How to take the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) course online

Every agile development team needs a Scrum Master to be successful. As a Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®), you will be well prepared to facilitate your team and increase the chances of your team’s success. A Scrum Master is not a project manager or a project leader but rather a “servant leader” dedicated to helping the team succeed within the Scrum framework. A Certified ScrumMaster has many responsibilities including helping the team work together and protecting the team from distractions that can derail their productivity. 

To earn a Certified ScrumMaster certification, you will need to start by taking a Certified ScrumMaster course from a certified Scrum Trainer.

The CSM course is typically a two-day course that teaches how the Scrum framework can be used to deploy successful projects on time. Once you have completed the course, you can take a test that will help in assessing your understanding of the learning objectives of the CSM. Once you pass the test successfully, you can download and print your CSM certification and become a Scrum Alliance member.  

You can now take the CSM course online! 

The CSM course was earlier offered by Scrum Alliance only as an in-person classroom training. The premise was that for better learning, students need to interact with each other and the trainer through the in-person classes.  

However, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, Scrum Alliance now offers live online training in addition to the traditional in-person classroom training. Currently, all the courses are temporarily available in an online format including the Certified ScrumMaster class.  

KnowledgeHut's Live Online CSM® Training is fun and vibrant, while maintaining the rigor and diligence of an in-person classroom training.

With this development, students can participate in the course from the safety and comfort of their homes. Along with the convenience and comfort, live online training also reduces the expenses, time, and travel involved for students and trainers. Most importantly, online CSM training can be utilized in taking up advanced certifications and generate more time for self-learning. 

Another advantage offered by online training is that students can revisit the lectures as many times as they can. It helps students to pay full attention to the CST® and they do not need to feel pressured to take notes during class. For whatever reason, if a class is missed, students can always peruse the lecture later. 

Online training also allows the CST to get creative in different ways to impart the learning. The use of tools, graphics and videos make for rich learning content to help you understand the concepts better.  

How different is the CSM online training from the conventional in-person training?  

Key aspects of the conventional in-person CSM training from Scrum Alliance were as follows: 

• The 16 hours long, 2-day training course 
• The Scrum Alliance certification account 
• CSM test 
• Complimentary 2-year membership with Scrum Alliance 
• Training materials like presentations, workbooks, and online resources provided by the Registered Education Provider.  

With the advent of the online CSM training, the online course is now 14 hours long. The course is divided into several classes of shorter hours, unlike the in-person class that has 2 classes, each being 7 to 8 hours long. The size of the class is capped to 30 so that students can have a better learning experience. The CST will use tools like a webcam for interacting with the participants and participants will also be able to virtually collaborate with one another. 

How do I take the CSM course online? 

Here are the steps to take the CSM course online:  

• The Trainer from the Registered Education Provider (REP) will ask you to download the virtual meeting tool. 
• If you have registered with the Scrum Alliance before, make sure that you use the same Email ID to register for this program as well. 
• To ensure that the training is more engaging, your trainer will ask you to download a few tools or sign up before the training begins.  
• Ensure that your camera and mic are working fine. Also, you need to have a good internet connection. 
• Log in to your account at least 15 minutes before the training starts. 
• For the training, you will be connected to the audio via the speakers and microphone. 
• All participants are required to mute their microphones during the session. They can use the chat window for any query or question. 
• Your attendance will be recorded at the start and end of the session. If you fail to record your attendance, you will be marked as absent and will not receive the certification link. 
• The trainer will be sharing the soft copy of the course-ware. 
• All the participants are required to fill out a survey at the end of the training. This is mandatory for receiving your certification. 

How can I become a Certified ScrumMaster via the online training program? 

Here are the steps for you to become a Certified ScrumMaster: 

• Register with a global REP of Scrum Alliance like KnowledgeHut. 
• Complete the 14-hour live online course taught by a CST. 
• After completing the course, Scrum Alliance will send you a mail with a link for creating your login credentials. 
• After you create your account, you will be required to take the 1-hour long CSM online test that includes 50 MCQs. 
• Once you have passed the test, you will need to accept the license agreement. 
• After this, you will receive your CSM certification along with a 2-year membership with Scrum Alliance. 

How do I take the CSM test? 

With a focus on practical application, the most important part of the CSM course is the two-day training. After the training, all candidates must pass the CSM test within 90 days to become a certified Scrum Master. Begin with the basics and get thorough with all the theory. Understand the roles, artifacts, ceremonies, and events involved in Scrum and learn all about the Agile Manifesto, its values, and principles. You will benefit by practicing various scenarios that scrum teams may face while integrating their deliveries into a single product. 

The two documents that everyone absolutely must read are the official scrum guide and the Scrum Primer. Another great way of preparing for the exam is through mock tests. Once you take several mock tests, you will get comfortable with the type of questions asked during the exam. However, note that most mock tests are very easy compared to the actual CSM exam. Most of the exam questions in the CSM test are scenario-based and tough. Nevertheless, mock tests are a great way to practice.  

Before you attend the class for CSM, make sure that you select your class and trainer wisely. Make sure that the materials they are providing in the workshop are up to date and cover everything required to pass the test.  

Can the CSM test be retaken? 

The CSM test contains 50 MCQs. You need a score of 74% to pass this exam. From the day you receive your initial welcome email, you will get two attempts within 90 days for passing the exam. These attempts will not cost you any money. After the 90-day period or after 2 attempts, you will be required to pay $25 USD for every additional attempt.  

However, if you have passed the CSM test successfully but are not happy with the score, you cannot take it again. Please note only you have access to your scores. Others or your instructor will not be able to see your performance on the CSM test. 

Getting started with the CSM course 

The demand for Scrum Masters continues to increase and this is reflected in the rise in salaries. According to Glassdoor.com, the average annual base pay is USD 97,319, with a high of USD 132,000. Even entry-level positions offer lucrative starting pay, coming in at USD 78,000! 

With a bright future to look forward to as a CSM, book your CSM training today and get started on your path to grow your career in Agile.  

Scale-up your Scrum Journey with our live online CSM® training. Check it out here.