Agile Practitioner

Agile is a method of project management characterized by the division of tasks into short phases of work and frequent reassessment and adaptation of plans. Agile project methodology breaks down projects into small pieces that are completed in work sessions that run from the design phase to testing and quality assurance. It is used especially in software development.

This self-paced, online program provides an intermediate level understanding of Agile and its processes. It is designed to prepare learners for the Project Management Institute's Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® exam. The program begins with Agile Basics and Agile Applications before continuing on to cover the key tools, techniques and strategies that PMI® has listed as important for Agile practitioners to understand in order to achieve their certification.

This course aligns with the PMBOK® Guide Sixth Edition. (The PMBOK® Guide is not required for this course.)

Students who complete the Agile Practitioner Certificate are awarded a total of 2.1 CEUs and 21 PDUs (Leadership: 10; Strategic & Business Mgmt.: 7; Technical: 4). Students have six months to complete all of the coursework, beginning on the date they are emailed the course access. Learners should have some experience in Agile project management prior to enrolling.

Upon completion of this certificate, students should be able to do the following:

  • Identify the similarities and differences among Agile methodologies
  • Describe the stages of the Agile development cycle and identify the factors that promote project success
  • Understand how to apply specific tools and techniques to successfully complete Agile projects
  • Understand the interrelationships of tasks, activities, and practices in Agile projects
  • Understand the specific roles and responsibilities of team members and enhance interaction on Agile teams
  • Successfully complete the PMI-ACP® certification exam
  • Effectively lead and work with Agile teams

The Certificate is divided into six sections:

  • Agile Basics 
  • Agile Applications 
  • Agile Tools and Techniques 
  • Agile PMI Domains and Tasks 
  • PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) Exam Strategies
  • Practice Exams

It is recommended that students complete the above sections in sequential order, but students are able to access all sections at any time.  The program offers an assortment of interactive exercises, real-world case studies, and games, and has an "Ask the Expert" feature, which submits your questions directly to an expert in the field you are studying. Questions are answered within three business days.

The Certificate provides a thorough preparation for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification exam. Please note that the tuition does not include the cost of the exam, and students are responsible for applying for it.

Project Management Institute, PMI, the Registered Education Provider logo, Project Management Professional, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, Project Management Body of Knowledge, PMBOK, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner, PMI-ACP, PMI Risk Management Professional, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMI-PBA, the PMI Talent Triangle, and the PMI Talent Triangle logo are marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Quizzes and Testing

There are tests throughout the program. Each course contains exercises and scenarios for students to answer and self-assess their learning. Students are required to complete all content elements in each course and earn a minimum of 70% on the second 120-question practice test to earn their certificate and receive their CEU and PDU credits. Students will have three attempts on the exam.

As a non-credit program, students earn a complete/incomplete status.  Letter grades are not issued, nor recorded by Duke Continuing Studies.

This certificate provides a thorough preparation for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification exam and is based on A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) 6th edition.

Duke University Continuing Studies has no affiliation with PMI-ACP exam registration.  Students are responsible for applying to sit for the exam, and the cost of the exam is not included in program tuition. More information on how to apply can be found here: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/agile-acp

Completion of the Duke Agile Practitioner program does not guarantee eligibility to sit for the PMI-ACP exam. The PMI governs the policies, processes and administration of the examination and does require a minimum level of project management and Agile experience to qualify for the exam. Prospective students to the Duke Agile Certified Practitioner Program whose intent is to sit for the PMI-ACP examination should consult with PMI to ascertain if they meet the exam eligibility experience and education requirements.

Eligibility

Learners should have some expereince in Agile project management prior to enrolling. Furthermore, all registrants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Possess word processing and internet skills
  • Be fluent in the English language (including reading and writing)
  • Be familiar with how online programs work and be comfortable using them
  • Be computer literate, have reliable internet access and a valid email account (Please note personal email accounts are preferred as they are less likely to be blocked by firewalls and spam filters)
  • Meet the computer technical requirements specifications

Admission is discretionary. The office of Duke Continuing Studies, Professional Certificate Programs, requires students be a least 18 years of age and meet minimum suitability standards. Students are not matriculated Duke University students and university student privileges do not apply to Continuing Studies students.

Duke Continuing Studies reserves the exclusive right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to withhold registration or require withdrawal from the program of any student or applicant.

The materials used in this course are copyrighted and are intended for individual use by registered students. Unauthorized or illegal use, or attempted use, of these materials will result in a suspension and/or cancellation of the user’s account.

Certificate requirements

In order to earn a certificate of completion from Duke Continuing Studies, students must successfully:

  • Pay tuition in full (upon registration).
  • Complete the program in its entirety within the six month time frame (beginning when students are emailed their program access).
  • Complete all assignments and quizzes and get a minimum score of 70% on the second practice exam. (Students are given three attempts on all exams).

Technical requirements

Operating System
  • Windows XP SP2 or newer
  • Mac OS 10.4.11 or higher
  • Linux/Unix (any recent version)
Hardware
  • 1 Ghz or faster CPU
  • 512 MB RAM
  • Video card
  • Sound card and headphones or speakers (some assignments have audio components)
Software
  • Microsoft Office 97 (or newer) or comparable office suite such as Open Office (free download available at openoffice.org)
  • Adobe Flash Player 9 or greater (free download available at adobe.com)
  •  Adobe Reader/Acrobat Reader 7.0 or greater (free download available at adobe.com)
Web Browser
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or greater
  • Firefox 3.6 or greater (free download available)
  • Netscape, Safari, Opera, Chrome, and other web browsers may work, however may not render all features of the course(s)
  • Cookies must be enabled
  • JavaScript must be enabled
Internet
  • Reliable internet connection
  • E-mail account (to be able to register and to receive e-mail from the system regarding registration, course status, etc.)

Schedule

Registration is ongoing; therefore students can begin the program when it is convenient for them.

Registration is not available June 24-30 annually due to the close of the fiscal year for the university.

Registration

Note: our enrollment system is a separate system from that used for your online training, and therefore, access to the online training is not an automated process upon your registration. Please be aware that there may be a time delay of up to 5 business days before you receive the email with your access to the online program. This delay will not affect your allotted completion time for the program. Please check your spam/junk folder because sometimes the access emails end up there.

 

Enrollment Steps

  • Register for this program and pay tuition in full.
  • Receive an email within five business days from our program partner MindEdge containing details about how to access the program’s web portal.
  • Log in and begin coursework. Students will have six months to complete their coursework from the date they receive their program access.

Registration Methods

  1. Register Online using a debit or credit card with our secure, real-time registration system. Add the course to your shopping cart and follow the instructions for checking out.
  2. Email learnmore@duke.edu if you wish to enroll using some other method of payment or are seeking a Duke employee discount on your tuition. 

Once I have completed this program, will I be an Agile Certified Practitioner? 

No. Students must successfully take the PMI-ACP exam to receive their certification. Please note that students are responsible for applying for the exam and paying any applicable fees. Please also note that PMI has other prerequisites besides education in order to sit for the exam.

Are there textbooks, and if so, are they included in the cost of the tuition?

Students are not required to purchase any textbooks for this program.  

Is this program affiliated with any other office at Duke University?

This program is not affiliated with any other Duke office. It is offered exclusively through Duke Continuing Studies in a collaboration with MindEdge. 

Does Duke faculty serve as instructors/mentors/subject matter experts in the program?

For programs that include such features (not all do) we have chosen as instructors to use individuals who practice, and in many cases are certified, in the subject matter area being taught to enrich the professional working adult learning experience.

Do I have to log on a certain times on certain days?

No, these courses are completely self-paced, allowing students to schedule the course work as they so desire within the allotted access time.

Am I able to take individual courses?

No, Agile Practitioner is available as a certificate only, and individual courses cannot be purchased separately.

When is registration open?

Students may register between July 1 and June 23 each year. Registration is not available from June 24-June 30 annually due to the close of the fiscal year for the university.

After registering, when will students receive additional program details?

Within five business days of enrollment (excluding Duke holidays), students will receive an email from our program partner MindEdge with web access information.

Is access to a computer required during this program?

This is an exclusively online program and access to a reliable computer is required for the duration of the program.

How long do students have access to each online course?

Students will have access to all courses within the certificate for six months (180 days) from the date in which they receive program access.

How long does the certificate take to complete?

The entire certificate is estimated to take 21 hours to complete. Completion time will vary by student.

Are extensions granted to students who request them?

No. Sufficient time to complete coursework has been given, and therefore no extensions will be granted.  If a course is not finished and a student wants to re-enroll to complete it, he or she will have to purchase the course/package again and restart the training from the beginning of the course.

What are the technical requirements for this program?

See the Requirements section above.

How do students ask questions?

Each course has an "Ask the Expert" feature, which submits your questions directly to an expert in the field you are studying. Questions are answered as quickly as possible and usually within 24 hours.

What do students do if there are technical issues while completing the course?

Students should contact the Duke Program Manager via email to troubleshoot technical issues.  Students can expect a response within three business days.

How do students earn a certificate of completion from Duke Continuing Studies?

Students who complete all program content within the allotted time, achieve the minimum grade required, and pay tuition in full (upon registration) will receive a certificate of completion from Duke Continuing Studies. Students will be able to download, for up to six months from completing the program, a certificate of completion from the Learning Management System.

Will these courses count for credits or degrees?

No. These courses are not applicable to a degree.

Upon completion of one or more courses how do students get verification of their IACET and PMI PDU credits?

Students download their certificate of completion from the Learning Management System. The certificate will include CEU and PDU credits earned.

What is the refund policy for these courses?

There are no refunds given for online courses.

Tuition: $575

Duke Employee Discount

  •  $57 off the fee of $575; Duke employee pays fee of $518
  • Student must register and pay tuition in full prior to receiving program access
  • Questions: Contact Program Manager at 919-684-3379 

Discount must be requested and applied during the registration process and cannot be applied in addition to any other discount that may be offered. You may be asked to verify your status as a Duke employee.

Group Discount

Do you have a group (Duke or non-Duke entity) interested in training? Contact the Program Manager for details.

Funding Sources

No loans can be construed to imply any degree-seeking status for students of Duke Continuing studies. Duke Continuing Studies courses are non-credit.

Duke Continuing Studies (DCS) will not certify (approve) loan amounts greater than the amount of the tuition regardless of the amount approved by the lending agency. DCS reserves the right to reject any loan which exceeds the tuition amount. DCS will not be responsible for refunding monies in excess of the tuition. Students needing to secure loan funding for books or other items in relation to the program are responsible for making separate loan arrangements with the funding agency. No loan funds will be refunded to the student.

Should a student choose to borrow less than the tuition amount, the balance must be paid prior to the close of the registration period.

Funding Sources

Our Professional Certificate programs are non-credit (not degree applicable); therefore, they are NOT eligible for federal education loans. DO NOT SUBMIT FAFSA FORMS for these programs. Some of our programs may offer payment plans. Please see individual program web pages for those details.

Other Funding Sources

The funding options listed below may not be applicable to all programs at this time. Please contact the organization offering the funding to see if you qualify and if the funds can be used for the program in which you are interested.

Sallie Mae Smart Option Loan

To apply for this private student loan, visit Sallie Mae’s website, and click the I’m ready to apply button. The following application should populate with the pertinent information for Duke Continuing Studies.

  • Under Loan Needs, select Student and then Undergraduate degree.
  • Select Career training school.
  • Select North Carolina from the drop down menu.
  • Under name of school begin typing DUKE PROFESSIONAL, then select DUKE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES, DURHAM, NC, 00292099 when it populates.
  • Click Continue.
  • Next, You've confirmed that you want a Smart Option Student Loan for DUKE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES will appear.
  • Click Continue.
  • Fill out Basic Information.
  • Fill out Permanent Address section.
  • Fill out School Information.
    • DUKE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES, DURHAM, NC, 00292099 should already have populated for the school.
    • Select Certificate for Degree/Certificate of Study.
    • Select your Specialty or select Other if it is not shown in the options.
    • Select Half Time for Enrollment Status.
    • Select Certificate/Continuing Ed for Grade Level.
    • Enter your Loan period begins and loan period end dates.
    • Enter your Anticipated Graduation / Completion.
    • Enter loan amount. NOTE: This may not exceed the cost of tuition.
    • Estimated financial assistance should be $0.00.
    • Under Loan request, click Use calculated need.
    • Do not check any box in typical school expenses.
  • Follow the remaining loan application prompts.
Wells Fargo Graduate Loan

Please note that Wells Fargo is no longer accepting new applications for their private student loans. However, students with an outstanding balance on a Wells Fargo private student loan may be eligible to be borrowers on a new private loan. See here for details.

Duke Hospital Employees

Duke University Hospital employees may be eligible for support from the Employee Development Initiative (EDI), which helps employees pay for short-term career-related programs, workshops, and seminars. For more information, visit the Employee Development Initiative site or call Duke Hospital Human Resources at (919) 668-2170.

Workforce Investment Act

The WIA provides professional and basic skills training services to those who have been unable to find employment. Please keep in mind that this process can be lengthy, so plan to apply well in advance of the program start date.  For more information on eligibility, the application process, or to find your local Workforce Development Board, visit the NC JobLink Career Center website.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps Education Awards are available only for AmeriCorps volunteers and can be used for educational expenses for non-degree courses, such as Continuing Education courses offered by qualified schools. For more information on qualified schools and programs, contact the National Service Trust at 1-800-942-2677, or visit the FAQ page of the AmeriCorps website.

Wire Transfers

Contact our registration office at learnmore@duke.edu for details on how to send wire transfers. Very specific instructions must be followed in order for our office to receive a successful transfer.

Online Refund and Transfer Policy

There are no refunds, cancellations, or transfers for online, self-paced courses.

Extension Policy

No extensions will be granted. Students who require additional time to complete the course(s) they registered for will be responsible for re-registering and paying for the course in full for a second time.

Tax Deductions

Course fees and expenses are sometimes tax deductible. Please consult an accountant concerning this matter. Non-credit programs at Duke Continuing Studies do not generate 1098-T forms, in accordance with the following IRS guideline:

  • Instructions for Forms 1098-E and 1098-T published by the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, states “You do not have to file Form 1098-T or furnish a statement for: Courses for which no academic credit is offered, even if the student is otherwise enrolled in a degree program…”