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Top Scrum Certifications of 2022

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13th Jul, 2022
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31st May, 2019
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Top Scrum Certifications of 2022

A question that plagues most entry-level or even mid-career Scrum professionals is: “is a Scrum credential really worth it?” The answer—it most definitely is! According to the Salary Survey of Scrum Professionals 2017-18 , even entry level professionals, with just one scrum master certification, earn much more than their non-certified counterparts. 

Scrum certifications were also the most requested certifications in 2020 with the Certified Scrum Master being most in-demand, according to employment website Indeed.com. Employers are more than ever before, looking at hiring certified Scrum professionals, a fact validated by  

Indeed.com’s survey places the CSM above the Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential in its list. Also, read our Scrum Master tutorial and scrum interview questions.

So, you know how to future-proof your career. Get a Scrum certification! 

Here’s a list of the top-paying Scrum certifications that will help you in career progression, leverage this hiring demand in 2021-2022 and earn high salaries.

1. Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®)  

This entry-level Scrum credential from Scrum Alliance, is a great starting point for professionals who want to gain an understanding of Scrum team roles and responsibilities, Scrum events and Scrum artifacts.

CSM Demand: CSM, was the 9th most-requested certification this year in the Indeed.com survey. With an average salary of approximately $120K per annum and 24% expected job growth rate in the next 3 years, CSM is indeed the gold standard for Scrum certifications.   

Source: Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Schools & Reviews | Indeed.com 

Benefits Of CSM 

  • Gain a high degree of proficiency in executing Scrum. 
  • Become an Agile change agent 
  • Be a servant leader. 
  • Create a highly motivated and high performing team. 
  • Open yourself to new opportunities. 
  • Earn high salaries. Average salary USD 118,353 
  • Gets you a 2-year membership with Scrum Alliance

Top companies hiring CSM professionals 

  1. Retail 
  2. E-commerce 
  3. Energy & Utilities 
  4. Financial Services such as Insurance and Investments Cos 
  5. Advertising 
  6. Marketing 
  7. Government Institutions. 

Some of the top companies hiring CSMs include

  1. IBM 
  2. Tata Consultancy Services 
  3. CapGemini 
  4. Honeywell 
  5. BOSCH 
  6. Accenture 
  7. Deloitte

Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a course taught by a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance or by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®). KnowledgeHut is a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. 

Eligibility for CSM exam: Attending an in-person two day (16 hours) or live online (14 hours) Certified ScrumMaster® course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®) is required, to be eligible for the exam. 

Who should take the CSM training for certification

  • Software Engineers 
  • Product Managers 
  • Project Managers 
  • Team Leaders 
  • Business Analysts 
  • Product Managers 
  • Software Developers 
  • Product Owners 
  • Software Development Managers 
  • Software Architects 
  • Software Testers 
  • Team Leads 
  • QA Managers 
  • Development team members 
  • Testers 
  • Anyone who would like to build a career as a Scrum Master 

Duration to get certified: Attending a 14-hour live online or 16 hour in-person course is mandatory for appearing for the exam. Once you complete the course, you should reserve some time for ensuring a thorough preparation before attempting the exam. If you successfully pass the exam, you will get your results immediately and you are a qualified CSM. The total duration in order to get CSM certified, including course, study time and exam should take you around a couple of weeks. 

Course fee for certification: Rs. 23,999/- in India, $ 1295 in the US 
Application fee for certification: NA 
Exam fee for certification: Included in course fee 

Exam Format: 

  • Online test comprising of 50 multiple choice questions. 
  • Duration: 1-hour 
  • Pass mark: 74%  

Retake fee for certification: The second attempt is free if you attempt the exam within 60 days of course completion. The retake costs $25 after first two attempts.

2. Certified Scrum Product Owner®(CSPO®) 

Another offering from Scrum Alliance, this credential is for professionals who want to cement their career as Product Owners and want to validate their expertise on Scrum terminology, practices, and principles. 

CSPO Demand: Product Owners have been recognised for their innumerable contribution to Scrum teams and their role as a bridge between business and development. With 90% modern teams using Scrum for product development, the Product Owner’s role as an intermediary who maximises value and motivates teams, is not lost on recruiters. Which is why the demand for product owner keeps rising and each day hundreds of open positions for product owner roles are added.  

Benefits Of CSPO 

  • Enhance your knowledge of Agile practices 
  • Maximise value and enhance stakeholder satisfaction 
  • Grow your network and speak a global product owner language 
  • Get a 2-year membership with Scrum Alliance 
  • Earn lucrative salaries CSPO salary: $105,845.

Top companies hiring CSPO professionals 

  1. IT 
  2. Telecom 
  3. Healthcare 
  4. Financial 
  5. Manufacturing 
  6. Education 

Some of the top companies hiring CSPOs include

  1. Gartner 
  2. Intel 
  3. Dell 
  4. Bosch 
  5. PayPal 
  6. Mastercard 
  7. Axis Bank 
  8. SAP 
  9. IBM 

Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a course taught by a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance or by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®). KnowledgeHut is a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. 

Eligibility for CSPO exam: There is no exam. Aspirants need to successfully complete a 14 hour live online or 16 hours of in-person training with a CST, or 25 hours of face-to-face interaction with a Certified Agile Coach to be certified as CSPO.  

Who should take the training for CSPO certification 

  • Project Managers 
  • Developers 
  • Product Owners 
  • Managers-Software development 
  • Architects-Software development 
  • Product Managers 
  • Software developers 
  • Software testers 
  • Team leads/Team members interested in learning Scrum 

Duration to get certified: 14 hours or 16 hours or 25 hours, depending on the mode of training you choose.

Course fee for certification: Training cost: INR 24999 in India, USD 1295 in US and CAD 1495 in Canada 

3. Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM™)

The Professional Scrum Master™ I is an offering from Scrum.org, a global organization founded by Scrum co-creator, Ken Schwaber. This credential with its high standards of training and exhaustive assessment, ensures that holders have mastery over the Scrum framework.  

PSM Demand: According to the 2019 Scrum Master trends by Scrum.org, PSM I was among the top three certifications among survey participants. Scrum is by far the most commonly used agile framework and its popularity is not going to diminish any time soon.  PSM I is lucrative and career defining. 

Benefits Of PSM 

  • Lead a team of Scrum specialists who bring the benefits of Scrum to projects. 
  • Perform the responsibilities of a servant leader 
  • Resolve conflicts and tackle challenges to deliver the best at the end of every Sprint. 
  • Address organizational challenges in using Scrum effectively 
  • Display a high level of Scrum expertise 
  • Earn high salaries; upto USD 93,570 on average annually

Top companies hiring PSM professionals 

  1. Retail 
  2. E-commerce 
  3. Energy & Utilities 
  4. Financial Services such as Insurance and Investments Cos 
  5. Advertising 
  6. Marketing 
  7. Government Institutions. 

Some of the top companies that hire PSMs 

  1. J.P. Morgan Chas & Co 
  2. Capgemini 
  3. IBM 
  4. Sogeti USA LLC 
  5. Northrop Grumman Corporation

Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must train under PSTs or from a Professional Training Network (PTN) member of Scrum.org. You can attend a face-to-face course taught by Professional Scrum Trainer (PSTs), a private coaching or complete 16 hours of live online training with a PST. KnowledgeHut is a Professional Training Network (PTN) member of Scrum.org. 

Eligibility for PSM exam: There is no eligibility criteria for appearing for the exam. But aspirants must possess a high level of Scrum knowledge.  

Who should take the training for PSM certification 

  • Project Managers 
  • Scrum Masters 
  • Scrum team members 
  • Developers 
  • Product Owners 
  • Software development managers 
  • Software Architects 
  • Product Managers 
  • Software Developers 
  • Software Coders 
  • Software Testers 
  • Team Leads/Team Members 

Duration to get certified: Passing the assessment is mandatory to gain the certificate. Considering that the assessment is difficult, Scrum.org suggests a thorough preparation that includes attending a course, reading the Scrum Guide and other resources. In all, it may take you 20 hrs including course and study time to get PSM certified. 

Course fee for certification: USD 1299 

  • Exam format:  
  • 80 multiple choice questions and True/False questions 
  • Duration: 1 hour 
  • Pass mark: 85%  

 Application fee for certification : NA 

Exam fee for certification: $150 USD per attempt 

Retake fee for certification:  Two attempts are permitted within 14 days after you receive your key, at no additional cost.

4. Advanced Certified ScrumMaster℠ (A-CSM℠) 

This is the advanced level credential after the CSM and is offered by the Scrum Alliance. If you want to continue on your agile journey and show your commitment to continued excellence, then this is the right credential for you.   

A-CSM Demand: The A-CSM helps you showcase your advanced Scrum implementation skills, and ability to facilitate better dialogue between the Scrum team and stakeholders. These advanced Scrum Master skills are in high demand across Fortune 500 companies, who are ready to pay high salaries for such skills.  

Benefits Of A-CSM 

  • Enable high performance teams 
  • Lead and facilitate change 
  • Resolve impediments 
  • Manage multiple teams 
  • Earn high salaries upto $115K per year 

Top companies hiring A-CSM professionals 

  1. Retail 
  2. E-commerce 
  3. Energy & Utilities 
  4. Financial Services such as Insurance and Investments Cos 
  5. Advertising 
  6. Marketing 
  7. Government Institutions 
  8. Telecom 
  9. Infrastructure 
  10. Entertainment 

Some of the top companies hiring A-CSMs 

  1. Google 
  2. Walt Disney 
  3. LinkedIn 
  4. Roche 
  5. BBC 
  6. GE 
  7. Adobe 
  8. Microsoft 
  9. Spotify 
  10. eBay 
  11. Twitter 
  12. IBM 
  13. Capgemini 
  14. Accenture 
  15. Deloitte 
  16. Hewlett Packard 
  17. BAE Systems 
  18. Lockheed Martin 
  19. ExxonMobil 
  20. Verizon 
  21. Walmart 
  22. Dow Jones  
  23. Tesla  

Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a training offered by a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. 

Eligibility for A-CSM exam  

  • Hold a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification with the Scrum Alliance.  
  • Attend a certified A-CSM educational offering to gain techniques and skills that go beyond the basics and mechanics of Scrum, expanding into interaction, facilitation, coaching, and team dynamics. 
  • Successfully complete all educator-designed components of an approved educational offering. This may include pre- or post-course work as deemed necessary by your approved educator to complete the learning objectives. 
  • Accept the A-CSM License Agreement and complete your Scrum Alliance membership profile. 
  • Validate at least 12 months of work experience specific to the role of Scrum Master (within the past five years). 

 Who should take the training for certification 

  • Scrum Masters 
  • Team Leads 
  • Development Managers 
  • Delivery Managers 
  • Project Managers 
  • Agile Coaches 

Duration to get certified: Once you have satisfied all the eligibility requirements mandated by Scrum Alliance including a minimum of 12 months of Scrum Master experience (within the past five years), you need to attend the 2-day A-CSM℠ course from a Global Registered Education Provider of Scrum Alliance post which you will get your A-CSM credential. KnowledgeHut is a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. 

Course fee for certification: USD  775  

Application fee for certification: NA 

Exam fee for certification: There is no exam for A-CSM 

Retake fee for certification: NA

5. Professional Scrum Product Owner™(PSPO) 

PSPO stands for Professional Scrum Product Owner, a course and certification offered by Scrum.org. This credential helps you develop a solid understanding of the Product Owner responsibilities and maximize value of software products and systems. 

PSPO Demand:  

Product Owner roles are the jobs of the future. Listed by LinkedIn and the World Economic Forum (Jobs of Tomorrow Report 2020) as being among the top emerging job trends, product owner roles are here to stay.  

Benefits Of PSPO 

  • Own the product vision and maximize your team’s ROI 
  • Improve business value 
  • Motivate and lead Agile teams 
  • Demonstrate your proficiency in Scrum 
  • Grow your career in Scrum with confidence  
  • Open yourself up to new opportunities 
  • Earn handsome salaries. Certified Product Owners earn $105,399, average salary, much higher compared to non-certified Product Owners 

Top companies hiring PSPO professionals 

  • Telecom 
  • Oil & gas 
  • Finance 
  • Government 
  • Healthcare 
  • Entertainment and more 

Some of the top companies hiring PSPOs include

  • Spotify 
  • Twitter 
  • Tesla 
  • Lockheed Martin 
  • Walmart 
  • Dow Jones 
  • ExxonMobil 

Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must take their training from a Professional Training Network (PTN) member of Scrum.org. KnowledgeHut is a Scrum.org™ Professional Training Network (PTN) member. 

Eligibility for PSPO exam: No eligibility requirements. Participants must possess high knowledge of Scrum.  

Who should take the training for certification 

  • Project Managers 
  • Developers 
  • Product Owners 
  • Managers-Software development 
  • Architects-Software development 
  • Product Managers 
  • Software developers 
  • Software testers 
  • Team leads/Team members interested in learning Scrum 
  • Leadership Team  

Duration to get certified: 2 days training plus additional study hours before attempting the exam.  

Course fee for certification: USD 999 

Application fee for certification: NA  

Exam fee for certification: $200 USD 

Exam Format: 

  • 80 multiple choice questions and True/False questions 
  • Duration: 1 hour 
  • Pass mark: 85% 
  • Difficulty Level: Intermediate 

 Retake fee for certification: You are allowed two attempts within 14 days after you receive your assessment key from Scrum.org at no additional cost.

6. SAFe® Scrum Master Certification 

The SAFe Scrum Master certification certifies an individual as being capable of performing scrum master responsibilities in a scaled agile environment. SSM certified individuals can lead Agile Scrum transformations, create high performing teams and ensure implementation of Scrum practices in the organization.  

  • SSM Demand:  

According to the 13th State of Agile Survey Report (2019), the Scaled Agile Framework is the most popular scaling method. With more and more organizations discovering the benefits of scaling agile and harnessing its potential on an enterprise-wide scale, the demand for hiring SAFe certified professionals has increased tremendously.   

Benefits Of SSM 

  • Perform the responsibilities of a servant leader 
  • Successfully carry out Program Increment planning 
  • Facilitate Iteration execution 
  • Manage the Program Increment 
  • Coach a successful Agile team that is highly motivated and high performing 
  • Get the Certified SAFe Scrum Master Certificate (PDF format)  
  • Get the Certified SAFe Scrum Master Digital Badge  
  • One-year membership to the SAFe Community Platform 
  • Access to SAFe events and MeetUp Groups   
  • Get access to various SAFe learning resources 
  • Open yourself to lucrative opportunities and high salaries—as high as $80,000 to $1,10,000 annually 

Top companies hiring SSM professionals 

  1. Finance 
  2. IT 
  3. Service Industry 
  4. FMCG 
  5. Retail 
  6. Insurance 
  7. Banks  

Some of the top companies hiring SSMs 

  1. Cisco 
  2. LEGO digital solutions 
  3. Barclays 
  4. Panera Bread 
  5. Ericsson 
  6. FitBit 

Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a training facilitated by an authorized training partner of Scaled Agile.  KnowledgeHut is a Silver Training Partner of Scaled Agile.  

Eligibility for SSM exam:  Experience working in a Lean-Agile environment and attending a two-day training delivered by a SAFe Program Consultant (SPC).  

Who should take the training for certification 

  • Program or Project Manager 
  • Scrum Master 
  • Team Lead 
  • Release Train Engineer 
  • Business Analyst 
  • Agile Coach 
  • Portfolio Manager 
  • Consultant 
  • Architect 
  • Engineer 
  • Developer 
  • Director 
  • Quality Manager 
  • Product Manager 
  • Product Owner 
  • Delivery Manager 
  • Program Manager 

 Duration to get certified:  2-day training followed by study time. On passing the 90 minute SSM exam you will be a Certified SAFe 5 Scrum Master. You will receive your SAFe 5 Scrum Master PDF Certificate and Digital Badge within 5-7 working days.  

Course fee for certification: Rs 55999, Cost in the U.S.: USD 1099 

 Exam format:  

  • Exam type – Multiple choice; Multiple select 
  • Exam delivery – Web-based (single-browser), closed book 
  • Exam duration – 1.5 hours 
  • Number of questions – 45 
  • Passing score – SSM 4 = 33 out of 45 (73%); SSM 5.0 =33 out of 45 (73%) 
    Exam score for SSM 5.0 has been updated effective Feb 28 8pm MST. 
    SSM 5.0 passing score prior to February 28 was 34 out of 45 (75%). 
  • Language – English 

Application fee for certification: NA 

Exam fee for certification: First exam attempt is included as part of the course registration fee if the exam is taken within 30 days of course completion. 

Retake fee for certification: $50 for each retake attempt 

7. PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®

The PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner, as the name suggests, is an offering of the world-renowned Project Management Institute.  This certification places rigorous standards on participants which is why it is highly acknowledged world over. Holders get a holistic view of carrying out project management practices in Agile environments.  

PMI-ACP Demand:  

According to a survey in SwarmOS, Agile adoption has helped 98% of organizations in reducing costs, enhancing bottom line margins and deliver successful products. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption rate of Agile and what these Agile organizations need are project managers who understand Agile in a variety of situations and are able to effectively steer projects by applying project management best practices. PMI-ACP professionals are therefore highly sought after by recruiters and organizations.  

Benefits Of PMI-ACP 

  • Leverage the demand for Agile project managers by getting PMI-ACP certified 
  • Show your expertise in a variety of Agile methods like Scrum, FDD, Kanban, and more 
  • Make yourself more marketable  
  • Earn lucrative salaries :  $108,000 on an average 

 Top companies hiring PMI-ACP professionals 

  1. Aerospace 
  2. Engineering 
  3. Manufacturing 
  4. Construction 
  5. Pharma 
  6. Banking 

Some top companies hiring PMI-ACPs 

  1. Boeing 
  2. Booz Allen Hamilton 
  3. Visa 
  4. American Express 
  5. AT&T 
  6. Wipro 

Where to take training for certification:  Aspirants must train from an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of PMI. KnowledgeHut is a Premier Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of PMI. 

 Eligibility for PMI-ACP exam: 

  • General Project Experience 

2000 hours of working on project teams within the last 5 years or having an active PMP®/PgMP® credential 

  • Agile Project Experience 

1500 hours of working on Agile Project Teams or with Agile Methodologies, in addition to “General Project Experience” above; 

  • Training in Agile Practices 

21 contact hours earned in Agile Practices 

Who should take the training for PMI-ACP certification 

  • Project Managers 
  • Project Planners 
  • Quality Assurance Staff 
  • Developers/Programmers 
  • Designers, Testers 
  • Project Controllers 
  • Product Owners 
  • Scrum Masters 
  • Scrum Team Members

Duration to get certified: Attending a training workshop of 3 days followed by intense exam preparation that can be from 100-150 hrs in duration is a conservative time to prepare for the PMI-ACP credential. Once you successfully pass the exam, you will be PM-ACP certified.  

Course fee for certification: INR 10999, USD 1099 

Exam Format:  

  • 120 MCQs, each question will have four choices 
  • Duration: 3 hours 

Application fee for certification : For PMI membership: USD $ 129 plus USD $10 for application fee. 

Exam fee for certification: $435 for PMI members, $495 for non-members 

Retake fee for certification: $335 for PMI members and $395 for non-members. 

8. Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ Certification

This highly regarded and recognised credential is offered by Scrum.Inc. This is the Scrum training developed and promoted by Jeff Sutherland, the co-creator of Scrum, and helps participants implement Scrum practices to bring about innovation, value and project success. 

Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ Certification Demand: Considering that this certification has an agenda backed by the co-founder of Scrum, its demand in the industry is significant. The ability of certified professionals to create self-organized, high value and motivated teams is much appreciated by organizations. This has created a huge surplus of demand for Scrum professionals and this credential will put you in the market for these top roles.  

Benefits of Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ Certification

  • Deliver high quality products and reduce costs 
  • Scale Scrum and enjoy enterprise-wide advantages 
  • Lead high performing teams 
  • Deliver products fast 
  • Earn high salaries: USD $97319  

Scrum Master Certification – Getting Started & Comparison Guide 2022 (knowledgehut.com) 

Top companies hiring Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ professionals 

  1. Financial Services 
  2. Construction 
  3. Engineering 
  4. Pharma 
  5. Data Analytics 
  6. Education 
  7. Tourism 
  8. Government Agencies 

Some top companies hiring Scrum Master by Scrum Inc. Certified professionals 

  1. Lockheed Martin 
  2. PepsiCo 
  3. Anthem 
  4. Cisco 
  5. Standard Chartered 
  6. CapitalOne 
  7. Thales 
  8. FitBit 

Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must take the course from an authorized training provider of Scrum Inc.™. 

Eligibility for Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ exam: Attending a 16-hour Scrum Master course from an ATP of Scrum Inc™ is mandatory for taking the exam. 

Who should take the training (roles) for certification

  • Project Managers 
  • Scrum Masters 
  • Scrum Team 
  • Developers 
  • Product Owners 
  • Software Managers 
  • Software Architects 
  • Product Managers 
  • Testers 
  • Team Leads 
  • SAFe® practitioners interested in Scrum@Scale 
  • PMPs, PMI-ACP Team Leaders 
  • Professionals interested in Agile and Scrum methodologies 
  • Professionals who wish to explore how Scrum delivers twice the value at half the cost 

Duration to get certified: You need to attend a 16-hour course and spend some time for exam preparation. Once you take the exam and clear it, you will be Scrum Master certified.  

Course fee for certification: $1995  

Exam fee for certification: Included in training cost 

Summary

LinkedIn’s “Most promising jobs of 2017,” states that job openings for Scrum Masters grew 104 percent year-over-year from 2016, with a career advancement score of 8 out of 10; while Scrum Master was listed in the top 10 emerging Product Development jobs list by the World Economic Forum. Not just the number of jobs, but there is also steady increase in the base salary earned by Scrum certified professionals, and this increase based on the number of certifications that one holds.  

So, more the number of certifications you add to your resume, the higher your salary goes. At the outset of 2022, there are still thousands of job openings for Scrum professionals. Equip yourself with one or more of these highest paying Scrum certifications and bring value to yourself and your organization.

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