PMP
PMP
1People
33%
2Process
41%
3Business Environment
26%
Certification comparison
PMP vs PMI-ACP
PMP covers project management as a whole, predictive and agile. PMI-ACP goes deep on agile alone: its frameworks, practices and the thinking behind them.
Last updated
Side by side
The two exams at a glance
Every figure comes from the vendor’s own pages, through our exam guides, and is checked every week.
| PMI PMP | PMI-ACP | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | PMI | PMI |
| Exam code | PMP | PMI-ACP |
| Level | AdvancedPMI calls it Professional | AdvancedPMI calls it Professional |
| Written for | Project or business leader | Project or business leader |
| Questions | 180 | 120 |
| Time | 240 min | 180 min |
| Passing score | Not published by PMI | Not published by PMI |
| Exam cost | $655Non-member price; PMI members pay $405 | VariesMembers pay less, and PMI shows your price before you pay |
| Experience | 3 years leading projects (5 without a degree) · 35 hours of trainingEligibility | 21 hours of agile training · 2 years of agile work, or a PMPEligibility |
| Renewal | Every 3 years: 60 PDUs | Every 3 years: 30 PDUs |
| Exam outline | 3 domainsLargest: Process (41%) | 4 domainsLargest: Mindset (28%) |
| What’s changing | No change announced | No change announced |
Levels are our own rating, from the level each vendor gives its exam. How we check our facts
Exam domains
What each exam covers
Each domain’s share of the exam, as the vendor publishes it. Where one exam has two versions on sale, this is the newer one.
PMI-ACP
PMI-ACP
1Mindset
28%
2Leadership
25%
3Product
19%
4Delivery
28%
Which one
Which should you take?
Choose PMP if
you lead projects of any kind and want the broadest credential.
Choose PMI-ACP if
you work on agile teams, as a Scrum Master, product owner or coach, and want that expertise recognized.
Which one first?
PMP first for most project managers, since it already covers agile. Add PMI-ACP if your work is mostly agile. Neither is a prerequisite for the other.
Beyond the numbers
What really differs
Scope
PMP asks what a project manager should do across people, process and the business around the project. PMI-ACP stays inside agile delivery.
The experience asked for
PMP asks for years of leading projects. PMI-ACP asks for agile training and experience on agile teams.
Keeping them
Both are PMI certifications kept on a three-year cycle by earning professional development units.
FAQs
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
Find quick answers or contact our support team.
Should I take PMP or PMI-ACP first?
PMP first for most project managers, since it already covers agile. Add PMI-ACP if your work is mostly agile. Neither is a prerequisite for the other.
Which is harder, PMP or PMI-ACP?
They sit at the same level: we rate both advanced. What differs is what they cover, so the harder one is usually the one further from your own experience.
What experience do I need for PMP and PMI-ACP?
PMP: To sit the exam, PMI requires 3 years leading projects (5 without a degree) and 35 hours of training. PMI-ACP: To sit the exam, PMI requires 21 hours of agile training and 2 years of agile work, or a PMP.
Which costs more, PMP or PMI-ACP?
PMP: $655 (non-member price; PMI members pay $405). Check PMI’s site for the price in your country. PMI-ACP: Varies. Members pay less, and PMI shows your price before you pay.
