Hi Donald,
That’s a really fair question—and one a lot of Agile professionals wrestle with. Is PMI-ACP Worthy? Depends on Your Goal.
You can find PMI-ACP helpful when:
a) You're transitioning into Agile or hybrid environments.
- PMI-ACP gives you a solid foundation across multiple Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, XP, Lean, SAFe, etc.), not just Scrum.
- Many folks said the exam helped them connect the dots across methods they’d used in silos.
b) You’re aiming for leadership roles.
- It signals you're fluent in Agile beyond daily stand-ups and Jira tickets.
- Hiring managers in enterprise or regulated industries do notice PMI certs—especially if you already have PMP.
c) You need to formalize your experience.
- If you’ve been doing Agile informally and want the title or promotion, PMI-ACP gives you recognized credibility.
You may find PMI-ACP not worthy when:
a) You're already deeply embedded in Agile teams.
- If you’re a seasoned Scrum Master, Product Owner, or Agile Coach with 5+ years in the trenches, it probably won’t teach you anything groundbreaking.
- For some, it’s “just a checkbox” for HR or vendor compliance.
b) You're working in startups or pure Agile orgs.
- Places like tech startups care more about what you did, not which cert you hold.
- Certifications don’t replace a strong Agile mindset or the ability to deliver.
To summarize:
- It’s useful if you're early to mid-career, changing domains, or need credibility in a traditional environment.
- May not be essential if you’re already delivering high-value Agile work and recognized for it.
Note that people may have a different opinion.
