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Struggling to choose the right change management certification?

You’re not alone. 

Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to formalise your expertise or someone new to change management aiming to make an impact, choosing the right certification can be overwhelming and complicated.

Three of the leading providers—CCMP, Prosci, and ACLI—each offer unique benefits, but how do you decide which path best aligns with your goals, industry, and learning style?

In this blog, we’ll break down their key features, benefits, and suitability, giving you the clarity to make the right choice for your career. Let’s get started.

Understanding Prosci’s Approach to Change Management

Prosci is widely known for its ADKAR® Model, a goal-oriented change management framework that focuses on the human side of change and its 3-step change methodology. 

ADKAR® stands for Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement—five key stages individuals must go through to embrace change successfully. 

Prosci’s methodology is designed to ensure that change is implemented and sustained over time by addressing the needs and behaviours of those affected by it.

Prosci offers a range of certification programs, with its flagship being the Prosci Change Management Certification

This program equips professionals with the skills to apply the ADKAR® Model in real-world scenarios, making it particularly useful for organisations that prioritise people-centric change initiatives.

The strength of Prosci lies in its emphasis on understanding and managing the impact of change on individuals. 

By focusing on the individual experience of change, Prosci ensures that change is more readily accepted and embedded within the organisation, leading to lasting results. 

This makes Prosci a good choice for professionals who are joining organisations that already use Prosci in-house.

Understanding CCMP’s Approach to Change Management

The Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) is a globally recognised certification offered by the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP)

It is built on the Standard for Change Management, which provides a comprehensive framework for best practices in leading change.

Unlike certifications tied to proprietary methodologies, CCMP takes a model-neutral approach, making it versatile across industries and organisational structures. 

A key distinction is that CCMP is not a training program, and ACMP does not provide associated training options. 

Candidates must seek training independently from approved providers, offering flexibility but requiring proactive planning.

This certification is designed to validate a professional’s competency in managing and implementing change effectively.

To become CCMP certified, candidates must meet several prerequisites, including completing 21 hours of formal training aligned with the Standard for Change Management, demonstrating a minimum of 3–5 years of change management experience, and passing a rigorous exam.

One of CCMP’s key strengths is its global recognition, making it ideal for professionals who work across different industries or geographies. 

The certification is competency-based, meaning it evaluates a candidate’s ability to deliver results rather than adherence to a specific methodology. 

This flexibility allows CCMP to be applied in diverse settings, from corporate environments to non-profits, healthcare, and beyond.

Understanding ACLI’s Approach to Change Management

The Agile Change Leadership Institute stands out by focusing on developing change managers and leaders that can thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environments. 

Unlike traditional change management methodologies, which may emphasise structured processes, the Agile Change Leadership Institute prioritises three agile change capabilities:

  • Data-informed decision making, 
  • Visual and transparent communication; and 
  • Continuous engagement 

The focus on capability means it is an excellent companion to Prosci’s ADKAR® Model. It helps people use their PROSCI certification in agile environments and organisations that are delivering fast-paced change.

Our programs are designed to build future-fit leaders and job-ready change managers who can confidently navigate the complexities of modern business landscapes. 

We offer a range of certifications and courses that combine practical, bite-sized learning modules with real-time practice, reflection, and sharing. 

This approach ensures that participants not only understand the theory behind change management but also gain the hands-on experience needed to apply it effectively in their organisations.

What sets the Agile Change Leadership Institute apart is our commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement and inclusive design of training.

Our teaching encourages participants to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation, equipping them with the tools and mindset needed to lead successful change initiatives in today’s dynamic world. 

Whether you’re looking to update your change management skills or build a more agile organisation, our programs offer the flexibility and depth needed to achieve your goals.

General Course Comparison: Key Differences

Course: ACLI Agile Management Certificate
Time: 4.5 Hours
Pre-requisite: None
Cost AUD: $1,250
Format: Online, 26 microlessons, self-paced

What You’ll Learn:

  • Understand the origins of agile and how it fits into the change management world
  • Know what to expect in your agile change engagement
  • Understand how to translate your favourite change model to agile ways of working
  • Use data to streamline your change approach
  • Uncover the hidden influencers that make change stick
  • Work out how to pre-empt failure fast!
  • Significantly reduce resistance to change
  • Experience professional liberation in new ways of working
  • Ensure that you have all the information you need to make change happen
  • Have surefire ways of delivering change communication that cuts through
  • Move to being a trusted change partner
  • Have five ways to create learning and training that works
  • Know five ways to reduce brain overwhelm
  • Have a set of tactics to keep calm and instil calm
  • Be clear on how you sustain yourself going forward

Assessment:

  • 66 multiple-choice questions
  • 80% pass mark required to advance and complete

Inclusions:

  • A hard copy of Agile Change Playbook
  • Template library (50+)
  • Unique Change Sponsor/Leader Operating Model Guide
  • Curated Resources
  • 50+ agile change practices
  • Access to an online community (Agile Change Adventurers)
  • Digital badge

Course: Prosci Change Management Certification
Time: 3 Days
Pre-requisite: n/a
Cost AUD: $6,295
Format: Instructor-led – in-person or online

What You’ll Learn:

  • Define change management 
  • Explain the value of change management 
  • Apply the Prosci ADKAR® Model to facilitate individual change 
  • Apply the Prosci 3-Phase Process for organizational change 
  • Activate roles that contribute to change success 
  • Formulate the foundation of a Change Management Plan to address a specific project

Assessment:

  • A case study presentation at the end of the course

Inclusions:

  • Program workbook and handouts
  • One-year subscription to digital content, resources, and tools in the Prosci Hub Solution Suite, including:
    • Research Hub – digital versions of Best Practices in Change Management – 12th Edition, topical studies, and relevant data across a broad array of topics
    • Knowledge Hub – Practitioner Program
    • Proxima

Course: Certified Change Management Professional™ Certification

Time: To qualify to take the CCMP test, you’ll need to have completed 21 hours of change management training in the last 7 years.

Pre-requisite:

  • Requires at least 3 years’ experience (based on hours)
  • 21 hours of change management training needs to align with their Standard
  • Courses that are completed through a Qualified Education Provider™ (QEP™) are automatically accepted as a part of the 21 hours. 
    • Both ACLI and Prosci are considered a QEP™

Cost AUD: $1,165 / $930 for ACMP members 

Format:

  • This depends on the training you complete to qualify for this certification

What You’ll Learn:

  • The training you take to fulfil the required 21 hours is up to you.

Assessment: 

Inclusions: 

  • Downloadable CCMP certificate
  • Digital badge

How to Choose the Right Course for You: Key Considerations

Each of the three change management certifications is distinguishably unique from the other, offering distinct approaches, methodologies, and benefits to suit different professional needs and organisational contexts.

While ACLI and Prosci focus on providing structured training programs with practical tools and methodologies, CCMP is a competency-based certification that validates existing expertise through a rigorous exam.

Both ACLI and Prosci are considered Qualified Education Providers™ with their change management courses counting towards the 21 hours of training required to become eligible for the CCMP exam.

The certification is best suited for experienced change practitioners who want to formalise their expertise and demonstrate their ability to lead complex change initiatives through a globally recognised credential. 

It is less suitable for entry-level professionals who may lack the required experience.

If you haven’t completed 21 hours of change management training, both ACLI’s Agile Management Certificate and the Prosci Change Management Certification are excellent options to build your knowledge whilst meeting the training requirements for the CCMP certification. 

Comparing ACLI and Prosci is also difficult to evaluate because both certifications offer unique strengths tailored to different aspects of change management.

One major comparison is that the Agile Change Management Certificate focuses on contemporary change management capabilities, not traditional change management processes. 

Given the speed of change in today’s workplace, many of our graduates find it is the only certificate they need. 

If you have the funds and time available Prosci is the market-leading certification, and some organisations may have a preference for you having it. 

That said, if all of your competition have a Prosci certification you still need to show how you stand out from the crowd. 

To help you decide on the right course for you, let’s look at some key points:

Choose ACLI if you:Choose Prosci if you:Choose CCMP if you:
  • Prefer a self-paced learning format that fits around work and family commitments
  • Work in a fast-paced or agile environment and need practical tools for managing continuous change
  • Embrace a culture of continuous learning and innovation in your approach to change management

 

  • Value a structured, workshop-based program with a defined schedule
  • Want to focus on the human aspects of change using the ADKAR® Model to guide individuals through transitions
  • Prefer a program that emphasises specific tools and strategies for managing how individuals experience change
  • Prefer a structured framework with a focus on predictable, step-by-step processes for leading change

 

  • Are an experienced change practitioner seeking a globally recognised competency-based credential
  • Are willing to complete independent training and a rigorous application and exam process to validate your skills
Choose ACLI if you:
  • Prefer a self-paced learning format that fits around work and family commitments
  • Work in a fast-paced or agile environment and need practical tools for managing continuous change
  • Embrace a culture of continuous learning and innovation in your approach to change management
Choose Prosci if you:
  • Value a structured, workshop-based program with a defined schedule
  • Want to focus on the human aspects of change using the ADKAR® Model to guide individuals through transitions
  • Prefer a program that emphasises specific tools and strategies for managing how individuals experience change
  • Prefer a structured framework with a focus on predictable, step-by-step processes for leading change
Choose CCMP if you:
  • Are an experienced change practitioner seeking a globally recognised competency-based credential
  • Are willing to complete independent training and a rigorous application and exam process to validate your skills

At the end of the day, choosing the right change management course is a significant investment, and it’s crucial to make an informed decision. 

Each of these options offers valuable insights, but it’s essential to understand your specific goals and preferred learning style before committing to one course over another.

We understand that this decision isn’t just about cost—it’s about finding the right fit for your needs. 

That’s why we’ve created a free change management course comparison sheet, featuring 13 key criteria to consider before making your choice.

If you’re looking for further guidance on selecting the best course, explore our comprehensive guide on how to choose the best change management course for your career and organisational goals.

And when you’re ready to enhance your skills, consider our: 

to equip yourself with the skills to lead and thrive in today’s dynamic business environment. 

Start your path to becoming a high-impact change manager equipped to work in any environment today.