An Agile project management certification is a must-have these days to showcase yourself as a versatile professional. Businesses are increasingly going Agile – with adopting charts surpassing any other in recent years. This is because Business Leaders have begun to see the difference Agile methodologies make, and the results they generate.
Well, that’s the bigger picture. But, what can you do to actionize these insights? You can become a Certified Agile Practitioner yourself! In this blog, we’ll help you choose an agile project management certification path that works best for you.
First things first though, before we get started – Do you need an Agile Certification any time soon? Will it benefit you? – Let’s get answers to all the burning questions around it!
Is Agile Project Management Certification Worth It
Organizations are adopting Agile or at least some form of Hybrid methodology to increase business value. In fact, PMI’s Future of Project Work Report supported by the Annual Global Survey on Project Management stated that in the 3 years from 2020 to 2023, adoption of hybrid approaches in projects shot up by a staggering 57%!
This data shows that current practitioners in project management need to upskill themselves to embrace the change. And, we say the earlier you do it the better! Agile project management certifications gear you up for positions like Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, Product Owners, and Agile Project Managers. And the best way to snag one of these leadership roles is to be ready with an Agile Mindset. If you’re already working in an Agile environment, an Agile certification can be proof of your skills!
Regardless of whether you have Agile experience or not, here’s why getting an Agile project management certification is totally worth it!
Agile Project Management Certification Benefits
- All Organizational Teams Are Going Agile: Although Agile was mainly for software development earlier, it has now branched out to cover most parts of an organization. Nearly 70% of IT or software development teams are already using Agile. But, what’s interesting is currently close to half of engineering, product, and R&D teams use Agile. Adding to that, business operations (28%) and marketing (20%) are catching on to this flexible project management style too!
- Keep up with the 5-year Predictions: Experts predict that in the next five years, most companies will move away from traditional project management approaches. Instead, 76% expect to use more Agile methods, and 73% plan to combine Agile with other methods (hybrid approaches). So, the time to act on it is NOW!
- Build In-demand Skills: Studies show that the most in-demand skills are the ability to accelerate “time-to-market” and deliver incremental customer and business value. With an Agile certification, you can help teams deliver products quicker, measure their impact as well as support digital transformation and improve project reliability. These are exactly the skills that organizations need from project managers and product teams – and the right agile PM certification can get you the spotlight!
- Show Dedication to Learning & the Profession: Getting certified in Agile Project Management helps you keep up with the changing trends and develop the skills that organizations are looking for. Moreover, it proves that you worked for the certification, and care about learning and staying updated in your profession. It’s a signal to employers that you’re ready to lead and bring fresh ideas to the table.
4 Best Agile Project Management Certifications in the Market
1. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
PMI ACP is one of the most popular agile project management certifications, consistently placed #1 by many sources. It comes with the credibility of PMI and was recently revised to meet the industry’s pain points in agile. The new PMI ACP promotes an adaptable approach to projects, instead of a prescriptive one.
The exam covers everything about Agile, including the Agile Mindset, the principles that guide Agile practices, and different frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, Lean, etc. Now it also introduced concepts from the Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM), giving you even more value.
Key Details You Need to Know
- Cost: Member price: $435, Full price: $495
- Requirements: Around two years of project experience is necessary to qualify.
- Exam: The exam consists of 120 questions with a duration of 180 minutes. Passing score: 60%+ (Estimated).
- Salary: The average salary for PMI ACPs is ₹23.3 lakhs in India or $130,000 annually in the U.S.
2. SAFe Agilist
This certification is offered by Scaled Agile for professionals who want to improve their capacity to scale enterprise Agile framework development. The organization is known around the world as a pioneer in transitioning businesses into Lean-Agile environments.
More information on the SAFe Agilist certification:
- Cost: Average cost $714 (differs as per training providers).
- Requirements: 5+ years of working experience is required for the SAFe Agile certification.
- Exam: The exam will take 90 minutes and will consist of 45 multiple-choice questions. Passing percentage: 75%.
- Salary: The average salary for SAFe Agilists is ₹24.2 lakhs in India or $117,000 in the U.S.
3. Disciplined Agile
- DASM Certification
Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) is the course for you if you want to break away from frameworks and develop the optimal way of working (WoW) for you and your team. With the Disciplined Agile toolbox, you can develop ways to improve your procedures and drive greater team results.
This course will provide you all the knowledge, techniques, and methods you need to start utilising Disciplined Agile right away. It includes live, interactive sessions, activities, animations, supplemental reading, and more. In just two days, you’ll learn about the basic agile and lean methods that DA supports, practise problem-solving with the tool set, and discover how to establish high-performance teams.
- DASSM Certification
Disciplined Agile pulls together multiple activities such as solution delivery, enterprise architecture, portfolio management, security, finance, and vendor management to produce the best business outcomes, laying a solid basis for business agility. Organizations with high agility report more projects reaching original goals and business intent than organisations with low agility using the same methodologies (Source: PMI’s Pulse of the Profession 2018).
As a result, there is an unprecedented need for educated Disciplined Agilest and experts with Scrum Master credentials. Top companies around the world are hiring Scrum Masters, including Google, Amazon, Walt Disney, LinkedIn, Polaris Laboratories, Roche, BBC, ExxonMobil, Verizon, Walmart, Dow Jones, and Tesla, with job listings up 67 percent year over year.
These well-known corporations throughout the world have implemented the Disciplined Agile methodology to improve business agility and become truly flexible organisations by reducing time-to-market, increasing quality, and improving employee morale.
Get the PMI® Alliance Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) Certification to improve your Scrum Master skills and take advantage of the rising demand across sectors.
4. Certified Agile Project Manager
The International Association of Project Managers (IAPM), a global organisation dedicated to developing the practical application of project management, offers this qualification. The IAPM offers four levels of certification, including Certified Agile Project Manager. The course covers how to plan, organise, and implement projects using Agile methodologies.
More information on the Certified Agile Project Manager certification test can be found here:
- You’ll have 80 minutes to complete this exam and answer 120 questions.
- There are no prerequisites for obtaining this certification.
- Passing percentage: 65 percent
What is the Best Agile Project Management Certification?
We think out of all the agile project management certifications in the market currently, the best one to pursue is the PMI ACP certification. This is because its curriculum was updated very recently and reflects the industry’s actual needs. You become an Agilist who is ready to tackle the current loopholes while being adept at tailoring Agile practices – instead of sticking to Scrum knowledge.
If you’re already at a senior level in your project management career, then Disciplined Agile master level certifications – Disciplined Agile Coach (DAC) and Value Stream Consultant (DAVSC) are great options. Here also you learn about several agile approaches and how to tailor them to create value for the business.
Conclusion:
Many people have praised the advantages of implementing Agile into their teams, such as enhanced adaptability, transparency, and delivery speed. Getting a grasp of what makes Agile special can make you a better project manager and professional, whether you’re learning the fundamentals of Agile or going right into mastering Scrum.
