Eligibility Requirements for CSM Exam
- Attend a CSM Course: Sign up for and attend a two-day training course led by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). This course will teach you the basics of Scrum and how to be an effective Scrum Master.
- Complete the Course: Make sure you fully participate and complete the entire course. Attendance is key, as there's no substitute for the interactive learning experience this course provides.
That's it! Once you've done these two steps, you're eligible to take the CSM test. No prior experience or specific qualifications are required to enroll in the CSM course, making it accessible to anyone interested in learning about Scrum and agile practices.
Examination Process for Scrum Master
- Training: First, you attend a two-day training course with a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). This is where you learn all about Scrum.
- Exam Access: After you complete the training, you'll get a link from the Scrum Alliance. This link is your ticket to take the exam online.
- Taking the Exam: You can take the exam from your computer, wherever you feel comfortable. The exam is usually made up of multiple-choice questions about what you learned in the training.
- Time and Attempts: You’ll have a certain amount of time to complete the exam, and if you don’t pass on the first try, you usually get a couple more attempts without any extra cost.
- Passing: If you answer enough questions correctly and pass the exam, congratulations! You’ll become a Certified ScrumMaster.
Also Read: What is Scrum Project Management
CSM Exam Fee
The CSM exam fee in India stands at Rs. 24,000 to Rs 26,000. This includes the training by a CST, Scrum Master Certification exam cost, and 1 time free exam retake cost in case a candidate fails in the first attempt and a 2 year membership with Scrum Alliance.
CSM Certification Renewal Process
The CSM certification is only valid for 24 months from the date it is issued. Post that, one has to log in with their original credentials and pay an administrative fee to
renew the CSM certification. Here is the breakup of the fee that needs to be paid in case of the various CSM certification exams.
Level
| Certification Name | SEU required | Fee per term |
Foundation | CSM
| 20 | $100 |
Advanced | A-CSM | 30 | $175 |
Professional | CSP-SM | 40
| $250 |
Sample CSM exam questions
Let’s look at some sample questions that reflect the type of content you might encounter on the Certified Scrum Master exam:
1. What is the primary role of a ScrumMaster?
a. To manage the Scrum team and assign tasks to team members.
b. To facilitate Scrum events and remove impediments for the team.
c. To maintain the product backlog and ensure it's up to date.
d. To represent the stakeholders and communicate their needs to the team.
2. Which artifact is used to capture the overall progress of the project in a Sprint?
a. Sprint Backlog
b. Product Backlog
c. Burnup Chart
d. Burndown Chart
3. During which Scrum event does the team demonstrate the work completed in the Sprint?
a. Sprint Planning
b. Daily Scrum
c. Sprint Review
d. Sprint Retrospective
4. Who is responsible for prioritizing the Product Backlog?
a. ScrumMaster
b. Development Team
c. Product Owner
d. Stakeholders
Certified Scrum
Master Course
Get Certification on 2nd Day
View courseCSM Certification Process
- Training Course: Sign up for and attend a 2-day training course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). This course will teach you all about Scrum and how to be a ScrumMaster.
- Complete the Course: Make sure to attend all parts of the course to get the full learning experience.
- Take the Exam: After finishing the course, you'll get a link to take the CSM exam online. The exam has multiple-choice questions based on what you learned in the course.
- Pass the CSM test: Answer the questions on the exam. You need to get a certain number of questions right to pass.
- Get Certified: Once you pass the exam, you become a Certified ScrumMaster! You'll get a certificate from the Scrum Alliance, and you can start using your new skills in your job.
Also Read: Difference Between Agile And Scrum
Conclusion
The path of becoming a
Certified Scrum Master (CSM) offers a comprehensive understanding of Scrum principles and practices, essential for effective agile project management. Through a structured process that includes attending a two-day training course, completing the course, and passing the online exam, candidates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to facilitate Scrum teams and promote agile practices within their organizations. The CSM certification, recognized globally, not only validates one's expertise in Scrum but also opens up opportunities for career advancement and professional growth. With its emphasis on continuous learning and improvement, the CSM certification is a valuable asset for anyone looking to excel in the dynamic field of agile project management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How long does it take to become Scrum Master certified?
The time it takes to
become Scrum Master certified primarily depends on the two-day mandatory training course you need to attend. After completing this course, you can typically take the CSM exam shortly thereafter. So earliest you could become a Certified Scrum Master within two days, otherwise it depends on you considering the factors course attendance and additional time for scheduling and taking the exam.
Q2. Can I take the CSM exam without training?
No, you cannot take the CSM exam without attending the mandatory two-day training course led by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). The Scrum Alliance requires this training to ensure that candidates have a comprehensive understanding of Scrum principles and practices, as well as the role of a Scrum Master, before taking the exam.
Q3. Is the CSM exam hard?
The difficulty of the CSM exam can vary depending on your background and familiarity with Scrum methodologies. For individuals with experience in agile environments or those who have thoroughly absorbed the material presented in the CSM training course, the exam may not be particularly challenging. Infact it is an open book exam.
Q4. What are the benefits of CSM certification?
CSM certification is an industry benchmark for identifying candidates with knowledge of Agile concepts. Having an Agile mindset not only makes you marketable, but it also accelerates one’s career growth. With MNCs like IBM, Wipro, Cognizant and TCS investing in Scrum, CSM certified candidates have bright career prospects.
Q5. What type of a job role can one expect after CSM certification?
A scrum team member, Scrum Coach, Scrum Master, Scrum Product Owner, and Agile Coach are some of the job roles that one can expect after the certification.
Q6. How can one gain the Scrum Educational Credits that are needed to keep the certification valid?
The central idea behind the educational credits system is to encourage scrum masters to keep up with the latest scrum frameworks even after they have answered the CSM exam questions correctly. The credits can be obtained by reading blogs, attending webinars, Agile events, watching Scrum videos and several other ways. One hour's worth of effort in knowledge transfer on Scrum is seen as one education credit.
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