Post Graduate Program in Agile, Houston

FAQs

• What are the eligibility criteria for this Agile Certification in Houston?

  For admission to this Agile certification in Houston, candidates must possess at least one of the first two criteria:

  • At least five years of experience
  • A Bachelor's degree in any discipline
  • Prior experience in Project Management of Agile is not mandatory

• What is the admission process for this Agile Certification in Houston?

  The admission process for this Agile certification in Houston consists of three easy steps:

  • Interested candidates will need to apply by submitting the application form online
  • Candidates will be shortlisted by an admission panel based on the application submitted
  • Selected candidates will be awarded an offer of admission which is accepted by the candidate by payment of the program fee

• What should I expect from the Agile Training Course in Houston?

  As a part of this Agile Training in Houston, you will receive the following:

  • UMass Amherst Post Graduate Certification of Completion
  • Membership to the UMass Amherst Alumni Association
  • Lifetime access to all core e-learning content created by Simplilearn

• How long does it take to get Agile Certification Training in Houston?

  Different agile certifications have their own pre-requisites and examination duration. This Agile Certification Training in Houston, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is a 6-month Agile Training online bootcamp program that is expertly designed for you to be equipped with the right knowledge you need to clear many other globally-recognized certifications easily. This 6-month Agile Training in Houston program also offers a host of other features too.

• Will financial aid be provided for the Agile Training in Houston?

  To ensure money is not a limiting factor in learning, we offer various financing options to help make this Agile training in Houston manageable financially. For more details, please refer to our "Admissions Fee and Financing" section.

• How to get Agile Certification in Houston?

  There are multiple certification providers offering globally-recognized agile certifications. No matter the provider, you will need to clear examinations that test both the fundamental concepts of agile and high-level expertise in the industry-relevant knowledge sought in you by enterprises looking for agile-driven change across their organization. This Agile Certification in Houston, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst, is an online bootcamp that only prepares you for the top certification exams but offers you the opportunity to learn from leaders in the field of agile, including top trainers at UMass.

• Can I get the Agile certification in Houston with no work experience?

  Almost all agile certifications need a minimum amount of relevant experience that attests to your capability to understand the high-level concepts, agile practices, and methodologies you need to pass any related examination. Our Agile certification in Houston, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst allows you to enter the program if you have atleast 5 years of experience (not mandatory in Project Management or Agile) and a Bachelor's degree in any discipline.

• What certificate will I receive after completing this Agile Training in Houston?

  Upon completing this Agile training course in Houston, you will be awarded a Post Graduate Program in Agile certification by UMass Amherst. You will also receive industry-recognized certification from Simplilearn for the courses included in the learning path offered.

• Who are the instructors for this Agile training in Houston, and how are they selected?

  Our highly qualified instructors are industry experts with years of relevant industry experience. Each of them undergoes a rigorous selection process, including profile screening, technical evaluation, and a training demo evaluation before getting certified to train for us. Besides, we ensure that only those trainers with a high alumni rating remain part of our faculty.

• Will any preparation material be provided to help me get started with this Agile Course in Houston?

  As soon as you make payment for the program fee’s first installment, you will gain access to a preparatory course. We expect you to go through the assigned course before attending the first class. This Agile course in Houston will have eight to ten hours of self-paced learning content in the form of videos.

• What is Agile Certification?

  An agile certification helps you learn the most-widely used agile practices and methodologies used to affect improvements in business processes - including improving the pace of software delivery and enhancing the delivery quality, and reducing inconsistencies or unpredictability in the process. Agile certifications attest to your expertise in helping businesses either move to agile practices or drive growth for them through agile.

• Which are the Best Agile Certifications that Scale Your Career?

  Over the past few years, a new way of creating software is driving the software development and testing industries to great heights. This new way of project management is called Agile, and as per VersionOne’s State of Agile report, is used by 97% of organizations in some form or the other. The term “Agile” was coined in 2001 (credit to Martin Fowler) when a group of 17 software developers met at Ski resort in Utah and uncovered new ways of developing software. However, the idea originated in 1970 when Dr. Winston W. Royce published and presented a paper titled: Managing the Development of Large Software Systems. He argued that the software development methodology should be changed from the traditional way of development and cannot be equated to assembly line manufacturing.  

  Besides, the Department of Defense (DoD) standard DOD-STD-2167 was changed in the 1990s to explicitly support iterative processes. In 1997, Michael and Richard in their paper “How Microsoft Builds Software” stated that waterfall model of development had gradually lost its favor because companies were able to build better products after changing specifications, getting feedback from the customer, and continually testing as the product evolved. All these events collectively led to newer ways of developing software products.

  Why Should You Obtain an Agile Certification?

  The 12th State of Agile Survey 2018 report says (see Fig 1.0) that organizations are realizing the benefits they set out to achieve by adopting Agile. The survey provides indicators that agile adoption is growing more broadly and deeply. The top reasons stated for adopting agile are accelerated software delivery, enhanced delivery predictability, improved IT/Business alignment, and reduced project cost. This accounts for the growing demand for IT professionals who have a strong hold of agile principles and their applications.

  The benefits of getting Agile certifications are multifold:

  Slushpile to shortlist - The Agile certification can help you get through the resume search by the recruiters easily. Recruitment databases have millions of profiles available and possessing the right Agile certification catches the eyes of recruiters instantly.

  Compensation Leverage - The Agile certification(s) along with real-time experience over a period of time could become so valuable in one’s career. You can use the experience (proven demonstration) in leading Agile projects or programs coupled with in-demand certifications as a lever to negotiate compensations while looking out for an exciting opportunity to work in the Agile world.

  Moving up the ladder - Requirements have now become tougher and dynamic due to the nature of the business and customer demands. Having an Agile certification, for ex. PMI-ACP can help navigate these tides seamlessly and deliver value to the business/clients.

  Looking forward to a Career in Agile? Check out the Post Graduate Program in Agile

  Overview of the Top Agile Certifications Available in the Market

  Let’s us now see some of the most sought-after Agile certifications in the industry along with their benefits.

  Agile Scrum Foundation

  The Agile Scrum Foundation certification is provided by EXIN, a leading independent exam and certification institute that has certified millions of professionals in the digital domain. Agile Scrum Foundation certification testifies your understanding of Agile methodologies and Scrum framework. The exam checks your understanding of core concepts and provides a unique credential that combines agile service management practices and Scrum frameworks on development projects.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: 1 hour

  • Total Number of questions: 40 (Multiple Choice)

  • Pass Percentage: 65% (Closed Book)

  • Requirements: Successfully complete EXIN accredited Agile Scrum Foundation Training

  Agile Scrum Master (ASM®)

  The Agile Scrum Master certification, offered by EXIN, is ideal for managerial professionals working in the fields of IT project management, software development, business management, and IT service management. The ASM certification positions you as an evangelist in the agile adoption journey of your organization. It is a unique certification that involves a combination of methodologies, Scrum practices, and practical assignments. The exam tests the competency of one’s ability to function as a facilitator, coach and enable a highly cross-functional team.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: 1 hour and 30 minutes

  • Total Number of questions: 40 (Multiple Choice, Closed Book)

  • Pass Percentage: 65%

  • Requirements: Successfully complete EXIN accredited Agile Scrum Master Training

  Certified Scrum Master® (CSM)

  Certified Scrum Master is offered by Scrum Alliance which is the largest, most established, and influential professional membership and certification organization in the agile community. It has adopted the Scrum Guide created by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, the co-creators of the Scrum as their guiding program of study. As a CSM you are expected to build a body of knowledge of the Scrum, including its roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Development Team), ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Backlog Refinement, Sprint Retrospective, Sprint Demo, Daily Standup) and artifacts (Product Backlog Increment, Sprint Backlog and Product Backlog). But keep in mind, integrating Scrum principles and practices takes lots of conscientiousness, fortitude, and commitment to continuous improvement.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: 60 minutes

  • Total Number of questions: 50 (Multiple Choice, Open Book)

  • Pass Percentage: 74% (Open Book)

  • Requirements: Attend an in-person, 16-hour Training taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer

  Professional Scrum Master (PSM)

  Professional Scrum Master is from Scrum.org, an organization that provides broad training, tests, and certifications to improve the profession of software development and delivery using the Scrum framework. Throughout the world, the community of Professional Scrum Trainers (equivalent to Certified Scrum Trainers by Scrum Alliance) endows people and organizations to achieve agility through the Scrum. The Professional Scrum Master level I (PSM I) test is available to those who wish to validate the depth of knowledge in the Scrum framework. On clearing the assessment, you will achieve the PSM I Certification validating your fundamental level of Scrum mastery. Professionals consider the PSM certification as one of the toughest certifications in the industry due to its rigorous syllabus, higher pass percentage, and tough exam patterns.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: 60 minutes

  • Total Number of questions: 80 (Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer and True/False, Closed Book)

  • Pass Percentage: 85%

  • Requirements: Training not mandatory

  Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO)

  Certified Scrum Product Owner is also offered by Scrum Alliance. If you’re someone who has a knack for understanding things from the “business side” of software projects, you are probably the right fit for this certification. As a CSPO, you work on defining the product vision, catalog the Product Backlog with the most important user stories on top, delight the customer by delivering most valuable features/user stories and responsible for maximizing the ROI. Once you get the CSPO credentials, you also receive a two-year membership with Scrum Alliance, which you can use to join local community groups, gain access to discounts on Global and Regional Scrum Gatherings and much more.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: No exam

  • Total Number of questions: Not Applicable

  PMI - Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)

  • Pass Percentage: Not Applicable

  • Requirements: Attend an in-person, 16-hour training taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer.

  The Agile Certified Practitioner from Project Management Institute recognizes your knowledge of Agile Manifesto, its principles, and Agile techniques. The PMI-ACP covers the length and breadth of many approaches to Agile such as Scrum, Lean (Kanban), extreme programming (XP), DSDM, Crystal and TDD, and increases your versatility. PMI-ACP is evidence of your real-world experiences in leading Agile projects, skills and techniques combined. ACP is more rigorous when compared to other certifications as it tests your theoretical knowledge, practical or real world experiences along with your Agile skills.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: 3 hours

  • Total Number of questions: 120 (Multiple Choice, Closed Book)

  • Pass Percentage: There is no explicit Pass Percentage mentioned by PMI, but over a 70% score would help you pass the exam.

  • Requirements:

    • 2000 hours of project management experience. (PMP would suffice)

    • 1500 hours working on Agile projects or with Agile methodologies or working in a team

    • 21 contact hours of training in Agile practices and techniques

  ICAgile Certified Professional

  ICAgile Certified Professional is provided by the International Consortium for Agile. ICAgile Certified Professional lays the foundation in Agile and also paves the way to all other ICAgile tracks. The certification is relevant for those relatively new to Agile, and for practitioners who feel the need to move from “being” Agile to “doing” Agile. Besides, the credential focuses on helping the participants understand the value of learning, regular and continuous feedback, inspect and adapt culture and cross-functional teams.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: No exam

  • Total Number of questions: Not Applicable

  • Pass Percentage: Not Applicable

  • Requirements: Attend an in-person, 16-hour training taught by an IC Agile authorized Training Partner

  ICP-Agile Certified Coach

  The ICP-ACC is again provided by the International Consortium for Agile and is one of two knowledge-based certifications on the Agile Coaching track. The certification primarily revolves around roles, responsibilities, and mindsets of an Agile Coach. After completing this certification or course, the participants will be able to differentiate between mentoring, coaching, facilitating and teaching. As a certified professional, you will also understand how to create an inclusive environment for collaboration and conflict resolution within an Agile team. This credential also presents participants an opportunity to understand team coaching and team development skills while taking into account the organization and processes.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: No exam

  • Total Number of questions: Not Applicable

  • Pass Percentage: Not Applicable

  • Requirements: Attend an in-person, 21-hour training taught by an IC Agile authorized Training Partner

  SAFe® Agilist

  SAFe Agilist is provided by Scaled Agile Academy, a leading organization famous for providing a scaled framework for enterprise agility. SAFe has been widely accepted across the world by most of the Fortune 100 companies. As a SAFe Agilist, you will be able to help organizations scale Lean and Agile development, successfully execute program increments, deliver business value through release trains, and shape portfolio with lean budgeting. Organizations across the world acknowledge Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe) certified professionals for their ability to support the successful transformation of organizations into Lean-Agile enterprise.

  The exam details are:

  • Duration of the Exam: 90 minutes

  • Total Number of questions: 45 (Multiple Choice, Closed Book)

  • Pass Percentage: 75%

  • Requirements: Attend an in-person, 21-hour training taught by an IC Agile authorized Training Partner

  Top Three Reasons to do Agile Certifications

  Increase in Agile adoption

  • “Almost three-quarters (71%) of organizations report using Agile approaches sometimes, often, or always”. (Source: Project Management Institute)

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• Which Agile Certification is the best?

  The effectiveness of certification is measured by

  1) Does it serve as a great entry point for the opportunities that await you and

  2) Offer you the practical training required for you to apply the learnings to real-world business problems that organizations today are battling with.

  This Post Graduate Program in Agile in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst gives you both. It gives you not only the essential certification examination training but also provides you a bootcamp style learning that focuses on all the skills you need to stand out as a world-class Agile professional, anywhere in the world.

• How hard is the Agile Certification exam?

  The difficulty-level of an agile certification almost entirely depends on the individual and the intensity of preparation that has gone into it. Having said that, with the right training program, you can significantly improve your learning efficiency and get better results. This PGP in Agile in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a unique agile bootcamp program delivered by expert and seasoned trainers who tailor their training to adapt to any individual's pace of learning and understanding. Coupled with the well-designed learning that allows for progressive learning, this 6-month program makes it considerably easier to gain the knowledge you need to get the agile certification.

• Are Agile certifications worth it?

  Industry (any) is growing rapidly today, and businesses are racing to keep up - being forced to change their business models, deliver products and services faster, and meet superior quality demands consistently. Agile helps them do that, and professionals with agile skills that agile certifications attest to are some of the most sought-after one's today. Recently, there has been a 24% growth in demand for agile professionals, with nearly 22 million jobs estimated to be created by 2027. An agile certification is a highly effective way for you to ensure that you have the requisite skills you need to grab the best agile job opportunities out there.

• Which is the best Agile Certification for managers?

  The best agile certification for managers depends majorly on the purpose with which the individual chooses to do the certifications. There are multiple certifications that individuals can choose from, based on their preferences and goals. However, our unique PGPin Agile in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst not only offers multiple certifications, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst Post Graduate Program Certificate of Completion but also provides you comprehensive learning on the industry-relevant aspects of agile and the practical skills and tools you need to become job-ready as soon as you complete the program. This training can help you open multiple career paths and related job opportunities too.

• What is Global Teaching Assistance?

  Our teaching assistants are a dedicated team of subject matter experts to help you get certified on your first attempt. They proactively engage with you to ensure adherence to the course path and enrich your learning experience, from class onboarding to project mentoring and job assistance.

• I am not able to access the online agile training program. Who can help me?

  Contact us using the form on the right side of any page on the Simplilearn website, select the Live Chat link, or contact Help & Support.

• What is covered under the 24/7 Support promise?

  We offer 24/7 support through email, chat, and calls. We have a dedicated team that provides on-demand assistance through our community forum. What’s more, you will have lifetime access to the community forum, even after completing your Agile course.

• If I want to cancel my enrollment, can I get a refund?

  Yes, you can cancel your enrollment if necessary. We will refund the program price after deducting an administration fee. To learn more, please read our Refund Policy.

  
  * Disclaimer
  All programs are offered on a non-credit basis and are not transferable to a degree.