Atlassian’s Jira and Confluence are tools for the masses so stand out from the crowd with an Atlassian Certified Professional designation. In this part of our series, we cover how to tackle the ACP-600 exam for the Project Administration in Jira Server (ACP-JPA) certification.
This is part of the How to Prepare for Atlassian Certification blog series. Missed out on the first article? Check out Part 1 .
The ACP-600 and ACP-100 are often confused for one another. While we’re not specifically covering the ACP-100 in this article, we need to briefly discuss the differences between the two certifications. The ACP-600 is the certification exam for the Project Administration in Jira Server. This should not be confused with the ACP-100 which is the exam for the Jira Administration certification (AC-JA). The difference between administering Jira as a whole system versus administering a single project within Jira is the key differentiator here and happens to be the key to understanding the material and preparing for the ACP-600 exam. We’ll explore that more in a moment.
The ACP-600: Project Administration in Jira Server
Upon passing this exam you will earn the AC-JPA designation. This is one of the newest certifications from Atlassian, and is sometimes considered an entry level course with the lowest barrier to entry for certification. It helps that this is the only one you are able to take online. Before taking the exam, refer to the certification page and review the “Take the exam online” section in detail. “Online” does not mean the exam is easy to pass nor does it allow you to take the exam “open-book.” You will need to adequately prepare. We have the pointers you need to succeed.
The most important aspect to understand for this exam is understanding the different permissions as they pertain to certain roles. You should know what the Jira Admin can do (everything!), what the Project Admin permission allows a user to do and especially what functionality the Extended Project Admin permission grants access to. Become well versed in the constraints that accompany each permission and role.
Another major aspect of the exam is to understand how, in your role as a Project Admin, you help the Jira Admin troubleshoot and respond to issues. Remember, the point of the Project Admin with the Extended Project Admin permission is to allow non-Jira Admins to share the workload of the Jira Admin.
It’s often necessary to reduce the bottleneck for Admin support, especially in organizations with a single Jira Admin and many projects with varying configuration needs. By offloading some of the mundane tasks to others, the Admin fosters autonomy within teams and increases ownership of configuration among qualified and trustworthy users (that means you, accompanied by your shiny new credential). So, know your role!
This is a good time to point you to the Atlassian Product Documentation. If you’ve never used it or haven’t in a while, now is the time to (re)introduce yourself. You can and should use this to help study and understand the exam material.
The “Project Admin” permission exists in both Jira Cloud and Jira Server. The “Extended Project Administration” permission is only available in Jira Server. Don’t worry if your experience is only with the Cloud version. Just be aware that if your organization uses Cloud, you won’t be able to utilize the full permissions you need to perform all the fun, cool things you’ll learn about in the study material.
One more guidepost for this certification exam is understanding how to request and recommend changes to the Jira Admin without being able to see the same screens and configurations that the Jira Admin can see. Oooo, tricky, right?! Atlassian isn’t really trying to trick you. The exam covers real-world scenarios and you are expected to know how to provide solutions to issues given the permissions and constraints stated in each question. The real-world administration of Jira is challenging therefore so is this exam.
A special word to those with Jira administration experience: If you have experience configuring Jira as a Jira Admin, this exam will likely make you stumble. You may want to consider the ACP-100. But if you really want the Project Admin certification, be aware! The correct approach to solutioning isn’t always how you would configure the system for the highest efficiency as you have in the past. The solution you’re looking for is the configuration (or recommendation to the Jira Admin) which grants the Project Admin the most autonomy thereby alleviating the workload of the Jira Admin and increasing the efficiency of administering the system. The course material reviews this, but it’s easy to miss. This point is critical for approaching the exam in the correct mindset.
Ready for the exam? Before jumping in, we highly recommend the on-demand webinar offered by Atlassian. The first half is a very fast, but thorough, overview of the course material. The second half answers common questions and concerns about the exam. This webinar alone is NOT enough to prepare you for the exam. Watch it the day before the exam; you’ll be glad you did.
Resources
Atlassian does a terrific job providing all the information you need to understand and prepare for certification. Familiarize yourself with the provided information. For details on pricing, material to study, and associated badges required to maintain your certification, refer to the respective Atlassian Certification exam and FAQs pages. Many of the frequently asked questions about the exam, the testing center policies, how to register for the exam, and more are found on Atlassian’s Policies page.
- Atlassian certification overview for the ACP-600
- Project Administration in Jira Server Course
- Free Webinar: Top Secrets to Success for Project Administration in Jira Server
Conclusion
Earning Atlassian certification is challenging but worth every ounce of effort you put into it. Stay tuned for a deep dive into preparing for the ACP-300 Agile Development with Jira Software.
