Agile methodologies continue the moment of shaping the future of project management. More organizations or various industries are adopting these methodologies at unprecedented levels day by day. This trend makes the demand for Agile trained individuals or teams among the organizations to achieve their agility success.
To fulfil this demand, two popular certifications are the best choice among professionals, that are: Advanced Certified Scrum Master training (A-CSM) and PRINCE2 Agile Certifications. Both of these certifications contribute to professionals by improving their understanding of project management and delivery particularly in the agile context and hybrid environments. Knowing the difference between these two certifications is key knowledge for career goals and organizational needs.
Understanding Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM):
The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) is a certification offered by Scrum Alliance that builds your knowledge on the foundational knowledge of the Certified Scrum Master (CSM). This course provides individual professionals with the advanced techniques and tools to support teams, product owners, and the entire organization.
Understanding PRINCE2 Agile Certifications:
PRINE2 Agile is a project management approach that combines the process-based and structured governance of PRINE2 along with the flexible, iterative nature of Agile methods. This methodology is suitable for projects that need both control and adaptability for changing environments.
| PRINCE2 stands for PRojects IN Controlled EnvironmentsAgile means being adaptable, quick to respond to change, and able to move or think quickly and easily |
PRINCE2 was initially developed to standardise project management by the UK government plus AXELOS, now acquired and maintained by PeopleCert. The most recent version is PRINCE2 7.
These PRINCE2 Agile certifications are delivered at two levels:
- PRINCE2 Agile Foundation
- PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner.
PRINCE2 Agile Foundation & Practitioner Course is a blended training program for both foundational and practitioner level certification that gives you the basics of PRINCE2 and Agile techniques, along with how to effectively apply this hybrid methodology in the workplace.
A-CSM vs. PRINCE2 Agile: Key Differences:
| Aspect | A-CSM | PRINCE2 Agile Certifications |
| Accreditation Body | Scrum Alliance | Axelos/PeopleCert |
| Focus | Agile Methodology (Particularly Scrum Framework) | Hybrid Methodology (PRINCE2 + Agile) |
| Certification Level | A-CSM is an Advanced Level. CSM certification is Foundational Level. | Two certification levels: PRINCE2 Agile Foundation: Fundamentals of Agile concepts and PRINCE2 Governance PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner: Teaches how to apply PRINCE2 Agile in real projects. |
| Target Audience | Scrum Masters | Project Managers & Aspirants. PRINCE2 Agile Foundation: Professionals new to PRINCE2 Agile, Project team members PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner: Project managers, Agile practitioners who hold some recommended certifications |
| Eligibility | Must hold CSM Certification and have 1 years (12 months) of experience as a Scrum Master. | PRINCE2 Agile Foundation: None PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner: Must hold anyone of the following 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 | No examination, instead training and course work prescribed by CSTs is mandatory. | PRINCE2 Agile Foundation: 50 multiple choice questions, Closed Book60 Minutes (1 hour) DurationPassing Score: 55% (28 out of 50 Questions needs to correctly answered) PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner: 50 multiple choice questions, Open Book (PRINCE2 Agile® Guide)150 Minutes (2.5 Hours)60% (30 out of 50 Questions needs to correctly answered) |
| Course Training | 16 hours of Interactive training by Certified Scrum Trainers. | PRINCE2 Agile Foundation: 16 Hours of Live Instructor-Led Training PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner: 16 Hours of Live Instructor-Led Training |
| Certification Validity | 2 Years | For both levels 3 Years |
| PDUs/SEUs After course Completion | 16 SEUs/PDUs | 16 PDUs for each certification. Total 32 PDUs. |
| Renewal | Maintaining your A-CSM by earning 30 Scrum Education Units and paying the renewal fee of $ 175. | For both certifications, maintain validity through Axelos/PeopleCert membership, which involves logging Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. |
| Approach | Iterative and More flexible, Team-Driven | Structured, Process-Based, Control-oriented, with Agile flexibility. |
| Project Suitability | Projects with changes happening over the progress and required to react fast. | Projects requiring a balance of Structured governance and agility |
| Risk Management | Iterative Risk identification and mitigation | Systematic risk identification, assessment and mitigation |
| Team Roles | Senior Scrum MasterAgile CoachProduct OwnerChief Information Officer (CIO) | Project CoordinatorProject Support AnalystBusiness AnalystProject AdministratorSoftware Development/IT Support Specialist |
| Certification Focus | Deepens Scrum Master Skills, Coaching, Facilitation | Mergers PRINCE2’s Governance with Agile delivery |
| Documentation | Minimal Documentation, focus on working product release frequently | Requires extensive and detailed documentation. |
| Applications | Software Development, web applications, e-commerce, and Agile consulting | Large, complex projects, public sector, government, finance, and industries with strict compliance needs |
| Most Popular Certification in | United States, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and the United Kingdom, India, China Etc. (Globally Recognized) | United Kingdom, followed by other European countries, Australia, and New Zealand. |
Final Thoughts:
So, as a conclusion point let’s discuss When to Choose Which Certifications. If you are primarily working within a Scrum Team minimum of 1 year and already hold valid CSM certification and also you seek to advance your Scrum master skills, particularly focusing on facilitation, coaching, and servant leadership, then A-CSM is a suitable choice for you.
You get deepened knowledge of practical techniques like improving team dynamics, removing impediments, scaling Scrum.
On the other side, You are willing to work with hybrid methodologies, a blend of structured governance and agile flexibility, If you operate in environments where compliance, risk management, and documentation are important for safety measures and Projects are complex, involve multiple teams in these scenarios PRINCE2 Agile certified professionals play a crucial role.
So, the choice completely depends on your specific career goals, organizational context, and the project type you typically work on.
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