Which Agile Project Management Online Deal is Best?
In this day and age there are vast amounts of information available at your finger tips through the wonders of the internet. It is easy to get confused by the volume of offers that come up when looking for an Agile Foundation or Practitioner Course online, whether it be for Agile Project Management classroom training or Agile Project Management training online.
There are vastly more opportunities to study Agile Project Management online and there is a lot to consider when looking at different providers.
Knowing what to look for is imperative when making an informed decision about which provider and course type you are going to study with. There are some important factors to consider and as each person is different, choosing the right package for you can often be time consuming.
I have aimed to demystify some of the terminology used by course providers and to outline some of the pitfalls that people often come across when browsing for an Agile Course online.
Training Prices
A lot of people will focus on price but you should be very careful about making your decision based on the price of an Agile project management course alone. You should spend some time looking at what the package includes if you’re going for both Agile Foundation and Practitioner online and what you are getting for your money.
An Agile course may seem cheap but it might not have everything you need in order for you to study and pass your official qualification successfully. Following the steps below will ensure you pick the best deal for you at the most cost effective price.
An important factor to check is whether it includes the Practitioner course online, or whether it is just the Agile Foundation Course, also it is essential you check that VAT is included with the price quoted. If not, you will have to pay that on top and although it may not seem important, it can bump up the price quite substantially and the price is suddenly not as appealing.
Exam Fees
Another point to consider is whether your exam fees are included in the price they are offering. This can bring the cost up by as much as £678 if they are not already included in the pricing you have seen advertised. If they are not included, it is best practice to check if the course provider offers discounted exam fees for the Agile exam.
Some registered providers can offer around 40% off of the official exam pricing, which makes you an important saving. Often, the initial price will seem cheaper but with full exam costs the total cost of the package is not as competitive as it first appears.
Following on from the point documented above, how easy is it for you to take your exam? What exam process does the provider offer? A lot of providers can now offer online exams, meaning you have great flexibility as these can be sat during evenings and weekends too. Will you have to travel to a centre? Are the times and dates convenient to yourself?
This is something you should look in to, as it can prove a headache if you’re not prepared for all of this.
Course Access
The length of time you have access to the course is also something you should check. How long will you be able to access the Agile course? Ideally, you should look for at least a 12 month access period for security. You may be able to complete the course within three months but this may not prepare you for unforeseen issues that may arise.
For example, if you were to pick up a new contract along the way you may find that you have less time to study than anticipated. If you only have two to three months access, you could be very stretched to complete the course. Having extra time could prove very beneficial to you. It is often worth checking with the course provider about how much you will have to pay to renew your course access.
If you have to pay continuously to extend the course access for three months at a time, you may find it is more cost effective to choose to study an Agile course that provides access for a year to start with.
Agile Project Management Accredited Course
Something that a lot of people will miss (that is actually very important when choosing your Agile Online training) is the course itself. Is it accredited by the APMG themselves? This will guarantee the reliability of the content you are studying.
In order for a course to be accredited by them it first has to be sent off and reviewed. They will then approve and accredit it if it is deemed to be of good quality and will follow the official course syllabus to aid you in preparation for the AgilePM official examinations.
Exam Simulators
Finally, one thing that is not often considered is what is included in the Agile Online course content. Do you have access to exam simulators? It has been proven that being able to practice the exam and see common questions frequently, aids exceptional pass rates. It is essential that you have access to these.
Another helpful feature and question to ask is – is there tutor support available? Do you have access to any technical support if needed? Can you go back over the course and simulators if need be? Many people find that increased support during study gives them peace of mind that takes away some of the stress that is often associated with studying towards an official Agile Foundation or Agile Practitioner examination.
Following these simple guidelines can stop you getting caught out, and provide the ideal Agile package for you. Whatever study path you choose to take – Agile Foundation level, Agile Practitioner level or both, just knowing the right questions to ask can save you a lot of time and money. Don’t get caught out and spend time doing your research.
It will definitely benefit you long term and help you to achieve your long term goals. Cutting corners can lead to unnecessary stress and unforeseen costs. Be smart to get smarter.