Kanban Certification and Training: KMP, PSK and More
Want to become a certified Kanban expert? Compare the main Kanban certifications – Kanban University’s KMP path, Scrum.org’s PSK I and ProKanban.org – and see what Kanban services and consulting offer teams.
Quick answer: The main Kanban certifications come from three bodies. Kanban University offers Team Kanban Practitioner (TKP), KMP I and KMP II (together the Kanban Management Professional, KMP) and Kanban Coaching Professional (KCP). Scrum.org offers Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I). ProKanban.org offers Professional Kanban I. Kanban services and consultants provide training, system design and coaching.
1. Key Takeaways
- Kanban University: TKP → KMP I + KMP II = KMP → KCP / AKT.
- Scrum.org: Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I) – Kanban inside Scrum.
- ProKanban.org: Professional Kanban I, based on The Kanban Guide.
- Choose by your context: Kanban Method, Scrum team or flow-only Kanban.
- Kanban services and consulting cover assessment, training, system design and coaching.
2. Kanban Certifications Compared
Kanban University, Scrum.org and ProKanban.org each offer Kanban certifications based on a different guide.
3. Kanban University: TKP, KMP and KCP
Kanban University, founded by David J. Anderson, offers the best-known Kanban Method certifications: Team Kanban Practitioner, Kanban Management Professional and Kanban Coaching Professional.
- TKP – a one-day introduction for team members, no prerequisites.
- KMP I – Kanban System Design (often searched as “KMP1”) – designing a Kanban system with STATIK.
- KMP II – Kanban Systems Improvement – managing and improving flow, cadences and scaling.
- KCP – for experienced coaches; AKT – for accredited trainers.
4. Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I)
Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I) is Scrum.org’s certification for applying Kanban practices and flow metrics inside a Scrum team.
5. ProKanban.org Professional Kanban
ProKanban.org offers Professional Kanban I training and certification based on The Kanban Guide by Daniel Vacanti and Jim Coleman.
It focuses on the three practices in The Kanban Guide – defining and visualising the workflow, actively managing items in the workflow, and improving the workflow – and on flow metrics: WIP, throughput, work item age and cycle time.
Practise Professional Kanban on a board
Colour-coded lists, cards with images, checklists and due dates – on Android, iPhone, tablet and desktop.
Free to use
6. Which Kanban Certification Is Right for You?
Pick the certification that matches how your team works.
| If you… | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are new to Kanban on a team | TKP | Short, practical introduction |
| Design or manage Kanban systems | KMP I + KMP II (KMP) | Full Kanban Method credential |
| Work in a Scrum team | PSK I | Kanban inside Scrum, flow metrics |
| Want flow-only Kanban | Professional Kanban I | Based on The Kanban Guide |
| Coach organisations | KCP | Coaching and the Kanban Maturity Model |
7. Kanban Services and Consulting
Kanban services and consulting help organisations assess their flow, train teams, design Kanban systems and coach improvement.
8. Certification and Training Boards in PlanBoards
Here are three boards for planning certification and consulting work, built in PlanBoards.
Kanban certification path
Planned, Studying, Booked and Certified – with the learning path image and a due date for the exam.
PSK I exam prep
Topics, Studying (WIP 2), Practice Tests and Ready – with a checklist of practice attempts.
Kanban services – client engagement
Discovery, Training, Coaching (WIP 3) and Closed for a consulting engagement.
9. FAQ
These are the questions people ask about Kanban certification and training.
What is the best Kanban certification?
It depends on context: KMP for the Kanban Method, PSK I for Scrum teams and Professional Kanban I for flow-based Kanban.
What is KMP1?
KMP I – Kanban System Design, the first of two Kanban University classes that make up the Kanban Management Professional credential.
What is Professional Scrum with Kanban?
A Scrum.org certification (PSK I) on using Kanban practices and flow metrics in a Scrum team.
Do I need a class for PSK I?
No. The PSK I exam can be taken online without a class, though courses are available.
How do I become a certified Kanban expert?
Start with TKP or PSK I, then KMP, and later KCP for coaching.
What do Kanban consultants do?
They assess current flow, train teams, design Kanban systems with STATIK and coach cadences and metrics.
Can I plan my certification in PlanBoards?
Yes – a board with Planned, Studying, Booked and Certified columns works well, free to use.
10. Sources and Further Reading
These are the sources behind this guide.
- Kanban University. Training and certification.
- Scrum.org. Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I).
- ProKanban.org. Professional Kanban · The Kanban Guide.
- Wikipedia: Kanban (development)
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