Table of Contents
Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Quick Facts
The Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud certification empowers professionals to manage, configure, and enhance Jira Cloud with confidence. This guide provides a clear and structured overview to help you focus your preparation and strengthen your understanding of each exam domain.
Exploring the Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Certification
The Jira Administration for Cloud certification confirms your ability to configure and maintain Jira Cloud environments that align with organizational needs. It is ideal for administrators and project professionals who want to demonstrate their mastery of permissions, workflows, issue types, and automation. Earning this certification highlights your skills in building scalable, efficient, and collaborative spaces within Jira Cloud that enable teams to deliver projects with clarity and consistency.
Who Should Pursue the Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Certification?
The Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Certification (ACP-120) is designed for individuals who want to showcase their ability to configure, manage, and optimize Jira Cloud for teams of any size. This certification is perfect for:
- Jira administrators overseeing multiple projects or company instances
- IT professionals responsible for issue tracking and collaboration tools
- Agile project managers and team leads looking to deepen their Atlassian expertise
- Business analysts or consultants who configure and manage Jira Cloud for clients
Whether you work in software development, operations, or business support, this certification validates that you can help teams maximize Atlassian tools in the cloud.
What Roles Benefit the Most from Becoming Atlassian Certified?
Earning this certification demonstrates leadership and technical expertise in managing Jira Cloud environments. Many professionals leverage this credential for roles such as:
- Jira System Administrator
- Atlassian Cloud Administrator
- Agile Project Manager
- Business Systems Analyst
- Workflow and Process Engineer
- IT Administrator
It’s also a key step toward senior positions in IT governance and digital transformation, as Jira plays a crucial role in modern enterprise operations.
Which Exam Should Candidates Take?
The current and active exam for this certification is ACP-120. This exam covers the latest Jira Cloud administration features, including improved user management and automation capabilities introduced in Atlassian Cloud. Be sure to prepare with materials that reference ACP-120 to align with current functionality and best practices.
How Much Does the Jira Administration for Cloud Exam Cost?
The exam fee is $249 USD, payable during registration through Atlassian’s learning portal. Pricing may vary slightly by region depending on applicable taxes or currency exchange rates. This one-time investment provides lasting value since Atlassian certifications are globally recognized across industries.
How Is the Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Exam Structured?
The exam consists of 75 questions presented in various formats, including:
- Multiple-choice questions (1 correct answer)
- Multiple-select questions (2 or more correct answers)
Questions are designed around real-world administrative tasks and case-based problem solving, ensuring that certified professionals can apply what they know in practical situations.
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Exam?
You’ll have 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete all exam questions. This length ensures you have ample time to read carefully, reason through each scenario, and double-check answers. Candidates are encouraged to pace themselves and mark tougher questions for review before submission.
What Is the Passing Score for ACP-120?
To earn certification, you’ll need a minimum score of 64%. Atlassian uses a scaled scoring system to fairly assess your knowledge across multiple content domains. Even if certain sections feel more familiar than others, a balanced approach across all domains will help you meet the total passing requirement.
In What Languages Is the Exam Available?
The Jira Administration for Cloud Certification exam is currently offered in English. Atlassian may expand language availability as part of its global certification program, so check the learning portal regularly for any new updates.
How Difficult Is the Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Exam?
The exam is a professional-level credential designed to confirm that you can confidently manage Jira Cloud. It doesn’t test rote memorization but instead emphasizes thinking through actual Jira admin scenarios. With consistent study, documentation review, and hands-on practice, you can achieve success with strong understanding and preparation.
What Key Topics Are Covered in the Exam?
The exam blueprint covers both conceptual and practical administration topics. The core domains include:
- User Features (10–15%) – Managing JQL, filters, dashboards, and bulk changes.
- Configuring Global Settings and User Communications (5–10%) – Controlling attachment, linking, time tracking, and general configuration.
- Product and Project Access and Permissions (30–35%) – Managing user access, groups, roles, and issue security.
- General Project Configuration (10–15%) – Setting up project details, versions, components, and type (team vs. company-managed).
- Issue Types, Fields and Screens (15–20%) – Configuring issue types, field contexts, screens, and schemes.
- Workflows and Automation (5–10%) – Building and troubleshooting workflows and automation rules.
- Notifications and Email (5–10%) – Setting project notifications, events, and mail handlers.
- Administering and Extending Jira (5–10%) – Working with issue collectors, backups, and content restoration.
How Many Questions Come from Each Domain?
Each domain contributes a weighted percentage toward the final exam score. The Product and Project Access and Permissions domain carries the highest weight at approximately one-third of the total, reflecting its real-world importance in managing access and security. Other domains range from 5% to 20%, creating diversity in topic coverage while maintaining focus on key administration abilities.
Are There Any Prerequisites Before Taking the Exam?
There are no formal prerequisites. However, Atlassian recommends that candidates have:
- At least 1–2 years of experience administering Jira Cloud or similar platforms
- Practical understanding of global permissions, notification schemes, and project configuration
- Some comfort exploring admin settings, workflows, and field schemes
Hands-on experience working directly with Jira Cloud projects significantly boosts comprehension and confidence.
What Background Knowledge Will Help You Succeed?
Strong candidates typically have a blend of technical and organizational understanding. You should be comfortable with concepts like:
- Jira project hierarchy (epics, stories, tasks, sub-tasks)
- Issue types, permissions, and roles
- Cloud-based collaboration and security best practices
Administrators who align Jira configuration with actual team processes perform particularly well on the exam.
What Are the Key Skills Validated by This Certification?
This certification proves your ability to:
- Configure workflows, permissions, and project settings to match business requirements
- Manage users and groups effectively across multiple Jira Cloud products
- Troubleshoot access, automation, and notification issues
- Optimize Jira instances for performance and maintainability
These verified skills show employers that you can handle cloud administration challenges efficiently and proactively.
How Long Is the Certification Valid Once Earned?
Atlassian certifications remain valid for 2 years from the date of achievement. Maintaining your skills with real-world practice is the best preparation for renewal or for advancing to higher Atlassian credentials such as Atlassian Cloud Organization Admin or Managing Jira Projects for Cloud.
How Can You Best Prepare for the Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Exam?
Preparation involves understanding concepts and practicing in live environments. Recommended strategies include:
- Atlassian University Courses – Leverage official on-demand learning modules.
- Atlassian Documentation – Stay current with Jira Cloud admin updates.
- Hands-On Practice – Configure projects, workflows, and user permissions directly in a test instance.
- Community Support – Participate in Atlassian Community discussions for practical advice.
- Practice Tests – Reinforce learning with realistic Jira Administration for Cloud practice exams that mirror the actual question style and difficulty.
Combining these methods helps strengthen both your theoretical understanding and your applied confidence.
What Makes This Certification Valuable to Employers?
Holding the ACP-120 certification signals that you can manage and optimize Atlassian products effectively in cloud environments. Employers appreciate that certified administrators can minimize downtime, enhance security, and streamline team collaboration tools. This often translates into better project delivery, higher productivity, and smoother business operations.
How Do You Register for the Exam?
To register, visit the Atlassian University certification portal, select the Jira Administration for Cloud certification, and choose your preferred testing provider (typically Pearson VUE). You can then pick your exam date, time, and testing environment, whether online with remote proctoring or at a certified testing center.
Can the Exam Be Taken Online?
Yes! Atlassian offers online proctored testing, enabling you to take the exam from home or your office. All you need is a reliable internet connection, a private room, and a webcam setup that meets the testing provider’s requirements. If you prefer a formal setting, in-person testing centers remain available.
How Should You Approach the Case-Based Questions?
While the exam primarily consists of multiple-choice and multiple-select formats, most questions are scenario-driven. The best approach is to think like a Jira Cloud administrator: evaluate business goals, identify configuration impacts, and choose the solution that fulfills the requirements efficiently while maintaining best practices.
What Certification Should You Earn After Completing ACP-120?
After achieving your Jira Administration for Cloud credential, Atlassian offers advanced certifications such as:
- Atlassian Cloud Organization Admin Certification – for managing multiple products and enterprise settings
- Managing Jira Projects for Cloud Certification – focusing on end-user and project-level administration
- Atlassian Cloud Foundations Certification – for reinforcing team-wide cloud fundamentals
Each certification builds upon ACP-120 knowledge, expanding your credentials in the Atlassian ecosystem.
Where Can You Find the Official Atlassian Certification Details?
To confirm official exam details, registration links, and learning resources, visit the official Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud certification page. This is the most reliable and up-to-date source for requirements, training access, and scheduling information for your ACP-120 journey.
The Atlassian Jira Administration for Cloud Certification opens doors to advanced cloud administration roles and showcases your expertise in one of the world’s leading collaboration platforms. With consistent preparation and practical experience, you’ll be well on your way to joining the community of Atlassian Certified Professionals who shape how teams work and innovate every day.
