What is PMI-ACP

Have coworkers mentioned taking the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^® Exam to you?

Or have you noticed that you've been seeing PMI-ACP® more often? Do you now have any questions about the PMI-ACP certification and whether you should take it?

Here, we'll explore the PMI-ACP certification guide and give you details on the prerequisites and steps you must take to keep your PMI-ACP certification active after passing the exam.

What is PMI-ACP?

Agile Certified Practitioner, or PMI-ACP, is a credential offered by the Project Management Institute. The PMI-ACP certification is well-known and well acknowledged. The certification covers several agile ideas and methodologies, including Kanban, Scrum, Lean, Extreme Programming (XP), and Feature Driven Development (FDD). Consequently, PMI-ACP certification enables agile practitioners to use their varied skill sets on a variety of projects.

The agile technique emphasizes providing the product in short sprints rather than making the user wait until everything is finished. In Agile, the customer is always put first when initial prototypes are shown to them. This allows for early feedback to be gathered, which helps with any necessary modifications and the development of a product that meets the client's expectations. Customers will also be pleased because they will be able to witness the product's first appearance and will be able to see the prioritized deliveries immediately

How to obtain PMI-ACP certification?

To earn a Project Management certification in Agile project management, adhere to the following steps:

1. Complete the prerequisites

There are several PMI ACP certification training requirements for the PMI-ACP certification, including:

• At least a secondary education (high school diploma, associate degree, or higher)
• 21 hours of instruction in agile techniques
• At least 2,000 hours (12 months) of general project experience over the past five years
• Experience working on Agile projects for at least 1,500 hours (eight months) in the last three years

2. Register for the test

You can apply for the exam after meeting the PMI ACP certification requirements. Within 10 business days, PMI will notify you if your application has been approved.

Make sure you have the right paperwork to support your application for PMI-ACP certification since 5 to 10 percent of applicants are randomly chosen to be audited. To fulfill the audit, you will have 90 days to produce any missing papers.

3. Make exam payment

Upon approval of your application, you will be sent an invitation to pay for the exam of PMI-ACP certification on the PMI website. Before arranging the exam, you must pay the price. For PMI members, the price is USD 435, while it is USD 495 for non-members.

4. Plan the exam

You have the option of taking the exam in-person or online after paying the exam cost. Testing appointments are made through the Pearson VUE website. The website provides a list of centers close to you. If necessary, you may also choose to receive services that are accessible to people with disabilities.

The exam can be taken three times, and you have a year to do so. There are five different languages for it.

5. Take a test

If you take the test online, Pearson VUE must provide a proctor to oversee it.

If you are taking the test in person, the testing facility will provide you with a locker for your possessions. Only your government ID and the key to your locker are permitted in the test room. You have the option to complete a quick evaluation survey after you have finished and submitted your exam. As soon as you pass the exam, you can use the PMI-ACP title.

6. If necessary, retake the exam

You will be informed right away if you fail the exam. If this happens, you still have two chances to retake it during the eligibility period. The testing procedure will be rescheduled again. Retaking the exam will cost you $335 if you're a PMI member and $395 if you're not. Apart from all these tips you can go through the introduction of the PMI-ACP examination.

The best way to update your PMI Agile certification

To update the three-year expiration date of your PMI-ACP certification you must fulfill the continuous certification requirements (CCR), which include obtaining 30 professional development units (PDUs), throughout that time if you want to keep your certification. To improve your technical, leadership, strategic, and business management skills, at least 18 of your PDUs must be education-based. There can be a maximum of 12 PDUs earned via paid volunteer work.

You must pay a renewal fee after fulfilling your PDU requirements. For PMI members, the cost is USD 60, while it is USD 150 for non-members.

Your certificate will be suspended for one year if you don't renew by the due date (exactly three years after the exam date). Your certificate will expire and you will need to reapply if you don't meet the standards in that time.

The Advantages of Certification

The PMI-ACP was created to demonstrate a practitioner's proficiency in Agile practice as well as their adaptability to project management techniques and technologies. A person having the certification has the necessary skills to join an agile team or lead basic agile project teams. The PMI-ACP certification program was also created to serve as a framework for professional development efforts.

The Project Management Institute's PMI-ACP credential has the fastest rate of growth. It has surpassed the Risk, Scheduling, and Program Management certifications just in its first year. Additionally, it has elevated agile competency in the eyes of employers to a new level. People pursue PMI-ACP recognition for a variety of reasons, including the following:

1. High requirement

Agile has been in great demand in recent years, and certifications enable companies to assess a project manager's familiarity with agile principles, practices, and technologies. The PMI created the certification for project managers who apply agile techniques to their projects or for PMs who work for companies that use agile project management techniques.

2. Increased compensation

Those with superior skills make more money than those with mediocre skills. Similar to this, you can request a higher compensation if you hold more certificates, such as PMI-ACP. Therefore, earning such certification may prove to be vital if you wish to be more financially solid in your work.

3. Professional development

Most of the time, PMI-ACP is not just about the potential financial gain from your employment. You won't need to worry about what you already know becoming obsolete because the certification program will help you learn more about various Agile approaches. You can keep current through their certification maintenance program despite changes made to your field of employment.

4. Job possibilities

Additionally, having this certification will increase your employability. Because of your outstanding qualifications in project management and other relevant sectors, companies may even be chasing after you. It might present chances for you to progress professionally.

Who can apply for PMI-ACP?

Given the numerous advantages of PMI-ACP, it is understandable why so many individuals are interested in having one. However, it is crucial to first be aware of the eligibility of PMI ACP certification requirements before accepting them.

You must first possess a secondary degree. This means that you must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent in a foreign language.

The certification program also mandates that the applicant have at least 2,000 hours of project team experience. The hours must have been completed in the previous five years. Those who hold an active PgMP or PMP have already met the criterion for general project experience.

The person must have 1,500 hours working with the agile methodology or as a member of an agile project team in addition to their general project experience. Remember that these hours must have been completed within the last three years and are in addition to the overall project experience. In addition, the person needs to have completed 21 contact hours of PMI ACP certification training.

Conclusion

Professionals who want to understand agile methodology and concepts become very proficient in utilizing and working with agile tools and techniques. Any Agile professionals who want to advance in their career ladder should obtain a PMI-ACP Certification. The easiest way to obtain PMI-ACP Certification is by attending our PMI-ACP boot camps. The cost of earning the PMI-ACP Certification may be higher for you, but the advantages of having it pay for everything and provide opportunities to work will be worth it.