⚖️ Compare certifications
⚖️ Compare
23 different·2 in common
🧭 Overview
Certifying body≠ differs
Scrum Alliance
Scrum.org
Focus≠ differs
Scrum Alliance's foundational ScrumMaster certification.
Scrum.org's rigorous, Scrum Guide-based mastery assessment.
Best suited for≠ differs
Beginners to Scrum / agile
Aspiring / early Scrum Masters
Pass mark≠ differs
74%
85%
Difficulty≠ differs
2 / 5
3 / 5
Open book= same
No
No
🚀 Career & roles
Career prospects≠ differs
The most widely recognised entry Scrum Master cert; course-based with an easy exam. A great door-opener, but needs renewal every 2 years.
Rigorous, lifetime Scrum Master credential from Scrum.org — often preferred over CSM for its harder exam and no mandatory course or renewal.
Post-certification roles≠ differs
Scrum Master · Agile Coordinator · Team Facilitator
Scrum Master · Agile Team Facilitator · Delivery Lead
Demand trend≠ differs
Hot — very common in job ads
Hot — core agile role
Typical salary≠ differs
Comparable to PSM; entry into agile roles
Solid; Scrum Master roles are widely advertised
🌍 Recognition & market
Recognition≠ differs
Scrum Alliance · global · renew every 2 yrs (SEUs + fee)
Scrum.org (Ken Schwaber) · global · lifetime (no renewal)
Popular in≠ differs
USA, India, Europe, global
USA, Europe, India, global tech hubs
Companies hiring≠ differs
IT services, product, consulting, enterprises
Product companies, IT services, startups, digital
Industry verticals≠ differs
IT/software, finance, telecom
IT/software, fintech, telecom, e-commerce
Tech horizontals≠ differs
Software delivery, product
Software delivery, product, DevOps
📝 Exam format
Questions≠ differs
50 questions
80 questions
Duration= same
60 min · 1h
60 min · 1h
🎓 Eligibility & process
Eligibility / prerequisites≠ differs
Attend a 2-day certified course (mandatory)
None — open; a strong grasp of the Scrum Guide is recommended
Application process≠ differs
Take a CSM course from a CST → pass the online test → certify
Buy an exam attempt online → 80-question timed test anytime (85% to pass)
💸 Cost & effort
Training cost (approx)≠ differs
USD 400–1,200
USD 0–500
Exam / application fee≠ differs
USD 0
USD 200
Prep time≠ differs
~2 weeks
~3 weeks
Study hours≠ differs
~16 hours
~25 hours
📈 ROI
ROI score≠ differs
3 / 5
4 / 5
Worth it?≠ differs
Good entry — easy and recognised, but the mandatory course + renewals lower net ROI vs PSM.
Strong — low cost, no renewal and well respected; quick payback for agile roles.
📊 Syllabus — domain weighting
🌀CSM
- Lean, Agile & Scrum Foundations15%
- Scrum Master Role & Servant Leadership25%
- Product Owner & Product Backlog15%
- Developers & Self-Management15%
- Scrum Events20%
- Artifacts & Transparency10%
⚙️PSM I
- Scrum Theory & Empiricism20%
- Scrum Team & Accountabilities25%
- Scrum Events25%
- Scrum Artifacts & Commitments20%
- Definition of Done & Delivery10%
Career, cost, effort and ROI figures are indicative — they vary by region, employer and experience.