Project Management
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner
Free PMI-ACP practice questions 81 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →Overview
The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) is PMI's framework-agnostic agile certification. Rather than testing a single method, it spans agile approaches - Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP and more - so it suits practitioners who work across frameworks. The exam was refreshed with PMI's November 2024 Examination Content Outline, which restructured it into four domains: Mindset, Leadership, Product and Delivery.
Unlike the entry-level CAPM, the PMI-ACP assumes real agile experience and requires agile training hours to qualify. It is a good fit for scrum masters, product owners and agile project managers who want a recognised, method-neutral credential. Confirm the current outline and eligibility with PMI, since the program was recently updated.
✓ Who it is for
- Scrum masters and agile project managers with real delivery experience
- Product owners and team leads working in agile environments
- Practitioners who work across several frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP)
- Project professionals who want a method-neutral agile credential from PMI
- PMP holders or candidates wanting to formalise agile and hybrid skills
✕ Who it is not for
- Complete beginners with no agile experience - build experience and training first.
- People wanting a single-framework certification - a Scrum-specific exam (e.g. PSM) may fit better.
- Those after a general project-management credential - consider CAPM or PMP.
Exam structure
| Mindset | 28% - agile values and principles, creating a safe and collaborative environment, and adapting the approach to context. (PMI November 2024 Examination Content Outline.) |
|---|---|
| Leadership | 25% - servant leadership, coaching and facilitation, and collaborating with stakeholders. |
| Product | 19% - value-driven delivery, backlog management and prioritisation, and customer and product focus. |
| Delivery | 28% - iterative delivery and flow, team performance, and continuous improvement and metrics. Framework-agnostic across Scrum, Kanban, Lean and XP. |
How the exam is weighted
- Mindset 28%
- Leadership 25%
- Product 19%
- Delivery 28%
What each domain covers
- Mindset
- Agile values and principles · Creating a safe, collaborative environment · Adapting approaches to context
- Leadership
- Servant leadership · Coaching and facilitation · Stakeholder collaboration
- Product
- Value-driven delivery · Backlog and prioritisation · Customer and product focus
- Delivery
- Iterative delivery and flow · Team performance · Continuous improvement and metrics
Realistic study time
- With agile experience ~8-12 weeks part-time
- Less experienced Longer; build agile experience and complete the training hours first
Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.
Turn this into a week-by-week schedule with the Study Plan Generator.
What it really costs
Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.
Want your full out-of-pocket figure? Try the Cost Calculator.
Salary & career value
Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice. Sources and date below.
PMI-ACP holders in the US indicatively report averages around ~$110k-125k, depending heavily on role (scrum master, agile project manager, program lead) and industry; IT and finance pay highest.
Pass rate: Not published. PMI does not release official pass rates for the PMI-ACP (it has not published certification pass rates since 2005), and the exam is scored against a psychometric standard rather than a fixed percentage. Treat any specific PMI-ACP pass-rate figure you see online as an unofficial estimate.
Indicative annual pay (USD), each role's typical band on a shared scale.
Other markets (indicative)
| United Kingdom | ~£45k-80k |
|---|---|
| Canada | ~CA$95k-140k |
| Germany | ~€60k-90k |
Jobs that often ask for it:
- Scrum Master
- Agile Project Manager
- Agile Coach
- Program Manager
- Delivery Lead
Is it worth it?
Worth it for practitioners who genuinely work across agile frameworks, where a method-neutral credential from PMI carries weight. If you work in one framework, a Scrum-specific certification may be a better fit, and beginners should build experience first.
Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.
Compare PMI-ACP with other exams
Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.
What to do next
The PMI-ACP pairs well with the PMP for those moving into broader project leadership, or with a Scrum-specific credential if you specialise in one framework.
On exam day
120 multiple-choice questions (100 scored, 20 unscored) in three hours, at a Pearson VUE centre or online-proctored. Confirm the current outline and eligibility on the PMI certification page beforehand.
Keeping your certification
Valid for three years; renew by earning 30 PDUs (professional development units) within each cycle.
FAQ
- How is the PMI-ACP different from a Scrum certification?
- Scrum certifications (such as PSM) test one framework in depth. The PMI-ACP is framework-agnostic, covering Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP and more, so it suits people who work across approaches rather than a single one.
- Did the PMI-ACP exam change?
- Yes. PMI's November 2024 Examination Content Outline restructured the exam into four domains - Mindset (28%), Leadership (25%), Product (19%) and Delivery (28%) - and realigned the eligibility requirements. Confirm the current outline with PMI.
- Do I need experience to take the PMI-ACP?
- Yes. Unlike the entry-level CAPM, the PMI-ACP requires agile experience and 21 contact hours of agile training, along with a secondary degree. Confirm the current eligibility rules with PMI.
- How hard is the PMI-ACP?
- It is a moderately demanding exam - 120 questions in three hours across four domains. It rewards real agile understanding across frameworks rather than memorising one method.
- Does the certification expire?
- Yes. It is valid for three years, and you renew it by earning 30 PDUs (professional development units) in that cycle.
Related exams
- Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) - Scrum.org
- PMP - Project Management Professional (PMI) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
- CAPM (PMI) - Project Management Institute (PMI)