Certified Scrum Master(CSM) Certification Process

Regardless of your educational or industrial background, anybody can emerge as a successful Certified Scrum Master. All that the individual needs are thorough training and proper guidance. A Certified Scrum Master can deliver high-value products in the shortest possible time. However, the lightweight Agile framework implemented by a Scrum Master is also highly flexible and dynamic to take in last-minute requests, changes, and feedback. However, before taking on these responsibilities or acquiring the certification, it is important to know about the Certified Scrum Master Certification process.

Certified Scrum Master Certification Process

The CSM process is rather simple and uncomplicated. It can be divided into the following parts:

  1. Before getting Certified Scrum Master(CSM) Certification
  2. During Certified Scrum Master(CSM) Certification
  3. After getting Certified Scrum Master(CSM) Certification

1. Before Getting Certified Scrum Master(CSM) Certification

Before you begin preparing for the CSM examination, you need to ensure that you satisfy the basic prerequisites for attending the CSM course.

However, given that CSM is a foundational-level course, it does not specify any prerequisites in terms of degrees or qualifications. Thus, familiarize yourself with the basic Scrum terminologies that may come up during the training.

A number of courses begin with handing out a short quiz to the candidates to assess whether they are well-equipped to begin the CSM training course. Hence, brush up on the Scrum Theory, Scrum Roles, Scrum Artifacts, and Scrum Events. A great resource for getting ready would be the official Scrum Guide that also lays the groundwork for the Agile manifesto.

2. During the Certified Scrum Master(CSM) Certification

Next, in the scrum master process, you need to enroll for an in-person CSM course, which will be taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer. It is mandatory that you attend this 2-3 day training course, which offers an overview of the Scrum framework and helps you get accustomed to taking on the role of a Scrum Master.

It is at this stage when you register with the Scrum Alliance, which will conduct your CSM exam. The trainer will send a request to Scrum Alliance once you complete the mandatory class. Most CSM courses will grant you a two-year membership with the Scrum Alliance, which gives you access to a host of valuable resources and materials.

3. After Getting Certified Scrum Master(CSM) Certification

The final stage of the CSM certification process involves taking the CSM exam. Once your trainer has sent a request for your examination to the Scrum Alliance, you will receive an email containing the exam link. You can appear for this exam within 90 days from receipt of this mail.

The exam contains 35 multiple choice questions, of which you need to answer 24 correctly to pass. The exam lasts for about an hour, and you can take breaks in between. Once you click ‘Submit’ the test gets submitted and your score is displayed on the computer screen. You get to know the answers that you have answered incorrectly, but you will not be told the correct answer.

What if you don't make the cut-off?

If you fall short of the cut-off marks required to pass, you will have to appear for a re-exam. You get two free attempts for the CSM exam, which is to be done within 60 days at no extra cost. From the third attempt onwards, you need to make a payment of $25 to the Scrum Alliance per attempt.

If you successfully clear the exam, you need to log into your Scrum Alliance account and complete the online evaluation. Enter your details and agree to the terms and conditions. Download and print your certificate.

If you haven’t yet, complete your Scrum Alliance membership profile. To renew this certificate, you once again need to log into your Scrum Alliance account, click on ‘Renew Certifications / Memberships,’ make the payment and renew the certification.

Conclusion

The biggest advantage of the CSM certification is that it does not require any major prerequisites to be fulfilled. This makes it quite promising for any professional to pursue a career using the scrum methodology. So, embark on a successful journey for excellence with Invensis Learning's Certified Scrum Master certification training.

FAQs Certified Scrum Master Certification Process

Here are a few questions with regards to the certified Scrum Master Certification Process.

1. How long does it take to become a CSM?

The prescribed CSM training duration is 16 hours, which is normally spread across two days. However, you also need to factor in the time that you will put into preparing for the CSM exam. Eventually, it is your personal ability to grasp the course materials and prepare for the test.

2. Why should you become a Certified Scrum Master?

Scrum training is beneficial for individuals who wish to work on their team-building and leadership qualities. It teaches you the science and art of managing teams, customers, and stakeholders dynamically and imparts the skill to achieve long and short-term goals in a timely manner. On the whole, Scrum Master certification not only benefits the employees or employers but also helps freelancers to facilitate incremental delivery.

3. How much does it cost to renew your Scrum Master certification?

You need to make a payment of $100 to renew your certification for a period of 2 years.

4. Is the certified Scrum Master test hard?

The CSM certification exam is not a very difficult exam, but it is important to prepare before-in-hand. You must be aware of various scrum roles and agile processes.

5. How long is Scrum Master certification?

To begin with, You must attend 2 days of CSM training under a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). After which you must take the 60-minute exam to get certified. The exam consists of 50 MCQs out of which you will need to answer 37 questions correctly to obtain the certification.

CSM Certification Training and Exam Details

Areas of Study

After completing your Certified ScrumMaster training, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of:

  • Lean, Agile, and Scrum
  • Scrum Master Core Competencies
  • Service to the Development Team
  • Service to the Product Owner
  • Service to the Organization
  • Attend a two-day classroom training taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer. However, there are no prerequisites to attend this Scrum Master Certification training. But, it is recommended to have some basic understanding of Scrum values, principles, and working knowledge of the overall Scrum process.
  • Type: Multiple Choice Questions (True/False)
  • No. of Questions: 50
  • Exam Duration: 60 Mins
  • Passing Score: 37/50 answers must be correct
  • The CSM certification training cost is approximately around 1000 USD - 4000 USD. The training includes the exam cost for CSM certification. For more details, please refer to the training schedule given below. Select your preferred date and enroll for the Certified Scrum master training course.

Job roles that can benefit from CSM training include, but are not limited to:

  • Project Team Members
  • IT Managers
  • Delivery Managers
  • QA and Testing Professionals
  • Aspiring Scrum Masters
  • Scrum Team Members (Developers, Scrum
  • Masters, and Product Owners)
  • Anyone who wants to learn Scrum and be part of the next transformation

Invensis Learning provides CSM certification training globally, which is taught by Certified Scrum Trainers (CSTs).

FAQs on Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Why should I enroll for CSM Certification Training?

Agile and Scrum was a breath of fresh air for enterprises who wanted to move away from traditional command and control management styles that spread across industries. By ensuring the workforce moved away from traditional silos to customer-focused multidisciplinary teams, the Agile approach ensured accelerated growth and helped create next-generation Agile and Scrum practitioners.

Today, there are many Scrum certification programs, but Certified ScrumMaster from Scrum Alliance is one of the most popular certification courses globally. The CSM credential validates an individual’s knowledge of Scrum terminology, principles, practices, and the exam. There are more than 1 Million CSMs worldwide, which shows the popularity of the certification globally.

These are the steps you must complete to become a Certified ScrumMaster :

  • Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of Scrum Framework and the prerequisites for attending a CSM course
  • Attend a two-day training taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®) like Invensis Learning, or private coaching from a Certified Agile Coach (CAC)
  • After completing the course, you will need to accept the License Agreement to take the CSM test that’s available in 13 languages
  • Pass the exam by attempting at least 37 of 50 questions correctly
  • After getting the CSM certification, you can maintain it by earning Scrum Education Units® (SEUs) and renewing your certificate every two years

In this Certified ScrumMaster training, you will:

  • Understand the foundation of Lean, Agile, and Scrum Methodologies
  • Acquire knowledge of Scrum terminologies, team roles, events, and artifacts
  • Learn about the scope of the Scrum Master role and core competencies
  • Master how to facilitate the development team, product owner, and the entire organization
  • Gain an understanding of how to act as a servant leader and guide the team to adopt the Scrum process
  • Learn how to increase transparency and protect the team from internal and external impediments

There are no prerequisites to attend this Scrum Master Certification training. But, it is recommended to have some basic understanding of Scrum values, principles, and working knowledge of the overall Scrum process.

Job roles that can benefit from CSM training include but are not limited to:

  • Project Team Members
  • IT Managers
  • Delivery Managers
  • QA and Testing Professionals
  • Aspiring Scrum Masters
  • Scrum Team Members (Developers, Scrum Masters, and Product Owners)
  • Anyone who wants to learn Scrum and be part of the next transformation
  • Exam Type: Multiple Choice Questions
  • Number of Questions: 50
  • Exam Duration: 60 Mins
  • Passing Score: 37/50 questions (74%)

As stated by Scrum Alliance, after completing the CSM course, you will receive a welcome email containing a link to activate your Scrum Alliance certification account, where you will be able to complete the CSM test.

To take your test, please go to the Scrum Alliance website:

  • Sign in to your Scrum Alliance account with your login credentials. You can find the login credentials in the ‘Welcome CSM’ mail
  • Hover over your name in the top right-hand corner and click on ‘My Dashboard’
  • Click on the ‘Take CSM test’ option
  • Select your preferred language and continue
  • You will then be redirected to the site where you can attempt the exam.

Note: Please make sure to turn OFF your pop-up blockers before you begin the test.

To maintain your CSM credential you can renew it every two years by obtaining 20 SEUs.

Yes. At Invensis Learning, you can opt to take up this CSM course in live-online delivery mode.

Scrum is quickly becoming a framework of choice for companies and organizations interested in achieving Agile transformation. There is a huge demand for highly skilled Scrum Masters across the world. LinkedIn ranked Scrum Master as one of the top 10 promising jobs of 2019. So, if you are a capable candidate, there are plenty of opportunities for you out there. In addition to a strong understanding of the fundamentals of Scrum Framework, holding one of the more recognizable Scrum Master certifications will impress employers.

Currently, most of the organizations are hiring professionals who are familiar with the Scrum Framework. As a Certified ScrumMaster, you can benefit an organization in the following ways:

  • Ease the adoption of Agile methodology within the organization
  • Bag business-critical projects with Scrum qualified employees
  • Help the team to change their mindset from traditional to Agile leadership
  • Enhanced collaboration within teams by removing impediments
  • Achieve tangible and real benefits at a rapid rate by delivering high-quality products

By getting CSM certified, you will be able to:

  • Receive high degree of proficiency in Scrum framework and its fundamentals
  • Learn the principles and values of Lean and Methodologies and will be able to apply them in your organization
  • Work better with your team by understanding Scrum vocabulary within the organization
  • Expand your career across different industries that are implementing agile practices
  • Become a global Scrum professional with increased opportunities across different industry sectors

According to PayScale, in the United States, the average salary of a Certified ScrumMaster is around $100K annually.

As stated by the Scrum Alliance, you need to have 14 hours of live online or 16 hours of in-person training with your CST, or 25 hours of face-to-face interaction with your CAC to attempt the CSM test.

The cost of this two-day CSM course is between $1000 - $1400 in the United States. The CSM test cost is included in the course fee. Apart from this, the first two retake attempts can be taken free of cost within 60 days of completion of the course and $25 after the first two attempts.

Apart from Scrum Alliance, there are several other governing bodies that offer Scrum Master Training and Certification programs. Few of the Scrum Master Certifications and the related governing bodies are:

  • Professional Scrum Master Certification (PSM) by Scrum.org
  • Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification by Project Management Institute
  • Agile Scrum Master Certification by Exin
  • SAFe Scrum Master Certification by Scaled Agile
  • Scrum Master Certified (SMC) by SCRUMstudy
  • Licensed Scrum Master by Scrum Inc

What are the modes of training provided by Invensis Learning?

Invensis Learning provides 5 different modes of training in the form of:

  • Instructor-led live online (virtual) training
  • Instructor-led classroom training
  • On-site group training
  • Focused 1-to-1 training
  • Self-paced E-learning

You can enroll for training by following below mentioned points:

  • Select a course
  • Select a schedule of your choice
  • Select the mode of your training
  • Click on “Enrol Now” button
  • Fill the necessary details to make the payment
  • Get all the course materials to prepare for the training
  • Join the training on the scheduled date

Yes, you can opt for a customized schedule which is not there on the website. But getting custom schedules will depend on few criteria mentioned below:

  • Focused 1-to-1 training can be customized as per your choice
  • Group training of more than 5 participants can be customized
  • On-site training can be customized as per clients’ requirement

Please check the website regularly to check for new offers and discounts happening throughout the year. You can also get in touch with one of our training consultants through chat to check if any discounts are available.
For all the certification training courses, you will receive their official certificate. Upon completion of the certification exam, the results will be immediately announced. If a participant has cleared the exam, your digital certificate will be made available immediately. But, if you require a hard copy of the certificate, you may incur additional cost and it will be delivered to your address in 2-3 weeks of time.

Once you enroll for training from Invensis Learning, you will receive:

  • A copy of course material
  • Study guide Prepared by SMEs
  • Practice Tests
  • Retrospective session
  • Access to free resources
  • Complimentary additional training session
  • PDUs for relevant courses
  • Course completion certificate/Official certificate

Please check out our refund policy page to know more if you cancel your enrollment.

No, English is the preferred language for the mode of training delivery. Any language other than English will have to be custom request which will be fulfilled at additional cost and availability of a native language trainer.
If you would like to know more about a course, you can mail us at support@invensislearning.com or call us at (+91 96202-00784) or chat with our training consultant to get your query resolved.

Post-certification, typical roles can include:

  • Quality assurance coordinators
  • Team leaders in process improvement projects
  • Junior project managers
  • Operational support roles in a Six Sigma team

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