What is your job? Are you focused on project management or do you work primarily in software development?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then you have every reason to consider pursuing Agile Certification. Becoming a Certified Agile Professional places you among the highest levels in the IT field. Moving up the career ladder can almost feel like you’re in a fast spaceship when you’re certified in Agile.

Not only professionals in the IT field can benefit from having some training in agile methodologies. Today, Agile programs have been designed to suit virtually everyone involved in business operations of some kind, whether it’s marketing or just product management. For example, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) is a certification that is not necessarily focused only on IT professionals.

Improving team performance and overall productivity can be easily achievable by professionals who have opted for Agile training. Here are some more details to answer any questions you may have about Agile.

1. What is Agile?

Agile refers to training unique approaches and methodologies for effective software development and project management. Agile methods are based on the creation of collaborative, cross-functional and self-organized teams or work groups. Agile tactics are designed to lead to higher team performance and advanced efficiency. These methodologies are focused on producing better results than expected when using conventional techniques. More importantly, Agile training helps organizations respond more quickly to the changing needs of their customers, reduce business risks, mitigate uncertainty often caused by different market forces, and increase business ROI by focusing more on customer value.

2. What are the main types of Agile Methodologies?

The methodologies taught in Agile courses vary greatly. Each methodology explains a different way of handling software development and general project management. When being trained in Agile, you will find that what one training course focuses on may be completely different from what another emphasizes. This is due to the different Agile methodologies and approaches. There are mainly six agile methodologies, namely Scrum, DSDM, XP, Lean, TDD, and Kanban. Agile certifications will always vary depending on the methodology chosen.

3. What is the difference between ScrumMaster and PMI-ACP certifications?

ScrumMaster will mainly test your knowledge of Scrum, which is the most popular Agile framework so far. However, for professionals looking to diversify their skills and demonstrate that they have extensive knowledge and agile skills to potential employers, the PMI-ACP certification is best. The nice thing about PMI tests is that they test a person’s knowledge in most other methodologies besides Scrum. So expect to be tested on Lean, Kanban, DSDM, and XP, among others. The PMI-ACP tests will also require you to have achieved a specific number of hours (usually 2000) handling real projects. Therefore, unlike ScrumMaster, it is not only your knowledge that is tested by passing the exam, but also your Agile skills; so it is mandatory that you achieve the given project experience hours.

4. What is taught in an Agile course?

Teaching agile methodologies is becoming increasingly important in the IT field due to the essential knowledge imparted and crucial skills taught. One of the vital things that teams are taught is how to quickly adapt to changes in the market and what to do to influence rapid customer adaptability. Teams also learn effective ways to mitigate risk during the early stages of the product lifecycle. Additionally, agile methodologies teach teams how to incorporate their customers into the software or product development process, encouraging customer feedback and constructive criticism. Eventually, the teams learn to discover the requirements and needs of their customers through the feedback system that they are trained to use in every product development job.

5. What are the eligibility requirements for the Agile PMI certification?

To be considered eligible for the Agile PMI-ACP certification, one must meet the following requirements.

• Pass an exam that tests knowledge of agile fundamentals.

• Have general project experience working for at least 2000 hours on project teams in the last 5 years.

• Have experience in Agile projects working for at least 1500 hours in Agile project teams in the last 3 years.

• Must have completed up to 21 hours of Agile hands-on training.

6. How to pass the Agile exams?

Finding a good Agile exam prep book is the best way to pass your exams. While searching for the best Agile exam prep book, keep in mind that it is not advisable to search for just any question and answer book. There is nothing wrong with knowing the type of questions you are likely to face in an Agile exam. However, simply looking at the questions and cramming the answers will not help you in the long run. Look for a prep book that provides clear explanations of agile ideas and concepts as well as lists potential exam questions.

7. Which agile course/certification is best for me?

This is a very common question among people who are willing to learn Agile. The first thing to do is understand the type of training you really need. For example, do you want to learn something in particular, or are you more interested in getting an overview of agile methodologies? Another question that might help you figure out what kind of Agile training benefits your organization is asking who is supposed to get the training in the first place. Are they the main decision makers in your company or the teams that carry out the operations? When you clearly have the answers to these questions and pass them on to qualified Agile trainers, a good trainer will help you understand the best Agile course and training for your organization.