Certifications are the industry-recognized way to grow your skills and take your career to new heights. Having a Scrum Master certification shows that your Scrum Master skills are up to date, you’re willing to learn new things and are committed to professional excellence. It also helps you market yourself better and command higher salaries than your non-certified peers.
.. Read moreThere are several Scrum Master certification options available in the market today, of which the most prominent are the ones offered by Scrum Alliance®, Scrum.org™ and Scrum Inc.™ Founded by the co-creators of Scrum, these certifications are widely acclaimed and well recognized, globally. In this section, we list out the main organizations issuing Scrum Master certifications along with the certifications they issue.
Founded in 2001 by Ken Schwaber, the co-creator of Scrum, Scrum Alliance® (SA) is the largest and most established professional certification body in the Agile community. With a vision to transform the World of Work, SA inspires individuals, professionals, and organizations to create joyful, prosperous, and sustainable workplaces.
Scrum.org provides comprehensive training, resources, assessments, and certifications with the aim to improve Scrum knowledge, training, and implementations. Created in 2009 by Ken Schwaber, the co-creator of Scrum, Scrum.org is focused on improving professionalism in complex product delivery.
Project Management Institute, Inc.® (PMI®) is a world leader in the advancement of the project management profession worldwide. Completing 50 years of existence in 2019, PMI has prepared more than 3 million professionals around the world for the Project Economy, the economy of the future in which work, and individuals, are organized around projects.
Scaled Agile, Inc., founded in 2011, is the organization behind the Scaled Agile Framework®, the most popular framework for scaling Agile at the enterprise level. In its fifth iteration today, the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) has been adopted by more than 20,000 enterprises over 110 countries to improve business outcomes by enabling business agility.
Founded in 1995 by Dr. Jeff Sutherland, co-creator of Scrum, Scrum.Inc™ is the global authority on the most widely used Agile Framework. With a presence across over 29 countries, Scrum.Inc provides training solutions and resources to clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies to non-profits, start-ups, and government agencies.
So, which Scrum Master certification should you choose? That would depend on your objective – are you looking to master the fundamentals of team-level Scrum or is your focus more on exploring the role of Scrum Master in the context of the enterprise? It would also depend on the context in which you are operating and what your organization values more.
Though there are some similarities among the various Scrum Master certifications, the focus of each of the certifications may vary. It is therefore important to identify your objective for getting a Scrum Master certification and understand the key aspects of the certification before you decide which one to start with.
Below is a quick primer to help you compare the certifications:
| Certification Provider, Trainer Credentials, Training Mode | Cost, Renewal, Validity | Eligibility | Learning Objectives, Curriculum | Benefits of Certification | |
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| Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) | Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). KnowledgeHut is a Registered Education Ally (REA) of Scrum Alliance. |
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| Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM™) | Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST). KnowledgeHut is a Scrum.org™ Professional Training Network (PTN) member. |
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| Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) | Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a certified and experienced Scrum Trainer. KnowledgeHut is a Premier Authorized Training Partner of PMI®. |
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Curriculum
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| SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) | Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a SAFe® Program Consultant (SPC). KnowledgeHut is a Gold SPCT Partner of Scaled Agile, Inc. |
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Curriculum
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| Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ (SISM) | Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a Scrum Inc. certified Scrum Trainer. |
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Curriculum
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Note: The training costs mentioned above are indicative and may vary based on dates and regions.
Each Scrum Master certification has a specific set of eligibility criteria based on prior knowledge and experience in Scrum, and in certain instances, prior educational and professional qualifications (mostly in terms of certifications held). Some of the courses require you to attend training by an authorized training provider in order to qualify for the certification exam.
Here’s a quick compilation of FAQs related to the prerequisites for the main Scrum Master certifications:
| Can anyone take the course? | Can I get certified without taking the course? | Can I take the certification exam directly without taking the course? | Is prior knowledge of Agile, Scrum, or any other methodology necessary? | Is prior work experience mandatory? | What certifications are essential for eligibility? | |
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| Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) | Yes | No | No. You must complete at least 14 hours of live training, covering all learning objectives, with a Certified Scrum Trainer. | Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial, not mandatory. | No | None |
| Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM™) | Yes | No | Yes. However, a 14–16-hour training by an authorized training provider is highly recommended. | Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial, not mandatory. | No | None |
| Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) | Yes. Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial. | No | No. You must complete at least 14 hours of live training, covering all learning objectives, with a Certified Scrum Trainer. | Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial, not mandatory. | No | None |
| SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) | Yes. Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial. | No | No. You must complete at least 14 hours of live training, covering all learning objectives, with a Certified Scrum Trainer. | Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial, not mandatory. | No | None |
| Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ (SISM) | Yes. Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial. | No | No. You must complete at least 14 hours of live training, covering all learning objectives, with a Certified Scrum Trainer. | Prior knowledge of Scrum is beneficial, not mandatory. | No | None |
How do you apply for the certification? Do you have the option to take the exam, both physically and online? Can you download the certificate immediately or would you need to wait to receive this by email? Will you receive a physical copy? Oftentimes, it’s these types of specifics that are unclear and create stumbling blocks in your path to your Scrum Master certification. Find out the exact set of steps to get the Scrum Master certification of your choice.
Get familiar with the 12 principles and 4 values stated in the Agile Manifesto through our popular in-class activity- “Draw and demonstrate”. Herein, you will be asked to form groups and illustrate all 12 principles pictorially.
Step 1: Get trained
Get trained through a Registered Education Ally (REA) of Scrum Alliance. Enrol for an upcoming Certified ScrumMaster® course and attend the 2-day training (of at least 14 hours).
Step 2: Take the exam
Log in to Scrum Alliance, complete your profile, answer 'yes' or 'no' to the question on Marketing Opt-in, and accept the License Agreement. Then take the one-hour online CSM test and get a minimum score of 74%.
Step 3: Become a CSM!
On passing the CSM test, download the CSM® certificate and become a leader in your Scrum team!
Step 1: Get trained
Get trained through a Professional Training Network (PTN) member of Scrum.org. Enrol for an upcoming Professional Scrum Master™ I course
Step 2: Take the exam
Click on the Scrum.org exam link (you will receive the link with Assessment key after the course), take the online PSM I exam and get a minimum score of 85% in the 60-min exam.
Step 3: Become a PSM!
Download the PSM™ certificate. You're now a Scrum.org certified Professional Scrum Master!
Step 1: Get trained
Get trained through an Authorized Training Partner of PMI®. Enrol for an upcoming DASM course and attend the 2-day training (of at least 14 hours).
Step 2: Take the exam
Schedule your certification exam at a Pearson VUE test center or via the online proctored testing solution, using the eligibility code you receive from PMI after completing the training. Take the closed-book multi-choice 90-min exam and get at least 70 percent (35 out of 50 questions right).
Step 3: Become a DASM!
On clearing the exam, you get designated as a Disciplined Agile Scrum Master.
Step 1: Get trained
Get trained by an Authorized Training Partner of Scaled Agile, Inc.® (Scaled Agile). Enrol for an upcoming SSM course and attend the 2-day training (of at least 14 hours), delivered by a SAFe® Program Consultant (SPC) who’s also an expert practitioner.
Step 2: Take the exam
Log in using credentials you will receive directly from Scaled Agile on completion of the two-day training, take the 90-minute, 45-MCQ online closed-book exam. Clear the exam and get 34 out of 45 questions right to pass the SAFe® 5 exam and 33 out of 45 questions right to pass the SAFe® 4 exam.
Step 3: Become an SSM!
On passing the exam, you become a Certified SAFe® 5 Scrum Master. You will receive your SAFe® 5 Scrum Master PDF Certificate and Digital Badge within 5-7 working days.
Step 1: Get trained
To get trained through KnowledgeHut, enrol for an upcoming Scrum Master by Scrum Inc. course and attend the 2-day training, delivered by an experienced expert practitioner.
Step 2: Take the exam
Log in using credentials you will receive directly from Scrum Inc. on completion of the two-day training. You have 30 days to take the exam after completing the training. Get a minimum of 23 questions right out of 30 to pass the exam. There is no time limit once the exam is started.
Take the exam and clear it.
Step 3: Become an SISM!
On passing the exam, you can download your certificate and become a Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.!
Each Scrum Master certification is designed to deliver specific outcomes for you. Understand the exam pattern, the type of exam, what you will be tested on, the types of questions, the difficulty levels, and the pass percentages in the industry, for each of the Scrum Master certifications.
| Certifying body | Exam format, duration and passing mark | Process to get exam results | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) | Scrum Alliance | Exam Type: Online, Closed Book Test Question Type: MCQs Total Questions: 50 MCQs Passing Score: 74% Time Limit: 60 min | On passing the CSM test, instantly download the CSM® certificate. |
| Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM™) | Scrum.org | Exam Type: Online, Open Book Test Question Type: MCQs Total Questions: 85 MCQs Passing Score: 85% Time Limit: 60 min | On passing the PSM test, instantly download the PSM certificate. |
| Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) | PMI | Exam Type: Online, Open Book Test Question Type: MCQs Total Questions: 50 MCQs Passing Score: 70% Time Limit: 90 min | On passing the DASM test, instantly download the DASM certificate. |
| SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) | Scaled Agile | Exam Type: Online, Open Book Test Question Type: MCQs Total Questions: 85 MCQs Passing Score: 85% Time Limit: 60 min | You will receive your SAFe®️ 5 Scrum Master PDF Certificate and Digital Badge within 5-7 working days |
| Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ (SISM) | Scrum Inc. | Exam Type: Online Question Type: MCQs Total Questions: 30 MCQs Passing Score: 76% Time Limit: No time limit | On passing the SISM test, instantly download the SISM certificate |
Once you’ve identified your objective for getting a Scrum Master certification, you will need to understand the key aspects of each of the certification in order to select the one best suited to your needs. In this section, we present a compilation of all the key aspects related to each of the main certifications, namely, Certified ScrumMaster®, Professional Scrum Master™, DASM, SAFe® Scrum Master and Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™. Having these details at your fingertips will aid you in making your choice of the Scrum Master certification to start with.
Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST).
KnowledgeHut is a Registered Education Ally (REA) of Scrum Alliance.
Included in training cost
No prerequisites. Basic knowledge of Scrum in real-world context helpful, though not mandatory.
2-day training by authorized training provider mandatory
Attend the 2-day CSM course from a Scrum Alliance REA, get trained by a CST, pass the exam and get become a CSM.
Exam Type: Online, Closed book test
Question Type: MCQs
Total Questions: 50 MCQs
Passing Score: 74%
Time Limit: 60 min
Develop your Scrum career further by taking the following certifications:
Check out the upcoming the schedules here
Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST).
KnowledgeHut is a Scrum.org™ Professional Training Network (PTN) member.
Included in training cost
No prerequisites. Basic knowledge of Scrum in real-world context helpful, though not mandatory.
2-day training by authorized training provider optional and is highly recommended
Clear the PSM exam (you stand better chances of clearing the exam once you attend the PSM course and get trained by a PST) and become a PSM.
Exam Type: Online, Open book test
Question Type: MCQs
Total Questions: 85 MCQs
Passing Score: 85%
Time Limit: 60 min
Enhance your Scrum career after the PSM I certification with the following certifications:
Check out the upcoming the schedules here .
Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a certified and experienced Scrum Trainer.
KnowledgeHut is a Premier Authorized Training Partner of PMI®."
Included in training cost
No prerequisites. Basic knowledge of Scrum in real-world context helpful, though not mandatory.
2-day training by authorized training provider mandatory
Attend the 2-day DASM course from a PMI ATP, pass the exam and become a DASM.
Exam Type: Closed book, online
Question Type: Multiple-choice questions
Total Questions: 50
Passing Score: 70%
Time Limit: 90 minutes
Establish yourself as an experienced Scrum Master by taking the Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) certification
Check out the upcoming the schedules here.
Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a SAFe® Program Consultant (SPC).
KnowledgeHut is a Gold SPCT Partner of Scaled Agile, Inc.
Included in training cost
No prerequisites. Familiarity with Agile and awareness of Scrum, Kanban, extreme Programming (XP) and working knowledge of software and hardware development processes is helpful
2-day training by authorized training provider mandatory
Attend the 2-day SSM course from Scaled Agile and pass the exam and get become a DASM.
Exam Type: Online, Closed book test
Question Type: MCQs
Total Questions: 45 MCQs
Passing Score: 73%
Time Limit: 90 min
Grow your expertise in SAFe® and accelerate your career growth with these certifications after SSM:
Check out the upcoming schedules here .
Instructor-Led Virtual Training by a Scrum Inc. certified Scrum Trainer.
Included in training cost
No prerequisites. Basic knowledge of the Scrum Guide 2020 is recommended.
2-day training by authorized training provider mandatory
Attend the 2-day of Scrum Inc. SM course, clear the exam and become a SISM.
Exam Type: Online
Question Type: MCQs
Total Questions: 30 MCQs
Passing Score: 76%
Time Limit: No time limits
Accelerate your Scrum career with these certifications after the SISM certification:
Check out the upcoming schedules here .
While selecting the Scrum Master certification that’s right for you, the cost of certification also becomes a key factor. The cost varies from one accreditation body to another and in most cases, the certifications would need to be renewed once every year or two. Let’s take a closer look at the cost of certifications:
| Scrum Master Certifications | Cost of Training | Cost of Certification | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) | INR 23999 in India USD 995 in US CAD 1195 in Canada | Included in Course Fee | Certificate valid for 2 years Renewal cost: $100 |
| Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM™) | INR 23998 in India USD 999 in US CAD 1099 in Canada | Included in Course Fee | Certificate valid for life No renewals required |
| Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) | (to be updated shortly) | Included in Course Fee | Certificate valid for 1 year Renewal cost: $50 |
| SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) | INR 52999 in India USD 849 in US CAD 999 in Canada | Included in Course Fee | Certificate valid for 1 year Renewal cost: Bundled cost of $100 for renewal and $195 for membership to SAFe Community Platform |
| Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ (SISM) | INR 19999 in India USD 799 in US CAD 1049 in Canada | Included in Course Fee | Certificate valid for 1 year Renewal cost: $25 |
Scrum certification sets even the young professional apart. Even those with a few years of experience or just one certification earn between $60,000 and $65,000 more on average than the typical entry-level applicant in the United States.
Note, however, that theoretical knowledge is not enough. If you’re yet to gain real experience, you would find it difficult to find an entry-level Scrum Master position, regardless of the number of certifications you may hold.
| Scrum Master Certifications | India | Unites States | Canada | Australia | Middle-East | Europe | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Scrum Master (CSM) | ₹1,450,000 | $97319 | CA$85,000 | A$111,000 | AED 239,098 | € 62,357 | £ 51,500 |
| Professional Scrum Master (PSM) | ₹1,384,018 | $92,304 | $90,000 | A$124,000 / yr | AED 239,098 | € 62,357 | £43,638 |
| Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) | ₹1,382,686 | $109,417 | C$86,299 | AU$114,024 | AED 200,000 | €68,339 | £44,513 |
| SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) | ₹1,815,921 | $104,593 | C$95,107 | AU$117,422 | AED 244,168 | €64,057 | £52,801 |
| Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ (SISM) | ₹1450,000 | $97319 | CA$85,000 | A$111,000 | AED 239,098 | € 62,357 | £ 51,500 |
Note: Salary figures stated above are averages and estimates. Sources: Glassdoor.com, Payscale.com and ScrumAlliance.org
While we believe all of our Scrum Master training courses will help you get better at being a Scrum Master, we understand that your objective in selecting the appropriate course and, perhaps more importantly, the time you can commit to training, are limited. With that in mind, we equipped you with this ready reckoner to select the Scrum Master certification that’s right for you.
You’ve been introduced to the top Scrum Master certifications and are now familiar with all the specific aspects you need to know about each of them. You’ve grasped the focus of each certification, the key concepts you can expect to learn, and most importantly, the specific skillsets that you’ll gain along with the outcomes you can accomplish by gaining them.
You now have at your fingertips all the information you need to select the right Scrum Master certification to become the sought-after Scrum Master you were meant to be. As the most widely adopted Agile methodology, the popularity of Scrum is set to soar and with this, the demand for Scrum Masters. It is indeed a great time for Scrum Masters to be in the market.
