By Prasad Ramamurthy Kadambi, CHAMP, PMP
I’ve been a certified PMP and know traditional management well.
Next, I had the drive to master both structure and agility, delivering complex projects that demand the discipline of predictive planning as shown in PMP and the responsiveness of Agile in CHAMP.
This inspired me to pursue CHAMP certification.
CHAMP Certification Study
When I set out to become a CHAMP, I knew that success would come not from cramming, but from building a genuine understanding of how predictive and adaptive worlds come together.
Initially, I struggled a lot to install MS Project 2019/21/24 Online Desktop Client. Satya helped me to get the software installed on my PC.
I knew it won’t be easy to proceed with the CHAMP certification with my work-schedule as a program manager in a multi-national, where my workload is high. I followed the following action-plan:
- I spent 1.5 hours daily and could spend 8 hours on weekends.
- I took only one set of questions to solve for my practice.
- I have referred only Satya’s Video Lessons for my certification. I’ve had no other references or sources.
CHAMP Certification Review
True to its claim, CHAMP is the world's only practical, hands-on Hybrid-Agile certification equipping professionals to master Scrum, Kanban, and ScrumBan integration. In the real-world, 80% of organizations actually work in that way. It’s not purely predictive or agile.
This certification covers all the three and hence unique.
- Hybrid-Scrum Management
- Hybrid-Kanban Management
- Hybrid-ScrumBan Management
As you proceed with the certification course, you will cover many areas such as:
- Practical hands-on learning for building tracking hybrid projects,
- Baselining of Hybrid-Agile projects,
- Earned Value Reporting (EVM),
- Burndown/burnup charts,
- Other reporting such as histograms, pie charts, and Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFDs).
CHAMP Exam Experience
I took two months to prepare for the exam. My strategy to approach the exam was simple – just go by the learnings given in the lessons.
In the exam, there are fifty questions in total. Twenty questions were very tricky and I took more time to answer them.
The questions in the CHAMP certification are exceptionally well-crafted. It’s a true reflection of the rigor and depth this credential demands. They are mostly scenario-driven and decision-oriented, consistently challenging you to think like a practitioner and ask, "What should I do NEXT?"
After completing the course, I took the CHAMP certification exam and I cleared the exam in my first attempt. My score is below.
Suggestions for Aspiring CHAMPs
Dos
Do build strong fundamentals first
Master predictive (waterfall), Scrum, and Kanban individually before attempting to understand how they blend. A shaky foundation makes hybrid concepts confusing.
Do get hands-on with MS Project Agile
Don't rely on theory alone. Practice configuring Sprints, navigating Task Board, Backlog Board, and Current Sprint views, and interpreting burndown charts, CFDs, and EVM metrics. The exam rewards practical familiarity.
Do think in scenarios
Train yourself to ask, "What should I do NEXT?" for Hybrid-Scrum, Hybrid-Kanban, and Hybrid-ScrumBan situations. The exam is decision-oriented, not definition-oriented.
Do understand the "why"
Study Stacey's Complexity Model to grasp when adaptive beats predictive. Context-driven judgment is more valuable than rote memory.
Do practice with tricky questions
Focus on the subtle traps – variance reports, filter behaviours, view differences, and Sprint management commands. These separate a pass from a failure.
Do study consistently
Maintain a steady daily rhythm over last-minute cramming. Reinforcement builds retention and confidence.
Don’ts
Don't memorize blindly
Rote-learning definitions won't help when the exam presents a real-world scenario requiring judgment. Understand concepts, don't just recall them.
Don't ignore the tool
Skipping hands-on MS Project Agile practice is a common pitfall. Many questions are tied directly to tool views, fields, and behaviours.
Don't treat Scrum and Kanban as interchangeable
Understand their distinct rules, boards, and metrics. Confusing the two (especially in ScrumBan) leads to errors.
Don't overlook the "hybrid" glue
The certification is about integration—don't study frameworks in silos without understanding how predictive and adaptive elements coexist in one plan.
Conclusion
CHAMP certification reflects not just theoretical knowledge, but the practical confidence to lead complex projects that demand both the discipline of predictive planning and the responsiveness of Agile.
Brief Profile:
Name: Prasad Ramamurthy Kadambi, CHAMP, PMP
Current role: Project/Program Manager, HP Inc.
Experience: Two decades of driving results at HP Inc. from Senior Quality Analyst and Asset Management to leading complex operations with a PMP-backed, outcome focused mindset.
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