In this installment of my blog series on certifications, I tackle a question that people ask me all the time: “which Scrum Master certification is better, the PSM or CSM?” I have both the PSM and the CSM, so let me share my thoughts on this topic with you.
Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
Recognition
If you are looking for a job as a Scrum Master, you will see the requirement for the CSM more often than the PSM. The Certified Scrum Master certification, offered by the Scrum Alliance, is more widely recognized than the PSM for a couple of reasons:
- The CSM was available first
- The exam is easier than the PSM exam
Scrum Alliance
The Scrum Alliance is the organization that offers the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification. At some point, there was a rift between the creators of The Scrum Guide (Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland) over the organization’s philosophy, and they parted ways. Although the Scrum Alliance is a non-profit, its practices make it seem as though they are for-profit.
Requirements
To qualify to take the CSM exam, you must have taken a two-day course by one of the authorized trainers of the organization. There are no experience requirements whatsoever. So, if you’re good at absorbing information quickly and taking tests, you’re likely to pass.
Cost
The Scrum Alliance provides the only authorized trainers. This course used to be much more costly (thousands), and each trainer can name their price (now somewhere between $500-$1000). But when you take a course, it practically guarantees you’ll earn the certification. The cost of the exam is included in the fee for the class.
Exam
You can take the online test any time after you complete your paid-for course. The test consists of 50 questions to answer within 60 minutes, with a passing score of only 37. It’s not a difficult test, it isn’t proctored either, and it’s honestly hard to fail.
Recertification
The need to recertify is either a money-making scheme or an attempt to legitimize the CSM. Either way, every two years, you need to record at least 20 SEUs (Scrum Education Units) to maintain your certification. Documenting your SEUs is a manual process, but there are many ways to earn them, including webinars, coaching, books, etc. There’s also a recertification fee of $100 for the CSM.
Professional Scrum Master (PSM)
Recognition
The PSM is recognized as a more robust proof of knowledge about being a Scrum Master. Anyone who knows about the competing certifications immediately knows that the PSM is more respected than the CSM (not to knock people who only have the CSM). So, if you don’t know any better, having the CSM is okay, but if you want to prove you know your stuff, the PSM is the way to go.
Scrum.org
Scum.org, also a non-profit, was created after the split between the authors of The Scrum Guide. Their mission is not money-driven and seeks to provide more rigor than the offerings by their competitor. Their website is full of excellent materials that are free of charge, along with links to other valuable resources. Their open assessment quizzes are beneficial for those studying to take a certification exam.
Requirements
Unlike the CSM, you’re not required to take a class to sit for the PSM exam. Nor do you have to provide proof of experience. You just pay the exam fee and take the test. However, the courses offered by their Certified Scrum Trainers are of exceptionally high quality, should you choose to take one. Keep in mind that this is not an easy test, as compared to the CSM exam, and taking a class is helpful.
Cost
The fee for the PSM exam is $150. Once you purchase the exam, you can take it whenever you are ready. You receive an exam code that is good until you take the test (i.e., it never expires). If you happen to take a course from an authorized training provider and take the test within 14 days but don’t pass, you get a second attempt for free.
Exam
As compared to the CSM, the PSM test is much more rigorous and challenging to pass. You only have 60 minutes to answer 80 multiple-choice or True/False questions, so you need to know your stuff. The passing percentage is 85%, which means those who earn this certification are highly well-versed in foundational Scrum.
Recertification
Again, unlike the CSM, the PSM has no recertification requirements. Once you earn the certification, you have the designation for life and don’t have to prove continuing education or pay any recertification fees. If you don’t want to keep paying to keep a certification or demonstrate your continuous learning about Scrum, then this is the apparent winner.
And the winner is…
The PSM is the hands-down winner of this throw-down. It is much more rigorous, less costly, and better respected than the CSM. You aren’t required to take one of Scrum.org’s courses, although you can if you want to, and they are excellent classes. The exam fee is low, and you never have to recertify. It’s the best choice if you are trying to decide which certification to earn.
So, what do you think? Do you have the CSM or PSM, or both? Which do you think is the better choice for those looking to prove their mettle as Scrum Masters? Let me know in the comments section below!