✨Evolving the Atlassian Certification Program

[#1]

G’day, training & certification group! 👋🏻 My name is Suzanne Veljanoski and I joined the Atlassian family at the end of June with an exciting mission: to scale our Certification program to unprecedented heights.       

I’m writing to share the latest in that effort, including three things all of our current certification holders will want to keep in mind:

• On February 2, 2024, we will retire the current iteration of our Atlassian Certified Expert (ACE) Program and Pro Skills badges (find much more detail below).
• These retirements will allow us to deliver the next iteration in our certification program — and we’ve designed a way to make sure you can still stay current on certification.
• We’ll be communicating throughout the change to make sure you’re aligned and ready for what's next.

So, without further ado, onto the details!                                                                                                                                 

ACE Retirement Explained                                                                        

As the Atlassian product and Community grow, we want to provide a new way to honor those who want to validate their expertise at the highest level. Our goal is to get away from a one-size-fits-all solution and include all aspects of the certification program like our newest credential, Atlassian Certified Associate — and a variety of avenues for achievement.

With that, the current iteration of our ACE program will retire on February 2, 2024. Individuals will no longer be able to earn the ACE standing as of that date. It is still possible to earn the ACE standing between now and February 2, 2024, and all current ACE holders will receive a special non-expiring certification honoring that accomplishment.

This decision allows time to strategize the future direction of this prestigious program, ensuring that it reflects the evolving landscape of Atlassian and aligns seamlessly with our community's needs.

Pro Skills Badge Retirement Explained

Pro Skills Badges are an integral part of the certification renewal process. While these badges have served the program well in the past, they have become outdated in terms of content and practicality. We understand that your time is invaluable, and want to ensure that time dedicated to continued learning and certification renewal is productive and meaningful.

To address this, we have decided to retire Pro Skills Badges. On February 2, 2024, along with our previously advertised retirements, our Pro Skills Badges and Skill Builder courses will no longer be available. You will continue to be able to display any retired credentials earned through this program indefinitely. We know this is a big change, but it is one designed to pave the way for a more dynamic and effective certification maintenance program.

How the Pro Skills Badge Retirement Impacts Renewal

We understand that the Pro Skills badge retirement creates a gap in content for certification renewal. We want to assure you that we are committed to making this process as smooth as possible.

To facilitate this transition, we’re implementing a temporary pause of suspended or expired certifications. From February 1, 2024 to September 30th, 2024***, no active certifications will expire or enter into suspension, and no suspended certifications will expire.

Help Us Get Clear on What You Need

This strategic pause will enable us to implement changes that align with our commitment to quality and innovation — and create a new way to renew Atlassian Certifications. We’re excited about the future and how we can make earning and renewing Atlassian certifications more valuable and practical.

I'll be back soon with more details on the program’s evolution as we get closer to September 30th, 2024.

If you have any questions or concerns, please read through this FAQ and reach out to us if needed. Your feedback is invaluable as we take our program to new heights.

✌🏻Suzanne Veljanoski
Credentials & Certifications @ Atlassian                                                                                               ***July 2024 previously stated as date in which Certifications will extend to and. This has been extended further to September 2024.                                                                                        

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question	Answer
What is retiring when?	Check out this page to see a list of Planned Retirements
Do I need to renew my certifications? Will my certification expire during this pause?	No. Expirations will be paused until September 30th,  2024***.
Can I still earn the non-retiring ACP and ACA certifications?	Yes, the retirement of the ACE standing and the Pro Skills badges will not impact your ability to earn the active ACP and ACA certifications.
Can I still earn ACE?	Yes! Anyone who earns ACE between now and February 2 will receive a special legacy certification to display in perpetuity. Stay tuned! A new version of ACE will be launched later this year.
Why are you making this change?	Atlassian's values have always been our guiding force, shaping our actions and decisions. Your journey with us is integral to the success of our community, and we are dedicated to providing you with the best possible certification experience. This strategic pause will pave the way for an evolved, more inclusive way to earn ACE.
Can I still display my ProSkills Badges?	Proskills badges can continue to be displayed as recognition of that validation.
I’m an ACE, when will I receive my new designation? Where will I see it?	This elite designation that enters you into a class all your own will be delivered before September 30th, 2024, and accessible via the Certification portal.
I’m an ACE, how can I help?	We’ll be inviting our ACE community to provide suggestions and feedback on the next iteration. Stay tuned in the new year (2024) for more information.
When will we hear from you again?	We’ll be communicating throughout the change to make sure you’re aligned and ready for what's next right here in the community! Stay tuned in the new year (2024) for more information.
I am on my way to earning ACE - what now?	If you earn ACE by February 2nd you will receive the special legacy standing. If not, hold tight until we polish the program - we’ll communicate how to earn and display more expert-level credentials as the information becomes available.
I still have questions, how can I contact you?	Contact us through our channels or through the community.

[Laurie Sciutti]

🤓📚

[Martin Runge]

Looking forward what's coming new...

[Anzar]

Curious to know what’s coming next this year🤓

New Certifications?

New ways to renew them?

New expiry dates?

New Swags?

[Pramodh M]

@Suzanne Veljanoski

Curious to see that an expert title & all the pro skill badges are going away and also excited for what's coming!

Can you please confirm if the Atlassian University courses related to these Pro Skill Badges are going to stay?

[Patricia Francezi]

As an ACE I can envision that we will have different paths of expertise on the way.

I would love to provide suggestions and feedbacks.

and I m very curious about the final goals of the program, and how it will help the current community in the learning journey.

I get the certification, not only for the title, but for the learning itself... I learn a lot in every certification study plan! 

[Stephan Hannach]

I am looking forward to the upcoming system!

I hope the Lab part gets more in focus. May, with an interactive platform.

‌

@Suzanne Veljanoski for clarity's sake for others and myself with certifications extending and due to expire on February 1st:

There's no need for to renew the certification that's set to expire on February 2nd, as it's being extended once more, this time until July?

Additionally, the expiring certification linked to ACE is being deferred until July as well?

[Marc Koppelaar]

Hi @Suzanne Veljanoski 

As I'm reading this correctly, then I don't need to renew my current expiring ACP-CA and ACP-JSD certification that are set to expire at February 2nd 2024?

Due to the change on the program, they will be retained.

I hope this is the case and you can confirm this, as otherwise I need to renew them asap.

Kind regards

[Dan Tombs]

It'll be great to understand what the new ACE will be. I was going for it until this announcement and I'm not quite sure I'll make it before the cutoff now.

[Chris Rogers]

@Suzanne Veljanoski

Echoing @Stephan Hannach and @Marc Koppelaar; it would be nice to have confirmation whether this impacts certs that are expiring on Feb 2nd.

@Dan Tombs - I'm in the same boat; was looking to try and get my ACE squared away early next year, I'll have to move up the timeline if the window is closing!

[Suzanne Veljanoski]

@Pramodh M The skill builder coureses will also be retired, but have no fear! We understand the skill builder content is valuable and will be repurposed into our on-demand learning courses. 


@Stephan Hannach @Marc Koppelaar @Chris Rogers Confirming for you that there is no need to renew those scheduled to expire on the 2nd. The pause in the expiration and suspensions also includes ACP-CA, ACP-JPA, ACP-JSW, ACP-JSD, ACP-SA. There is no longer a required extension or pathway to upgrade. We'll be in touch soon with next steps, if any, in the new year. 

[Josh Costella]

[deleted]

[Chris Rogers]

@Suzanne Veljanoski Happy New Year!  Quick question: If I don't upgrade my ACP-JPA to ACP-MJDP but want to try for my ACE designation before it closes off, will the ACP-JPA still meet that requirement?

[Carlos Garcia Navarro]

Thanks for sharing! I got my ACE status last month and I'm excited to hear I'll be able to keep it! :-) 

[Jimmy Seddon]

Thanks for the information @Suzanne Veljanoski!

I'm excited to see what's coming in July!

[P_D_ Foerster]

Oh, didn't expect this. Currently, I'm preparing for the next ACP and thought I could get the ACE this year .. well this won't happen anymore :(

[Łukasz Przybyłowicz]

Hey, I can`t see the ability to enroll for https://university.atlassian.com/student/activity/850541-apb-220-confluence-space-administration-pro-skills-badge

has something already changed?

(I`ve passed it before and it`s already expired, but now, even in PSI exams platform, I don`t have option to renew it)

[Kondeti Rajesh]

@Suzanne Veljanoski ,Is there any extension for this ACE Retirement plan.  This is very short notice not even two months from the announcement date.

[Ayushi Saxena]

Hi @Suzanne Veljanoski 

Glad to hear new changes coming in.

However, It came as surprise to me and my team as we prepared for Managing Agile Pro-skill badge and were trying to schedule it since 30th Jan but getting error -

As it was mentioned on Maintain your certifications needed to take Skillbuilder course Managing Agile Boards and Reports to earn the Managing Jira Projects for Data Center (ACP-MJDP certification, which replaced Jira Project Administrator for Data Center and Server (ACP-JPA) expiring on 2nd Feb (tomorrow).

For same I and my colleague prepared and were scheduling exam. Any specific reason to disable these ASB before 2nd from certmetrics/psi booking?

We would like to upgrade our ACP-JPA expiring tomorrow, any possibilities for having us give badge and do same?

Also, would advise to have such information to also be updated on Atlassian university pages like 'Maintain your certifications' and 'Retirements and upgrade' pathways as we came to know about this update and link of this post from atlassian support ticket very late.

Would appreciate if you can share any page/link to follow for receiving any certification related updated coming in future.

Thanks!

[Hugo Mora]

Hi @Suzanne Veljanoski 

On this page is said that "On February 2, 2024" we will retire this PRO skils, but today (February 1st) they are NOT available.

Could you please extend the program for just one day?

Thanks a lot,

--Hugo

[Zally Marin Silva]

@Suzanne Veljanoski  @Ayushi Saxena  I had exactly the same problem, the answer was that it was already February 2, in my time zone it was still February 1, they should set the time zone in which the ad is effective to avoid this type of problems

[Mir O_]

The link of Planned Retirements is unavailable, the message showed is:
Content Unavailable
The content has been removed, retired, or is otherwise unavailable.

[Suzanne Veljanoski]

@Łukasz Przybyłowicz    @Ayushi Saxena    @Hugo Mora @Zally Marín 

It looks like we've had some time zone  difficulties on our end regarding retirements. We'll make it right!

Log a case with our support team https://support.atlassian.com/contact/#/?inquiry_category=training&reason=course-or-training&training_topic=post-purchase-questions&support_type=customer and we'll ensure your pathway was completed. 

@Mir O_  We'll get that retirement page up and running, soon!


CC: @Marie Kent @Maurilio Gorito 

[Ayushi Saxena]

Hi @Suzanne Veljanoski 

Thank you so much for your consideration, I have it raised already - CA-2798784

[Robert Konopka]

Planned Retirements URL seems to be broken link Not Found : Atlassian

[kakada Eng]

Hello @Suzanne Veljanoski ,

One of my certificate will expired on the 30-Sep-2024. Can you advise on what to do? 

BR,

Kakada