PMI Certification
PMI-ACP
Agile Certified Practitioner
Issued by PMI · for experienced project and product professionals working across agile and hybrid delivery environments
$435 member / $495 non-member
PMI
120 questions · 3 hrs
Pearson VUE · online
Renews every 3 years · 30 PDUs
Overview
What is the PMI-ACP?
The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) is the Project Management Institute's dedicated agile certification. While PMI's flagship PMP credential incorporates agile as a component, the PMI-ACP is entirely focused on agile frameworks, principles, and practices — making it the most rigorous and broadly recognised standalone agile certification from a major professional body.
What distinguishes the PMI-ACP from most agile credentials is its multi-framework scope. Rather than certifying competency in a single method like Scrum, the PMI-ACP validates knowledge across seven agile and lean frameworks: Scrum, Kanban, Lean, Extreme Programming (XP), SAFe, Crystal, and hybrid agile approaches. Candidates must demonstrate they can select and apply the right approach for each context — not just follow one playbook.
The credential is grounded in PMI's Examination Content Outline (ECO), which maps agile knowledge to seven domains that reflect how practitioners actually deliver agile projects. Questions are predominantly scenario-based — they test your judgment and application of agile principles in realistic situations, not just vocabulary recall. This makes the exam genuinely challenging and the credential genuinely meaningful.
PMI-ACP is particularly valued in enterprise, technology, financial services, and consulting environments where practitioners need to navigate diverse agile contexts and communicate across methodologies. It pairs naturally with a PMP for hybrid project professionals and signals deeper agile expertise than entry-level Scrum credentials alone.
Eligibility
Requirements for PMI-ACP Certification
The PMI-ACP has a dual experience requirement — general project experience and specifically agile project experience — plus an education component. All experience must be verified and documented in your application.
Education Requirement
- Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate degree, or equivalent) or higher
- No specific degree field required
General Project Experience
- 12 months (2,000 hours) of general project experience
- Must have been earned within the last 5 years
- Can be from any project-related role — PM, BA, PO, developer, or team lead
- Does not need to be specifically agile experience for this component
Agile Project Experience
- 8 months (1,500 hours) of agile project experience
- Must have been earned within the last 3 years
- Must be on agile project teams or using agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, XP, SAFe, etc.)
- This is in addition to the general project experience — not overlapping hours
Training Requirement
- 21 contact hours of agile practices training
- Can be from any recognised training provider — online, in-person, bootcamp, or workshop
- PMI membership is not required to apply, but recommended to save on exam fee and gain access to the Agile Practice Guide and other resources
Key Facts
At a Glance
Exam fee (member)
$435
Non-member: $495 · paid to PMI at application
PMI membership
~$139/yr
Saves $60 on exam + includes Agile Practice Guide
Exam format
120 Qs
3 hours · scenario-based · Pearson VUE online
Pass mark
Scaled
PMI uses scaled scoring — no fixed % published
Project experience
12 months
General project experience within last 5 years
Agile experience
8 months
On agile teams, within last 3 years
Validity
3 years
Renew with 30 PDUs (min 18 in agile topics)
Issuing body
PMI
Project Management Institute · founded 1969
Exam Breakdown
7 Domains — What the PMI-ACP Exam Covers
The PMI-ACP Examination Content Outline (ECO) organises the exam into 7 domains that map to the agile delivery lifecycle. Questions are scenario-based and test practical application, not rote recall. The 120 questions are distributed across these domains:
| Domain |
~Qs |
Weight |
Agile Principles and Mindset
Agile manifesto values, principles, servant leadership, psychological safety, embracing change |
~19 |
16% |
Value-Driven Delivery
Prioritisation frameworks, MVPs, business value metrics, backlog management, incremental delivery |
~24 |
20% |
Stakeholder Engagement
Communication, feedback loops, collaboration tools, managing conflict, empowering the team |
~20 |
17% |
Team Performance
Team formation, self-organisation, velocity, skills diversification, team health metrics |
~19 |
16% |
Adaptive Planning
Release planning, iteration planning, timeboxing, rolling wave planning, capacity management |
~14 |
12% |
Problem Detection and Resolution
Impediment removal, risk identification, burndown charts, cycle time analysis, retrospectives |
~12 |
10% |
Continuous Improvement (Product, Process, People)
Retrospectives, process tailoring, coaching, knowledge sharing, value stream mapping |
~11 |
9% |
Application Process
4 Steps to PMI-ACP Certification
Step 1 · Create a PMI Account and Apply
- Visit pmi.org/certifications/agile-acp to start your application
- Create or log in to your PMI account — consider joining as a member ($139/yr) to save $60 on the exam fee and get access to study resources
- Complete the online application: education details, general project experience (12 months), agile project experience (8 months), and 21 contact hours of agile training
- Submit — some applications are randomly selected for audit; if selected, you must provide documentation before proceeding
Step 2 · Pay and Receive Eligibility
- Pay the exam fee: $435 (PMI member) or $495 (non-member)
- After payment and approval, you receive an eligibility ID with a 1-year window to schedule and take your exam
- You have up to 3 attempts within your eligibility period if you do not pass on the first try
Step 3 · Schedule and Take the Exam
- Schedule via Pearson VUE — online proctored or at a testing centre
- 120 scenario-based questions in 3 hours — no reference materials allowed
- Results provided immediately after the exam via a pass/fail score report
- Scaled scoring means passing threshold varies by exam form — there is no single published pass percentage
Step 4 · Receive and Maintain Your Credential
- Digital badge delivered via Credly; certificate mailed to your registered address
- Listed in the PMI global credential registry — publicly verifiable by employers
- Credential is valid for 3 years; renewal requires reporting 30 PDUs via PMI's CCRS system (minimum 18 PDUs in agile topics) and paying a renewal fee
- No exam retake required for renewal — just PDU reporting
Who Should Get It
Is the PMI-ACP Right for You?
PMI describes the PMI-ACP as suited for practitioners actively working in agile environments. You will benefit most if you work in or are targeting roles such as:
- Project Managers, Programme Managers, or Delivery Leads using agile or hybrid methods
- Scrum Masters looking to formalise multi-framework agile expertise beyond Scrum
- Product Managers and Product Owners who lead or participate in agile delivery
- Business Analysts embedded in agile teams
- Consultants advising on agile transformations or coaching delivery teams
- PMP holders who want a dedicated agile credential to complement their project management credential
- Anyone working in enterprise, banking, insurance, or tech where multiple agile frameworks coexist
PMI-ACP is most valuable in organisations where the hiring bar requires demonstrable agile breadth — not just Scrum knowledge. If you are new to agile, earning a CSM first is a better starting point, as the PMI-ACP assumes you already work in agile contexts daily. For professionals targeting SAFe-heavy enterprise environments, pairing PMI-ACP with the SAFe POPM provides deep enterprise agile credibility.
Study Tips
How to Prepare for the PMI-ACP Exam
Read the Agile Practice Guide first. PMI co-published the Agile Practice Guide with Agile Alliance. It is free for PMI members and is one of the most heavily tested references. Read it cover to cover before any other prep material — it defines how PMI frames agile concepts, which affects how you interpret scenario questions.
Study all seven frameworks, not just Scrum. Many candidates underestimate the breadth required. The exam tests Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, SAFe, Crystal, and hybrid approaches. If you have only worked in Scrum, dedicate study time to Kanban flow metrics, XP practices (TDD, pair programming, refactoring), and Lean waste concepts. Questions often test which framework applies in a given context.
Practise with scenario-based questions — not flashcard recall. The PMI-ACP is not a vocabulary test. Every question presents a situation and asks what you should do next. Use practice exams that mirror this format (Mike Griffiths' study guide, PMI's own practice exam, or AgilePM prep platforms). Aim to understand why the best answer is best and why the other options are wrong.
Map study time to domain weights. Value-Driven Delivery (20%), Stakeholder Engagement (17%), Agile Principles and Mindset (16%), and Team Performance (16%) together account for 69% of the exam. Do not neglect Adaptive Planning (12%), Problem Detection (10%), and Continuous Improvement (9%) — but invest proportionally.
Earn your 21 contact hours from quality training. Many candidates choose an instructor-led PMI-ACP prep course for their 21 hours — this is efficient because it satisfies the eligibility requirement and builds exam knowledge simultaneously. Online self-paced courses from PMI Education Partners count and are often cheaper than live options.
Plan PDU earning from day one. You will need 30 PDUs every 3 years to renew. Set up your PMI CCRS account as soon as you pass and start logging PDUs immediately — conferences, webinars, volunteer work, and online courses all count. Spreading PDU earning over 3 years is far easier than scrambling at renewal time.
Exam FAQ
PMI-ACP Certification — Frequently Asked Questions
What does the PMI-ACP certification actually validate?
PMI-ACP validates your ability to apply agile principles and practices across multiple frameworks — Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, SAFe, Crystal, and hybrid approaches. Unlike role-specific credentials, it demonstrates that you can select and apply the right framework for each context. It is issued by PMI and is particularly recognised in enterprise and consulting environments where multi-framework agile expertise is expected.
How much does the PMI-ACP cost in 2026?
The exam fee is $435 for PMI members and $495 for non-members, paid when you submit your application. PMI membership costs approximately $139/year. Members also receive the Agile Practice Guide free, access to discounted PDU courses, and reduced fees on other PMI events — making membership worth the cost if you plan to sit the exam and maintain the credential.
What experience do I need to apply?
You need: a secondary degree or higher; 12 months of general project experience within the last 5 years; 8 months of agile project experience within the last 3 years; and 21 contact hours of agile training. The dual experience requirement means this is a mid-career credential — it targets practitioners already working in agile environments, not beginners seeking their first agile exposure.
What is the PMI-ACP exam format and pass mark?
120 scenario-based questions in 3 hours, delivered online via Pearson VUE. PMI uses scaled scoring — each exam version has a different difficulty-adjusted passing threshold, so there is no single published pass percentage. Questions test your judgment and application of agile concepts in realistic situations, not just vocabulary definitions. You get 3 attempts within your 1-year eligibility period.
What are the 7 PMI-ACP exam domains?
Agile Principles and Mindset (16%), Value-Driven Delivery (20%), Stakeholder Engagement (17%), Team Performance (16%), Adaptive Planning (12%), Problem Detection and Resolution (10%), and Continuous Improvement — Product, Process, People (9%). Value-Driven Delivery is the largest domain — prioritise it alongside Stakeholder Engagement and Team Performance, which together account for more than half the exam.
How do I renew the PMI-ACP?
PMI-ACP is valid for 3 years. Renewal requires 30 PDUs (Professional Development Units), of which at least 18 must be in agile-specific topics. The remaining 12 can come from any PMI-eligible category. You report PDUs via PMI's online CCRS system and pay a renewal fee — no exam retake required. PDUs can be earned through courses, webinars, conferences, volunteering, and on-the-job experience.
PMI-ACP vs CSM — which is more valuable?
CSM (Scrum Alliance) is Scrum-specific and course-based — accessible and widely held, but relatively easy to obtain.
PMI-ACP covers seven frameworks and requires a rigorous exam plus documented project experience, making it more credible with enterprise employers. For someone new to agile, CSM is the better starting point. For an existing CSM holder, PMI-ACP is the natural upgrade that broadens agile credibility beyond Scrum. They are complementary, not competing.
PMI-ACP vs SAFe POPM — which should I prioritise?
These serve different purposes.
PMI-ACP signals broad agile expertise across multiple frameworks and is recognised everywhere.
SAFe POPM is specifically for professionals operating within SAFe-adopting organisations — it validates deep SAFe knowledge and is often explicitly required or preferred at large enterprises using SAFe. If your employer uses SAFe, POPM is the higher priority. If you need framework-agnostic agile credentials for the open market, PMI-ACP is stronger. At large SAFe enterprises, holding both sends a very strong signal.
Level Up
A certification might open the door — quality training keeps you there.
PMI-ACP validates your agile knowledge. But executing in practice — building AI-powered products, working with engineers, making data-driven roadmap decisions in agile environments — requires a different kind of training. The AI PM Intensive is 6 weeks of hands-on technical product management: AI/ML product thinking, APIs, tech stacks, analytics, agile delivery, and roadmapping. Built so you can perform, not just credential. Join the next cohort.
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