive Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program exists to ensure credential holders stay current and committed to lifelong learning in their profession.

Agile is an Important Skill to Employers

Finally, agile is a topic of growing importance in project management. The PMI-ACP® certification is PMI’s fastest growing credential. The marketplace reflects the growth of agile, as project practitioners increasingly embrace agile as a technique for managing successful projects. PMI’s Pulse of the Profession report said, “Organizations that are highly agile and responsive to market dynamics complete more of their projects successfully than their slower-moving counterparts — 75 percent versus 56 percent.”

See PMI’s website for more details about the PMI-ACP® credential and RMC’s website for products to help you pass the exam.

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.