The Truth About Is PMI-ACP Certification Worth It in 2022?

ACP is an acronym for Agile Certified Practitioner. Project Management Institute PMI provides this certification, and hence it is PMI-ACP. PMI-ACP Certification maintains a high level of professional integrity as it is a combination of agile training working on Agile projects and examining Agile fundamentals and tools. This certification is universally recognized and helps people manage the requirements of associations that depend on certified Agile practitioners to apply their diversified skills to undertake the projects efficiently.

Agile is a monotonous approach to cumulatively delivering software from the start of the project rather than delivering the whole project at the end. Agile is majorly involved in project management. If the project is typical, then the Agile Project management methodology is the most acceptable methodology to follow. This methodology mainly aims to deliver the product to the customer in more miniature sprints instead of delivering at a time. Henceforth, it will be easy for the customer to test the given module of the project and ensure that sound quality is maintained.

Benefits of PMI-ACP Certification

There are several benefits of PMI-ACP certification. From getting high salary perks to increased global demand for agile professionals. Let us have a look at some benefits of acquiring a PMI-ACP certification.

1. High Demand

According to an Agile Survey, about 94% of respondents mentioned that their organization uses Agile methods. This survey depicts the increasing need for organizations to hire Agile professionals. Candidates with a PMI-ACP certification can stand out in the crowd as there is a high demand for effective and trained agile practitioners.

2. Globally Accepted

PMI-ACP certification by PMI is globally recognized and accepted. The candidates can easily apply for the PMI-ACP exam from anywhere globally, and passing the exam can apply to different industries and organizations anywhere globally. Therefore, earning a PMI-ACP certification can be highly beneficial for your career growth.

3. Professional Growth

A PMI-ACP certification validates your knowledge and level of professionalism in Agile practices, tools, techniques, and methodologies. The PMI-ACP certification merely adds to your professional growth as it proves to the employers your ability to take up challenging projects in an agile environment.

4. Better Salary

Candidates with a PMI-ACP certificate can earn 28% more than non-certified professionals. The Average Salary of a PMI-ACP credential holder with 5-10 years of experience can be expected to be around $123,000 annually.

Why Is the Salary of PMI-ACP So High?

The PMI-ACP certification correlates to high salaries due to the increased credibility of the certification holder and the ability to showcase their high skills and expertise in agile practices. Moreover, the certification requires intense training to ace the examination, long hours of time investment, and huge costs incurred for training courses, exam fees, etc.

Employers recognize the PMI-ACP certification as it verifies that the certification holder is a professional and can work with various agile disciplines to implement the best strategies in agile project management. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for agile practitioners, and more and more organizations are willing to offer handsome salaries to certified agile professionals.

Other Considerations and Tips for the PMI-ACP Exam

• The value of certification lies, in part, in determinating oneself as part of a group. PMI is not a group of strange beings hiding behind a corporation. Once you are PMI-ACP certified, you are PMI too.
• You can participate in forums to improve and help develop the profession. Certification is a new responsibility beyond the job benefits such as new opportunities, promotions, or salary increases.
• Take the test in the morning hours - or when your brain is most lucid and rested.
• Take the exam in your language. You will always have the option to view the question in English. Do not think it has been mistranslated; it is unlikely. Other volunteer members do translations with the support of professional translators. Each question is discussed at length by other volunteers.
• If you are still concerned about the language, take a course where the instructor or facilitator always presents the concepts in your language but highlights the key terms in English to identify the terms more quickly.

Still in Doubt?

Becoming certified is a process that deserves commitment and dedication. A good certification, that is, one that best represents your professional potential and gives you an advantage over others in your role, will certainly demand more from you.

Although PMI-ACP and Disciplined Agile are not the only agile certifications globally, the fact that PMI backs them speaks volumes about their future.

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How to Gain Your PMI-ACP Certification with Flying Colours?

Although many people prefer MBA for project management, there are other options. The new project management programs are better than MBA. For instance, PMI-ACP certification is emerging as the best certification for project managers. If you learn PMI-ACP, you will get plenty of job opportunities.

There is tough competition for jobs these days. With thousands of applicants for single employment, you require to develop your skills. Project management jobs are becoming popular among people. The primary purpose for the popularity is job security.

Stability and security are the two primary reasons for the popularity of project management jobs. As many people are dropping their jobs to AI, job security has become an essential concept. If you learn project management, you will be ready to apply for a career in any industry.

What Is PMI-ACP Certification?

PMI-ACP certification will teach you agile practices. The market conditions are becoming unstable. So, to cope up with it, you need to practice agile principles. In essence, you require to be flexible enough to adapt to changes. Moreover, you also require to take care of growing customer demands.

Overall, the economic conditions are constantly changing. You require to learn those skills that will assist you in surviving the change. The PMI-ACP is the perfect certification for learning agile practices. You will be ready to apply agile practices to your work. It is the best alternative to the traditional waterfall method. You can change your career by obtaining a PMI-ACP certification.

At first, make sure that PMI-ACP is the certification you require to satisfy your professional requirements to educational needs. The PMI-ACP will be a good choice if you work on agile projects with agile teams and if your organization is adopting or maintaining agile practices. The PMI-ACP certification would be excellent evidence of practical, hands-on experience and skill in agile principles and methodologies and help structure your theoretical and practical knowledge.

How Can You Be Sure If Taking the PMI-ACP Exam Is the Right Step for You?

First, you require to have the urge to become a PMI-ACP. Next, you need to confirm that you meet the PMI-ACP certification conditions in four areas; educational background, broad project experience, Agile project experience, and training in Agile practices.

It would be best to have a secondary degree, high school diploma, associate’s degree, or global equivalent for educational background. In general project experience, you need at least 2,000 hours of broad project experience within the past five years. In Agile project experience, you need to have at least 1,500 hours of experience working on project teams that used Agile methodologies within the past three years. Remember that you cannot count the same hours or projects towards extensive project experience for Agile project experience.

Finally, in training in Agile practices, you are required to have at least 21 Contact Hours. A Contact Hour is an estimated one hour of formal education, formal education in Agile practices.

Once you have all of your overall project and Agile project hours documented and have received your 21 contact hours, you are ready to start your application to sit for the PMI-ACP exam. You can make the application online or download a PDF copy of it, fill it out, and submit it by mail. If you select to apply online, you will have 90 days to make the application. If you have already made your PMP or PgMP credential, then PMI has already verified you have fulfilled the 2000 hours of extensive project experience requirements to take the PMI-ACP exam, and this condition will be waived.

What Should You Expect in the PMI-ACP Exam?

The PMI-ACP exam consists of 120 multiple choice questions that require to be answered within three hours. There are two lots of questions on the PMI-ACP certification. Half of the exam questions cover Agile tools and methods, and the other half covers Agile knowledge and skills. Additional information on what is precisely covered on the PMI-ACP exam can be found in the most current copy of the PMI-ACP Exam Content Outline.

Once you take and pass the PMI-ACP exam, you will be required to focus on keeping your certification. This is achieved by obtaining at least 30 professional development units during your certification cycle, which is three years and begins the day you pass the PMI-ACP exam. A PDU is earned for each hour spent managing activities in one of two divisions; education or giving back to the profession. You can achieve all 30 PDUs with educational activities but are limited to 20 PDUs per cycle to give back to the profession category.

If you are already a certified PMP or PgMP, you can claim elegant project activity PDUs toward maintaining your PMP or PgMP credential. All activities in either category must be within the specific area of agile project activities to be counted towards maintaining your PMI-ACP certification. So you still only require to earn 60 PDUs in total in three years, not 90. And remember that all PDU hours you make towards your PMI-ACP certification must be in the area of agile project activities.

Obtaining your PMI-ACP certificate proves to others your knowledge of agile practices, tools, and techniques. Make sure you understand PMI’s most popular requirements to qualify for the exam before starting the exam application process.

In Conclusion

The PMI-ACP is one of the best certifications for project management. It will teach you everything about agile methods. After obtaining a PMI-ACP certification, you will be able to move forward in your career.

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