Glenn ChundrlekProject Manager| BelcanLoveland, Oh, United States
I'm looking to expand my knowledge of Scrum and Agile methods, with the goal of earning PMI-ACP certification. My current level of Agile experience is limited, and I don't have nearly enough project hours to sit the exam. My thought is to study for and get the PSM1 certification from scrum.org to increase my marketability and get into a position whereby I could qualify to sit the PMI-ACP exam.
Have any of my colleagues here got PSM1 certification, and did you find it useful? Saving Changes...
Why do you want to pursue any agile credential before gaining more hands-on experience as the latter should drive the former?
The PSM certifications are challenging as they test your ability to apply knowledge of Scrum and Nexus more than the scenario questions on the ACP do.
Also, while the PMI exam doesn't penalize you for incorrect choices, the PSM exams do - they are true multiple choice.
I'd recommend getting a bit more hands-on experience with Scrum before you pursue the PSM I to be sure of passing on your first attempt.
Kiron
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Jan 17, 2019 8:38 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Kiron, Do Scrum.org penalize you for wrong answers ? I haven't noticed that during my exams. When you say penalize: Do you mean if you get a wrong answer, they deduct a mark and not only give you Zero ? Can you elaborate ?
Saving Changes...
Glenn ChundrlekProject Manager| BelcanLoveland, Oh, United States
Kiron,
I'm afraid I'm running into a situation where I am not going to be getting as much Agile experience as I envisioned, and in order to be considered for positions where I can get the experience they want to see a certification.
As you said, experience should drive credentialing, but unfortunately that doesn't appear possible right now.
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Jan 16, 2019 5:31 PM
Kiron Bondale
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I'd suggest going with the CSM then as the ACP has a fairly heavy experience hours requirement and the PSM may not be easy to pass unless you have had sufficient experience. With the CSM, while there is a test, it's a no brainer as the CSM is really there to sell two days of training...
I'm afraid I'm running into a situation where I am not going to be getting as much Agile experience as I envisioned, and in order to be considered for positions where I can get the experience they want to see a certification.
As you said, experience should drive credentialing, but unfortunately that doesn't appear possible right now.
I'd suggest going with the CSM then as the ACP has a fairly heavy experience hours requirement and the PSM may not be easy to pass unless you have had sufficient experience. With the CSM, while there is a test, it's a no brainer as the CSM is really there to sell two days of training...
Kiron Saving Changes...
RAJESH K LProject Manager, PMP| Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru, IndiaBengaluru, Karnataka, India
Good strategy to take PSM1 followed by PMI-ACP Saving Changes...
Luis AssadAdvisor| Barueri City AdministrationBarueri, São Paulo, Brazil
Glenn,
I understand your situation, for it is similar to my own. Although the scenario proposed by Kiron would be the ideal (get experience first, then go for certification), in many cases the job market situation might not allow it - and I believe that is our case. I got the PSM I certification without having enough experience with Scrum, and now I am showcasing it in order to land a new opportunity. For most jobs, certification is a must-have.
I got the PSM I certification through a combination of taking online preparation courses (like Udemy), studying the Scrum Guide and the Nexus Guide and taking countless open assessments (Scrum, PO and Nexus) in the Scrum.org site until I was able to score 100% in every attempt. Only after that I took the PSM I assessment and passed it. This course of action might work for you as well.
I have seen many more jobs requiring Scrum certification, so I'm not sure of the cost-benefit ratio of pursuing PMI-ACP certification. But that could just be the market situation in my country.
Regards,
Luis.
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1 reply by Stelian ROMAN
Apr 28, 2019 7:03 AM
Stelian ROMAN
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I took both certifications (PSM and PMI-ACP) for the only reason that as a contractor I don't get to the interview if the box is not ticked. in my humble opinion PSM doesn't mean much, it may get you a SM job but it won't help to do it. Reading all the reference books for ACP will give you a good idea what Agile, rather than Scrum, is about.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 16, 2019 12:33 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Glenn -
Why do you want to pursue any agile credential before gaining more hands-on experience as the latter should drive the former?
The PSM certifications are challenging as they test your ability to apply knowledge of Scrum and Nexus more than the scenario questions on the ACP do.
Also, while the PMI exam doesn't penalize you for incorrect choices, the PSM exams do - they are true multiple choice.
I'd recommend getting a bit more hands-on experience with Scrum before you pursue the PSM I to be sure of passing on your first attempt.
Kiron
Kiron, Do Scrum.org penalize you for wrong answers ? I haven't noticed that during my exams. When you say penalize: Do you mean if you get a wrong answer, they deduct a mark and not only give you Zero ? Can you elaborate ?
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Jan 18, 2019 8:33 AM
Kiron Bondale
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You are correct, Rami - for some reason, I thought they were deducting points so I went back and re-did the PSM I practice assessment and they don't penalize you for wrong answers. However, it is a true multiple choice test in that certain questions will ask you to choose more than one possible response and may not tell you how many responses need to be chosen.
Kiron, Do Scrum.org penalize you for wrong answers ? I haven't noticed that during my exams. When you say penalize: Do you mean if you get a wrong answer, they deduct a mark and not only give you Zero ? Can you elaborate ?
You are correct, Rami - for some reason, I thought they were deducting points so I went back and re-did the PSM I practice assessment and they don't penalize you for wrong answers. However, it is a true multiple choice test in that certain questions will ask you to choose more than one possible response and may not tell you how many responses need to be chosen.
Kiron
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Jan 18, 2019 10:40 AM
Rami Kaibni
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Yes it is a true multiple choice exam but for example, PSM II, they tell you how many answers to choose and tell you that each correct answer carries 1 point so for each exam it is a different kind of criteria in a way.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 18, 2019 8:33 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
You are correct, Rami - for some reason, I thought they were deducting points so I went back and re-did the PSM I practice assessment and they don't penalize you for wrong answers. However, it is a true multiple choice test in that certain questions will ask you to choose more than one possible response and may not tell you how many responses need to be chosen.
Kiron
Yes it is a true multiple choice exam but for example, PSM II, they tell you how many answers to choose and tell you that each correct answer carries 1 point so for each exam it is a different kind of criteria in a way. Saving Changes...
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