Choosing the right Scrum Master Certification depends on your current experience and career goals. If you’re looking to enhance your career in Agile project management, understanding the distinctions between CSM, PSM I, PSM II, PSM III, SSM, A-CSM, and SASM is crucial. In this blog, we’ll explore each of these certifications, their benefits, and how to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Scrum Master Certification: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Provider: Scrum Alliance
Overview:
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification is one of the most popular and widely recognized Scrum certifications. It is designed for individuals who are new to Scrum or those looking to formalize their Scrum knowledge with a certification.
Key Features:
- Foundational Training: The CSM course covers the basics of Scrum, the Scrum framework, and the roles and responsibilities of a Scrum Master.
- Interactive Learning: Typically, the CSM course involves interactive training sessions, including exercises and simulations.
- Certification Exam: After completing the course, you must pass an exam to earn the CSM certification.
Who Should Choose CSM?
- Beginners in Scrum and Agile methodologies.
- Those looking for a comprehensive introduction to Scrum.
- Individuals seeking a widely recognized Scrum certification.
Scrum Master Certification: Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM)
Provider: Scrum Alliance
Overview:
The Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) certification is for experienced Scrum Masters who have already obtained their CSM certification and want to deepen their skills.
Key Features:
- Advanced Topics: The A-CSM course covers advanced Scrum topics, including facilitation, coaching, and advanced team dynamics.
- Experience Requirement: Typically requires at least one year of experience as a Scrum Master.
- Interactive Learning: Involves interactive training sessions and advanced exercises.
Who Should Choose A-CSM?
- Certified ScrumMasters looking to advance their knowledge and skills.
- Experienced Scrum Masters seeking more advanced training in facilitation and coaching.
- Professionals aiming for higher-level Scrum certifications (e.g., CSP-SM).
Scrum Master Certification: Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
Provider: Scrum.org
Overview:
The Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification is known for its rigor and focus on practical knowledge and application of Scrum principles. Scrum.org offers three levels of PSM certifications (PSM I, PSM II, and PSM III), each increasing in difficulty.
Key Features:
- Deep Understanding: The PSM course emphasizes a deeper understanding of Scrum, beyond just the basics.
- Challenging Exam: The PSM exams are known for being challenging, testing not only theoretical knowledge but also the practical application of Scrum principles.
- Self-Study Option: Unlike CSM, you can opt for self-study and directly attempt the PSM exam without attending a course.
Who Should Choose PSM?
- Those with some experience in Scrum looking to deepen their understanding.
- Individuals who prefer a more rigorous and challenging certification process.
- Professionals seeking a certification with a strong focus on practical application.
Scrum Master Certification: Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II)
Provider: Scrum.org
Overview:
The Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification is designed for those who have already demonstrated a fundamental level of Scrum knowledge through the PSM I certification. It delves deeper into the principles and application of Scrum, focusing on the ability to apply Scrum in real-world situations and handle more complex scenarios.
Key Features:
- Advanced Understanding: PSM II emphasizes a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Scrum and its principles, going beyond the basics to explore advanced topics and practices.
- Challenging Exam: The PSM II exam is known for its difficulty, testing not only theoretical knowledge but also the practical application of Scrum principles in complex environments.
- Self-Study Option: As with other Scrum.org certifications, you can choose to self-study and directly attempt the PSM II exam without mandatory attendance in a course, although attending a course can be highly beneficial.
Who Should Choose PSM II?
- Those who have completed PSM I and have practical experience working with Scrum.
- Individuals looking to deepen their understanding of Scrum and enhance their ability to handle complex Scrum implementations.
- Professionals seeking a certification that rigorously tests their advanced knowledge and practical application skills in Scrum.
Scrum Master Certification: Professional Scrum Master III (PSM III)
Provider: Scrum.org
Overview:
The Professional Scrum Master III (PSM III) certification represents a high level of mastery in Scrum. It is aimed at experienced practitioners who not only understand Scrum in depth but can also coach and mentor teams and organizations in adopting and optimizing Scrum practices.
Key Features:
- Mastery of Scrum: PSM III focuses on a comprehensive mastery of Scrum principles, practices, and advanced coaching techniques, making it suitable for those aiming for senior leadership roles.
- Extremely Challenging Exam: The PSM III exam is exceptionally challenging, requiring a deep understanding of Scrum and the ability to apply it effectively in complex, real-world situations. It tests advanced knowledge and expertise.
- Self-Study Option: Like other PSM certifications, you can opt for self-study and directly take the PSM III exam. However, due to its difficulty, extensive preparation, and possibly attending advanced courses, is recommended.
Who Should Choose PSM III?
- Experienced Scrum practitioners who have completed PSM II and have significant hands-on experience with Scrum.
- Individuals aiming to demonstrate a high level of expertise and mastery in Scrum, including coaching and mentoring abilities.
- Professionals looking to advance to senior roles that require deep Scrum knowledge and the ability to lead Scrum transformations in organizations.
Scrum Master Certification: SAFe Scrum Master (SSM)
Provider: Scaled Agile, Inc.
Overview:
The SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) certification is designed for those working in organizations using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). It focuses on the role of Scrum Masters in a SAFe environment, which involves working in larger Agile teams and scaled Agile implementations.
Key Features:
- SAFe Focused: The SSM course covers the specific responsibilities of Scrum Masters in a SAFe environment, including planning and execution of Program Increments (PI).
- Scalability: It addresses the challenges of scaling Scrum across multiple teams and large organizations.
- Certification Exam: After the course, you must pass an exam to earn the SSM certification.
Who Should Choose SSM?
- Scrum Masters working in or planning to work in organizations implementing SAFe.
- Individuals interested in learning how to scale Agile practices across multiple teams.
- Those looking for a certification that emphasizes the application of Scrum in larger, complex environments.
Scrum Master Certification: SAFe Advanced Scrum Master (SASM)
Provider: Scaled Agile, Inc.
Overview:
The SAFe Advanced Scrum Master (SASM) certification is for experienced Scrum Masters working in a SAFe environment, focusing on advanced skills for handling complex projects and large teams.
Key Features:
- Advanced SAFe Concepts: The SASM course covers advanced SAFe concepts, including DevOps practices, Kanban for the team, and supporting interactions with architects and product management.
- Leadership Skills: Emphasizes leadership skills required to handle larger teams and complex Agile projects.
- Certification Exam: Requires passing an exam after the course.
Who Should Choose SASM?
- SAFe Scrum Masters looking to advance their skills in a SAFe environment.
- Experienced Scrum Masters interested in advanced training in handling complex Agile implementations.
- Professionals aiming to lead large teams and complex projects within SAFe.
| Feature/Criteria | CSM | PSM | SSM |
| Provider | Scrum Alliance | Scrum.org | Scaled Agile, Inc. |
| Focus Area | Fundamental Scrum principles and practices | Practical application of Scrum principles | Scrum Master role within a SAFe environment |
| Level | Beginner | Beginner | Intermediate |
| Prerequisites | None | None for PSM I, PSM I for PSM II, PSM II for PSM III | None |
| Exam Difficulty | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Course Requirement | Mandatory two-day training | Optional, self-study option available | Mandatory two-day training |
| Ideal For | Beginners in Scrum and Agile | Individuals with some Scrum experience seeking rigorous certification | Scrum Masters in SAFe environments |
| Content Depth | Basic principles and framework | Practical and theoretical application, advanced levels available | Scaling Scrum within Agile framework |
| Advance Certification | A-CSM | PSM II, PSM III | SASM |
| Renewal Requirement | Every two years, requires SEUs | Lifetime (no renewal required) | Every year, requires PDUs |
Conclusion
Here’s a quick recap:
- CSM: Ideal for beginners looking to gain a solid foundation in Scrum.
- A-CSM: Ideal for advanced Scrum Masters in a Scrum environment handling complex projects.
- PSM I: Suitable for those with some Scrum experience seeking a rigorous and practical certification.
- PSM II: Suitable for professionals who have already obtained PSM I and are looking to advance their capabilities in implementing Scrum effectively.
- PSM III: Suitable for those aiming for senior roles that require extensive expertise in Scrum.
- SSM: Best for Scrum Masters in organizations using the SAFe framework.
- SASM: Ideal for advanced Scrum Masters in a SAFe environment handling complex projects.
Evaluate your current role, career aspirations, and the specific Agile practices of your organization to make the best choice. Each certification offers unique benefits, so choose the one that aligns best with your professional development goals.
Recommended Reading
- Scrum.org
- PSM I – PSM Practice Exam Practice Mode Questions
- PSM I – PSM Practice Exam Real Mode Questions
- PSM II – PSM II Practice Exam Practice Mode Questions
- PSPO I – PSPO Practice Exam Real Mode Questions
- PSPO I – PSPO Practice Exam Practice Mode Questions
- PSPO II – PSPO II Practice Exam Practice Mode Questions
- PSD – PSD Practice Exam Practice Mode Questions
- SPS – SPS Practice Exam Practice Mode Questions
- Scrum Alliance
- PMI