Note (October 2026): Earlier versions of this article listed the old PMI-ACP eligibility rule (2,000 hours of project experience plus 1,500 hours on agile projects). PMI now requires 28 contact hours of agile training and 24 months of agile experience within the last five years, and the text below has been corrected.
The three most widely recognized Agile certifications are the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from Scrum Alliance, the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) from the Project Management Institute, and the SAFe Agilist (SA) from Scaled Agile, Inc. CSM suits beginners and Scrum team roles, PMI-ACP suits experienced practitioners, and SAFe Agilist suits people working across many Agile teams in large organizations.
Key Takeaways
- CSM requires a 16-hour course and a 50-question, one-hour exam with a pass mark of 37 correct answers, according to Scrum Alliance.
- PMI-ACP requires a secondary school diploma, 28 contact hours of agile training and 24 months of agile experience in the last five years; the exam has 120 questions in three hours.
- SAFe Agilist follows the Leading SAFe course; the exam has 45 questions in 90 minutes and an 80% pass mark, according to Scaled Agile.
- All three must be renewed: CSM every two years, PMI-ACP every three years and SAFe Agilist each year.
- Choose by experience and context: Scrum team work (CSM), broad Agile practice (PMI-ACP) or scaled enterprise Agile (SAFe Agilist).
Traditional, plan-everything-up-front project methods often struggle when requirements change quickly, which is why many businesses have turned to Agile ways of working.
Agile has revolutionized the face of project management and software development by providing them with an incremental approach. Unsurprisingly, this has led to an increase in the demand for professionals who possess knowledge of Agile and its principles.
What is Agile?
Basically, Agile is an umbrella term for iterative approaches to project management and software development that emphasize continual planning, incremental delivery, team collaboration and continual learning. The term comes from the Manifesto for Agile Software Development, written in 2001 by 17 software developers at Snowbird, Utah.
Agile depends on frequent, direct communication between team members and managers, with the aim of producing tangible, working results in short cycles.
Why choose certification in Agile?
As more organizations adopt Agile methods, employers look for professionals who understand Agile and Scrum, which creates opportunities for people with that knowledge.
You can learn Agile from books, courses and hands-on project work; a certification adds a structured syllabus and a credential that employers recognize.
A certification is also a way to show employers that you know Agile practices. Earlier versions of this article cited an unattributed report putting certified Agile project managers at around $123,000 a year against $96,000 for non-certified peers; that figure could not be traced to a current source, and pay varies widely by country, role and experience. Certification works best alongside practical experience rather than as a replacement for it.
Benefits of Agile certification
Here are some of the benefits of Agile certification.
High demand
Businesses and organizations across the world are always on the hunt to find proficient and capable project managers to run their projects smoothly and successfully. Many of them look for certified professionals, because a certification is evidence that a candidate has studied Agile methods.
That demand creates opportunities for project managers and team members who hold an Agile certification.
Growth in industry
An Agile certification can support career growth by helping project managers show their knowledge to current and future employers, although it does not guarantee a promotion or a pay rise on its own.
It’s beneficial for business enterprises
Businesses around the world have adopted Agile methods alongside or in place of traditional approaches. Certification training gives staff a shared vocabulary and a common set of practices for managing projects.
Also, certifications help people in understanding all the Agile principles and procedures that can help them enhance teamwork and project management.
Top 3 Agile certifications to consider
Now that you know the benefits of Agile certification, you might want to get certified in Agile. If that’s the case, here are three widely recognized Agile certifications, with requirements checked as of October 2026.
Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
The CSM or Certified ScrumMaster, awarded by Scrum Alliance, is an entry-level Scrum certification and one of the most popular Agile certifications. As of October 2026, Scrum Alliance requires 16 hours of training (most classes run over two or three days), followed by a 50-question, one-hour exam; candidates must answer 37 questions correctly and have 90 days after the course to take it, with two attempts included in the course fee.
The CSM covers Agile basics and the Scrum framework: Scrum roles, artifacts, events and practices.
Compared with other Agile certifications, the CSM exam is generally considered approachable. However, to clear the exam you need to be well-versed with the theoretical and practical implications of the Agile methodologies and Scrum frameworks. Because the course is mandatory, every candidate completes a CSM Certification Training before taking the exam.
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
The PMI-ACP or the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner certification is for professionals who want to get into leadership roles, or who are already leading a project management team. Also, the PMI-ACP certification is for people who have been using Agile methodologies in their daily tasks concerning their projects.
As of October 2026, PMI-ACP candidates need a secondary school diploma, 28 contact hours of training in agile practices and 24 months of agile experience within the last five years; a current PMP certification satisfies the experience requirement. The older rule of 2,000 hours of project experience plus 1,500 hours on agile projects no longer applies. The exam has 120 questions (100 scored) and lasts three hours.
Along with the Scrum Framework, this certification also considers other frameworks, including Kanban, Lean, and XP. That breadth makes the PMI-ACP a good fit for practitioners who use more than one Agile method.
SAFe Agilist
The SAFe Agilist (SA) certification, awarded by Scaled Agile, Inc. after its Leading SAFe course, validates knowledge of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and of running Agile across many teams in a large organization. As of October 2026, the exam has 45 questions in 90 minutes and requires a score of 80% to pass. This certification essentially is a great choice for people who are willing to work with multiple project management teams at the same time.
These three are among the most widely recognized Agile certifications. Since Agile methodologies have been increasingly adopted by various businesses, it is an ideal time to get your Agile certification and boost your career to reach new heights.
How Do CSM, PMI-ACP and SAFe Agilist Compare?
The table below summarizes the three certifications as described by their awarding bodies and an authorized training partner, as of October 2026. Course and exam fees vary by provider and country, so check the awarding body before you book.
| Certification | Awarding body | Entry requirement | Exam | Renewal | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) | Scrum Alliance | 16-hour course | 50 questions, 1 hour, 37 correct to pass | Every 2 years: 20 SEUs and a $100 fee | Beginners, Scrum Masters, Scrum team members |
| PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) | Project Management Institute | Secondary diploma, 28 hours agile training, 24 months agile experience in last 5 years | 120 questions (100 scored), 3 hours | 30 PDUs every 3 years | Experienced practitioners using several Agile methods |
| SAFe Agilist (SA) | Scaled Agile, Inc. | Leading SAFe course | 45 questions, 90 minutes, 80% to pass | At least 12 CEUs each year | Leaders and managers in large, multi-team organizations |
Which Agile Certification Should You Choose?
The right Agile certification depends on your experience and the kind of organization you work in.
- New to Agile: the CSM has no experience requirement, and the mandatory course teaches the Scrum basics before the exam.
- Several years of Agile work: the PMI-ACP requires 24 months of agile experience and tests a range of methods beyond Scrum, so it signals broader practical knowledge.
- Working in a large enterprise: the SAFe Agilist is built around the Scaled Agile Framework, which coordinates many Agile teams at once.
- Product roles: people who manage a product backlog may also look at product-owner credentials; see our guide on why CSPO certification matters for your career.
What Is the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)?
The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is a set of practices for applying Agile across large organizations. According to Wikipedia, SAFe was developed by Dean Leffingwell, first described in his 2007 book Scaling Software Agility, released in 2011, and is maintained by Scaled Agile, Inc.; version 6.0 was released in March 2023.
How to Get an Agile Certification: Step by Step
- Check eligibility. Confirm the current requirements on the awarding body’s website; PMI-ACP has education, training and experience rules, while CSM and SAFe Agilist start with a course.
- Choose an approved course. CSM and SAFe Agilist candidates take the awarding body’s required course; PMI-ACP candidates need 28 contact hours of agile training.
- Study the core material. Learn Scrum roles, events and artifacts, plus related methods such as Kanban project management.
- Take the exam. CSM candidates have 90 days after the course and two attempts included; PMI-ACP is a three-hour exam.
- Plan for renewal. Track your continuing education (SEUs, PDUs or CEUs) from day one so the certification does not lapse.
How Do You Keep an Agile Certification Active?
Each of the three Agile certifications expires unless it is renewed. According to Scrum Alliance, a CSM is renewed every two years with 20 Scrum Education Units (one SEU per hour of learning) and a $100 renewal fee. The PMI-ACP requires 30 professional development units every three years. Scaled Agile asks SAFe Agilists to earn at least 12 continuing education units each year.
Agile Certification vs. PMP: What Is the Difference?
The PMP (Project Management Professional) from PMI is a general project management credential, while Agile certifications focus on iterative delivery. A current PMP satisfies the PMI-ACP experience requirement, so some project managers hold both. For exam preparation, see our guide to preparing for the PMP exam online.
Common Mistakes When Choosing an Agile Certification
- Relying on old requirements: PMI-ACP eligibility changed, so older guides that quote 2,000 and 1,500 hours are out of date.
- Ignoring renewal: all three certifications carry ongoing education requirements.
- Treating a certificate as experience: employers usually want to see Agile practice, such as running sprints with a Scrum template, alongside the credential.
- Picking the wrong scale: SAFe is designed for large organizations; a small team may get more from Scrum-focused training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Agile certification is best for beginners?
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is the usual starting point for beginners, because it has no experience requirement. Candidates complete a 16-hour course and then a 50-question, one-hour exam.
How hard is the CSM exam?
The CSM exam is generally considered approachable: candidates need 37 correct answers out of 50 within one hour, and two attempts are included with the course, according to Scrum Alliance.
What are the PMI-ACP requirements?
As of October 2026, PMI-ACP candidates need a secondary school diploma, 28 contact hours of agile training and 24 months of agile experience within the last five years. A current PMP satisfies the experience requirement.
Do Agile certifications expire?
Yes. CSM renews every two years (20 SEUs and $100), PMI-ACP every three years (30 PDUs), and SAFe Agilist requires at least 12 continuing education units each year.
Is SAFe Agilist the same as Leading SAFe?
No. Leading SAFe is the training course from Scaled Agile, Inc., and SAFe Agilist (SA) is the certification earned by passing the exam after it.
Is an Agile certification useful outside software?
Often, yes. Agile began in software development, and the practices are now used by other teams too; related roles such as DevOps careers also draw on Agile practices.
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