diff --git a/internal/testutil/acc/atlas.go b/internal/testutil/acc/atlas.go
index 4276d57623..6fc2976c89 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/acc/atlas.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/acc/atlas.go
@@ -29,11 +29,31 @@ func deleteProject(id string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// ProjectID returns the id for a project name.
+// When `MONGODB_ATLAS_PROJECT_ID` is defined, it is used instead of creating a project. This is useful for local execution but not intended for CI executions.
 func ProjectID(tb testing.TB, name string) string {
 	tb.Helper()
 	SkipInUnitTest(tb)
+
+	if id := projectIDLocal(tb); id != "" {
+		return id
+	}
+
 	resp, _, _ := ConnV2().ProjectsApi.GetProjectByName(context.Background(), name).Execute()
 	id := resp.GetId()
 	require.NotEmpty(tb, id, "Project name not found: %s", name)
 	return id
 }
+
+func projectIDLocal(tb testing.TB) string {
+	tb.Helper()
+	id := os.Getenv("MONGODB_ATLAS_PROJECT_ID")
+	if id == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if InCI() {
+		tb.Fatal("MONGODB_ATLAS_PROJECT_ID can't be used in CI")
+	}
+	tb.Logf("Using MONGODB_ATLAS_PROJECT_ID: %s", id)
+	return id
+}
diff --git a/internal/testutil/acc/name.go b/internal/testutil/acc/name.go
index 5b0b269e23..423f1de3e3 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/acc/name.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/acc/name.go
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ func RandomLDAPName() string {
 
 // ProjectIDGlobal returns a common global project.
 // Consider mig.ProjectIDGlobal for mig tests.
+// When `MONGODB_ATLAS_PROJECT_ID` is defined, it is used instead of creating a project. This is useful for local execution but not intended for CI executions.
 func ProjectIDGlobal(tb testing.TB) string {
 	tb.Helper()
 	return ProjectID(tb, PrefixProjectKeep+"-global")
diff --git a/internal/testutil/acc/shared_resource.go b/internal/testutil/acc/shared_resource.go
index 4121c1efba..ee772fbcf2 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/acc/shared_resource.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/acc/shared_resource.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ func cleanupSharedResources() {
 
 // ProjectIDExecution returns a project id created for the execution of the tests in the resource package.
 // Even if a GH test group is run, every resource/package will create its own project, not a shared project for all the test group.
+// When `MONGODB_ATLAS_PROJECT_ID` is defined, it is used instead of creating a project. This is useful for local execution but not intended for CI executions.
 func ProjectIDExecution(tb testing.TB) string {
 	tb.Helper()
 	SkipInUnitTest(tb)
@@ -32,6 +33,10 @@ func ProjectIDExecution(tb testing.TB) string {
 	sharedInfo.mu.Lock()
 	defer sharedInfo.mu.Unlock()
 
+	if id := projectIDLocal(tb); id != "" {
+		return id
+	}
+
 	// lazy creation so it's only done if really needed
 	if sharedInfo.projectID == "" {
 		sharedInfo.projectName = RandomProjectName()
diff --git a/internal/testutil/acc/skip.go b/internal/testutil/acc/skip.go
index 62bd7aea27..29a89710f2 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/acc/skip.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/acc/skip.go
@@ -9,11 +9,15 @@ import (
 // SkipTestForCI is added to tests that cannot run as part of CI, e.g. in Github actions.
 func SkipTestForCI(tb testing.TB) {
 	tb.Helper()
-	if strings.EqualFold(os.Getenv("CI"), "true") {
+	if InCI() {
 		tb.Skip()
 	}
 }
 
+func InCI() bool {
+	return strings.EqualFold(os.Getenv("CI"), "true")
+}
+
 // SkipInUnitTest allows skipping a test entirely when TF_ACC=1 is not defined.
 // This can be useful for acceptance tests that define logic prior to resource.Test/resource.ParallelTest functions as this code would always be run.
 func SkipInUnitTest(tb testing.TB) {
diff --git a/internal/testutil/mig/name.go b/internal/testutil/mig/name.go
index 37f6e9966f..9f5242e595 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/mig/name.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/mig/name.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 // ProjectIDGlobal returns a common global project to be used by migration tests.
 // As there is a small number of mig tests this project won't hit limits.
+// When `MONGODB_ATLAS_PROJECT_ID` is defined, it is used instead of creating a project. This is useful for local execution but not intended for CI executions.
 func ProjectIDGlobal(tb testing.TB) string {
 	tb.Helper()
 	return acc.ProjectID(tb, acc.PrefixProjectKeep+"-global-mig")