Whether you’re looking to move into a new role or advance in your current role, certifications are a powerful tool in any field. Certifications demonstrate that you have specific expertise or skills. But they tell us even more. Certifications demonstrate your initiative to learn and grow, as well as your commitment to show employers that you believe in efficiency. That said, many Agile certifications are significant investments, both in time and money. Naturally, you try to find solutions that maximize benefits and minimize costs. To help you achieve this, here we discuss valuable Agile certifications, and the cost you incur to pursue them.
What is Agile and Agile certification?
For those who are new to or just starting in the field of Project management and Agile, here is a quick overview of what agile is and what Agile certifications are. Agile methodologies were developed considering the literal meaning of the word “Agile”, that is, the ability to move quickly and easily or to react quickly to changes. Agile methodology takes an iterative approach to project planning and control. This means that projects are broken down into smaller iterations to work quickly and collaboratively on projects while adapting to changes and responding quickly to feedback.
This methodology focuses on working in small batches, visualizing processes, and collaborating with end-users to obtain feedback. There is also a focus on continuous releases, as these releases are incorporated with the feedback from individual iterations. Just like with any certification, the Agile certification too, demonstrates a clear understanding and ability to apply agile project management concepts and principles in practice. Along with the credentials, you learn the skills relevant to your role and important to securing employment opportunities. Agile certifications apply to multiple areas such as business, IT, marketing, human resources, and operations.
The Most Valuable Agile certifications
The goal of this blog is to provide maximum value at a minimum cost. However, this process only begins after you decide what “value” means to you. Consider the value of your time and money. Maybe you’re someone who is cash-strapped but has the flexibility to attend classes at a certain time. Or are you willing to spend whatever it takes to get the best certification, but needs flexibility? The next thing you need to consider is:
- Current knowledge base on the topic.
- What value does an Agile certification bring to your current role?
- What type of role do you want in the future and whether the certification is based on a specific Agile framework such as Scrum or Kanban, or framework independent?
Another element is to consider the input of leaders within the organization and ask which skills add the most value. Search on job sites to see how often a particular skill or qualification is mentioned and find out what is considered valuable in your industry. Before focusing on Agile Course and agile certification costs, some of these criteria should be considered. Below are some globally recognized and respected agile certifications and their costs (in no particular order).
| Sr. No. | Certification Name | Offered By | Ideal For | Cost |
| 1. | PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) | Project Management Institute (PMI) | Experienced project managers and Agile team members | Member: ₹25,010/-Non-member: ₹28,454/- |
| 2. | ICAgile Certified Professional (ICP) | The International Consortium for Agile (ICAgile) | Those who are just entering Agile and need to develop an Agile mindset. | Determined by provider.approximately ₹30,000 to ₹40,000. |
| 3. | AgilePM Foundation | The International Institute for Learning, Inc. – APMG International accredited provider | Those currently in project managerial role and those Agile team members who want to expand their Agile knowledge. | USD 1,350 (approximately INR 106,116) |
| 4. | SAFe Agilist | Scaled Agile – Authorized body to offer SAFe Certifications. | Those who are experienced project managers, scrum masters, executives in Agile domain, Agile professionals from senior management and product managers. | USD 699 (approximately INR 58,150/-) |
| 5. | Certified Agile Project Manager (IAPM) | International Association of Project Managers (IAPM) | Agile team members | Roughly USD 550 (INR 45,700/-) |
| 6. | Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) | Scrum Alliance | Scrum masters, business analysts, and fresh recruits in Scrum team | INR 25,999/- |
| 7. | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) | Scrum.org | Experienced scrum members | INR 22,998/- |
Final Thoughts on Agile Certification
Yes, just like any other field, Agile Project Management is competitive. Needless to say, to make your distinct mark here, you need to have something that makes you stand apart in a crowd. For this, Agile certifications are a sure-shot way to stand out in a crowd of professionals.
Agile certifications are expensive, but investing in yourself sometimes is good, isn’t it? To expand your knowledge and get that new job, or to earn more money and gain respect, a certification is a must. So, does that resonate with you? If yes, please let us know through the comments. Have fun learning and thank you for reading!
FAQs
Yes, they are still in demand. Many industries are now realizing the benefits of incorporating agile into their teams, including adaptability, increased transparency, and increased speed of delivery, among others. Therefore, the demand for qualified agile specialists is also increasing.
Yes, many professional training institutes like Kodakco provide agile knowledge as well as practical training to prepare for the certification exam.
Agile certification demonstrates the ability to apply agile concepts and principles in a project setting. It increases your professional credibility and opens up a variety of career opportunities.
