←⚖️ Compare certifications
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14 different·11 in common
🧭 Overview
Certifying body= same
Scrum.org
Scrum.org
Focus≠ differs
Scrum.org's rigorous, Scrum Guide-based mastery assessment.
Scrum.org's Product Owner mastery assessment.
Best suited for≠ differs
Aspiring / early Scrum Masters
Aspiring Product Owners
Pass mark= same
85%
85%
Difficulty= same
3 / 5
3 / 5
Open book= same
No
No
🚀 Career & roles
Career prospects≠ differs
Rigorous, lifetime Scrum Master credential from Scrum.org — often preferred over CSM for its harder exam and no mandatory course or renewal.
Product Owner counterpart to PSM from Scrum.org — validates backlog and value-delivery skills for aspiring POs. Lifetime, no course required.
Post-certification roles≠ differs
Scrum Master · Agile Team Facilitator · Delivery Lead
Product Owner · Associate Product Manager · Backlog Owner
Demand trend≠ differs
Hot — core agile role
Growing — product roles rising
Typical salary≠ differs
Solid; Scrum Master roles are widely advertised
Strong for the product career track
🌍 Recognition & market
Recognition≠ differs
Scrum.org (Ken Schwaber) · global · lifetime (no renewal)
Scrum.org · global · lifetime
Popular in≠ differs
USA, Europe, India, global tech hubs
USA, Europe, India
Companies hiring≠ differs
Product companies, IT services, startups, digital
Product companies, startups, digital, IT services
Industry verticals≠ differs
IT/software, fintech, telecom, e-commerce
IT/software, fintech, e-commerce
Tech horizontals≠ differs
Software delivery, product, DevOps
Product, software delivery
📝 Exam format
Questions= same
80 questions
80 questions
Duration= same
60 min · 1h
60 min · 1h
🎓 Eligibility & process
Eligibility / prerequisites≠ differs
None — open; a strong grasp of the Scrum Guide is recommended
None — Scrum Guide knowledge recommended
Application process≠ differs
Buy an exam attempt online → 80-question timed test anytime (85% to pass)
Buy exam online → 80 questions timed (85% to pass) anytime
💸 Cost & effort
Training cost (approx)= same
USD 0–500
USD 0–500
Exam / application fee= same
USD 200
USD 200
Prep time= same
~3 weeks
~3 weeks
Study hours= same
~25 hours
~25 hours
📈 ROI
ROI score= same
4 / 5
4 / 5
Worth it?≠ differs
Strong — low cost, no renewal and well respected; quick payback for agile roles.
Great value for the product track — low cost, no renewal, credible.
📊 Syllabus — domain weighting
⚙️PSM I
- Scrum Theory & Empiricism20%
- Scrum Team & Accountabilities25%
- Scrum Events25%
- Scrum Artifacts & Commitments20%
- Definition of Done & Delivery10%
📦PSPO I
- Managing Product Value25%
- The Product Owner Accountability20%
- Product Backlog Management25%
- Stakeholders & Customers15%
- Product Planning & Vision15%
Career, cost, effort and ROI figures are indicative — they vary by region, employer and experience.