PMI-ACP Exam Overview

The PMI-ACP certification test contains 120 questions, which must be completed within 180 minutes. However, out of these 120 items, 20 are pretest questions that will not affect your overall score. They are only included in the exam as a validity testing tool for the actual questions. The certification exam is available in 6 languages, including English, Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, Korean, and Spanish. It is delivered through the approved Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide. You can check the location of the nearest available center on the Pearson VUE website. You can also sit for your PMI-ACP exam online from the comfort of your home or office supervised by a proctor through Pearson VUE. The test costs $435 for the PMI members and $495 for the non-members.

Reference: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/agile-acp

How to Prepare for PMI-ACP Exam Using Study Guides

The amount of material covered in the PMI-ACP is rather extensive. Thus, it can be overwhelming to new examinees but do not get overwhelmed as there are various methods to prepare for this test and get outstanding results. To prepare efficiently for the coming test, you can purchase one or more study guides from Amazon.com and sign up for an official course. As for the quality guides, some of the notable ones include:

• PMI-ACP Workbook by Mike Griffiths

  This hands-on spiral-bound workbook is the latest addition to the best PMI-ACP study guides. It reinforces critical topics you need to pass the official test, making it ideal for action-oriented & practical learners who are either new to agile methods or already experienced practitioners. In addition to over 200 exercises and situational quizzes, such a workbook also allows you to design your own study plan. This way, you can decrease the amount of time you need for studying by focusing on your weak points.

• PMI-ACP Exam Study Guide by J. Ashley Hunt

  Such a book is an all-in-one package for comprehensive exam preparation, covering 100% of the PMI-ACP objectives. It has extended coverage of Agile concepts, such as value-driven delivery, stakeholder engagement, principles as well as mindset, team performance, problem detection & resolution, adaptive planning, continuous improvement, and more to align with the PMBOK Guide, Sixth Edition. It also emphasizes agile, adaptive, and iterative practices. Moreover, the study guide combines in-depth discussions with hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios to give you a well-rounded review of essential exam concepts and help you ensure complete preparation for the big day. Inside the book, in particular, you will find:

  • A custom practice exam that covers 100 percent of the exact domains;
  • Electronic flashcards to reinforce learning and last-minute preparation before the actual test;
  • A comprehensive and searchable glossary.
• PMI-ACP Exam Prep, 2nd Edition by Mike Griffiths

  This book is a comprehensive resource for rapid learning to pass the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner evaluation. Broken down into manageable chapters, you can easily find what you need to know. The agile terms and concepts are well-explained, and the exercises solidify them well. Written by Mike Griffiths, a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner and original member of the PMI-ACP Steering Committee, you will find that the book has an easy-to-read writing style and focuses on exam topics. And if you are already acquainted with the concepts, it can be an excellent addition to your study plan. You may also use it as a quick reference for specific techniques. Particularly, the features of this worldwide best-selling study guide include the following:

  • Over 100 practice exam questions and answers throughout the book;
  • Dozens of graphics and visuals to explain terms and concepts;
  • Identification of the importance of the exam for each Agile topic;
  • Focus on real-world Agile issues;
  • Exclusive exercises and exam tips to help you pass the official test on your first attempt.

Certification Path

There is no prerequisite for this PMI PMI-ACP exam.

Preparation Process

To complete the PMI-ACP exam at the first attempt, you have to be well-prepared for it. Observing the content of the test, the individuals can start looking for the prep resources that will help them to get all the required skills and knowledge. If you want to meet your goals, we recommend that you follow the tips that are listed below:

Review the PMI-ACP Exam Reference List

The PMI does not recommend any courses, references, resources, or other materials. But there are some publications that contain the information needed for the test. You can explore the following options:

• Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great by Diana Larsen, Ken Schwaber, and Esther Derby;
• Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme by Robert K. Wysocki;
• Agile Estimating and Planning by Mike Cohn;
• Coaching Agile Teams: A Companion for ScrumMasters, Agile Coaches, and Project Managers in Transition by Lyssa Adkins;
• Agile Practice Guide;
• Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products by Jim Highsmith;
• Exploring Scrum: The Fundamentals by Doug Shimp and Dan Rawsthorne;
• User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development by Mike Cohn.
• Agile Software Development: The Cooperative Game by Alistair Cockburn;