Eligibility Criteria and Choosing the Certificate Level

IPMA® Certificates include four different levels depending on the candidate’s experience and competencies as an agile leader: Levels D, C, B and A. Study the requirements listed below and find a certificate suitable for you!

Eligibility Criteria Determines Certificate Level

Choosing the correct certificate level depends on candidate’s experience as an agile leader and on the complexity of their agile assignments. Eligibility criteria for initiating certification, i.e. minimum requirements, have been defined for each of the four IPMA® Agile roles. 

Eligibility Criteria on Different Levels


  • The candidate possesses broad knowledge of agile leadership.
  • The candidate is aware of the Competence Elements defined for agile leader.
  • No previous agile experience is required.

  • The candidate has worked as an agile leader role in assignments in his/her organisation.
  • The candidate can manage normal agile assignments.
  • The candidate possesses at least three years of experience in leading normal agile assignments during the last six years OR
  • The candidate possesses at least three years of experience in a responsible agile leader role assisting an agile leader in complex agile assignments during the last six years. 
  • When justified, the evidence timescale can be extended by four years, thus encompassing the last ten years.
A responsible agile leader role is defined as a role in which the candidate has worked in a supervisory position within an agile framework. This must be evident e.g. in agile organisation in such a way that the supervisor in question must have lead people in an agile assignment. Managing things alone does not fulfil the set criterion.

  • The candidate has worked in an agile leader role in complex agile assignments within his/her organisation.
  • The candidate is capable of managing complex agile assignments.
  • The candidate possesses at least five years of experience as an agile leader during the last eight years.
  • During his/her five years of experience, the candidate possesses at least three years of experience in a responsible agile leader role managing complex agile assignments. When justified, the evidence timescale can be extended by four years, thus encompassing the last twelve years.
A responsible agile leader role is defined as a role in which the candidate has worked in a supervisory position within an agile framework. This must be evident e.g. in agile organisation in such a way that the supervisor in question must have people who work under him/her. Managing things alone does not fulfil the set criterion.

  • The candidate has worked as an agile leader in very complex agile environments that have a strategic impact on his/her organisation.
  • The candidate is capable of leading very complex strategic-level agile assignments.
  • The candidate possesses at least five years of experience in a responsible agile leader role leading very complex agile assignments during the last twelve years. The evidence timescale cannot be extended.
A responsible agile leader role is defined as a role in which the candidate has worked in a supervisory position within an agile framework. This must be evident e.g. in agile organisation in such a way that the supervisor in question must have people who work under him/her. Managing things alone does not fulfil the set criterion. 

Previous Agile Assignments

On all levels, except on Level D, the candidate must include previous assignments in the application in order to prove that experience meets the time-based eligibility criteria of the level in question. The one reference assignment that best illustrates the candidate’s experience must be presented in more detail. The maximum allowed time from the conclusion of the reference assignment is two (2) years to the submission date of the application .

Receive a Real Professional Title via Certification

Once the candidate has acquired a certificate of a certain level, they will be entitled to use the professional title corresponding to the level in question. The title options for the four different levels are:
  • Level D: Certified Agile Associate
  • Level C: Certified Agile Leader
  • Level B: Certified Agile Senior Leader 
  • Level A: Certified Agile Organisational Leader
More information on the certification assessment criteria