Preparing for the PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^SM Exam

What is this course about?

In this course, you gain the skills necessary to help you prepare for the Project Management Institute's new PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^SM credential exam. Through concentrated practice exams and workshops, you learn essential Agile terminology, tools and techniques, as well as the specialised elements within the PMI suggested reference materials required to pass the exam. Upon completion of this course you will have created a personalised study plan identifying your specific strengths and weaknesses designed for ultimate exam success. Further, this course features extended class hours, providing you with the 21 contact hours/PDUs you need to take the PMI-ACP^SM exam.

What background knowledge should I have?

This course is valuable for experienced Agile practitioners who are planning to take the PMI- ACP^SM exam in the near future. A general project management background and additional Agile development experience is assumed prior to taking this course.

What reference materials does PMI suggest to help in preparing for the PMI-ACP^SM exam?

PMI suggests the following publications to help candidates prepare for the PMI-ACP^SM exam:

• Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great , Esther Derby, Diana Larsen, Ken Schwaber
• Agile Software Development: The Cooperative Game – 2nd Edition, Alistair Cockburn
• The Software Project Manager's Bridge to Agility, Michele Sliger, Stacia Broderick
• Coaching Agile Teams,Lyssa Adkins
• Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products – 2nd Edition, Jim Highsmith
• Becoming Agile: ...in an imperfect world, Greg Smith, Ahmed Sidky
• Agile Estimating and Planning, Mike Cohn
• The Art of Agile Development, James Shore
• User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development, Mike Cohn
• Agile Project Management with Scrum, Ken Schwaber
• Lean-Agile Software Development: Achieving Enterprise Agility, Alan Shalloway, Guy Beaver, James R. Trott

How do you approach the PMI reference material?

At first look the reference materials can seem overwhelming. One approach to study is to read all of the books currently listed by PMI, memorising facts that may or may not be in the exam. This course takes a more complete and effective approach by focusing on the six domains of Agile practice delineated by PMI, mapping the exam sections on tools and techniques and exam areas on knowledge and skills to those domains. This helps to create a complete picture of Agile development practices and the relevant areas covered in the exam.

What are the eligibility criteria for taking the PMI-ACP^SM exam?

The PMI-ACP^SM eligibility criteria, as established by the Project Management Institute, maintains that the candidate hold a minimum of a secondary degree (high school or equivalent) and have earned at least 2,000 hours of general project experienced within the last five years. Candidates must also have earned at least 1,500 hours of Agile project experience within the last three years. As well as, have at least 21 contact hours of training in Agile practices (21 PDUs) from a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), such as Learning Tree International.

Will this course satisfy the project management education requirement necessary to take the exam?

Yes. To be eligible to take the PMI-ACP^SM exam, candidates must complete 21 hours of formal project management education. This course has extended hours in order to provide the 21 education hours required.

Will I be prepared to take the exam immediately after this course?

That is entirely up to you. This course is designed to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of PMI-ACP^SM certification candidates, from those on the verge of taking the exam, to those who are in the earlier planning stages of exam preparation. Upon completion of this course, you will have taken a series of in-depth practice exams, and created a personalised study guide to assist you in discovering your areas of strength and weakness, all of which will help you to determine your level of exam readiness.

How much time is spent on each topic?

This course has extended hours, with some days running from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

How much of this course is spent in workshops?

Approximately 40 percent of this course is spent in a series of individual practice workshops and simulated exams. Workshops include:

• Taking daily PMI-ACP^SM-style practice exams
• Cross-referencing Agile techniques to PMI's recommended reference materials
• Creating multiple customer convergence on priorities
• Establishing the Definition of Done for quality assurance
• Developing a personalised exam preparation plan and study guide

I am uncertain about taking the PMI-ACP^SM exam. Is this course right for me?

Probably not. We recommend that you commit to applying for or setting an exam date in the near future prior to taking this course. The intense focus of study, along with the required overnight readings and self-study, makes this course best suited to those who are very serious about PMI-ACP^SM certification. If you aren't ready to take the exam, Learning Tree offers a series of other Agile courses, from introductory to advanced, that allow you to broaden your knowledge base while you decide about the step toward certification.

I'm interested in taking the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. Will this course help me prepare?

No, this course prepares you for the PMI - Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^SM exam. You should instead consider Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam. In Course 276, you prepare specifically for the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam by diving into more detail of the PMBOK^® Guide content.

What happens if I don't pass the exam?

If for any reason you do not pass your PMI-ACP^SM Exam after completing our course, Course 3605, Preparing for the PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^SM Exam, contact us within 60 days of your original course attendance to schedule a free course retake.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

While the emphasis of this course is on PMI-ACP^SM exam preparation, Learning Tree offers a series of Agile courses to further your knowledge base, including:

• 918, Agile Project Management with Scrum 
• 1815, Agile Testing Strategies 

For those interested in additional PMI certifications, Learning Tree offers these courses:

• 3601, Preparing for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam 
• 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam 
• 286, Project Risk Management 

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