PMI-ACP vs Scrum Master are two of the most popular project management certifications in the world. Both certifications offer practical value to project managers, but which one is the right fit for you?
This blog post will compare PMI-ACP® and Scrum Master and help you decide which certification is proper for you.
What Is PMI-ACP®?
The PMI-ACP® (Project Management Institute – Agile Certified Practitioner) is a certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The PMI-ACP® recognizes your knowledge and skills in agile practices. To earn your PMI-ACP®, you must pass an exam that covers the following topics:
- Agile principles and values
- Agile tools and techniques
- Iterative and incremental development
- Lean thinking
- Product backlog management
- Requirements gathering
- Stakeholder engagement
To sit for the PMI ACP exam, you must have at least 1500 hours of experience working on agile projects. You must also have 35 contact hours of formal training in agile practices.
What Is A Scrum Master?
A Scrum Master is a facilitator for an agile development team. They are responsible for ensuring the unit is productive and has everything they need to do their job well. The Scrum Master is not a manager, but they need to communicate with managers and other stakeholders effectively.
The role of the Scrum Master is to help the team stay focused on their goal and remove any obstacles that are preventing them from being successful. This includes things like ensuring the team has enough resources, protecting them from distractions, and helping them resolve conflicts.
Scrum Masters need to have a good understanding of the agile process and effectively coach the team in its use. They should also be familiar with standard project management tools and techniques.
Another interesting read: Everything You Need To Know About CSM Certification
Comparing PMI-ACP® And Scrum Master
Comparing PMI-ACP® and Scrum Master can be difficult, as they are both effective in their ways. However, some key differences between the two should hold be considered.
Scrum Master is more focused on the team and helping them to work together effectively. PMI-ACP® is more concentrated on the process and making sure that it is followed correctly.
PMI-ACP® is a certification that can be obtained through PMI, while Scrum Master is not a certification. This means that PMI-ACP® holders have gone through a more rigorous process to obtain their certification.
PMI-ACP® is more widely recognized than Scrum Master, as it is a well-established certification program. Scrum Master is newer and not as widely recognized.
PMI-ACP® is a better choice for those who want to work in project management, as it is more focused on the process of project management. Scrum Master is better for those who want to work with teams, as it is more focused on team dynamics and collaboration.
Both PMI-ACP® and Scrum Master are excellent choices for anyone looking to further their career in project management. It all comes down to what you are looking for in a certification or role. If you want to be a PMI-ACP®, you will need to focus on project management. If you want to be a Scrum Master, then you will need to focus on team dynamics and collaboration. Whichever you choose, you will be sure to find success.
Another interesting read: Agile Certified Practitioner Certification
Similarities:
- Both PMI-ACP® and Scrum Master play essential roles in software development.
- They are responsible for ensuring the project is completed on time and within budget.
- Both PMI-ACP® and Scrum Master need to have strong communication skills.
- They both need to be able to work with a team of developers.
Differences:
- PMI-ACP® is a certification that can be obtained through the Project Management Institute.
- Scrum Master is not a certification but a role that one can take on within a Scrum team.
- PMI-ACP® focuses on Agile principles and practices, while Scrum Master focuses on the Scrum framework.
- The PMI-ACP® practitioners need to have experience with various Agile methodologies, while Scrum Masters only need to be familiar with Scrum.
- PMI-ACP® is more expensive than becoming a certified Scrum Master.
- There are more PMI-ACP® courses available than there are for Scrums Masters.
- The PMI-ACP ® exam is three hours long and has 120 multiple-choice questions, while the Scrum Master exam is two hours long and has 50 multiple-choice questions.
PMI-ACP® is a more comprehensive certification than Scrum Master; however, both are necessary for software development projects. PMI-ACP® focuses on Agile principles and practices, while Scrum Master focuses on the scrum framework. PMI-ACP ® practitioners need to have experience with various Agile methodologies, while Scrum Masters only need to be familiar with Scrum.
More PMI-ACP courses are available than there are for Scrums Masters, making it easier to find the right course for you.
Another interesting read: PMI Agile Certified Practitioner Course Guide
Benefits Of Each Certification:
PMI-ACP®:
The PMI-ACP ® credential recognizes your knowledge of agile principles, practices, and tools and your experience applying them on projects. To earn the PMI-ACP, you need to meet specific educational and experiential criteria and then pass an examination of 120 multiple-choice questions. The PMI-ACP is suited for practitioners who work on agile projects in various environments across industries worldwide.
Scrum Master:
A Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring the team adheres to Scrum values, practices, and rules. They help remove impediments to the team’s progress and ensure its sprint backlog has updated. They also facilitate scrum ceremonies like sprint planning, sprint retrospectives, and the daily scrum. To earn a Scrum Master certification, you need to pass an exam administered by the Scrum Alliance. There are no prerequisites for the exam, but it is recommended that you have at least one year of experience working on Scrum projects.
Which One Should You Choose?
PMI-ACP is suitable for you if: You’re interested in becoming a PMI member; You want to show that you’re keeping up with the latest trends, You think the extra letters after your name will help you get ahead in your career, Your company requires PMI certifications for project management positions You plan to pursue other PMI credentials in the future, such as the PMP® or CAPM®
Scrum Master is right for you if: You want to improve your Agile skills and knowledge to be more effective on Agile projects. You see yourself as more of a facilitator than a manager; You want to earn an Agile credential that is not PMI-based. Your company uses Scrum or Kanban, and you want to be able to support your team effectively. You are already a PMP and wish to add more project management experience to your resume.
So, which one should you choose? It depends on your goals and objectives. If you’re interested in becoming a PMI member, then PMI-ACP is the way. If you want to improve your Agile skills to be more effective on Agile projects, then Scrum Master is the right choice for you.
Another interesting read: PMI Agile Certified Practitioner Cost: An Estimate
Conclusion
In conclusion, the PMI ACP is an excellent certification for those looking to improve their project management skills. The PMI ACP can be beneficial for anyone who wants to learn more about effectively managing projects.
The Scrum Master certification is also an excellent option for those wanting to improve their project management skills. Both certificates offer different benefits, and it depends on what you are looking for in a certification.
The PMI ACP is an excellent option if you want a more detailed and specific look at project management. If you want a more general overview of project management principles, then the Scrum Master certification may be better.