What an exciting few weeks its been since the announcement that the PMI will be offering an Agile Certification. Now that the dust is settling, people probably want to know more. To that end, the PMI has already issued an FAQ (http://www.pmi.org/~/media/Files/PD...ion_.ashx)

Beyond that, Rory McCorkle - the product owner for the certification - and his team have agreed to answer your questions about the program. Please post questions here and we will direct them straight to the source to get you answers!

Where will the most updated information be posted, here or at LINKEDIN at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?view...1320513162 ?
PMI® Agile Practitioner Certification Learning Group

Thanks.

Gene,

The most updated information will be provided at www.pmi.org/agile

However, we will also start posting here about major updates.

Thank you,
Rory McCorkle
Agile Certification Product Manager
PMI

Rory,

I have 2 questions on the new Agile Certification:

1) Will the Agile eSeminars that are offerred via PMI eSeminar World count toward the 21 contact hours that are required for the new Agile certification?

2) Will test participants be provided any reading materials or workbooks prior to the test or is the fee for the just the test?

Thanks,

Alice Meyers, PMP

I have some serious concerns about PMI's Agile Certification.

1. The first is why? There are already two certification bodies founded by people who invented some of the concepts and have been practicing Agile for decades. Why is PMI trying to venture into something that it doesn't have any really knowledge, skills or track record in?
2. The PMBOK and real world Agile are vastly different approaches and philosophies. I cannot see how PMI is going to effectively add value to the Agile community without a fundamental shift in thinking.
3. There is no framework called "Agile". Agile is an umbrella philosophy under which many frameworks and methodologies have evolved.
4. Agile is a team based approach. I have been teaching and practicing Scrum and Agile concepts for over 9 years and have taught hundreds of Scrum Masters, One of my key learning is that the most value from the training is obtained from the team-based exercises and practical group learning that can only achieved by being co-located. I do not believe you can effectively "e-learn" Agile. And why would you try when you could simply read a book? the result would be the same.
5. Agile is best learnt by doing and coaching. How is PMI going to manage this?
6. The Agile world is managing change on it's own quite successfully. What real assistance is this certification going to add?
7. Was there any consultation with the existing thought leaders in the Agile world such as Bas Vodde, Jeff sutherland, Ken Schwaber, Tobia Myer, Kent Beck, Ward Cunningham?

As someone who has been involved in the PMI at senior levels I have serious concerns. Dont get me wrong - I am NOT one of these anti-waterfall zealots. PMBOK has it's place as does Prince2 but the real art of project managements come from practical application of the theory, not in "e-learning"and certifications. All I see PMI doing here is muddying that waters on Agile and pumping out batches of "Agile Certified" people who don't have a clue what they are doing.

Can someone please explain to me what exactly the value proposition of the Agile Certification is?

Edwin has the perfect approach in asking the good question along with the right concerns.
I concur and can't wait to read the answer.
Thank you.

What book or books will PMI model the Agile Project Managment exam against? I have searched the www.pmi.org/agile site and unless I am missing something I only see various papers and books regarding Agile but nothing recommended like the PMBOK which was directly recommended for the PMP exam. Please let us know.

Thank you.

I have a very basic question...must you be a PM in IT or software innovation to get benefits from training in Agile methodologies or does this training/certification benefit all PMs? How will this training benefit someone running development projects in pharmaceutucal research for example?

I think this discussion is going to be very interesting. I think my questions have been alluded to above, but here is how I would phrase them:

1) What is this certification trying to "certify"? I want to find out beyond the common language and structure. What is the intent of the certification?

2) What does PMI envision the role of the project manager to be in the agile world?

Thanks

Hi

If Youa are Scrum Master and have a certification , if possible to convalidate to PMI agile certification.?
Best regards Alejandro
Chile South America

Alice,

1) Agile classes offered from SeminarsWorld and eSeminarsWorld would count toward the contact hours. However, so would formal education classes on Agile project management from PMI Registered Education Providers, PMI Chapters, and other non-PMI training organizations.

2) The certification fee is only for the certification process (review of application, examination, etc.). However, a reference list will be provided, along with the Examination Content Outline, starting on 15 April.

Rory McCorkle

Timothy,

The reference list for the certification will be available starting 15 April.

Rory

@ddelserr

This certification is intended for those who are already working on Agile projects. If you do not currently participate on Agile projects, I would definitely encourage you to get training, but you would not qualify for the certification.

Regarding the industry, while Agile methodologies have been used most in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), PMI research has found the use of Agile methods increasing in other industries and job functions.

Rory

Alejandro,

If you have the CSM certification, the training that you receive as part of the CSM certification process may contribute to the PMI Agile Certification education requirement.

Rory

Hi,
I am a Certified Scrum Master as well as a PMP. While I agree that an industry standard designation is important, upon looking at the price of this certification , I get the feeling sometimes that PMI is a cash machine for the both the group and the companies that provide the training, yet may not really offer a critical value to the person getting the certification. While this note may appear a bit facetious, it does have a serious nature. Any thoughts on this? Thank you in advance.
Terry

Would 160 hours of Lean Expert Training and Certification count as an equivilant to the 21 hours of Agile training required?

1. How about 21 contact hours earned to get eligible before Agile cert prep, would also be accounted towards PMP-CCRS? In other words, are Agile PM contact hours (PDUs) earned for PMP-CCRS can be considered towards applicant's eligibility for PMI Agile certification as well?

2. Will there be any PMBOK like literature available for Agile cert prep as well?

3. Also looking for sample exam questions for PMI Agile...

My entire formal experience in project management has been on Agile projects. Our team started with Extreme Programming in 2003 and has moved more to Scrum in the past year or so.

In 2005, when I learned of PMI and the PMP certification, I began working toward the PMP. It was a challenge trying to map my experience to the required experience categories for the PMP application. However, with some help from an adviser, I was able to finally fill out the application. I am now studying for the PMP exam.

The announcement that there will now be an Agile certification really got my attention! If this had been available several years ago I would probably have applied for it rather than the PMP. As it stands, I am about halfway through my exam review and therefore very close to getting my PMP. As such, I would like to complete the PMP and also get the Agile certificate as well.

My questions are:
Given that all of my experience in project management has been on Agile projects, can I use that experience to fulfill the experience requirement for the Agile certificate even though I already reported it as experience for the PMP?

If my experience may not be counted for both the PMP and the new Agile certificate, is there a way to migrate my application data from my PMP application over to the new Agile certificate?

I encourage a response the Edwin's very compelling concerns and points. Anything less would speak nageatively to the integrity of this forum.

Those of us who have practiced as Agile PM and/or SrumMasters over the last few years have watched the Agile disciple grow and evolve w/o PMI association (I remember a time of PMI resistance to the Agile movement) are concerned that there is a rush to 'cash in' on the Agile fevor that is seeping industry. I participated in the Agile questions survey a few weeks ago and was disappointed in the proposed certification questions. The wording and content didn't seem to come from individuals who had been trained or practiced Agile methodologies.

For PMPs who have been certified as ScrumMasters and in Agile PM (a disciple that looks at the merging Agile principles and PMBOK doctrine) from bodies who are far more experienced in the Agile space than PMI; will there be any deference in terms of sitting for the PMI Agile Certification in terms of cost? Other than that what would be the value proposition for those of us already certified by the pioneering Agile bodies?

Thank you in advance Rory for responding even when the answers won't come easy.

Angela Scott, PMP, CSM

I'm waiting an answer the totally correct and challenging questions asked by Edwin

Fabio Armani
PMP CSM & CSP
www.open-ware.org