Easy Tech TutsHow to Add an Acceptance Criteria Field in Jira
By Impran M N
Without a defined place to record acceptance criteria, teams often bury it in the description or skip it entirely, leading to unclear expectations. This guide covers setting up a proper acceptance criteria field in Jira.
01Open custom fields settings
Go to Jira administration and find the custom fields section where new fields are created.
02Create the acceptance criteria field
Add a new field, typically a multi-line text or rich text type, named Acceptance Criteria.
03Add it to the relevant screens
Associate the field with the screens used for stories, so it appears when creating or editing that issue type.
04Set a consistent format
Encourage the team to use a consistent format, such as Given/When/Then, when filling in the field.
05Reference it during review
Use the field during backlog grooming and code review to confirm the story meets what was agreed upon.
Frequently asked questions
Should acceptance criteria be a separate field or part of the description?
A separate field keeps criteria consistent and easy to scan, rather than getting lost inside a longer description.
What format works best for acceptance criteria?
Many teams use a Given/When/Then structure, though a simple bulleted checklist also works well.
Can this field be required before a story is marked ready?
Yes, workflow validators can be configured to require the field is filled in before certain transitions are allowed.
Who is responsible for writing acceptance criteria?
This is often the product owner's responsibility, sometimes refined together with the development team during grooming.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
