Jira is used by over 300,000 organizations worldwide — making Jira administration one of the most in-demand technical skills in enterprise IT. According to Glassdoor's May 2026 salary data, Atlassian Jira Administrators earn an average of $156,068 per year in the United States, with the range extending to $214,212 for senior roles.
Atlassian certifications are the formal validation of those administration skills. An Atlassian survey found that 73% of Atlassian-certified professionals reported increased job prospects after certification. The credentials cost $249 per exam — a modest investment relative to the salary outcomes they support.
But choosing the right certification requires understanding a key distinction: Data Center vs. Cloud. Atlassian has been aggressively migrating its customer base to Jira Cloud, and the certification program reflects that shift.
Who Should Read This Guide?
This guide is designed for:
- Jira administrators deciding between ACP-100 (Data Center) and ACP-120 (Cloud)
- IT professionals moving into Jira administration roles
- DevOps engineers managing Atlassian toolchains
- Project managers seeking to formalize Jira expertise
If you manage Jira for your organization, or plan to, one of these credentials directly validates your work.
The Atlassian Certification Program: An Overview
Atlassian offers professional certifications through Atlassian University. All exams cost $249 USD and are delivered through the Atlassian Learning portal with online proctoring.
As of 2026, the primary Atlassian certifications are:
| Certification | Exam Code | Focus | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jira Administration for Cloud | ACP-120 (ACP-JCA) | Jira Cloud administration | $249 |
| Jira Administration for Data Center | ACP-100 (ACP-JA) | Jira Data Center administration | $249 |
| Managing Jira Projects for Cloud | ACP-620 | Jira Cloud project management | $249 |
| Confluence Administration | - | Confluence administration | $249 |
ACP-120 vs. ACP-100: Which Should You Get?
This is the most important decision for any Jira certification candidate in 2026. The answer depends on your organization's deployment model.
ACP-120 — Jira Administration for Cloud
The ACP-120 is the current priority certification for most organizations. Atlassian is actively migrating customers from Server/Data Center to Cloud, and the Cloud architecture is where new development and new job requirements are focused.
Exam Details:
- Cost: $249 USD
- Questions: 75 (multiple choice, scenario-based, and configuration reasoning)
- Delivery: Online proctored through Atlassian University
- Focus areas:
- User management, authentication, and SSO in Jira Cloud
- Workflows, screens, and project configuration
- Permissions and security schemes
- Automation rules in Jira Cloud
- Service management projects
- Integration and API basics
The ACP-120 exam assesses candidates through a combination of knowledge-based and scenario-driven questions designed to evaluate practical Jira Cloud administration skills. Candidates can expect:
- Foundational knowledge questions — testing core concepts and definitions
- Scenario-based items — presenting real-world situations that require applied judgment
- Configuration reasoning — identifying the correct setting or feature to resolve a business problem
The scenario-based format means rote memorization is insufficient. Candidates need practical experience configuring Jira Cloud environments.
ACP-100 — Jira Administration for Data Center
The ACP-100 remains relevant for organizations running on-premises Jira Data Center, particularly large enterprises in regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, government) that cannot migrate to Cloud due to data sovereignty requirements.
Exam focus:
- Jira Data Center architecture, nodes, and high availability
- Database configuration and backup
- Cluster management
- User directories (LDAP, Active Directory, Crowd)
- Jira Service Management for Data Center
- Migration from Server to Data Center
If your organization has committed to Jira Cloud or is mid-migration: Get the ACP-120.
If your organization runs Jira Data Center with no Cloud migration planned: Get the ACP-100.
If you work for a Jira consulting firm or MSP: Consider both — many enterprise clients span both environments.
ACP-620 — Managing Jira Projects for Cloud
The ACP-620 is distinct from the administration certifications — it targets Jira project managers and team leads rather than Jira administrators.
- Focus: Creating and configuring team-managed and company-managed projects, boards, reports, and roadmaps in Jira Cloud
- Audience: Project managers, Scrum masters, delivery managers, Agile coaches
- Not covered: User management, workflows, or system administration topics
If your role involves configuring boards, running sprints, and managing project settings — but not administering users or system-level configuration — the ACP-620 is the right credential.
What Does Atlassian Certification Prove to Employers?
Atlassian certifications validate three categories of skill:
1. Platform Knowledge — You understand how Jira works, not just how to click through the interface. Certified administrators can troubleshoot, optimize, and architect Jira deployments.
2. Business Alignment — Atlassian exams test how to connect Jira configuration to business outcomes. Questions require you to understand why a configuration choice matters, not just how to make it.
3. Upgrade Readiness — With Atlassian's aggressive Cloud push, certified administrators signal that they are current with the Cloud platform — a critical attribute for organizations mid-migration.
According to LinkedIn Pulse data on Atlassian certification, professionals with Jira certifications command 15–20% higher salaries than non-certified counterparts in equivalent roles, with the premium most pronounced at the junior-to-mid transition.
How to Prepare for the ACP-120
Step 1: Get Hands-On with a Jira Cloud Instance
Create a free Jira Cloud account. Walk through: creating projects, configuring workflows, setting up permission schemes, creating automation rules, and managing users with SSO. The ACP-120's scenario-based questions test applied skills, not textbook knowledge.
Step 2: Use Atlassian University Learning Paths
Atlassian University provides official, exam-aligned learning paths. The ACP-JCA (ACP-120) learning path maps directly to exam domains and includes practice activities in a Jira Cloud sandbox environment.
Step 3: Study the Exam Blueprint
Download the ACP-120 exam blueprint from Atlassian University. The blueprint lists exact knowledge domains and their weights — use it to prioritize your study time on high-weight topics like workflows, permissions, and automation.
Step 4: Practice Scenario Questions
CertFun's Atlassian ACP-120 overview page and Atlassian ACP-100 overview page provide exam detail pages. Scenario-based questions require practiced decision-making — work through as many realistic scenarios as possible before the exam.
Step 5: Review the Migration Path
Even for candidates targeting ACP-120 specifically, understanding the Server-to-Cloud migration process is valuable — it appears in exam questions and is increasingly a core part of Jira administrator responsibilities.
Preparation Timeline
| Starting Experience | Recommended Study Time |
|---|---|
| Active Jira Cloud admin (daily use) | 2–3 weeks |
| Jira user with some admin experience | 4–6 weeks |
| New to Jira administration | 8–10 weeks |
The Cloud Migration Factor: Why ACP-120 Is the Better Long-Term Investment
Atlassian announced in 2020 that it would end server product sales and support by February 2024. Tens of thousands of organizations have migrated or are in the process of migrating to Jira Cloud or Jira Data Center.
For most candidates in 2026:
- New Jira admin roles almost exclusively specify Jira Cloud experience
- Job postings increasingly mention ACP-120 or Jira Cloud certification as preferred or required
- Consulting work for Jira migrations requires deep Cloud knowledge
- Entry-level positions at Atlassian partners target ACP-120 over ACP-100
The ACP-100 is not irrelevant — large enterprises on Data Center will need certified administrators for years. But the trajectory is clear: Cloud is the future of Jira, and ACP-120 is the credential that positions you for it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Atlassian Certification
Q: How much does the Atlassian certification exam cost?
A: All Atlassian certification exams cost $249 USD. Exams are registered and delivered through Atlassian University's online portal.
Q: What is the difference between ACP-120 and ACP-100?
A: ACP-120 covers Jira Administration for Cloud. ACP-100 covers Jira Administration for Data Center (on-premises). Choose based on your organization's deployment model.
Q: How many questions are on the ACP-120 exam?
A: The ACP-120 exam contains 75 questions including multiple choice, scenario-based, and configuration reasoning questions.
Q: What is the passing score for Atlassian certification exams?
A: Atlassian does not publicly publish a passing percentage for ACP exams. Results are reported as pass or fail. Verify current details at Atlassian University.
Q: Is Atlassian certification worth it?
A: Yes — a 2021 Atlassian survey found 73% of certified professionals reported increased job prospects. Jira Administrators earn an average of $156,068/year (Glassdoor May 2026). The $249 exam fee has strong ROI relative to salary outcomes.
Q: Should I get ACP-120 or ACP-100 first?
A: In 2026, ACP-120 is the priority for most candidates. New Jira admin roles increasingly specify Cloud experience. Only choose ACP-100 if your organization is committed to Data Center with no Cloud migration planned.
Q: Do I need experience before taking the ACP-120?
A: Atlassian recommends hands-on Jira Cloud administration experience before the exam. The scenario-based format requires applied skills — candidates without practical experience consistently underperform on configuration reasoning questions.
Q: How often does Atlassian update the ACP-120 exam?
A: Atlassian updates exam content periodically to reflect platform changes. The ACP-100 was last updated in March 2026. Check Atlassian University for the most current exam guide version before studying.
Q: What roles hire for Atlassian certification?
A: Primary hiring roles: Jira Administrator, Atlassian Admin, IT Tools Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Agile Coach, IT Service Management (ITSM) Analyst. Consulting firms and Atlassian partners particularly value certification.
Q: What is the ACP-620 and who should take it?
A: ACP-620 (Managing Jira Projects for Cloud) targets project managers, Scrum masters, and delivery leads who configure Jira projects, boards, and reports — but do not administer users or system settings. It is distinct from the ACP-120 administrator credential.
Q: Can I take Atlassian exams online?
A: Yes. All Atlassian certification exams are delivered online through the Atlassian University portal with online proctoring.
Your Atlassian Certification Decision
The decision tree is simple:
- You manage Jira Cloud daily → ACP-120 now
- You manage Jira Data Center with no Cloud migration → ACP-100 now
- You manage Jira projects (not administration) → ACP-620
- You consult for multiple clients → ACP-120 first, ACP-100 after
- You are new to Jira → Complete Atlassian University Cloud training, then ACP-120
CertFun's Atlassian certification hub provides overview pages and sample questions for both ACP-120 and ACP-100 to help you prepare with confidence.
Practice with CertFun's realistic mock exams and pass your IT certification on the first try. Explore Atlassian certification resources on CertFun →
Disclaimer: This content is for exam preparation and educational purposes only. Always refer to Atlassian University at university.atlassian.com for the most current exam objectives, pricing, and requirements.
