⚖️ Compare certifications
⚖️ Compare
30 different·1 in common
🧭 Overview
Certifying body≠ differs
PMI
Scrum Alliance
Focus≠ differs
The global gold-standard certification for project managers.
Scrum Alliance's foundational ScrumMaster certification.
Best suited for≠ differs
Mid-career PMs (3+ yrs leading projects)
Beginners to Scrum / agile
Pass mark≠ differs
Proficiency bands (no fixed %)
74%
Difficulty≠ differs
4 / 5
2 / 5
Open book= same
No
No
🚀 Career & roles
Career prospects≠ differs
The global gold standard for project managers — opens senior PM, program and delivery-lead roles across almost every industry, and is often used as a screening filter in job ads.
The most widely recognised entry Scrum Master cert; course-based with an easy exam. A great door-opener, but needs renewal every 2 years.
Post-certification roles≠ differs
Project Manager · Senior PM · Program Manager · Delivery Manager · PMO Lead
Scrum Master · Agile Coordinator · Team Facilitator
Demand trend≠ differs
Hot — consistently the most-requested PM credential
Hot — very common in job ads
Typical salary≠ differs
Holders report ~15–25% higher pay than non-holders (varies by region/experience)
Comparable to PSM; entry into agile roles
🌍 Recognition & market
Recognition≠ differs
PMI (USA) · ANSI/ISO 17024 accredited · recognised worldwide
Scrum Alliance · global · renew every 2 yrs (SEUs + fee)
Popular in≠ differs
Strong everywhere — USA, Canada, India, Middle East, Europe, SE Asia
USA, India, Europe, global
Companies hiring≠ differs
IT services, consulting, BFSI, construction, telecom, MNCs & GCCs
IT services, product, consulting, enterprises
Industry verticals≠ differs
IT/software, construction, finance, healthcare, energy, government
IT/software, finance, telecom
Tech horizontals≠ differs
Method-agnostic across domains — cloud, data, ERP and infra programs
Software delivery, product
📝 Exam format
Questions≠ differs
180 questions
50 questions
Duration≠ differs
230 min · 3h 50m
60 min · 1h
Question types≠ differs
Multiple choice · Multiple response · Matching · Hotspot · Fill-in-the-blank
Not published
Delivery≠ differs
Test centre · Online proctored
Not published
Languages≠ differs
English + 15 others
Not published
🎓 Eligibility & process
Eligibility / prerequisites≠ differs
Degree + 36 months leading projects + 35 contact hours (or 60 months without a degree)
Attend a 2-day certified course (mandatory)
Application process≠ differs
Online application → eligibility review (possible audit) → pay fee → schedule within 1 year (3 attempts)
Take a CSM course from a CST → pass the online test → certify
💸 Cost & effort
Training cost (approx)≠ differs
USD 300–1,500
USD 400–1,200
Exam / application fee≠ differs
USD 555
USD 0
Prep time≠ differs
~10 weeks
~2 weeks
Study hours≠ differs
~120 hours
~16 hours
🔄 Validity & renewal
Validity≠ differs
3 years
Not published
Renewal≠ differs
60 PDUs every 3 years
Not published
Retake policy≠ differs
Up to 3 attempts within a one-year eligibility period; wait between attempts.
Not published
📈 ROI
ROI score≠ differs
5 / 5
3 / 5
Worth it?≠ differs
High — strong salary uplift and a job-filter advantage; pays back the fee quickly for working PMs.
Good entry — easy and recognised, but the mandatory course + renewals lower net ROI vs PSM.
📊 Syllabus — domain weighting
📘PMP
- People42%
- Process50%
- Business Environment8%
🌀CSM
- Lean, Agile & Scrum Foundations15%
- Scrum Master Role & Servant Leadership25%
- Product Owner & Product Backlog15%
- Developers & Self-Management15%
- Scrum Events20%
- Artifacts & Transparency10%
Career, cost, effort and ROI figures are indicative — they vary by region, employer and experience.