Agile principles and mindset can importantly shape your career goals through being capable of adapting the changes whenever it happens and whatever the situation (adaptability). Agile certification courses encourage building a strong personal branding and networking to meet successful career paths.
To find the best agile courses for your career goals, start by understanding your current skill, experience level and career aspirations. Then research on agile certification and training programs offered by reputable organizations like Scrum Alliance and PeopleCert. Here we explore two popular and in-demand certifications: A-CSM and PRINCE2 Agile to develop your Agile career and analyse which suits you better based on your career aspirations.
What is A-CSM?
A-CSM means Advanced Certified ScrumMaster Certification that accredits Scrum Master’s advanced knowledge and expertise in Scrum and Agile practices, beyond the basic CSM level. By means A-CSM certified Scrum Master’s has expertise in real world challenges of Scrum Implementation across the organisation.
Certification Key Details:
| Feature | Description |
| Offered By | Scrum Alliance |
| Level | Advanced Level |
| Prerequisites | Active or Expired CSM Certification + Minimum 12 months (1 year) of work experience as Scrum Master. |
| Training + Exam | No formal Exam, but completion of 16 hours of live, interactive A-CSM Certification training + Coursework from a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) is mandatory. |
| Validity | 2 years, requiring renewal. |
| Renewal | Requires earning 30 Scrum Education Units (SEUs) and a renewal fee of https://www.scrumalliance.org/get-certified/scrum-master-track/advanced-certified-scrummaster. |
| Scrum Alliance Membership | 2 Years |
Key Skills and Learning Outcomes:
- Effectively conduct facilitation discussions among product owner, scrum team, customers, stakeholders, and executives.
- How to use the Scrum methodologies as a Scrum Master to effectively Coach, Teach and Mentor teams and the entire organization.
- How to deal with common challenges like:
- Resistance to change,
- Low motivation,
- Lack of engagement.
- How to improve team involvement, accountability, and dedication.
- Make sure scrum and agile practices can make an impact out of just one team.
Understanding PRINCE2 Agile:
PRINCE2 Agile is a hybrid project management methodology introduced by Axelos (Now acquired by PeopleCert) that combines the traditional, process-based structured governance of PRINCE2 and Flexibility and adaptability of Agile methodologies.
The growing demand for a framework that provides both control for safety and responsiveness in project delivery to meet dynamic business environment requirements. Where this PRINCE2 Agile comes to bridge this gap.
| This combination leads to: Increase project success rateGood governance and best control on projectsGreater flexibility and adaptability to changing requirementsFaster time-to-marketEncourage Collaboration and communication |
PRINCE2 Agile Certifications:
These PRINCE2 Agile consists of two main levels:
- PRINCE2 Agile Foundation
- PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner
These certifications are specifically designed to make individuals gain knowledge and skills to effectively manage projects using this hybrid methodology.
Benefit of the Blended Training:
PRINCE2 Agile Foundation and Practitioner training is a blended learning opportunity offered by Authorized training organizations of PeopleCert. This course helps you to clear both foundation and practitioner levels, consequently improve employability and boost your confidence to effectively manage projects and manage agile teams through traditional structured ways.
Key Details:
| Feature | PRINCE2 Agile Foundation | PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner |
| Purpose | Foundational understanding of PRINCE2 and agile integration | Applying knowledge to practical scenarios |
| Target Audience | Professionals new to PRINCE2 Agile, Project team members | Project managers, Agile practitioners who hold some recommended certifications |
| Prerequisites | None | You must hold any one of the below certifications: PRINCE2 Agile Foundation or any other PRINCE2 certificationProject Management Professional (PMP).Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM).IMPA Levels A, B, C, or D (Certified Projects Director) |
| Exam format | Closed book, 50 multiple-choice questions | Open book, 50 multiple-choice, scenario-based questions |
| Exam duration | 1 hour | 2.5 hours (150 minutes) |
| Passing score | 55% (28 marks out of 50) | 60% (30 marks out of 50) |
| Prerequisites | None | PRINCE2 Agile Foundation (or other PRINCE2/IPMA certifications) |
| Validity | 3 years (can be renewed by achieving required CPDs) | 3 years (can be renewed by achieving required CPDs) |
Key Skills and Learning Outcomes:
- The introduction and basics of agile working
- Explores the interface between PRINCE2 and Agile
- Key agile frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, Lean
- Focuses on understanding the roles and responsibilities within an agile project team
- communication, collaboration, and feedback channels
- how to tailor PRINCE2
- Focuses on effectively managing projects in dynamic environments
- Safer project delivery & better risk assessment and adaptation
Final Thoughts:
So as we see the key details of the both certifications, now it is time to conclude the choice between A-CSM (Advanced Certified ScrumMaster) and PRINCE2 Agile. Both have different certifications offered by different certification bodies and have different audiences. But the one common thing for both is Agile.
For those focused on a career in Agile, the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification and PRINCE2 Agile certification each offer valuable paths, but their suitability depends on your specific goals and work environment.
If you are working in a dynamic, evolving environment where flexibility is important or if you are interested in Scrum practices and Agile principles, A-CSM may be a better fit. But keep one thing in mind: it’s only suitable for those who have met the minimum 1 year of Scrum environment experience and need to hold a CSM Certification.
If you are working on large, complex projects with a need for a structured, process-driven project management approach along with flexibility for adjusting projects, PRINCE2 Agile might be more suitable. PRINCE2 Agile integrates PRINCE2 project management principles with Agile methodologies.
So decide based on your project’s nature, the experience, and your long-term career aspirations.