The Project Management Association of Canada offers an entry-level certification in agile project management called the “Certified Agile Project Manager.” Those who are awarded this certificate have the right to use the postnominal “Cert.APM” for as long as their certification remains current and will be listed in our Directory of Certified Individuals.
Benefits
This unique specialty project management certification is aimed at project managers who are looking for additional credentials beyond basic project management credentials such as the PMP designation from PMI. Having specialty certifications such as PMAC's Cert.APM offers project managers a number of benefits:
- Differentiation - Basic project management certifications have spread throughout the world. In 2024, PMI reported over 1.2 million project managers holding their PMP designation alone. Having one's PMP used to be a differentiator in the marketplace; now, they are so common that project managers need something more to stand out.
- Development - A project management specialty certification from PMAC-AGPC is evidence that a project manager is actively engaged in skills growth and career development — a sign of a true professional.
- Advanced Skills - Holding our Certified Agile Project Manager credential shows that an individual has taken specialty training and has passed a rigorous examination on agile project management theory and techniques.
How to Apply
Before writing the certification exam, we highly recommend that candidates complete an accredited exam preparation course.
To apply to write the exam, a number of requirements must first be met:
- Applicants must have a recognized project management credential or document a minimum of one year of project, portfolio, or programme management-related experience.
- Applicants must complete the online application. For those taking the exam as part of a training programme, your training provider may complete your application on your behalf.
Applicants must pay an exam fee of $150. If you are taking the exam bundled with a training course, check with your training provider, as the exam fee may be already included in the training package.
Registration will be confirmed via email with access instructions for our online examination system.
About the Exam
The exam will consist of 40 multiple-choice questions, which applicants will have up to 2 hours to complete. The exam questions will be organized as follows:
- Agile Theory, Benefits and Risks (10 questions)
- Agile Philosophy (1)
- Agile Benefits (2)
- Lifecycles: Waterfall, Iterative, Incremental, and Agile (3)
- Iteration Length & Timeboxing (2)
- Common Agile Methods (1)
- Retrospectives and Continuous Improvement (1)
- Agile Requirements Management (10 questions)
- User Stories (3)
- Prioritization (3)
- Backlogs (3)
- Backlog Maintenance (1)
- Agile Estimating & Scheduling (10 questions)
- Story Points vs. Ideal Days (2)
- The Planning Game (1)
- Building a Release Schedule/Plan (3)
- Work Breakdown Structures & Estimating in Hours (2)
- Building an Iteration Schedule/Plan (2)
- Agile Tracking & Control (10 questions)
- Sprint Burndown Charts (5)
- Velocity (3)
- Project/Product Burndown Charts (2)
Once registered in our online examination system, candidates have 90 days to write the exam. Once the exam is started, a 2-hour countdown timer begins. Upon expiration, the exam score will be displayed to the candidate. Candidates require a 60% mark to successfully pass the exam.
Support for this Certification from the Agile Community
| "I applaud your work and your commitment to bringing sanity to the often insane world of project management. History has shown that PMs who act as 'servant leaders' often succeed where others fail. The Agile principles and practices provide a good framework for encouraging that mindset for the PM and the team members. Keep up the good work!"
Huet Landry, PMP, CSM |
| "Personally, I'm glad to finally see a move towards a respectable approach to certification within the agile PM community. Although I'm not enamored of certification in general, the reality is that within our industry there is a demand by employers that their employees earn certifications. Furthermore, there is an assumption that there is something behind the certification program [...] Anyway, I believe that the PMAC agile certification is clearly a step in the right direction for our community. My hope is that this program can evolve into an international effort, not just a Canadian one, but first things first."
Scott W. Ambler, Author and Notable Agile Community Figure |
| "Best wishes with your certification [...] I commend your effort."
Alistair Cockburn, IT Strategist |