CSM® Certification Training in Chicago, IL, United States

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 the 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 exponential growth of Scrum, combined with 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.

A Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) has been taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) the Scrum terminology, practices, and principles that will enable him or her to act as a Scrum Master or Scrum team member. This credential is a first step on the Agile path. To become a true, practicing Scrum professional requires enough experience and continuing education.

No, there is no online/virtual course for CSM. Scrum Alliance believes that understanding Scrum requires a greater level of personal interaction than can be delivered in a virtual environment.

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

According to Scrum Alliance, a Certified Scrum Master course helps to increase the likelihood of a project’s overall success by applying Scrum principles and techniques. 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.

Scrum framework has become the Agile framework of choice for today’s organizations. Based on a survey by VersionOne’s 2018 State of Agile Development survey, currently 56% of the Agile teams are implementing a pure Scrum approach for delivering their projects and 70% of the respondent’s organization are implementing hybrid approaches such as Scrum, ScrumBan, and Scrum/XP.

Scrum framework is simple to learn but difficult to implement. The organizations implementing Scrum for the first time, require the presence of a skilled Scrum Master on a team. Being a Certified ScrumMaster, an individual can undertake the role of a Business Analyst, Lead Software, Engineer, Project Manager, Information Technology, Staff Scrum Master, Delivery Lead, Agile, Scrum Master, Technical Program Manager, Senior Project Manager, Agile Coach, QA Automation Engineer, Software Project Lead, etc.  

Agile methodology is one of the top 5 required skills, coming in at the 2nd position of LinkedIn’s list of the Most promising Jobs for 2018.  This list shows that the knowledge of Agile methodologies including Scrum framework is one of the most sought-after skills today.

Job opportunities are continuously increasing in number which in turn is raising the demand for professional and skilled Scrum Masters. Hiring Certified ScrumMasters in the Agile organizations will make sure that the team is properly implementing Scrum. Obtaining the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) training will give you the extra 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 on your Agile journey

Nowadays, Scrum has been gaining momentum in creating innovation and facilitating continuous value delivery. Scrum is easy to learn but difficult to implement. Though adopting Scrum is a challenge for the non-Agile organizations, the demand for the Scrum framework is growing exponentially today.

The latest State of Scrum report says that nearly 85% of their recent survey respondents have taken up Scrum Master certification and a whopping 63% success rate of  Scrum projects explains why Scrum Master certification tops the charts.

Here is a list of the top companies that have hired Certified ScrumMaster professionals in Chicago:

• Salesforce- an American cloud-based software known for its CRM product and sells a complementary suite of enterprise applications focused on customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development.
• HCSC- a not-for-profit health insurance company offering group life, disability, and dental solutions, as well as range of other individual solutions.
• Impact Networking- offer design strategic and cost-effective solutions for information and document workflow in the workplace.
• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago- on of the twelve regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Boards of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the nation’s central bank.
• TransUnion- an American consumer credit reporting agency that collects and aggregates information on over one billion individual consumers in over thirty countries.

Scrum tools help in addressing the pain points of the project delivery and in staying focused on the project. They also help to prioritise and manage the tasks  involved to take the project to the finish line. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Scrum tools:

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.

Professionals interested in this course can attend. A course completion certificate from Scrum Alliance by our Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) ensures your eligibility for the online CSM test.

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 conducts training at par with the standards of merit as set out by the Scrum Alliance, making every candidate learn the same high-quality content with no regard to the trainer and the location. They also help you excel in the aptitude and capability needed by you to make a difference in your organization.  

The site is listed under the selected workshop on the KnowledgeHut website. If not so,  then feel free to contact us and we’ll reach out for you. Our CSM training sessions are held at different locations in Chicago such as:

• Four Seasons Hotel Chicago- 120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611•(312) 280-8800
• The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago- At Water Tower Place, 160 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611•(312) 266-1000

The training venue is based on the preferences made by most of the individuals, trainers available, venue availability, etc. Find a suitable location for yourself and earn the industry-recognized credentials.

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.

In case you are familiar with the Scrum basics available on the Scrum Alliance website, then two-days of CSM training is sufficient to clear the Scrum Master certification 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 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.

Over the past decade, we have trained over 500 companies, comprising of small, medium and large-scale enterprises that increased our reach globally. We plan to keep up long-term relationships with our valuable clients by surpassing their expectations. Here are some of the top companies in Chicago that got trained by KnowledgeHut:

• Bank of America- a multinational investment bank and financial services company
• American Express- an American multinational financial services corporation
• Centurylink- an American telecommunications company
• Here Technologies- a company that provides mapping and location data and related services to individuals and companies

• Corporate Pricing- We offer group discounts that suit your budget and your organizational needs
• Customised Courses- Our courses can be tailored as per the specific learning needs of the employees
• Expert instructors and accredited courses- You can experience the best learning practices with our accredited curriculum and training conducted by the industry experts
• Training with current relevance- Our comprehensive curriculum is developed by the experts based on the latest industry needs
• Meet and exceed industry standards- Our training will aid your employees to meet industry benchmarks and even set new standards
• Innovative learning methodology- Our learning solutions are hands-on and experiential, to fully engage learners and enhance knowledge retention

The Certified ScrumMaster certification exam is an online test comprising of 50 multiple choice questions with a time limit of 60 minutes to finish the CSM certification exam and obtain the certification. You are allowed to take the exam only after successful completion of the course.

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

Yes. 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 retaking 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 such sample test available on the Scrum Alliance website. But, CSM test blueprint will help you to understand the format of the Scrum Master certification exam. This blueprint outlines the percentage of questions from each domain that will be on the 50-question test. Fortunately, the training and coaching community will not need to make any changes in their materials as the new exam pattern still follows the current Learning Objectives as well as the recently published Learning Objectives.

It is highly recommended to practice Scrum Master certification exam sample questions in order to pass the final CSM certification exam in your first attempt. You can take the free Scrum Master certification sample test for practice purposes.

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 any computer anywhere in the world, according to their comfort (home, work, or other location). The test will not be proctored.

No, there is no option to pause a test since you will have a duration limit of an hour (60 minutes). On the off chance, if you shut the window, you can reopen the window instantly. In case if you lose internet connection or lose access to the test for an extended period of time, you may visit support@scrumalliance.org to start a new test set up.

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.

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.

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.

Once you attend the two-day (16 hours) CSM course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®) and pass the certifying exam, you will earn the CSM certification from Scrum Alliance, renowned CSM accreditation body. 

According to the salary posted on the salary.com report, the average Scrum Master salary in Chicago, IL is $95,025, but the range typically falls between $82,436 and $111,171. The Scrum Master salary mostly depends on various important factors, including your certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in this job. The average salary of the experienced Scrum Master in Chicago, IL is $121,065, and it typically ranges between $100,614 and $135,296.

The necessary skills that impact the salary of the Certified ScrumMaster are Agile methodology, Agile Software Development, ScrumMaster, Project Management, Scrum, Business Analysis, etc. Additionally, you need skills like managerial skills, leadership skills, facilitator, and interpersonal skills to succeed as a successful Scrum Master in your team.

Being a Certified ScrumMaster, you can play roles like Software Engineer, Product Manager, Project Manager, Team Leader, Business Analyst, Development team member, Testers etc. and the designations an individual can play in the organizations are Business Analyst, Lead Software, Engineer, Project Manager, Information Technology, Staff Scrum Master, Delivery Lead, Agile, Scrum Master, Technical Program Manager, Senior Project Manager, Agile Coach, QA Automation Engineer, Software Project Lead, etc.

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

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, log in to https://www.scrumalliance.org/login, go to your dashboard and choose the ‘Renew Certification’ option available under the heading ‘Actions’.

Note that starting from February 4, 2019, you will be required to have earned 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 decline! 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.