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:
The Certificate is divided into six sections:
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.
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.
Learners should have some expereince in Agile project management prior to enrolling. Furthermore, all registrants must meet the following requirements:
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.
In order to earn a certificate of completion from Duke Continuing Studies, students must successfully:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do you have a group (Duke or non-Duke entity) interested in training? Contact the Program Manager for details.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
There are no refunds, cancellations, or transfers for online, self-paced courses.
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.
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:
