PMI-ACP · ● Active · Professional · PMI
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $435 (PMI member) / $495 (non-member) |
| Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours, including 10-min break after question 60) |
| Questions | 120 (100 scored, 20 unscored pre-test items) |
| Passing | ~70% (determined via psychometric analysis) |
| Format | Multiple choice |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE |
| Languages | English |
| Valid | 3 years |
| Renewal | 30 professional development units (PDUs) per 3-year cycle |
| Prerequisites | 2,000 hrs general project management + 1,500 hrs agile project experience + 21 contact hours agile training; application required before exam |
| Released | 2011 |
| Retiring | N/A — Active certification as of May 2026 |
Vendor source — PMI Certifications Portal ↗
Official exam guide — PMI-ACP Exam Content Outline ↗
Exam objectives — PMI-ACP Candidate Handbook ↗
About
The PMI-ACP is a vendor-neutral, internationally recognized professional certification that validates expertise in Agile methodologies and practices. Launched in 2011, it was designed for project management professionals seeking to demonstrate mastery across multiple Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, Lean, Extreme Programming, Test-Driven Development). Unlike framework-specific credentials, PMI-ACP emphasizes adaptability and Agile mindset across diverse contexts—making it valuable for teams working with hybrid or scaled Agile approaches.
Domain context — Project Management / Agile
Project management discipline focused on iterative delivery, stakeholder collaboration, and continuous adaptation. Agile encompasses Scrum, Kanban, Lean, SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), and emerging hybrid methodologies.
Parent ecosystem: PMI
Topics covered
The PMI-ACP exam blueprint is organized into four domains with the following weight distribution:
- Mindset (28%) — Mastering agile principles to foster innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning
- Leadership (25%) — Empowering teams, facilitating conflict resolution, and promoting knowledge sharing
- Product (19%) — Refining product backlogs, managing value delivery, and ensuring alignment with business priorities
- Delivery (28%) — Optimizing flow, managing risks, and delivering customer value efficiently
Source: PMI-ACP Exam Content Outline ↗
Common skills at Project Management / Agile · Professional
Shared competencies for Agile professionals at this level — not specific to PMI-ACP.
- Backlog grooming and prioritization
- Sprint planning and execution
- User story creation and acceptance criteria definition
- Retrospective facilitation and action item tracking
- Velocity measurement and team capacity planning
- Impediment identification and escalation
- Cross-functional team coordination
- Change request evaluation and impact assessment
- Stakeholder communication and expectation management
- Metrics-driven decision-making (burn-down, burn-up, cycle time)
- Servant leadership and facilitation skills
- Adaptability and embracing change
Recommended courses at Project Management / Agile · Professional
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Udemy (Andrew Ramdayal) | PMI-ACP Exam Prep 28 PDUs/Contact Hours Course 2025 Updated | $15–$100 | ↗ |
| PMI Official | PMI-ACP Exam Prep E-Learning Course | Free (member portal) | ↗ |
| Learning Tree | PMI Agile Certified Practitioner Exam Prep | $1,500–$2,000 | ↗ |
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMTraining | PMI-ACP Practice Exam Questions | $40–$60 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | PMI-ACP Practice Tests | $20–$40 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMI-ACP Exam Prep: A Course in a Book (Updated 2nd Edition) | Mike Griffiths | RMC Learning Solutions | 2018 | 978-1932735987 | ↗ |
| PMI-ACP Workbook: Practice for the Exam | Mike Griffiths | RMC Learning Solutions | 2016 | 978-1932735598 | ↗ |
Typical job titles at Project Management / Agile · Professional
Agile Coach · Senior Scrum Master · Agile Project Manager · Product Owner · Release Train Engineer
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list PMI-ACP as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $105,000 – $130,000 | PMTraining School ↗ · Invensis Learning ↗ · PayScale ↗ |
| ZAR | R180,000 – R250,000 | Regional data sourced from project management salary surveys; consult local job boards for current rates |
| GBP | £70,000 – £95,000 | IT Jobs Watch annual salary indices; regional variation by seniority and industry sector |
Salary note: PMI-ACP holders report average salary increases of 15–20% after certification; practitioners in coaching roles earn 28% more than non-certified counterparts. Variation depends heavily on experience, industry (financial services, healthcare, large tech firms pay at upper range), and geographic location.
Skills validated
Cert-specific — what this exam actually tests, distinct from the shared "Common skills" above.
- Iterative and incremental delivery (Scrum sprints, story points, velocity tracking)
- Lean and Kanban principles (waste elimination, work-in-progress limits, flow)
- Agile metrics and reporting (burndown charts, cycle time, cumulative flow)
- Stakeholder engagement in distributed and co-located environments
- Team dynamics, psychological safety, and self-organization
- Value-driven delivery and product prioritization
- Risk management and adaptive planning in uncertainty
- Continuous improvement (kaizen, retrospectives, sprint reviews)
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) ↗ · [Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) ↗]({file not yet created})
- Complement to: PMP (Project Management Professional) ↗
- Paired ecosystem: PMI Vendor Overview ↗
- Renewal requirement: 30 PDUs per 3-year cycle (can be earned through training, certifications, volunteering, or conference attendance)
Sources
- PMI Official Certification Page
- PMI Exam Prep Resources
- PMI Agile Certified Exam Outline (PDF)
- PMI-ACP Exam Prep by Mike Griffiths (RMC Learning Solutions)
- Udemy — PMI-ACP Exam Prep Course
- PMTraining School — PMI-ACP Certification Salary Guide
- Invensis Learning — PMI-ACP Certification Salary by Country
- PayScale — PMI-ACP Salary Research
- Learning Tree International — PMI-ACP Training
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: PMI Parent domain: Project Management / Agile Vendor overview: PMI Vendor Overview