You want to embrace Agile as part (or maybe all) of your Project Management practice. And you know that a good qualification will help you get the jobs you want, to put it to use. But there is such a wide range of choice. Which Agile Certification program should you follow?
First, let me say that I am not going to tell you which agile certification is best. What I hope to do is give you the information to start researching which one is right for you.
I have spent many hours researching all the qualifications out there, from around a dozen providers. And in this guide, I will share everything I have found out, in my longest article ever.
Classifying the Agile Certification Providers
To make this guide easier to read, I have divided the providers of Agile qualifications into three categorieBest Agile Certification? Your Guide to Which Qualification is Right for You:
- Principal Promotors of Agile Project Management
These are the organizations that promote Agile or widely used Agile methodologies, or are the sole agents they have appointed to provide an agile certification against the standards of one of those organizations. - Major Project Management organizations with Agile Certification programs
These include the PMI and other national and international project management professional associations. I have also included the new PeopleCert PRINCE2 Agile qualifications here. - Third-party organizations that offer Agile Certification
These are training organizations that have set up their own qualifications and make their money by providing certification programs.
This article is a companion to our earlier guide: Project Management Qualification: Should you go for a PM Certification? If you have not read that article, you may find it useful to look at it first.
If you are interested in learning about Agile, take a look at the range of courses we offer in conjunction with The Agile Project Management Academy.
If you are interested in agile certificate training programs, take a look at the agile certificate courses we offer in conjunction with the Institute of Project Management, mPlaza, PM PrepCast, and the Professional Training Center of Excellence.
Tier 1: Agile Certifications from Principal Promotors of Agile Project Management
These are the big players in the world of ‘formal Agile’ if that is not a contradiction in terms.
Each of these organizations seeks to lead in one aspect or another of the development, promotion, and best practices of an Agile approach. I very nearly placed Axelos PRINCE2 Agile in here and could equally well have done so, but you’ll find that certification discussed in my Tier 2 section.
Scrum Alliance
Scrum Alliance was the first (2001) major organization to promote Scrum, and to offer its certifications. Its Certified Scrum Master (CSM) qualification is still the most widely known agile certification. Scrum Alliance claims to have issued over 750,000 certifications.
As you would expect, Scrum Alliance offers a whole set of qualifications:
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
The qualification follows directly from attending a mandatory 2-day course. - Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM)
- Certified Scrum Professional – Scrum Master (CSP-SM)
- …and similar hierarchies of certification for Product Owners and Developers
However, Scrum Alliance’s approach has come under some criticism, not least from one of its founders, Ken Schwaber. This led him to found a new organization that also offers a range of qualifications…
Scrum.org
Currently, the qualification program from scrum.org offers the better agile certifications of the two, if you are serious about a career in agile project management. I will justify this statement after I’ve shown you what scrum.org has to offer.
In 2009, Ken Schwaber left Scrum Alliance to build his own Agile certification, PSM (Professional Scrum Master), at scrum.org. You will find plenty about the history and the politics of this move, and the two organizations on the web. I don’t intend to dive into it.
Scrum.org offers:
- PSM – Professional Scrum Master at levels I, II, and III
Level I is broadly equivalent to CSM. - PSPO – Professional Scrum Product Owner at levels I and II
- PSD – Professional Scrum Developer
- PAL – Professional Agile Leadership
- PSK – Professional Scrum with Kanban
- SPS – Scaled Professional Scrum
Why we recommend PSM (scrum.org) over CSM (Scrum Alliance)
The principal criticisms of CSM are that it:
- Requires no experience with Agile projects
- But does require you to take the specified 2-day training
- Requires frequent re-certification
- Costs a lot of money
In Summary…
PSM has a more robust assessment, and the training (if you choose to take it) uses standardized training materials, giving greater confidence in the quality you’ll get.
Study the Scrum Framework with OnlinePMCourses
Here at OnlinePMCourses, we offer training towards the PSM Level I certificate exam, PSM1 Professional Scrum Master. And we also offer exam simulators for PSM I, PSK, and PSPO I.
Agile Business Consortium, through APMG
The Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) is the oldest of the full-project agile approaches and is promoted by the Agile Business Consortium.
The Agile Business Consortium is a not-for-profit that pioneered and continues to promote Agile practices. So, it also offers a comprehensive range of Agile certifications, via its certification partner, APMG, for its accreditation and certification process. Most relevant are:
- Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) Foundation
Covers the basics of agile project management and the groundwork for effective teamwork and project contribution. Ideal for new or seasoned professionals who want to formalise their expertise in agile environments. - AgilePM® Practitioner
Go deeper and learn how to handle complex challenges, keep projects on track, and deepen your mastery of Agile Project Management. AgilePM v3 hones your skills for complex project challenges, equipping you to lead agile projects to successful outcomes. - Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) V3 Conversion Course
Whether you’re already AgilePM-certified or working with organizations transitioning to the latest version, the AgilePM v3 Conversion Course gives you everything you need to confidently step into the updated framework. AgilePM v3 introduces refined guidance, clearer principles, and improved alignment with modern delivery practices. The Conversion Course helps you update and deepen your AgilePM expertise and stay aligned with the official AgilePM v3 framework, created by the Agile Business Consortium and assessed by APMG - Agile Digital Services (AgileDS®)
Gain the expertise to design, deliver, and continuously improve user-centred digital services with the industry-recognised AgileDS® certification. It provides a complete framework of principles, practices, and lifecycle guidance to support user-centred, end-to-end digital service delivery. - Agile Business Consortium Scrum
Develop the skills to apply Scrum effectively, enable high-performing teams, and deliver value in rapidly changing environments. Get a strong understanding of Scrum principles, roles, events, and artifacts, along with techniques for collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement > This empowers teams and organizations to deliver predictable, sustainable outcomes.
There are also certifications for Business Analysis and Program Management.
Study the AgilePM Foundation with OnlinePMCourses
This is a high-quality and substantial set of qualifications. So, OnlinePMCourses offers training towards the Agile PM Foundation certificate exam.
Scaled Agile
The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) is a methodology that focuses on developing and delivering enterprise-class software and systems as quickly as possible. It is widely used by large corporations that want to adopt Agile practices at the enterprise level. It is promoted by Scaled Agile, who offer its own set of qualifications:
- SAFe for Teams (SAFe Practitioner SP)
For Lean-Agile team members in a SAFe Agile Release Train (ART). Will teach you to break down features, write user stories, improve team and train processes, and plan and execute Iterations. - SAFe Scrum Master (SSM)
Learn the role of Scrum Master in a SAFe enterprise context. You’ll be able to facilitate Team and program-level events for successful program execution, explore Scrum in the context of the entire enterprise, and become a servant leader and coach. SAFe Scrum Masters help Agile Teams to deliver the maximum business value that is achievable through SAFe. - SAFe Advanced Scrum Master (ASM)
For a system-wide view of Scrum at the enterprise level, and facilitating teams in the largest Agile programs. - SAFe Product Owner / Product Manager (POPM)
For product owners working with enterprise-scale Agile, who need to apply Agile approaches, write epics, and define capabilities, features, and user stories within the context of SAFe. - Other Agile Certifications include:
- SAFe Agile Software Engineering (SAFe Agile Software Engineer ASE)
- SAFe for Hardware (SAFe Hardware Agilist SHWA) and SAFe for Hardware Teams (SAFe Hardware Practitioner SHWP)
- Leading SAFe (SAFe Agilist SA) and Leading SAFe for Government (SAFe Agilist SA)
- SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE)
- And there are more!
Disciplined Agile (DA)
What was the Disciplined Agile Consortium is now part of PMI and re-named Disciplined Agile, after the proprietary ‘Disciplined Agile’ framework for enterprise-level agile working.
The original broad range of certification offerings is gone. They used to include:
- DA: Disciplined Agilist® – Introductory level
- CDA: Certified Disciplined Agilist® – Extending knowledge
- CDAP: Certified Disciplined Agile Practitioner® – For experienced practitioners
- CDAC: Certified Disciplined Agile Coach® – For experts who will pass on their knowledge
- CDAI: Certified Disciplined Agile Instructor® – For the deepest experts
In their place, PMI offers:
- For certification, its PMI-ACP program (see below)
- For learning, two courses:
- Disciplined Agile® Essentials Course for a foundational understanding of Disciplined Agile (DA)®
- Disciplined Agile® Foundations Course for a deeper look at how to optimize workflows, accelerate delivery, and foster continuous improvement using Disciplined Agile (DA)®.
International Consortium for Agile
ICAgile is a certification and accreditation body that collaborates with worldwide agile thought leaders to develop learning programs that lead to its own qualifications. It has the most complex set of options of any organization I have reviewed. For us, the ones I’d draw out are:
- ICP: Agile Fundamentals
Become a certified agile practitioner. Learn foundational agile topics in a methodology-neutral, mindset-based approach. Agile Fundamentals is for new learners. - ICP-APM: Agile Project and Delivery Management
Focuses on core components of the agile project manager role and how it is different from the traditional project manager. It will equip you with strategies and techniques for successfully implementing Lean and Agile projects. - ICP-ATF: Agile Team Facilitation
Focuses on the mindset and role of an agile team facilitator. It will give you group facilitation tools and techniques, so you can effectively design meetings and workshops to both engage the group and drive towards your outcomes.
Tier 2: Agile Certifications from Major Project Management Organizations with Agile Certification Programs
There is a wide range of primary project management organizations that each offer Agile certifications to their members.
In this category, I’ve also included Axelos, the owners of PRINCE2. While they aren’t a professional body, they certainly do not fit into our Tier 1 or 3 categories. Here seems the best place for them.
Project Management Institute (PMI)
I think it would be a fair assessment to describe the PMI as the leading professional body for project managers. It is US-based, but its qualifications are highly regarded worldwide. Of its certifications, Project Management Professional (PMP) is the most prestigious, which it describes as:
the gold standard of project management certification. Recognized and demanded by organizations worldwide, the PMP validates your competence to perform in the role of a project manager, leading and directing projects and teams.
https://www.pmi.org/certifications
PMI has introduced a significant element of Agile project management nto the PMP examination, with the 6th Edition of its Project Management Body of Knowledge, the ‘PMBoK’. However, it also offers a dedicated Agile Certification, PMP-ACP.
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
PMI-ACP is designed for project managers who need to apply agile principles and practices in their projects. The qualification needs a combination of training, experience, and an exam. It covers a range of agile approaches such as Scrum, extreme programming (XP), Test-driven Development (TTD), Lean, and Kanban. As you might expect from the PMI, the prerequisites are challenging:
- 2,000 hours of experience in project teams.
A current PMP® or PgMP® will satisfy this requirement but is not required to apply for the PMI-ACP. - 1,500 hours working on agile project teams or with agile methodologies.
This requirement is additional to the 2,000 hours above. - 21 contact hours of training in agile practices.
It is one of the more demanding examinations and also one of the more expensive. However, what you get is PMI recognition and a very broad-based understanding of agile methods. I’ve put two videos below, if you want more information:
Learn for the PMI-ACP Agile Certification
We offer PMI-ACP courses from both The Institute of Project Management and PM PrepCast – do compare them. IPM is a PMI ATP, while PrepCast offers its own training design.
Axelos PRINCE2 Agile version 2
Axelos promotes best practice in project management globally. Its predecessors may have developed the PRINCE2 and ITIL qualifications for use in the UK Government sector, but public and private sector organizations value their rigor, around the world.
So the adaptation of PRINCE2 to the agile paradigm must be an important step. And the quality of the Axelos accreditation also contributes to the value of these credentials. There are two tiers of PRINCE2 Agile:
- PRINCE2 Agile Foundation
Designed for people who are new to PRINCE2 and are working in or around an agile project environment. The course gives an overview of PRINCE2, an introduction to agile, and shows how to apply the two together. There are no course prerequisites. - PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner
Designed for project managers who are already certified in either PRINCE2 or PRINCE2 Agile Foundation levels. PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner focuses on the practical application of the PRINCE2 Agile method with real-world scenarios. You will need one of the following project management certifications: PRINCE2 Foundation, PRINCE2 Agile Foundation, PMI’s PMP or CAPM, or IPMA Levels A, B, C, or D.
Study PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner with OnlinePMCourses
This is an important qualification. So, OnlinePMCourses, offers training towards the PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner certificate exam.
Before you decide, check out my video, PRINCE2 Agile v2: Right for You? with the PRINCE2 Agile product owner, Szymon Pawlowski
International Project Management Association (IPMA)
IPMA is a Europe-based federation of something like 70 Project Management associations around the world. They have a very effective 4-tier project management certification program, which we mentioned in our earlier roundup of Project Management qualifications.
IPMA offers its own IPMA Agile Leadership Certification.
The Agile Leader role is not a formal role, but rather an informal one. Someone can be a release train engineer, tribe lead, agile coach, scrum master, product owner, or agile pm. But, to be a true Agile Leader, you must be able to inspire others to put the agile mindset into practice. As a responsible decision-maker, how do you know that you are working with a good Agile Leader? How does someone demonstrate good leadership? This is what the IPMA aims to train you in and certify you for, with their program.
International Association for Project Managers (IAPM)
The IAPM is a Europe-based global professional body that offers a range of certifications, including three tiers of Agile Certification:
- Certified Junior Agile Project Manager (IAPM)
…for agile project management novices, students, or people who are interested in a future career in agile project management. The examination covers basic agile project management using Scrum. IAPM asserts that it qualifies you to work on projects and is an asset in a job application. - Certified Agile Project Manager (IAPM)
…for candidates with a basic knowledge of agile project management. This knowledge will help you organize and implement an agile project effectively. You won’t need to prove any project management experience, but it is an advantage. - Certified Senior Agile Project Manager (IAPM)
…for candidates with both knowledge and extensive practical experience in agile project management. Candidates need at least five years of agile project management experience. Three must be in a management or leadership role.
Association for Project Management (APM)
The Association for Project Management is the principal professional body of UK-based project managers. Its website offers a fine array of resources about agile. However, shockingly, they still do not offer any form of agile certification or qualification. (This article has been updated on and off since 2018)
APM offers a strong certification framework for its project managers. So I am unsure whether the absence of agile from its line-up is strategic, an omission that reflects a low priority, or a temporary situation that the APM is working in the background to remedy. If you are a senior APM member or officer with information to share, please do so, below!
I am including APM in this round-up merely because many of my readers would expect to see it here.
American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)
I honestly cannot tell you much about the AAPM. It is US-based and seems to focus on a wide range of certifications. However, before researching this guide, I had not come across it. I don’t know how influential it is as a professional membership body, not where its qualifications are most valued.
The AAPM’s site is, frankly, confused and confusing. It has not improved since 2018, when I created the first version of this article! There are two pages that offer differing lists of qualifications, and differently styled qualifications link to the same course description. However, in the interests of completeness, AAPM appears to offer:
- AAPM Accredited Agile Project Manager
- ChPM Chartered Agile Project Manager
(although it is not clear who the chartering body is, nor how it is available)
Tier 3: Agile Certifications from Third-party organizations that offer Agile Certification
Here are commercial organizations that exist to sell training and certification to project professionals. This does mot mean their training and examination standards are necessarily lower, but it may mean their qualifications are less-widely valued by employers.
EXIN
EXIN is a Dutch certification body that offers qualifications such as ITIL and Agile. EXIN is independent and a highly credible certification body, but its Scrum qualification was launched relatively recently. This means it is less widely recognised, but highly up-to-date.
Their Agile Scrum Foundation exam focuses on the concepts, roles, and processes of Scrum. But as well as the Scrum framework, it also covers the most common Agile practices and techniques, like XP (eXtreme Programming), DSDM methodology, and Kanban.
Study Agile Scrum Foundation with OnlinePMCourses
This is a useful qualification. So, OnlinePMCourses, offers training towards the EXIN Agile Scrum Foundation certificate exam.
International Scrum Institute
The International Scrum Institute offers a wide range of its own Scrum certifications:
- SMAC™ – Scrum Master Accredited Certification™ Program
- SPOAC™ – Scrum Product Owner Accredited Certification™ Program
- STMAC™ – Scrum Team Member Accredited Certification™ Program
- Other advanced-level certifications for trainers and coaches, and an expert level
- Certifications for developers in Java, web, and mobile apps
Kanban University (formerly Lean Kanban University)
This is the only provider I have been able to find that offers certified qualifications in Kanban. Kanban is an Agile method and is most appropriate for delivering evolutionary change to operational processes and systems. They offer a wide range of Kanban Agile certifications, including:
- Team Kanban Practitioner certification (TKP)
- Kanban Management Professional (KMP)
- Scrum Kanban Practitioner (SKP)
Other Training Companies that Offer Agile Certifications
- The Knowledge Academy
- Scrum Inc (in the US)
- ScrumStudy
What are Your Experiences of these Programs and Qualifications?
If you have an Agile certification, or have followed any of these programs, please share your experience and comments. And if you think we have missed something here, do let us know.
