How to Prepare for the PMI-ACP® Exam

By Agile Exam Academy

May 7, 2022

Wondering how to prepare for the PMI-ACP® exam? We’ll show you how in this article.

How to Prepare for the PMI-ACP® Exam (7 steps)

There are seven steps that we recommend when discussing how to prepare for the PMI-ACP® exam:

Check the PMI-ACP® Prerequisites
Read the PMI-ACP® Handbook
Read the PMI-ACP® Exam Content Outline
Complete a PMI-ACP® Training
Read a PMI-ACP® Exam Prep Book
Take PMI-ACP® Practice Tests
Join a PMI-ACP® Study Group

1) PMI-ACP® Prerequisites

Before you begin studying, check the PMI-ACP® prerequisites to make you sure are eligible.

The PMI-ACP® Exam requires 2,000 hours of general project management experience, 1,500 hours of Agile-specific project experience, and 21 training hours in Agile-specific methodologies.

2) PMI-ACP® Handbook

Check the PMI-ACP® handbook before you being studying.

The PMI’s Exam Information page is the most helpful tool for understanding the Exam’s criteria and standards. It offers all of the essential information you’ll need to improve your chances of passing the Exam.

As a result, the PMI-ACP® Manual should be your first stop when preparing for the PMI-ACP® Exam. You’ll get a decent indication of what’s ahead after reading the first 25 pages. It should take you no more than twenty minutes to read through.

The first part of this book covers the essential agile principles and methods. It aids in implementing and mastery of agile ideas in a business setting.

The eligibility criteria for the PMI-ACP® Exam are outlined in the handbook. Please examine the requirements if you haven’t already done so. The test blueprint is a good resource for understanding the question and domain distributions for the PMI-ACP® exam preparation. This document also contains plenty of information about applying and when to take the test.

There is essential information on maintaining your Certification after passing the PMI-ACP® Exam. For the moment, put this area aside and return to it later.

3) PMI-ACP® Exam Content Outline

Again, before you being studying, take a detailed look at the PMI-ACP® Exam Content Outline. The content outline literally tells you what will be on the exam. Since there is no official study material published by the PMI for this exam, this content outline is critical to make sure you are studying the right topics. Everything you’ll need to get ready for the PMI-ACP® Exam is included.

Doing this BEFORE you start studying will ensure you avoid studying the wrong content and fluff material. You won’t have to waste time attempting to cram everything you read into your head when you know exactly what you need to learn and remember. As a result, the best approach to figuring out what you need to study and what you can skip is to use the PMI-ACP® test Content Outline.

4) PMI-ACP® Training

To be eligible for the exam, you must complete “21 contact hours training in agile practices”. This must be submitted on your application before you can take the exam.

Here is a snippet from the PMI-ACP® handbook describing this requirement:

“Record at least 21 contact hours of training on agile practices. Agile training can include topics covering agile philosophy, methodologies, principles and practices.
Record all training hours regardless of when they were accrued. The course work must be completed by the time you sit for the examination.
NOTE: One hour of classroom instruction equals one contact hour. If you have completed a university or college course on project management that met for three hours per week for 15 weeks, you would record 45 contact hours. If only a portion of a course dealt with agile practices, only the hours spent on agile practices can be applied toward the total.
You can satisfy the training requirements by demonstrating the successful completion of courses, workshops and educational sessions offered by one or more of the following types of providers:
A. PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s)
B. PMI Authorized Training Providers (ATPs)
C. PMI chapters*
D. Employer/company-sponsored programs
E. Training companies or consultants (e.g., training schools)
F. Distance-learning companies, including an end-of-course assessment
G. University/college academic and continuing education programs
The following education does not satisfy the training requirements:
PMI chapter meetings*
Self-directed learning (e.g., reading
*If at least one hour of a chapter meeting is spent conducting a learning activity, the hour(s) spent in that activity can be counted towards the training eligibility requirement.”

The easiest way to meet this requirement is through a PMI-ACP® certified training program. There are a number of training programs available to you. Both online and on-the-job PMI-ACP® certification training courses are offered. The essential thing is to complete training of 21 hours and make the most of it. As a result, you may pick the training course that best matches your objectives and needs.

5) PMI-ACP® Exam Prep Book

In addition to the 21 contact hours of training, we HIGHLY recommend you pick up an exam prep book to study.

The 21 contact hours will not prepare you for the exam. Most of the time, these trainings for the “21 contact hour” requirement focus on high-level ‘on the job’ company-specific agile practices. It’s great for real-world practice, but will not help you pass your exam.

That’s why, we recommend you pick up one of these recommended prep books to study for the real exam.

My recommendation is for the PMI-ACP® Exam Prep By Mike Griffiths – this is what I used. This book, supplemented with a practice exam course, is all you need to pass your exam.

6) PMI-ACP® Practice Test

Now, this is the most important step to passing your exam.

Practice, practice, practice.

Take as many practice exams and quizzes as you possibly can. This is by far the most important tip. This will help you familiarize yourself with the PMI-ACP® question format and help you determine which topics you need to re-study. Once you go through a few practice quizzes and exams, return to your notes and review any section that you failed to comprehend on the practice exam.

Target a 90% correct on each quiz and practice exam before sitting for the real

I recommend starting here with our free PMI-ACP® practice exam download.

7) PMI-ACP® Study Group

If you don’t find the answers to any of your questions in training sessions, reference materials, online lectures, or prep books, contacting someone who has previously gone through the process is ideal. You learn how to get the most out of other people’s experiences. Check any social media platform (Facebook and LinkedIn are best). You will find study groups that you can join. Many individuals have previously gone through this in your position and others who are currently going through it. On LinkedIn and Facebook, several study groups and discussion forums are available to you.

Or, click here to access our free PMI-ACP® practice exam download – this will add you to our email list, where you an get direct contact with me. I will be your individual study group and answer any questions you have!