Frequently Asked Questions
Updated March, 2012
Questions about our Certification Philosophy
Why does the Scrum Alliance offer a certification program?
When Scrum was first introduced, the only available training was in the form of articles, presentations, and books. By reading these resources, many grasped the iterative nature of Scrum but missed the principles and practices that are necessary for successful implementation. In response, the Scrum Alliance developed a certification program.
What makes the Scrum Alliance certification program different from other
Scrum training programs?
The certification courses posted on the Scrum Alliance site are all taught by Scrum Alliance Registered Education Providers (REPs) and Certified Scrum Trainers (CSTs). All of these providers have been vetted by their peers to verify that they have the depth of knowledge,
experience, and training ability to teach others about Scrum. Their courseware has been approved as being consistent with Scrum and agile principles. You can be assured that a course from a Scrum Alliance REP or CST is an accurate representation of Scrum and is being taught by a recognized authority on Scrum and agile practices and principles.
Can I become certified without taking a course?
No. It is our belief that true learning requires hands-on practice and in-person training. The CSM evaluation is not offered as a replacement for formal training.
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Questions about the Certified ScrumMaster Certification
What does it mean to have a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) designation?
A Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is someone who has been taught (by a Certified Scrum Trainer) the Scrum terminology, practices, and principles that will enable them to fulfill the role of ScrumMaster or Scrum team member. A Certified ScrumMaster course is a first step on the path to growing more Agile. Experience and continuing education are necessary next steps to become a true, practicing Scrum professional. To demonstrate deep understanding and experience with Scrum, CSMs are encouraged to apply for and become Certified Scrum Professionals (CSPs).
Does the Scrum Alliance offer an online CSM course?
No. While we acknowledge that online seminars can be an effective teaching forum for some subjects, we believe that understanding Scrum requires a greater level of personal interaction than can be delivered in a virtual environment.
The Certified ScrumMaster courses engage participants in live, interactive learning, free from the obstacles inherent in an online activity. Additionally, students of online courses do not have the same opportunity to connect and exchange their perceptions that students in live courses do. There is no virtual coffee break that could replace meeting real people with real experiences. For this reason, online learning has a place in preparing participants for the Certified ScrumMaster course and for passing the evaluation, but is insufficient to fully prepare Scrum participants, which is ultimately the goal of Certified ScrumMaster program.
Do I receive PDU credits for a CSM course?
Yes. Please follow PMI's procedure for Category B: Continuing Education. According to the PMP handbook: “Contact hours of project and/or program management education may be earned by attending relevant educational courses offered by organizations not registered with PMI. To calculate the number of PDUs earned, use the following formula: one contact hour of learning relevant to project and/or program management within a structured activity or course equals one PDU. Documentation required upon PMI audit/request: registration form, certificate or letter of attendance, and a brochure or course materials outlining the subject matter covered and the qualifications of the instructor/lecturer.” Most CSTs can tell you how many PDUs their course offers.
What is the membership fee?
Our Certified Scrum Trainers pay the initial membership fee for each student who successfully completes a Certified ScrumMaster course. This membership fee covers the cost of the CSM Evaluation and the first two years of membership.
How do I renew my CSM?
Maintaining your certification secures the investment you have already made and demonstrates your commitment to retaining competency and broadening your skills in the practice of Scrum. 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. Recertification validates your participation in this evolution and your continued proficiency in the fundamental principles and practices of Scrum.
Please visit http://www.scrumalliance.org/pages/fee_payment_links for detailed instructions regarding how to renew your certification.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
For further questions please contact us at support@scrumalliance.org.
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Questions about the Certified ScrumMaster evaluation
Why has the Scrum Alliance added a Certified ScrumMaster evaluation?
Training is an important part of the certification process—all certification candidates must complete a training course in the domain for which they seek certification. However, it is very difficult to standardize training and impossible to provide adequate oversight to ensure trainers adhere to a single standard. Likewise, using trainer judgment to determine if individuals meet minimally acceptable standards for certification introduces subjectivity and unreliability into the process. To help ensure consistency, we provide trainers with a content outline and course objectives [include link to CSM content outline and learning objectives], offer teaching guidelines, and recommend course materials. The objectives that are provided to trainers and the recommended reading found here are used to develop the evaluation content.
Those who took a course after 1 October 2009 must take the evaluation to receive their CSM
credentials.
Do I have to take a CSM evaluation to become certified?
If you take a CSM course on or after October 1, 2009 you will have to complete the evaluation to obtain your CSM certification. The cost of the online evaluation is part of your initial membership fee that is paid for by the trainer.
Can I retake the evaluation if I score poorly?
Until further notice, you are allowed only one attempt at the evaluation. Once you have completed the evaluation, you will be granted Certified ScrumMaster status regardless of your score. Once the exam becomes pass/fail, the CSM evaluation will have a passing score, and you may take the exam a second time without extra charge if you do not pass on the first attempt. If you need to take the evaluation a third time, you will be charged a $25 fee that is not part of your initial membership fee paid by the trainer.
Please note that when you apply to become a Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), you will be held accountable for all of the information contained in the evaluation.
Where can I find the link to take the CSM Evaluation?
After completing your CSM course, you’ll receive an email from the Scrum Alliance that includes a link to create your login credentials. The first step will be to take the evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, you will be asked to accept a license agreement and setup your
online profile.
If you are already a member, the CSM Evaluation will be a link from your dashboard. Once th evaluation is complete, you will be asked to accept a license agreement and your CSM badge will appear on your profile.
What can I expect from the CSM Evaluation?
The evaluation consists of a combination of multiple-choice and true/false questions. It will take approximately 60 minutes to complete it. You’ll be required to demonstrate your understanding of key Scrum elements, including:
• General Scrum Knowledge
• Scrum Roles
• Scrum Meetings
• Scrum Artifacts
What is the cost of the CSM Evaluation?
The cost of the evaluation is included in the cost of your CSM course and paid by your trainer. When the exam becomes pass/fail, there will be two free attempts paid by the trainer but the third attempt will cost $25.
How soon after my course do I have to complete the CSM Evaluation?
After receiving your membership email, you have 90 days to take and complete the evaluation.
Can I take the evaluation without taking a CSM course?
No. The evaluation is not intended as a substitute for formal training.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
For further questions please contact our membership and certification liaison.
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Questions about the Certified Scrum Product Owner
Certification
What does it mean to be a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)?
A Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) is an individual who has been taught (by a Certified Scrum Trainer) the Scrum terminology, practices, and principles that will enable them to fulfill the role of Product Owner for a Scrum team. A Certified Scrum Product Owner course is a first step on the path to growing more Agile. Experience and continuing education are necessary for someone to truly master Scrum. To demonstrate deep understanding and experience with Scrum, CSPOs are encouraged to apply for and become Certified Scrum Professionals.
Do I receive PDU credits for a CSPO course?
Yes. Please follow PMI's procedure for Category 4: Courses offered by Other Education Provider. According to the PMP handbook: "Contact hours of project and/or program management education may be earned by attending relevant educational courses offered by organizations not registered with PMI. To calculate the number of PDUs earned, use the following formula: one contact hour of learning relevant to project and/or program management
within a structured activity or course equals one PDU. Documentation required upon PMI audit/ request: registration form, certificate or letter of attendance, and a brochure or course materials outlining the subject matter covered and the qualifications of the instructor/lecturer." Most CSTs can tell you how many PDUs their course offers.
Questions about the Certified Scrum Professional Certification
What does it mean to be a Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)?
A Certified Scrum Professional has proven experience and expertise in the art of Scrum. CSP is
the level of certification that all practitioners of Scrum should strive to attain. Before becoming a
CSP, applicants must be CSMs, CSPOs, or CSDs.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
For further questions please contact our membership and certification liaison.
CSP Eligibility Requirements: Work Experience
How to record your Scrum experience:
You need a minimum of 12 months (2,000 hours) of experience using Scrum principles and processes in the workplace during the most recent past two years to be eligible for the CSP credential. This may include leading or working on a Scrum team in any role. Use the steps below to assure you document your work experience accurately.
1. Log in to your Scrum Alliance dashboard.
2. Click on “Add Work History.”
3. Under the “Work Experience” heading, click on “Add Work Experience.”
4. Complete the details for each field in the pop-up window (Company Name, Role, Job Begin/End Dates, etc.).
5. In the “Description” field, be sure to describe clearly for each Work Experience the projects in which you participated in any Scrum role, including how much time (days/weeks/months) was required to complete the project. If you cannot provide an exact total, a close approximation will do (“one month of full-time work” vs. “160 hours”).
6. Your Scrum-related Work Experience should total no less than one year or 2000 work hours.
7. Examples:
a. Software Developer at Lightning Computing Services, Inc. -- East Brunswick, New Jersey, USA;
August 2010 - Present --Various software developer roles including Embedded C and C++ developer. C#.Net developer, ASP.Net developer, Scrum Team member on various teams full-time from August 2010 to December 2011. ScrumMaster on a new software development team from January 2012 to present.
b. Program Developer at Southwest Airlines -- Phoenix, Arizona, USA
February 2010 – Present (all projects listed are full-time)
February – July 2010: ScrumMaster for team responsible to deliver promotions management strategies for customer service retail products.
August – November 2010: Scrum Team member on team responsible for delivering marketing plan for systemwide customer service process improvements.
December 2010 – February 2011: Scrum Team member on team responsible for automated customer check-in kiosk experience.
c. Project Expediter at Cisco Systems, Inc. --Munich, Germany
March 2011 – present: Concept, design and implementation of components that visualize and evaluate data and extend an existing software package for digital classification. The IT system is very extensive. It is comprised of numerous hardware devices and software tools to make it easy to work with the system. Many departments are involved in this work, and it is my job to separate complex tasks into smaller tasks to manage them easily and assign them to other team members. We use Scrum to manage these tasks and respond quickly to changes.