The Importance of Being a Certified Agile Practitioner
Why You Should Get Certified?
As Agile is becoming an increasingly popular way of delivering value and innovative solutions, getting a certification can help set you apart from your peers and give you a competitive edge in your career progression. A Certified Agile Practitioner, will be able to demonstrate expertise in the core principles and practices of Agility. Being certified proves that an individual has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively practice agility. Let us explore how agile certification can help you and your organization succeed in an ever-changing work environment.
You also need to learn about the different agile frameworks/methods available and decide which one you want to study. There are a few available, such as Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP), LeanAgile, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Crystal, and Dynamic Systems Development (DSD).
What Is the Certification Process?
Choosing a career path in developing or increasing agility for organizations is an important decision. One of the best ways to demonstrate your commitment to the field is to become certified as an agile practitioner. To do this, you must learn of the different courses available and understand the certification process and what it entails. The first step is to decide what type of career you wish to pursue in agility, such as becoming a product manager or scrum master.
Once you have decided on the type of career you wish to pursue, you should research the relevant courses and understand the prerequisites of each certification, as some may require prior experience in the field. The perquisites differ depending on the certificates and the organizations offering them. Generally speaking, these accrediting organizations require that you take fundamental courses before progressing to more advanced certifications.
There are many organizations to consider for your certification, the most common ones are ICAgile, Scrum Alliance, Kanban University, and Scaled Agile. You can then proceed with your studies and take each course within a certain track to complete your certification.
Next, you need to consider how you will finance your studies. If your organization supports training and development initiatives, they may provide financial assistance for course fees. Certain training institutions offer discounted rates to organizations.
Finally, set a timeline for completing the courses and exams. Although the exams can be challenging, it is important to ensure you have adequate time to study and balance your work and studies
By taking the time to properly understand the certification process and preparing for each step along the way, you can ensure that you have the best chance of success in becoming a certifie
What Are the Benefits of Certification?
Being a certified Agile practitioner can bring numerous benefits to both your personal and professional life. On the career side, certification can open up many new opportunities that may have been closed to you before. As an agile practitioner, you are in high demand, which means you can often earn higher salaries and potentially move up in your career faster than if you were not certified.
On your day-to-day job, becoming an Agile practitioner can help you deliver value to your stakeholders more quickly and efficiently. You’ll be able to react and adapt to changes with greater ease, strengthen business relationships, and improve your communication with team members and customers, and other stakeholders. Plus, you’ll be able to manage the time, cost, and scope of your solutions more effectively.
Ultimately, becoming an Agile practitioner is one of the best decisions you can make for your career
How Do I Get Started?
Whether you are looking to make a career transition, progress in your current role, start a new job, or simply look for an edge, agile certification is a great way to get ahead. This certification can help you stand out from the competition when advancing your career. Getting certified as an agile practitioner requires dedication and hard work, but the rewards can be promising. Below is a list of steps to help you get started:
1- List your career objectives and goals. Ask yourself why you want to practice agility. Are you looking to expand your skill set, or transition into a new role? Understanding your motivations will help you determine which certifications would be most beneficial to you
2- Research the different agile methods, frameworks, and tools currently in use. Read up on the different approaches and determine which best appeals to you and will help you achieve your objectives.
3- Seek advice. There are many articles and international organizations that can guide you on how to get certified. You can also consider contacting one of our coaches for one-on-one advice
4- Consider the financial costs associated with getting certified. Getting certified isn’t cheap, so make sure you factor in the expenses of the courses and exams when planning your budget.
5- Invest time in preparing for the exam. The exam is not easy, so take the time to prepare and practice your skills before taking it.
To conclude, Agile practitioners are likely to have better career prospects and there is no better time than now. With dedication and hard work, you can open up a range of exciting new opportunities for yourself.