The eligibility criteria for Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®), one of the most popular and globally recognized certification programs, includes a thorough understanding of the Scrum concepts coupled with a 2-day CSM course from a reputed institute. Here is everything you need to know about the detailed eligibility criteria for doing CSM® certification.
While there are no specific eligibility criteria for CSM certification, below are the essential steps you need to complete to become a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM®) -
In order to get CSM certified, a candidate must take up this two-day CSM® course from a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST), post which the online exam must be cleared.
Scrum, an Agile framework has been picking up momentum in creating innovation and improving productivity across organizations. A high-performing Scrum team always contributes to the success of an Agile project and the Scrum Master is the main person responsible for steering the project in the right direction. The Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) course boosts your confidence in implementing the Scrum framework effectively in organizations.
As a Certified ScrumMaster, you will be known as being part of an elite group engaged with Scrum Alliance. The members of Scrum Alliance are meant to be Scrum specialists, guiding the project teams to success. Here is why CSM certification should be a part of your skillset:
Learn more about Scrum Master salaries and career growth.
In today's rapidly changing world, most IT, as well as non-IT industry majors, are hiring professionals well-versed in Agile and Scrum and those with certifications from global accredited organizations such as Scrum Alliance are preferred. Certified Scrum Masters can add immense value to enterprises in several ways including:
Scrum Masters are highly valued across industries and the demand for skilled professionals, especially those backed by certifications is at an all-time high. The benefits of a Scrum Master certification such as CSM are severalfold:
Step 1: Follow an easy and hassle-free approach to register on KnowledgeHut, a Global REA of Scrum Alliance (SA).
Step 2: Take the 2-day CSM course and get instructed by Certified Scrum Trainers (CSTs).
Step 3: SA will send you a link to create login credentials on successful completion of course.
Step 4: Click on the link received from Scrum Alliance and create your own login credentials.
Step 5: Take the 1 hour online CSM test which comprises of 50 MCQs by using those credentials.
Step 6: Score a minimum of 74% to pass the CSM® test, after completing the course.
Step 7: Once the test is cleared, you will be requested to accept a license agreement.
Step 9: You have to renew the certification once every two years.
There is no set of eligibility requirements to attend this Scrum Master Certification course and it can be taken by freshers or professionals who want to:
Our experienced CSTs deliver training in such a way that is suitable for both novice and experienced professionals. But, it is recommended that you have basic knowledge of using Scrum in a real-world context, in order to get the most from the training. You can do this by following the 1-day Agile and Scrum foundation training by KnowledgeHut.
Learn from real-world simulations, in-class activities and the rich experience of industry expert trainers.
Interact with accredited CSTs who also have years of experience as active Scrum practitioners across domains.
Get real-world tips and time-tested techniques from highly qualified mentors with extensive industry experience.
Get access to a wider community of active Scrum professionals and enhance your practical knowledge.
Avail continuous support through monthly webinars, e-books, and conferences and keep pace with the industry.
Get access to latest resources like tutorials, articles, interview QnAs, and case studies created by experts.
We are a Scrum Alliance Registered Education Ally (REA), having trained over 250,000 Agile professionals.
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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.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Learn more about the three roles in Scrum with role-based activities. Each group will play a simulation game called “candy catch” that will have three iterations. The Scrum Master and Product Owner (chosen by group members) will coordinate and help the team achieve the highest target within the shortest time.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Take part in the Scrum Paper Plane game and learn how the 5 Scrum ceremonies work. There will be 3 sprints, each lasting 15 minutes. You need to prepare the user stories that will cover the features and functionalities along with acceptance criteria.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Experience how scrum works in real projects with our simulation game “Crime Teller”. The activity will be divided into 3 sprints, wherein the participants will actively employ Product backlog refinement among other scrum artifacts to solve a given “crime” story.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Learn about Scrum life cycle by taking part in the “coin game”. The participants will be linking ceremonies to create effective sprint goals. This module will focus on the common challenges in sprint execution and enable team members to improvise.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Play the “Marshmellow Tower” game and learn more about daily scrum and sprint retrospective in real scrum projects. The tallest tower built with the minimum raw materials and in the shortest time frame will win. Acceptance criteria will be defined by the instructor.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Familiarise yourself with Definition of Done (DoD) and Acceptance Criteria with the “Crazy Juggler” game wherein you need to pass a fixed number of balls to non-adjacent team members within a certain time frame and collect them in a paper bag once marked as “done”.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Acquaint yourself with the Definition of Ready with our Lego blocks game wherein the attendees will be asked to build a city out of Lego building blocks. The “definition of ready” checklist for the final deliverable will be determined by the instructor.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Play the self-organization game “Human Knots” by forming teams of 5-6. Groups where team members can untie themselves first win. The time frame for this activity will be decided by your instructor. Each team will have a Scrum Master and Product Owner chosen by group members.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Acquaint yourself with the Sprint Burndown Chart concepts by taking part in the ball point game. There will be 5 iterations and the number of points being expected at the end of the release will be communicated to the team.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Take part in the ball point game and understand the in-depth concepts of release burn-up charts and why Scrum teams use them. There will be 5 iterations and once the sprint is completed, the team will put a mark on the release burn-up as to how many points are completed.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Topics covered
Be a part of the Lego Building Blocks game wherein participants will be asked to write user stories for every activity involved. The game will entail 3 iterations and attendees will prepare user stories that will cover the features and functionalities along with acceptance criteria.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Learn more about the “what” and “how” of Agile estimation with our in-class Agile board game “Scrumble”. In an interactive setting, this game will let you analyze the common challenges faced by Scrum team members during implementing different estimation techniques in Agile.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Know everything about planning poker from our popular poker card estimation game. Team members/estimators have to privately select one card and the value on each card would represent the story point. Once all cards are revealed, the values need to be discussed.
What you will learn
At the end of this activity, you will be able to-
Topics covered
Understand the foundation of Agile and Scrum concepts and help Scrum teams in using Scrum effectively.
Acquire knowledge of Scrum terminologies, various concepts, and the complete Scrum process.
Understand various roles involved in Scrum and the scope of the Scrum Master role in Scrum.
Learn key Scrum Master core competencies and protect the team from internal and external distractions.
Scrum ceremonies include Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective, Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog & Definition of Done.
Facilitate the Development Team, Product Owner, and the organization while responding to change.
Inspect and adapt and increase transparency in each of the Scrum events and make the team’s work visible.
Learn to help the team members work collaboratively and follow every Scrum process involved in it.
A provider of Enterprise Learning Solutions (ELS), KnowledgeHut creates industry-fit talents through training, coaching, and consulting by globally-acclaimed trainers. Much of KnowledgeHut’s repute in co-creating business value stems from:
By registering in groups, you can save up to 15% on the course fees. The discount you can avail will depend on your group size.
A Certified ScrumMaster® is a professional designated by Scrum Alliance as a Scrum practitioner who can skillfully lead project teams. A Scrum Master is not a project leader or project manager but instead, a Servant Leader who assists the team to succeed with the Scrum framework.
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:
The most important skills that every Scrum Master should have are as follows:
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.
No, there is no online/virtual course for CSM. Scrum Alliance believes that understanding Scrum requires a greater level of personal interaction than cannot be delivered in a virtual environment.
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:
Tool Name | Features | Cost |
Jira | The most popular and widely used cloud and subscription-based software for Agile teams. | $10/month for up to 10 users $7/month for 11-100 users |
Vivify Scrum | A well-balanced tool with an appealing UI and useful Scrum features. | Offers free version for 14-days $8/user/month |
ScrumDO | This is the tool built and priced to scale your Agile projects. | $8.99/month for up to 10 users |
Manuscript | A new tool built for the real-world barriers that exist in a software development environment. | $62/month for 5 users |
Axosoft | This scrum tool offers organization and structure to many components of Scrum project management. | $25/month for 5 users |
Targetprocess | This Scrum tool enables software development teams to speed up product delivery at all levels of the organization. | Offers free Team version $20/user/month |
Yodiz | It offers a greater degree of visibility into your team’s progress and increases overall efficiency. | Offers free version for up to 3 users $3/user/month |
Quickscrum | This Scrum tool helps your team to collaborate better, reach goals, and improve continuously. | $3/user/month |
Scrumwise | It allows you to focus on your project, improve communication, enhance teamwork and gives you faster results. | $7.50/user/month |
ScrumDesk | Designed for teams implementing Scrum or Kanban and supports Agile practices like root cause analysis or retrospectives. | Free for up to 4 users $9/month for up to 5 users |
ClickUp | It helps to make projects more productive with a well-designed and intuitive platform. | $5/user/month |
Zoho Sprints | A tool that helps Agile teams plan and track their work. | Offered as a free tool for up to 3 users and 2 projects $8.30/user/month for up to 10 users |
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.
Take a quick look at the complete details of the CSM certification course before you register:
| CSM Course | Details |
| CSM Certification Cost | INR 23999 in India, USD 995 in the US, CAD 1195 in Canada |
| Discount | Up to 20% |
| CSM Exam | 1hr online test which comprises of 50 MCQs |
| CSM Exam Fee | Included in the certification cost |
| CSM Certification Validity | 2 Year Validity |
| CSM Renewal Fees | $100 |
| CSM Salary | $1,15,766 per year |
| Refund Policy | 100% if canceled within 48 hours |
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:
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:
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.
CSM is an open-book exam and is easy to pass. Together with the theoretical knowledge gained by passing the Scrum Master certification exam,the activity-based sessions included in the training help in gaining hands-on knowledge of the Scrum concepts and its practical applicability, which are the most significant aspects to understand the Scrum framework.
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.
CSM was the first professional certification awarded by Scrum Alliance for Scrum Masters. The certification will help you gain a strong understanding of the Scrum Framework, team members’ activities and roles etc. By acquiring this certification, you will be helping the Scrum team work together and perform at their highest level.
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:
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 Professional Development Units and Scrum Educational Units, issued by the Project Management Institute and Scrum Alliance, respectively. They can be earned by completing educational training or learning opportunities, which serve to validate your participation and continued proficiency in the principles and practices of Scrum. To maintain your certification from Scrum Alliance, you are required to earn a certain number of SEUs every two years.
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.
No. CSM training can only be imparted by qualified CSTs or Certified Scrum Trainers. A CST is generally a senior professional within the Scrum community who has earned the status after going through a rigorous evaluation process.
Yes. If a candidate fails to clear the CSM exam in one go, Scrum Alliance permits the candidate to take the CSM exam twice within 90 days without any extra cost. From the third attempt onwards or after the 90 days window, the participant needs to pay a minimum of $25 each time. Candidates are also suggested by Scrum Alliance to retake the CSM course if they have failed thrice in the exam.
Apart from holding the Certified Scrum Product Owner® designation from Scrum Alliance, the candidate must have a robust knowledge of scrum concepts with excellent training & presentation skills. Having co-trained with other CSTs is an added advantage.
Knowledgehut upGrad’s training is truly world-class. I had enrolled for CSM® training and what I experienced was more than I ever expected. The classes were very engaging, and the concepts were explained with examples for ease of understanding. I recommend Knowledgehut upGrad to anyone interested in getting CSM training and other certifications.
Enrolling for the CSM® training was one of the best decisions that I had made. The service right from enrolling to certification was excellent. The training was filled with real-time Scrum activities and simulations which made the concepts easy to understand. This helped me clear the exam with confidence.
Confidence is necessary to take advantage of opportunities. Kudos to KnowledgeHut upGrad for boosting my confidence with their training and helping me grab new opportunities in my career and reach new highs. Lavanya Mohan Kumar
This 2-day training session helped me widen my knowledge of Scrum methodologies and Agile principles. Everything was well-organized, though it was an online session. My trainer explained the concepts with real-life examples and ensured every participant was on the same page. I highly recommend this course to everyone who wants to become a Certified Scrum Master. Kudos to the team efforts behind this!
Wonderful workshop for beginners .A great learning experience. Thank You Knowledge Hut. Instructor made it a interactive session which helped us to understand, learn. Completed successfully CSM course wit good grade!!
Interactive and with enough activities to make the course interesting. Handle time well according to 2 differrent timezones Allocate enough time for each activities. Love the Q&A session Improvement: Answers provided by coach Give more real live scenarios and how to handle
The lecturer is very knowledgeable and very clear in explaining the concepts. The workshop experience was great. This is a very helpful course in providing more clarity on how the Scrum framework works in real life situations.
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