ACL Certification FAQ

Which credentials are available in the ACL Certification Program?

ACL currently offers the ACL Certified Professional (ACP) Projects Specialization, ACL Certified Data Analyst (ACDA) Intermediate, and ACL Certified Data Analyst (ACDA) Advanced.

Is the ACL Certification Program publicly available?

The ACL Certification Program is available exclusively to ACL clients and partners with a valid ACL software subscription.

How will I know when I'm ready?

Use the information provided in the Preparation section to guide your self-assessment and prepare. You'll find study topics, recommended prerequisites, sample review questions, Academy courses that will equip you with the skills necessary to complete each level, and more.

Register for exams on ACL Academy's course catalog.

How long is my certification valid for?

The ACP Specializations are valid for one year from issue date, after which time you will need to re-certify. Re-certification costs $100 USD.

The ACDA Advanced credential is valid for two years from issue date, after which time you will need to re-certify by demonstrating comparable ability applying ACL to solve objectives within your organization. Re-certification costs $100 USD.

Are these open book exams?

Yes! We encourage you to make use of the resources available to you including Help Docs, Academy, and ScriptHub! It is also recommended that you experiment with ACL Analytics until you are confident you have the correct answer.

Can I take the exam with others present in the room?

No. While we encourage you to make use of materials, you are not permitted to sit the exam with anyone else present in the room. The only exception to this rule is if there is an ACL approved proctor present. If ACL suspects that you have taken the exam with another individual in the room, you may be disqualified.

Which languages are the exams offered in?

Currently, our certifications are offered in English.

Can I earn CPE credits for ACL Certified credentials?

While there are no CPE credits offered for ACL Certified credentials, they are offered on the recommended prerequisite training courses—included free of charge with your ACL software subscription.

How much does it cost?

ACP Specializations

• Cost $150 USD whether you're taking it for the first time or reattempting it because you didn't pass. Re-certification is required each year and costs $100 USD.

ACDA Intermediate (Levels 1 to 4)

• Levels 1 to 3 are included with your ACL software subscription.
• Level 4 costs $400 USD whether you're taking it for the first time or reattempting it because you didn't pass.

ACDA Advanced (Levels 5 to 7)

• Level 5 is included with your ACL software subscription.
• Level 6 costs $300 USD whether you're taking it for the first time or reattempting it because you didn't pass.
• Level 7 costs $300 USD whether you're taking it for the first time or reattempting it because you didn't pass. Re-certification is required every two years and costs $100 USD.

Which version of ACL Analytics do I need?

For ACDA, ensure you have downloaded and installed the latest version of ACL for Windows non-Unicode from Launchpad. This will ensure that you are able to open the ACL project and data files, as well as leverage required functionality.

Who can I contact with technical difficulties?

If you run into technical difficulties enrolling in an exam or during the exam, please contact support@acl.com.

When will I get my exam results?

Results are available within 20 business days from your submission date and are sent from the email address array@em.academy.acl.com (check your spam). Once you pass, you can download your certificate from Academy at any time.

What if I don't pass?

If you do not pass one of the certification exams, you can re-attempt the exam and will need to pay the exam fee again.

ACP Specializations

• If you do not pass ACP, you are able to re-attempt the exam after two months, upon request to training@acl.com, and will need to pay the exam fee again.

ACDA Intermediate

• You can retake Levels 1-3 at any time.
• If you do not pass Level 4, you are able to re-attempt the exam after two months, upon request to training@acl.com, and will need to pay the exam fee again.

ACDA Advanced

• You can retake Level 5 at any time.
• If you do not pass Level 6 or 7, you are able to re-attempt the exam after two months, upon request to training@acl.com, and will need to pay the exam fee again.

Exceptions to the two month wait time can be made under certain circumstances.