PMP vs PMI-ACP: which should you choose?
Predictive & hybrid leadership vs agile practice
Both are PMI certifications, but PMP spans predictive, agile and hybrid delivery, while PMI-ACP focuses purely on agile approaches across Scrum, Kanban, Lean and XP.
PMP vs PMI-ACP โ side by side
| ๐ PMP | ๐ PMI-ACP | |
|---|---|---|
| Certifying body | PMI | PMI |
| Questions | 180 | 120 |
| Duration | 230 min (3h 50m) | 180 min (3h) |
| Pass / scoring | Domain proficiency bands | Domain proficiency bands |
| Open / closed book | Closed book | Closed book |
| Question types | Single best answer (multiple choice), Multiple response (choose two or more), Numerical / calculation items | Single best answer (multiple choice), Multiple response (choose two or more), Numerical / calculation items |
| Primary focus | Process, People | Value-Driven Delivery, Stakeholder Engagement |
Which is right for you?
Choose PMP ifโฆ
You lead projects across methodologies and want the broader, more senior career credential.
Choose PMI-ACP ifโฆ
You work in agile teams and want to validate agile-specific expertise across frameworks.
Verdict: PMP is the broader career credential; PMI-ACP is the agile specialist. Many agile practitioners add PMI-ACP after PMP.
PMP vs PMI-ACP โ FAQ
Is PMP harder than PMI-ACP?๏ผ
Difficulty depends on your background. PMP has 180 questions in 230 minutes (domain-band scored); PMI-ACP has 120 in 180 minutes (domain-band scored). PMP is the broader career credential; PMI-ACP is the agile specialist. Many agile practitioners add PMI-ACP after PMP.
Should I take PMP or PMI-ACP first?๏ผ
PMP is the broader career credential; PMI-ACP is the agile specialist. Many agile practitioners add PMI-ACP after PMP.
Can I hold both PMP and PMI-ACP?๏ผ
Yes โ many professionals hold both, and they can complement each other on your CV.
More certification comparisons
Comparison guides summarise each certification's published exam content outline for study planning. Always confirm current details with the awarding body.