PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) is PMI’s certification for Agile Practitioners. They designed it to demonstrate deep knowledge of Agile principles and methods. In autumn 2024, PMI updated the syllabus massively. Let’s look at what you need to know about the PMI-ACP in 2025.
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1. What is PMI-ACP?
PMI-ACP stands for Project Management Institute Agile Certified Practitioner. It is the PMI’s principal Agile certification. PMI developed the PMI-ACP as a complement to the CAPM (for early-stage Project Managers) and the PMP (for experienced Project Managers) were, at the time, based entirely upon the principles of predictive (or traditional) Project Management. Now, it is designed to demonstrate agile expertise for a broad range of project professionals.
2. The PMI-ACP Syllabus
The PMI-ACP has a very broad Agile syllabus, articulated in the PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (ECO). This sets out:
- 4 Domains, or high-level knowledge areas, each with…
- 4 to 7 Tasks, which are the underlying responsibilities within a domain, illustrated by
- 3 to 8 Enablers, which are examples of the work associated with each task.
3. The Four Domains of the PMI-ACP Syllabus
- Mindset: Principles, team culture, and mindset
7 Tasks: 28% – approx 34 questions – of the exam - Leadership: Team leadership, management, and facilitation
6 Tasks: 25% – approx 30 questions – of the exam) - Product Understanding needs, sequencing, and value under different frameworks and methods
4 Tasks: 19% – approx 23 questions – of the exam - Delivery: Agile delivery, monitoring, control, improvement, and customer engagement.
7 Tasks: 28% – approx 34 questions – of the exam)
4. You need a Knowledge of a Range of Agile Tools and Techniques
These are listed in the PMI-ACP ECO, as:
- Analysis and Design
- Estimation
- Communications
- Metrics
- Planning, Monitoring, and Adapting
- Process improvement
- Product quality
- Risk Management
- Value-based prioritization
5. Which Agile Methodology?
The PMI-ACP spans many approaches to agile such as Scrum, Kanban, Lean, extreme programming (XP) and test-driven development (TDD.)
6. Prerequisites to Take the PMI-ACP Exam
- Secondary diploma (high school diploma, GED, associate’s degree, or global equivalent)
- 28 hours of formal training in agile practices, frameworks, and methodologies
- Professional agile experience that is one of:
- 2 years of agile experience in the past 5 years
(If you hold a PMI certification, you can count agile and hybrid experience
- 1 year of agile experience and a degree from a Global Accreditation Center (GAC) program
- 1 year of agile experience and an active 3rd party agile certification
(A certification that demonstrates knowledge of Agile approaches and principles, is current, and was earned more than 1 year ago)
- Active PMP certification
- 2 years of agile experience in the past 5 years
These requirements can change from time to time, so do check on the PMI’s website.
7. Preparation for the PMI-ACP Exam
You can prepare for your PMI-ACP exam through a mixture of reading, online videos, and other self-study, sample papers and exam simulators, and formal courses. PMI offers a range of preparation resources, but you can also learn from third-party providers. There are two types and each may offer live, in-person training, live online training, or pre-recorded on-demand training.
- PMI-ATPs are PMI’s Authorized Training Partners. These are required to deliver their training using PMI’s own training materials.
- Others can design the training however they like.
The PMI ATP badge is not a guarantee that the training style will suit you and there are plenty of excellent providers who have chosen not to be ATPs.
Recommended Training Providers for PMI-ACP
Currently, I recommend:
1. From a PMI ATP (Authorized Training Partner)
2. From an independent training business
8. Recommended book
There are many excellent books about aspects of Agile Project Management. However, the one that PMI recommends is, predictably, its own PMI Agile Practice Guide.
9. The Exam
The certification exam has 120 multiple-choice questions and you have three hours to complete it with a 10-minute break after question number 60. You can take the exam either in person (at a test center), or using PMI’s proctored online service.
At the time of writing, it is available in six languages: English, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, or Spanish.
10. CPD Process
To maintain your PMI-ACP, you must earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) in agile topics every three years.
What Kit Does a Project Manager Need?
I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own.
Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs
Note that the links are affiliated.
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