When it comes to being a successful Scrum Master, there are certain roles and responsibilities that need to be performed. Following are the primary roles and responsibilities of a scrum master:

• Act as a facilitator and servant leader who encourages self-organization
• Remove obstacles so that the team can focus more on work and follow practices of Scrum
• Protect the team from internal and external distractions
• Ensure a good relationship between the product owner and the team along with the members outside the team
• Set up an environment where the team can perform more effectively
• Manage the scrum process in coordination with the scrum team
• Conduct retrospective meetings
• Address team progress

The most important skills that every Scrum Master should have are as follows:

• Systems Thinking: This skill helps the Scrum Master to build a comprehensive perspective towards the whole organization as a system. 
• Facilitation ability: The Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum events for the team members to reach a high-end decision.
• Complex Problem Solving: The Scrum Master will be able to handle various complex situations while undertaking product development.
• Coaching: Team members need someone to guide and coach them to follow Scrum principles properly, which the Scrum Master does.

The exponential growth of Scrum, combined with the rising Scrum adoption in 65% of IT enterprises globally indicates the need for Certified ScrumMasters who can facilitate complex project execution. A CSM certification from any Global REP (Registered Education Provider) helps reinforce your industry identity as an Agilist who can lead projects to successful execution.

The Scrum Master role is created to be a part of the Scrum framework. The name itself indicates that a person is an expert at Scrum and ensures that his/her team is also following the Scrum framework correctly. Scrum Master is responsible for creating a culture of trust, self-organizing teams, and transparency while removing the obstacles that are inhibiting the project’s progress. Here is a list of several Scrum Master certifications along with the certification bodies:

Certification Body	Certificate Name
Scrum Alliance	Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®)
Scrum.org	Professional Scrum Master (PSM ™ )
Scaled Agile Academy	SAFe® Advanced Scrum Master (SASM)
Project Management Institute (PMI)®	Project Management Institute- Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
SCRUMstudy	Scrum Master Certified (SMC ™ )

Scrum Alliance, the renowned Agile membership and certification organization for the professionals offers various levels of certification to become proficient in Scrum. The certifying body always believes in a high level of personal interaction to understand Scrum. The newly designed course model of Scrum Alliance fosters collaboration, increased productivity, and success among the team members.

Membership of the Scrum Alliance community offers you a networking platform if you are interested in your Agile journey and lets you connect with other Scrum practitioners. It aids you to get future growth through certification, knowledge sharing, and community support, which is very rare in the IT domain.

A Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) training workshop is conducted by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) and teaches the Scrum terminology, practices, and principles that will enable the participant to act as a Scrum Master or Scrum team member. This credential is a first step on the path to a successful Agile career.

Yes, there is an online/virtual course for CSM. 

Through this membership you can join local user groups, online social networks, gain access to deep discounts on gatherings, and additional member-only resources.  In addition, CSMs can use a specially designed logo to highlight their credentials.

According to Scrum Alliance, a Certified ScrumMaster® course helps increase the likelihood of a project’s overall success by applying Scrum principles and techniques in the right way. By understanding the values, practices, and applications, you can act as a ‘servant leader’ rising above and beyond an average project manager and helping your organization achieve meaningful goals

Job opportunities are continuously increasing in number which in turn is raising the demand for professional and skilled scrum masters. Our training will give you an edge in your job search and help you to get a high-paying job that will set you up to go in a new direction in your Agile journey.

Not just software companies but many other industries are looking for Scrum Masters to improve their organizational processes. Here is the list of top industries and companies that have hired Certified Scrum Masters:

Information Technology:

• Philips
• Dell
• Honeywell
• Allstate India
• Goldman Sachs
• Siemens
• Informatica
• Capgemini
• Intel
• Zensar Technologies
• Accenture

The certifications offered by Scrum Alliance provide several ways of proving yourself as a competent and skilled Scrum and Agile practitioner. Here are the three Scrum Master certification levels by Scrum Alliance:

1. CSM (Certified Scrum Master)

Introductory course for those wishing to become a Scrum Master or play a role as a Scrum team member.

2. A-CSM (Advance – Certified Scrum Master)

Advanced course for those who have work experience as a Scrum Master.

3. CSP (Certified Scrum Professional)

Pinnacle/Expert-level course for individuals wishing to build mastery in the Scrum Master role.

Your next step toward a Certified Scrum Professional after earning your CSM certification and a year of experience working as a CSM on a Scrum Team is to achieve your Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM℠) certification.

Agile refers to a mindset on how to approach software development. Scrum is the most widely used Agile framework, amongst others such as Kanban and Extreme Programming.

The term Agile was coined in 2001 when the "Manifesto for Agile Software Development" was created. The authors were the two creators of the Scrum famework, together with 15 others who had a similar mindset on how to approach software development. The manifesto stresses the need to deliver software that customers value early and continuously during development. This way, that what is delivered can be changed rapidly during development, based on customer feedback. To make this possible, close collaboration is needed between developers amongst each other, and with their clients.

Scrum provides a structure on how to work from an Agile mindset. While originating from software development, Scrum is defined in a more generic manner. It is also applied in other domains than software, such as marketing. The framework helps a self-organizing team to get things done frequently and in close collaboration. There will be many opportunities during development to inspect what has been delivered so far, and to improve the way the work is conducted.

The cost of the 2-day Certified Scrum Master or CSM course is between $800 and $1500 in US and between INR 18,000 to INR 25000 in India. The cost of the exam is included in this. Apart from this, you will also have to pay $100 every 2 years to renew the certification.

CSM and PSM certifications focus on the software development process. Neither is better than the other. The certificate that you should go for depends on your current knowledge and your goals. Here are some differences between the two that will help you make the decision:

• Getting the certification

You can get the CSM certification by attending the 2-day training. You will need to enroll yourself in an institute and undertake the training. You will have free 2 attempts to pass the exam, within a 90 day period after completion of the course. If you fail the test twice or take it up only after 90 days, you will be required to pay a $25 USD test attempt fee. PSM certification from Scrum.org has three certification levels - PSM I, II, and III. You need to purchase the password from scrum.org for enrolling yourself. For taking the PSM I exam, you must have a deep understanding of Scrum.

• Passing rank

You need at least 74% marks in the exam to get the CSM certification exam. For PSM, you need at least 85%.

• Exam pattern

CSM only has multiple choice questions while PSM might have multiple choice questions, true/false type questions, multiple answer questions, and essay type questions depending on the level.

• Cost

The cost of the CSM certification ranges between $800 and $1500 in US and between INR 18,000 to INR 25000 in India depending on the training institute. PSM certification costs differ depending on their levels. The cost of PSM I, II, and III is $150, $250, and $500 respectively.

• Need for renewal

CSM certification is valid for only 2 years. You will be required to pay $100 every two years to renew your certificate. For PSM, on the other hand, there is no need for renewal. Once you have passed the exam, the certification will be valid for life.

Here is a step-by-step process to get the CSM certification:

1. Attend the in-person or online course from a training institute. Make sure that you select the right Certified Scrum Trainer or CST.
2. Once you have completed the course, accept the license agreement, and take the CSM test. There are 50 questions that you have to answer within 60 minutes. You need to answer 37 out of 50 questions correctly to pass the test.
3. You will be required to earn the Scrum Education Units (SEUs) to maintain your certificate. Also, you will need to renew the certification every two years.

A CSM certification will prove to the companies that you have the required skills needed for  working in a Scrum team as Scrum Master or team member. Here are some benefits of getting CSM-certified:

• Expand your knowledge and overcome obstacles while being part of a Scrum team, especially when you are managing teams across multiple departments.
• Improves team collaboration and management.
• Get ahead in the field by becoming a better competitor and staying relevant.

Here are three steps you need to complete to apply for the CSM certification: 

• Get an understanding of Scrum and make sure that you complete all the prerequisites for the CSM course.
• Attend the 2-day in-person CSM course led by a Certified Scrum Trainer.
• Apply for the exam.

To apply for the CSM exam, visit the official website of Scrum Alliance. After that, here is what you must do:

• Sign into your account using your login credentials. These will be included in the ‘Welcome CSM’ email.
• Hover to the top right-hand corner near Hello, [Your Name], and click on ‘My Dashboard’.
• Select the ‘Take CSM test’ option.
• Choose your preferred language.
• As you hit ‘Continue’, you will be redirected to the site where you will be taking the exam.

Before you give the exam, remember to turn off the popup blockers. Internet Explorer won’t support the test. Browsers that work best are Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Also, don’t use the forward or backward button of the browser. Instead, use the provided buttons for navigating through the questions.

The CSM certification is valid for only 2 years. During this period, you need to get the requisite credits to maintain the certificate. You will need to submit a predetermined number of Scrum Education Units (SEUs) along with a renewal fee, in order to maintain the certification for a further period of two years.

Before you attend the CSM course, you have to familiarize yourself with the theory and principles of Scrum. It is important to read the official Scrum Guide and study the Agile Manifesto. A CSM course usually starts with a short quiz to check if you are ready to begin the training. To pass this quiz, you must know about the Scrum theory, roles, events, and artifacts.

After getting your CSM certification, you can go to the next level. Here are some certification examples you can go for:

• Advanced Certified Scrum MasterSM (A-CSM SM)
• CSPO®
• ICP-ATF (Agile Team Facilitator)
• ICP-ACC (Agile coaching)
• KMP
• PMP® certification
• PMI-ACP®  Certification
• SAFe® Agilist
• SAFe®- SASM

Know more about what is a Scrum Master.

The Certified ScrumMaster® course offers training in the fundamentals essential for Scrum team members or a professional Scrum Master.

There are no prerequisites for attending the course itself. A degree of course completion from our Certified Scrum Trainer makes you eligible for Scrum Alliance’s Online CSM Test.

One need not bother with a specific background to become a Scrum Master. Individuals with Scrum Master skills can emerge out of any field.

The following individuals can take this course:

• Anyone who would like to build a career as a Scrum Master
• Teams transitioning to Scrum
• Managers of Scrum teams
• Scrum team members such as product owners and developers

If you are already working as a Scrum Master, then taking this course helps to strengthen your Scrum knowledge and skills.

Our Certified Scrum Trainers® (CSTs) are:

• Professionals licensed by Scrum Alliance to teach the official Scrum Alliance curriculum.
• Masters in Scrum who have immense experience in leading, applying, coaching, and teaching it.
• Skilled in product management and software development.
• Subject experts who are active in software development and local Agile communities, along with the broader global Scrum and Agile movements.

Our dedicated team of CSTs deliver training on par with the standard of excellence as set out by Scrum Alliance. So, every candidate receives the same high-quality content irrespective of the trainer and the location. They help you further develop the competencies and skills you need to make a difference in your organization.

No, it cannot be taken. Scrum Alliance believes that true learning requires in-person training and hands-on experience with a CEC or CST. The CSM exam is not provided as a substitute for formal training.

No. Certified membership is for individuals who have completed the CSM classroom training.

It is advisable that before attending the Certified ScrumMaster® course, you should familiarize yourself with the resources available on the Scrum Alliance website. These Scrum resources will help you embrace the Scrum principles and practices and will lead to greater success in the CSM exam.

After completing your CSM course, you will receive an email from Scrum Alliance that includes a link to create your login credentials. After receiving your membership email, you have 90 days to take and complete the test.

Our experienced and highly qualified trainers deliver a practical and interactive training programme with accurate, clear, and updated materials to help you understand the concepts clearly and pass your CSM exam without much difficulty.

The Certified ScrumMaster certification exam is an online test comprising of 50 multiple choice questions. Candidates will have 1-hour (60 minutes) to finish it. A candidate has to score 74% in the exam to pass the Scrum Master certification exam and obtain the certification. Once you complete the course, you are allowed to take the exam. This exam pattern was decided by subject matter experts (SMEs) from the Scrum Alliance community working in partnership with Scrum Alliance and Prometric, an industry leader in test development.

The Scrum Alliance CSM certification exam fee is included in the Certified ScrumMaster training cost.

Yes. The Scrum Alliance allows you to take the Scrum Master exam at no cost for the first 2 attempts within 90 days after you receive your welcome email. You will be charged a minimum of $25 each from the third attempt or after completing your 90 days. Scrum Alliance suggests to retake the CSM course if you have failed thrice in the exam.

The CSM accreditation body is the Scrum Alliance and its exam fee is non-refundable.

No. There is no mock test; however, we have published a test blueprint at the bottom of the CSM page under ‘Resources.’ This blueprint outlines the percentage of questions from each domain that will be on the 50-question test. The new test still follows the current Learning Objectives as well as the recently published Learning Objectives.

After completing your CSM course, you will receive an email from Scrum Alliance® that includes a link to create your login credentials. The first step will be to take the online exam. Once the exam is complete, you will be asked to accept a license agreement and set up your online profile. It could take up to two weeks after course completion to receive your welcome email.

The individuals can take the online test from a computer anywhere in the world, according to their comfort (home, work, or other location). The test will not be proctored.

No, you will have a time limit of 60 minutes and will not be able to pause the test. If you accidentally close the window, then you’ll be able to reopen it immediately. If you lose internet connection or lose access to the test for an extended period of time, then you may reach out to support@scrumalliance.org to have a new test set up.

Upon finishing the test, you can click on the ‘submit’ button and results will appear immediately on the screen.

Scrum Alliance always strives to maintain the quality and relevance of the CSM certification by validating the best practices in the Agile industry from active practitioners in the field. The CSM curriculum incorporates the best in current knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to earn the CSM certification.  As such, the Scrum Alliance believes in involving their community to validate what is important in the role of the Scrum Master and then updates the tests to reflect these key areas.

If you choose English as your exam language, you will be able to switch to a newer version as the new test has recently got published. If you choose a different language then you may take the older version till that specific language gets published. Furthermore, according to the Scrum Alliance, the tests will be launched in other languages in the coming months, as soon as they inspect and adapt to the launch of the English version.

You will find the test blueprint at the bottom of the CSM page under ‘Resources’, on the Scrum Alliance website. This test blueprint covers the stipulated percentage of questions from each domain. The test blueprint is aligned with the latest version of 2018 LOs. Moreover, the 2018 CSM LOs matches with the November 2017 Scrum Guide. The current LOs can be found on the Scrum Alliance CSM certification webpage and also on ‘Trainer and Coach dashboards’ under “Resources”.

If you've already passed the CSM test, you will not be able to take it again to receive a better score. Your test score is only available to you. Nobody else will be able to see your score on the CSM test.

Becoming Agile is a continuous process and a CSM certification is a major milestone towards embracing Agility. Not only will you learn the roles and responsibilities of a Scrum Master but will know how to apply it in a variety of environments. It is a validation of your commitment to continued excellence and quality.

Since Scrum is the most popular Agile framework for project management, Scrum Masters are in demand irrespective of the industry type. If you are working in a company where Agile is being widely used then CSM should be your first choice.

You will receive the certification from Scrum Alliance, the CSM accreditation body designating you as a Certified ScrumMaster®. This enhances your industry credibility since a certification from Scrum Alliance is deemed to fulfill the vision of the Agile Manifesto by boosting greater productivity, success, and collaboration among team members.

You will have to attend two days of CSM® training under a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®). You need to take an exam to demonstrate your knowledge of Scrum and get certified. The exam comprises 50 multiple choice questions (MCQs) out of which you need to answer 37 questions correctly within an hour. This means that you need to score 74% in order to pass the exam. Once you pass the exam, you are declared as CSM® certified and you can download the certificate instantly.

CSM is one of the most popular and globally recognized certifications provided by the reputed Scrum Alliance. The demand for Scrum Master training and certifications has increased considerably during the last decade. The reason is that Scrum is now being implemented in industries beyond IT and hence the demand for a certified Scrum professional has increased even beyond his/her current industry of experience.

Scrum Master is a role and not a job title. The average salary of a Certified ScrumMaster® is $100K per year which is really high when compared with other IT certifications.

You will enjoy the following unique benefits with this ScrumMaster certification:

• Master the foundational concepts of Scrum and understand the scope of the Scrum Master role
• Gain access to resources, networks, and local groups available to only Scrum Alliance members
• Get ahead in your Agile career
• Prove your core Scrum knowledge to your peers
• Fulfill the role of a Scrum Master
• Engage with a community of Scrum experts

The Scrum framework is evolving and growing as a result of the engagement and contributions of those who share their ideas and practical experiences in the workplace. Renewal of your certification validates your interest in the growth and evolution of Scrum.

CSM certification renewal needs to be done every 2 years. You need to pay $100 to extend the credential for a further period of 2 years from the date of your current expiration. In order to renew your ScrumMaster certification, login to Scrum Alliance website, go to your dashboard and choose the ‘Renew Certification’ option available under the heading ‘Actions’.

From February 4, 2019 onwards, CSMs are required to earn 20 Scrum Educational Units (SEUs) within the past two years, in addition to the $100 renewal fee that has to be paid. This new requirement has been mandated to validate your participation and continued proficiency in the fundamental principles and practices of Scrum. You can earn the required SEUs by completing an educational training or a learning opportunity.

You have worked really hard to acquire the certification. Don’t let it get obsolete! Renew now and hold your certification for 2 years.

There are a number of ways in which SEUs can be earned. You can read here about how to earn your SEUs.

PDUs and SEUs are credits awarded by the Project Management Institute and the Scrum Alliance respectively. They recognize your dedication to the Agile world through the award of credits for every educational effort you make throughout your career. Scrum Alliance members who hold a credential from Scrum Alliance need to earn SEUs to get re-certified every two years. PDUs are offered by the PMI®, and every PMI® certification, except the CAPM®, requires you to earn a specific number of PDUs per three-year certification cycle.

You can get 14-16 PDUs and SEUs by participating in our 2-day training program.

• Here are some blogs we think will help you on your CSM Certification journey:
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  • CSM or PSM or SSM or SASM
• Need reasons to understand why you should undertake CSM training?  Click here