[Latest PMI-ACP Change] PMI-ACP Exam to be Updated after Publication of PMBOK Guide 6th Edition

One of the major change in the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition is the inclusion of a chapter on Agile project management entitled Approaches for Agile, Iterative and Adaptive Environments. PMI Certification Aspirants may wonder whether the PMP Exam and the PMI-ACP® Exam will be merged to a single Certification instead of two following the publication of the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition in September 2017 and the update of the new PMP Exam in 2018 (probably in January).

As I have no crystal ball to predict the future, I cannot give a definite answer. But there are clues showing that the PMI-ACP® Certification will NOT be discontinued in the short term (these few years). Read on to understand why.

PMI has just announced that the PMI-ACP® Exam will be UPDATED in 1st quarter of 2018. Luckily that would be a small change: The terminology in the Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP®) exam will be updated in Q1 2018 to match the terminology in the newly released PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition and Agile Practice Guide.

What about Agile has been added to PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition?

PMI has given a few outline of the changes of the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition in terms of Agile project management:

New to the Sixth Edition, each knowledge area will contain a section entitled Approaches for Agile, Iterative and Adaptive Environments, describing how these practices integrate in project settings.

Detail on agile and other adaptive and iterative approaches will also be included in an appendix.

Yes, the new PMBOK® Guide will feature a section on Agile practices, but the details of Agile / adaptive / iterative approaches will only be included in the appendix, not the main body text. This shows that Aspirants are expected to have awareness and understanding of the fact that Agile is gaining in importance in the world of project management but detailed knowledge about Agile and implementation is NOT yet required for the PMP Exam (i.e. the exam will still be largely based on traditional, waterfall project management and the details about Agile may probably be left to the PMI-ACP®).

This could possibly mean that the PMI-ACP® Certification would not be discontinued.

PMI will publish has published a New Practice Guide on Agile

For the PMP Certification, PMI has published the PMBOK® Guide as a core reference for all Aspirants as up to 90% of what are tested in the actual Exam is largely based on the PMBOK® Guide. But for Aspirants of PMI-ACP® Certification, the long-waited ACPBOK / AgileBOK / APMBOK® Guide (whatever it is called) is still not available.

The newly published Agile Practice Guide may be the answer to that.

However, as this guide is not included in the PMBOK® Guide 6, it is highly likely that PMI still treat traditional project management and agile in different certification.

Again, this could possibly mean that the PMI-ACP® Certification would not be discontinued.

Most Importantly: How will Certification Aspirants be Affected?

Project practitioners working in traditional / waterfall project management will still be highly advised to attempt the PMP Exam while those working in software / IT field where projects are largely based on Agile methodologies are recommended to achieve PMI-ACP® certified. Both Certifications are expected to stay and remain relevant.

Irrespective of any changes in the syllabus of the Certifications, Aspirants can be rest assured that the 35 Contact Hours of project management education for PMP and 21 Contact Hours of Agile project management education for PMI-ACP® earned before will still be valid for the Certification Exam application.

Wish you PMP and PMI-ACP® success!