Top Agile Certifications

There’s no doubt about it: Agile is a critical IT methodology that’s not going away anytime soon. In fact, research proves that Agile is the new norm, with a majority of enterprises primarily using it.

That’s why it’s no surprise that there is high demand for IT professionals who possess the knowledge needed to spearhead the Agile approach head-on. But what’s the best way to get acquainted with these principles if you are unfamiliar with it?

Fortunately, accessing Agile training is as simple as obtaining one of many Agile certifications, whether you are looking to expand your knowledge in the field of software development or you want to rise to the top in project management. So, we put together this list of some of the top Agile certifications of 2020, including:

• Who is best suited for each certification
• How to earn each certification

Popular Agile methodologies

When beginning your search on Agile certifications, it’s important to understand what Agile method you are looking to obtain training in—there are a number to choose from, including:

• Scrum
• Kanban
• Extreme Programming (XP)
• Lean Agile
• Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
• Agile Project Management (APM)
• Crystal
• Dynamic Systems Development (DSD)

All of these methods require strong teams and individuals who understand their specific roles and responsibilities within the Agile framework.

And now, onto our roundup of top Agile certifications.

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Accrediting body: The Project Management Institute (PMI)
Cost: Members $435; Non-members $495

The PMI-ACP certification has proven its worth over the past few years and will continue to be in high demand in 2020 because it is a catch-all Agile certification that formally recognizes a developer’s Agile knowledge in a number of popular methodologies like Lean and Kanban.

Who should seek a PMI-ACP?

Certification is recommended for any professional who currently works on an Agile team or works for an organization that is seeking to increase Agility. Candidates must meet the prerequisites:

• Secondary degree
• 21 hours of training in Agile
• 2,000 hours of general experience on a project team
• 1,500 hours experience with agile methodology on a team

Other certifications from PMI include:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)^®
• Program Management Professional (PgMP)
• Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)^®
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^®
• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)^®
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^®
• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)^®
• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)^®