Examining the Agile Experience Requirement

Mike Griffiths is an experienced project manager, author and consultant who works for PMI as a subject matter expert. Before joining PMI, Mike consulted and managed innovation and technology projects throughout Europe, North and South America for 30+ years. He was co-lead for the PMBOK Guide—Seventh Edition, lead for the Agile Practice Guide, and contributor to the PMI-ACP and PMP exam content outlines. Outside of PMI, Mike maintains the websites www.LeadingAnswers.com about leading teams and www.PMillustrated.com, which teaches project management for visual learners.

  Agile   Career Development   Using PMI Standards  

Have you been thinking about getting your PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^® credential but are put off by the agile experience requirement? Fear not, you might have the experience you need even if you have not been working on a pure agile project. This article explores the prerequisites elements and explains what you need to qualify.

First, let’s review the official prerequisites:

1. 2,000 hours of general project experience working on teams. A current PMP^® or PgMP^® will satisfy this requirement but is not required to apply for the PMI-ACP.
2. 1,500 hours working on agile project teams or with agile methodologies. This requirement is in addition to the 2,000 hours of general project experience.
3. 21 contact hours of training in agile practices.

The first element—2,000 hours of general project experience—does not have to be agile related. It is simply a threshold of about a year’s worth of work experience in a project environment. The goal here is to ensure applicants have real-world experience working on projects and not just academic knowledge.

If you already have a PMP (or PgMP) credential, you would have already demonstrated this requirement and so do not have to do so again. Also, don’t forget: Anyone with PRINCE2 and/or IPMA certifications will likely have the 2,000 hours required. Just because you were …

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