PMI-ACP Requirements: PMI-ACP Certification Exam Eligibility Criteria.

This blog post will explain the PMI-ACP requirements, and I hope that after reading this, you will know if you fulfill the PMI-ACP certification eligibility criteria. 

PMI-ACP is a newer certification for professionals working with agile methodologies. This certification was launched as a pilot at the end of 2011 and opened to all professionals in 2012.

The PMI-ACP is a short form of Project Management Institute – Agile Certified Practitioner. The PMI (Project Management Institute) awards this certificate to professionals who have passed the PMI-ACP certification exam.

This is one of the most popular certifications for agile professionals.

The popularity of this certification is growing, and so many professionals are increasingly opting for the PMI-ACP certification.

PMI-ACP Requirements

You have to satisfy one of the following two sets of conditions to apply for the PMI-ACP exam:

1. You should have a secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or global equivalent), 12 months of working on project teams (in the last five years), eight months of experience in using agile methodologies, and 21 contact hours of formal education in agile practices.
2. You should have a bachelor’s or post-graduate degree from a GAC accredited program (bachelor’s or master’s degree or global equivalent), eight months of experience in using agile methodologies, and 35 contact hours of formal education in agile practices.

Let’s discuss these requirements in detail.

You must be at least a diploma holder to apply for the PMI-ACP exam. For diploma holders, PMI has mandated to have general and agile project experience. However, if you have a bachelor’s degree or higher, general project management experience is not required.

I find one weird issue here. 

The PMI-ACP training requirement for diploma holders is 21 hours. However, for a bachelor’s degree, it is 35 contact hours regardless of experience.

I don’t understand it. If you have higher educational qualifications and more experience, the training requirements should be lower.

Regarding the PMI-ACP training program, I recommend you join Cornelius Fichtner’s Agile PrepCast.

This training program is 100% online and affordable.

Click here to visit Agile PrepCast.

Agile PrepCast is the most popular training program for PMI-ACP aspirants. 

Now, here is where this blog post on PMI-ACP requirements comes to an end.

FAQs

Though I have explained PMI-ACP eligibility requirements, I still receive emails from aspirants asking for clarifications. Some of those questions are as follows:

#1: I don’t hold a project manager title; am I eligible for the PMI-ACP exam?

In agile methodologies, the project manager title does not exist, so you won’t have to worry about it. The PMI-ACP handbook also does not cite the project manager position for the certification.

The handbook only states that you should have experience in agile practices. If you have experience in agile methodologies, you can apply for the PMI-ACP certification exam.

#2: Can only Authorize Training Providers (ATP) provide PMI-ACP training?

No.

You don’t need to complete your training through an Authorized Training Partner (ATP). You can earn your contact hours through many methods. You have seven ways to complete the training:

A. PMI Registered Education Providers (REPs).
B. PMI Authorized Training Partners (ATPs).
C. PMI chapters.
D. Employer/company-sponsored programs.
E. Training companies or consultants (e.g., training schools).
F. Distance-learning companies, including an end-of-course assessment.
G. University/college academic and continuing education programs. 

The following do not satisfy the educational requirements: 

• PMI chapter meetings
• Self-directed learning (e.g., reading books, watching instructional videos, or sessions with coaches or mentors).

So, you can get your training from any provider regardless of whether they are PMI approved or not. 

#3: I am a CAPM. Can I apply for the PMI-ACP exam?

Yes, you can apply for the PMI-ACP exam.

The CAPM and PMI-ACP are different certifications with no relation whatsoever. Also, note that having an active CAPM certification will not relax the PMI-ACP requirements, unlike the PMP certification, where a CAPM certification holder is not required to attend training to apply for the PMP exam. This is not the case in the PMI-ACP certification exam. 

Summary

The PMI-ACP certification exam has three requirements: education, experience (general project management + agile), and training in agile practices. The minimum experience requirement is a diploma and experience, and the training hours change as per the educational qualification.

If you fulfill PMI-ACP requirements, you should apply for the PMI-ACP certification exam and earn this prestigious certification.

I recommend you read the PMI-ACP Handbook, which is freely available on the PMI website. This handbook provides the latest information on the complete certification process.