If you follow me on LinkedIn, you know I’ve been a little bit certification-happy lately. I took the opportunity while switching employers to validate my learning and experience. Several people have asked me directly for advice on this specific certification, so I thought it would make for a good blog topic. So, here we go!
To Certify, or not to Certify?
Before I tell you how I passed the PMI-ACP® exam, let’s talk about why I did it. I had been tossing this one about for several years before I decided to take it. Here are the top 10 reasons I did it:
- First, I’m a consultant, and you can never have enough letters after your name (half-joking)
- There is a ton of value in certifications because they force you to study, learn, and apply the knowledge you acquire (although some certifications are more rigorous than others)
- This certification was on my development plan for three or four years, and I should have done it a long time ago; in the end, I couldn’t not get it
- I’m associated with the PMI (Project Management Institute), and as a dominant and global project management organization, PMI certifications are well-recognized
- I am a continual learner – my feeling is that when you stop learning, you start dying
- Although I have been an agile practitioner for a decade, most of my experience has been with Scrum, and I wanted to learn more about the other options
- Certifications display a commitment to your profession and continuous learning and development
- New credentials can mean more money or job opportunities
- Some organizations request or even require this certification
- I was bored and needed something productive to do (really joking this time)
The Application Process
Not just anyone can sit for the PMI-ACP® exam. Before you can even apply to take the test, you first need to meet these requirements:
- Secondary degree (or higher)
- 21 contact hours of training in agile practices
- 12 months of general project experience within the last 5 years (if you hold a current PMP® or PgMP®, it satisfies this requirement but isn’t required to apply for the PMI-ACP®)
- 8 months of agile project experience within the last 3 years
You will need to document your experiences and training (NOTE: make sure you keep good records, because you could be audited). Once you do that, you can apply. It then takes around five business days for the PMI® to determine whether you are qualified to sit the exam. If you are accepted, then you will be able to pay for and schedule the test. After your application is accepted, you have up to one calendar year to pay and take the exam.
Cost
The cost of the exam depends on whether you are a PMI member. If you are an active member, you get a discounted price of $435. Otherwise, it’s $495 (and no, you don’t have to be a member to earn this certification). It’s interesting to note that this is among the more expensive certifications offered by the PMI®. Even the PMP® is less costly (weighing in at $405 for members).
Scheduling Your Exam
After making payment, you can schedule your exam. Pearson administers the online test. It’s comparable to other proctored exam companies I have used. You can pick a date and time slot that works best for you, but you usually can’t schedule the exam for the same day you make payment. There are all sorts of rules about canceling, rescheduling, and forfeiting if you don’t show up, but none of those applied to my situation (so if you want to know more, go to PMI®’s website).
Training / Studying Resources
Everyone learns in their way, and what worked for me may not work for you, but I’ll tell you how I approached this exam. This exam was unique in that there isn’t a sole source material; instead, there’s a list of books provided by the PMI® as potential resources; this makes preparing for an exam such as this much more difficult.
Online Training Video-courses
To qualify to take the test, you must first have earned 21 contact hours (like PDUs or Professional Development Units). An effective way to prepare for the exam is to take an online training course that meets the minimum requirements. In-person classes are also great (in fact, I prefer them), but due to COVID-19, it’s safer to do online training. Both Udemy and LinkedIn Learning have some excellent offerings. Another training organization I like is Watermark Learning, but their price tag was a little bit too high for me.
The convenient thing about videos is that you can watch them multiple times. They usually include practice quizzes for each section of the training and explanations about the correct answers. Having realistic practice questions is crucial because it prepares you for the types and depth of questions you may encounter.
Study Guide / Exam Prep Book
I wasn’t sure if I would need a study guide for this exam. I already had numerous agile certifications. However, given the nature of the source of materials, I thought it best to have some written reference that collected all the pertinent thoughts together in one place. I bought Mike Griffiths’ PMI-ACP® Exam Prep book from Amazon. I had heard it might be less expensive to purchase it from the source, but it turned out not to be true when you added shipping.
Although I didn’t read the book cover-to-cover, I scanned it to reinforce my other learnings. If there were any concepts that I was unfamiliar with, this book helped explain them to me. It also contained practice tests at the end of each chapter. So, I would scan the chapter and go straight to the quiz. I would then focus on the questions I missed and add those to my list of questions to study and practice.
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Digital Flashcards
I like to play games. I think everyone does. And for me, this is a great way to learn – through repetition. I usually create personal flashcards based on reading books and other training courses; this was no exception. I made over 300 questions and uploaded them to Cram.com. On this site, you can use a test form with various options or play games. I used the “Jewels of Wisdom” game, and it didn’t feel that much like studying.
I also searched and found that many other people had also created flashcards for the same certification. As a cross-check, I would periodically switch to using someone else’s questions and answers. By doing this, I picked up a few things that I otherwise would have missed.
Online Exam Simulations
I almost always subscribe to online exam simulators when preparing for a certification test, and this was no exception. I used the one from Watermark Learning, and I only signed up for 30 days because I wanted to push myself to get it done. Once the subscription expired and I earned in the 90% range on my practice tests, I figured I was ready to take the actual exam.
There are a few other exam simulators out there, including a free one from RMC. I didn’t look too far and wide, though. I was prepared well enough between the sample questions in the video training, the book, and the exam simulator.
The Test Format
The test includes 120 multiple-choice questions, and you have three hours to complete the test. One thing to note is that the online exam consists of a calculator, and I did use it, so you might want to pay attention to any calculations you come across in your studies. You can also flag questions to review. I stopped doing that several certifications ago because psychology tells you that your first choice is usually the best, so it’s best not to overthink things or second-guess yourself.
Taking the Test
When it comes time to take the test, there are some things you should do or take note of in advance:
- Download the test software
- Perform a system check
- Unplug any extra monitors
- Create a clean and clutter-free area to take the test
- Make sure you have a cellphone in case you need to call for technical support (which you will later need to place out of your reach)
- Ensure you don’t have any notes or papers near you
- Log in at least a half-hour early to ensure your system is working properly
- Have your license or other authorized identification ready
- Make sure that no one (or thing) will enter the area where you’re taking the test
- Ensure you have a strong internet connection
- Go to the bathroom before sitting down to start the exam
- You can have a blank piece of paper to take notes on (you’ll also have to show this to the proctor), which you will have to rip up in front of the camera at the end of the exam
Also, be warned that you will need to show your hands and wrists to the proctor and that the proctor will be watching you while you take the exam.
It’s a daunting and intimidating process at first, but after you’ve done it a couple of times, you will know what to expect. On my first online proctored exam, I had technical issues and ended up having to call tech support for help. It was highly stressful, so don’t let that happen to you.
Test Results
Once you submit your test, you will see your pass/fail response immediately. I always look for the word “congratulations” on the screen because I’m usually so wired that I can’t see straight anymore. You will also receive a results email within a few days, with a link to see how you did in each of the knowledge areas. I passed with “Above Target” in all domains, so I know I’m solid. If you should fail, this analysis can help you determine which areas you need to beef up on before attempting the test again.
So… was it worth it?
For me, it was worth earning this certification. I learned many new additional techniques, tools, laws, and theories. Having taken this test, I further validated my knowledge and joined the ranks of over 15,000 other Agile Certified Practitioners in the United States (this is where I live; I’m not sure how many hold this credential worldwide).
What about Recertification?
Yes, this is a certification that requires recertification every three years. In that time, you must earn 30 professional development units across the areas of PMI®’s talent triangle. If you attend your local PMI® chapter meetings and other conferences, it should be easy to earn enough credits within that timeframe. And one benefit of PMI® membership is that when you attend their events, they report the PDUs on your behalf (unlike other organizations that require you to keep track of your continuing education manually).
Final Thoughts
Certifications provide lots of benefits, but they also take dedication, planning, and perseverance. If you have the PMI-ACP® in your sights, I hope you find this blog to be helpful. For anyone else who has this certification, is there any other advice you can offer to others? Please share in the comments below!