Professional Scrum Master Certification 2025

The scrum master assists the team in streamlining and improving the methods through which they accomplish their objectives. Ideally, they act as a team member or collaborator rather than as someone in charge. Because they are self-organizing, the greatest scrum teams don’t respond well to top-down management.

In the US, a Scrum Master makes an average pay of $108,105. In the US, a Scrum Master receives an average incremental cash salary of $11,860. A Scrum Master in the US receives an average annual salary of $119,965. Based on comments compiled by Built In from anonymous Scrum Master employees in the US, Scrum Master

The major responsibility of the scrum master is to manage the scrum process, enhancing their organization’s capacity to provide a meaningful, pertinent product. They also give delivery leadership, experience, and knowledge.

As a Scrum Master, there are various techniques and practices you can use to facilitate and improve the Scrum process and collaboration within the team. Here are some commonly used techniques:

1. Facilitation
2. Servant Leadership
3. Coaching and Mentoring
4. Conflict Resolution
5. Continuous Improvement
6. Visual Management
7. Agile Metrics
8. Removing Impediments

To obtain a Scrum Master certification, you can follow these general steps:

1. Research Scrum Certification
2. Understand the Requirements
3. Attend Scrum Master Training
4. Study and Prepare
5. Take the Exam
6. Obtain Certification

How to Become an Inexperienced Scrum Master (Step by Step)

1. Practice the Scrum Framework in Other Roles
2. Build Your Network
3. Develop Relevant Skills
4. Choose Your Scrum Course
5. Attend a Scrum Course
6. Register for Your Exam
7. Study for Your Exam

A Scrum Master is a qualified individual who guides a team through a project while utilizing Agile project management. To guarantee a successful output, a Scrum Master encourages all team member and leadership engagement and communication.

Scrum Masters are accountable, modest, collaborative, devoted, influential, and knowledgeable, to name just a few of their attributes. Additionally, the finest Scrum Masters understand when to follow the rules and when to ignore them.

The Scrum Master assists the team in making sure that they have distinct objectives to work toward. They may help the Product Owner, if necessary, set effective Product Goals as well as the Scrum Team, each Sprint, in developing a defined Sprint Goal. Teams frequently have trouble coming up with product and sprint goals.

Exercising self-control, ownership, and accountability. coordinated and cooperative. Clear objectives and a purpose were key to success. influential decision-makers who are aware of how their actions affect other people.

Here are five instances of servant leadership used by Scrum masters: removes obstacles that hinder the Scrum team’s advancement. complies with developers’ right to self-management. clarifies to the team, in accordance with the Scrum Guide, what is expected of them.

The Scrum Master/Team Coach (SM/TC) in SAFe helps the team achieve its delivery objectives. To improve the efficacy of SAFe throughout the enterprise, they provide teams with self-organization and self-management coaching as well as assistance in planning and participating in Agile Release Trains (ART) activities.

How can a Scrum Master help a workshop that solves problems? by leading breakout groups that are centered on particular issues. The team’s quality, predictability, and flow may all be improved with the aid of a skilled scrum master.

A Scrum Master is a qualified individual who guides a team through a project while utilizing Agile project management. To guarantee a successful output, a Scrum Master encourages all team member and leadership engagement and communication.

You will learn about the scrum framework and how to become a successful scrum master over a two-day (14–16 hour), live online or in-person training.

The duties of the Scrum Master do not include the following: Problem-solving for the Team It is only your duty as the Scrum Master to assist your team in resolving conflicts and organizing themselves on their own.

When a Scrum Master encounters resistance within the Scrum team or from stakeholders, it’s important to address it effectively. Here are some steps to consider when facing resistance:

1. Understand the Source of Resistance
   
2. Communicate and Educate
3. Address Misconceptions
4. Lead by Example
5. Coach and Support
6. Adapt and Adjust
7. Involve Stakeholders
8. Continuous Improvement

Two good Scrum Master facilitation practices that can enhance collaboration and productivity within a Scrum team are:

1. Effective Daily Standups
2. Sprint Retrospectives

The product owner and scrum master should always collaborate to establish if the artifacts are entirely transparent since this is crucial. He should also communicate with others working on the creation of perfect transparency, including the development team.

A scrum master certification will broaden your employment options and set you apart from colleagues who lack the qualification. It strengthens your capacity to influence organizational change and achieve business objectives while exhibiting your agile methodology.

Although project managers and scrum masters can both be those roles, they are not the same. A project manager is a term used to describe the person in charge of almost any kind of project, whereas a scrum master is a function entrenched exclusively on a scrum team.

For workers with team management expertise, being a scrum master is a superb career path that offers generous benefits and fantastic growth chances.

The Scrum Master imparts a clear grasp of product planning, helps the Product Owner prioritize and groom the Product backlog, and manages Scrum events as needed.

The meeting that the Scrum Master should attend but not typically facilitate is the Sprint Review. The Sprint Review is an important event in Scrum where the team presents the completed work to stakeholders and receives feedback. While the Scrum Master plays a crucial role in ensuring the event runs smoothly, they generally do not take on the facilitation role in this meeting. Here’s why:

1. Product owner as a facilitator
2. Scrum master’s Observational role
3. Focus on stakeholder engagement

The salary or hourly rate of a Scrum Master can vary depending on factors such as location, level of experience, industry, and the organization’s size. It is important to note that the following information is a general guideline and may not reflect the exact salary or hourly rate in every situation.

In the United States, as of 2025, the average hourly rate for a Scrum Master is approximately $45 to $65 per hour. However, this can vary significantly based on factors mentioned earlier. In some cases, highly experienced and skilled Scrum Masters with in-demand certifications and expertise may command higher hourly rates.

The quick response is no. There are a few reasons why it is advantageous for your company that the Scrum Master and Product Owner positions remain distinct. The first is that Scrum Masters don’t have the same access to customer input when they take on the role of Product Owners.

The sprint review meeting requires participation from the product owner, scrum master, and scrum development team.

Costs for CSM training and certification, including the CSM test price, range from $500 to $2,000. But depending on a number of variables, the cost of the CSM certification test may change. Individuals must also recertify every two years, and the recertification procedure costs $100 for the CSM test.

The “best” Scrum Master certification depends on various factors, including your goals, experience level, and industry context. There are several reputable Scrum Master certifications available, each offering its own benefits and recognition. Here are three widely recognized Scrum Master certifications:

1. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) by Scrum Alliance
2. Professional Scrum Master (PSM) by Scrum.0rg
3. Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) by Project Management Institute (PMI)

For a Certified Scrum Master test, there are no set prerequisites. However, in addition to possessing a fundamental knowledge of the Scrum methodology and agile concepts, applicants must successfully complete a 2-day CSM program.

The Scrum test’s exam questions vary from one vendor to another. For instance, the Scrum Master test offered by scrum. org is rated as being of average difficulty.

Through the Scrum Alliance, you may earn the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) title. The training required for this certification is a 16-hour course. You take a test with 50 multiple-choice questions following the course. You obtain your CSM certification after completing the test.

A Scrum Master is a qualified individual who guides a team through a project while utilizing Agile project management. To guarantee a successful output, a Scrum Master encourages all team member and leadership engagement and communication.

The project management industry has distinct uses for the PMP and CSM credentials. The PMP certification may be more useful if you wish to work as a project manager because it covers a wider range of projects. If you work on projects that follow Agile approach, CSM is helpful.

Scrum Master certifications can be obtained through accredited training providers or certification organizations. Here are some common sources where you can get Scrum Master certifications:

1. Scrum Alliance
2. Scrum.org
3. Project Management Institute (PMI)
4. Other Training Providers

Obtaining a Scrum Master certification can open up various job opportunities in Agile environments and organizations that follow Scrum practices. Here are some common job roles associated with Scrum Master certification:

1. Scrum Master
2. Agile Coach
3. Agile Project Manager
4. Product Owner
5. Agile Consultant

Experience as a scrum master managing a portfolio of projects or objectives using Scrum or Agile approaches that are similar to Scrum. Up to £65,000 to £70,000 in competitive income with top-notch employer perks.

Sprint planning is often facilitated by a scrum master or coach to make sure that the conversation is productive, that everyone agrees on the sprint goal, and that the right product backlog items are added to the sprint backlog.

A job as a qualified Scrum Master offers attractive chances for a very long time and is future-proof. In addition to coaching and instruction, the function of a Scrum Master frequently involves project management, technical skill identification, and implementation.

The work of the Scrum Master is relatively straightforward, and it shouldn’t occupy more than 10% of their time (less than an hour a day on the average). The Scrum Master, who fills this part-time position, will aim to minimize rituals and processes to a bare minimum that still serves the team’s needs.

1. Master of Project Academy – Free Scrum Master Certification Training
2. Coursera – Introduction to Scrum Master Training
3. Coursera – Agile with Atlassian Jira
4. Scrumstudy Scrum Fundamentals Certified (SFC™)
5. Udemy – Free Scrum Certification, Agile and Scrum Certification Course
6. Udemy – Basics of Scrum, Agile and Project Delivery
7. luralsight – Agile Fundamentals

Although there are no official academic requirements for the role of Scrum Master, having a bachelor’s degree can help you get employment in a number of fields. Management, business, psychology, computer science, or any other particular industry that aids in laying a solid foundation are among the essential coursework options.

Every two years, you should renew your CSP®-SM, CSP®-PO, and/or CSP® level certificate. Your fundamental and advanced certificates (CSM®, CSPO®, CSD®, A-CSMSM, and/or A-CSPOSM) are renewed together with your professional level certification when you renew it. 90 days before your certification expires, we’ll email you a reminder.

You will learn about the scrum framework and how to become a successful scrum master over a two-day (14–16 hour), live online or in-person training.

The exam will last one hour for you to finish. 37 accurate responses, or 74%, are required to pass. The test may be different from those others take because there are now four versions available, although they are intended to include questions of the same level of difficulty.

The amount of time required to study for a Scrum Master certification can vary depending on several factors, including your prior knowledge and experience with Agile and Scrum, your learning style, the certification program you choose, and the time you can dedicate to studying.

The exam has 50 questions.

According to my observations, a Scrum Master can only manage a maximum of four teams, each of which must be working on the same product, sufficiently conversant with Scrum techniques, and capable of self-organization and self-management.

The maximum number of teams that a Scrum Master may manage is 4, provided that each team is working on the same product, is conversant with Scrum methods, and is self-organizing and self-managing. Feb 23, 2025

The average annual salary for a Scrum Master in India typically ranges between INR 8 lakhs to INR 20 lakhs or more. However, this can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned earlier. Entry-level Scrum Masters with limited experience may earn salaries closer to the lower end of the range, while those with several years of experience and expertise may earn salaries closer to the higher end.

How much does an entry level scrum master make?

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Following are some pointers on how to incorporate Scrum expertise into your resume:

• Highlight your experience with Scrum methodology in your professional summary or skills section.
• Include specific details about your experience leading or participating in Scrum projects in your work history section.
• Mentioning any relevant certifications or training in Scrum that you have completed in your education section.

Preparing for a Scrum Master interview involves familiarizing yourself with common interview questions and crafting thoughtful and relevant responses. Here are some tips to help you answer Scrum Master interview questions effectively:

1. Understand the Scrum Master role
2. Review common interview questions
3. Provide specific examples
4. Showcase your soft skillsBe
5. honest and authentic
6. Asl clarifying questions
7. Prepare question to ask

To become a Certified ScrumMaster, you must fulfill the following three steps:

1. Familiarize yourself with Scrum and. complete the prerequisites. attending a CSM course.
2. Attend a Certified Scrum. Master course taught by a. Certified Scrum Trainer.
3. Pass the CSM exam by correctly. answering at least 37 of. 50 questions.

An excellent Scrum Master is knowledgeable of the many stages a team will experience while cooperating as a unit. He is aware of the five stages of team growth described by Tuckman[2]: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. It follows that the significance of a consistent team makeup is equally obvious.

To become a Scrum Master trainer, you need to acquire the necessary knowledge, experience, and credentials in Agile methodologies and Scrum practices. Here are the steps you can follow to become a Scrum Master trainer:

1. Gain Practical Experience
2. Obtain Scrum Master Certifications
3. Enhance Training and Facilitation
4. Deepen Your Knowledge
5. Join Training Programs
6. Obtain Trainer Certifications
7. Build Network and Reputation
8. Start Training Initiatives

The process of becoming a Certified Scrum Master has three parts (CSM).

1. Become familiar with Scrum itself, particularly its lifecycle and framework.
2. Take the two-day Certified Scrum Trainer-led CSM course.
3. Pass the CSM certification exam by correctly answering at least 37 of the 50 questions.

Do: Discuss your most difficult Scrum Master difficulty throughout the interview. Tell them what you learnt from it, even if it was a failure, and what you would do differently going forward. Do: Be prepared to role-play circumstances that appear intractable. Maintain stress control.

You must accomplish the following three steps in order to become a Certified ScrumMaster:

1. Familiarize yourself with Scrum and. complete the prerequisites. attending a CSM course.
2. Attend a Certified Scrum. Master course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer.
3. Pass the CSM exam correctly. answering at least 37 of them. 50 questions.

1. Choose your scrum master course wisely.
2. Review the Certified ScrumMaster Course Learning Objectives.
3. Take a CSM practice exam.
4. Remember, the test is open book.
5. Be mindful of specifics, implied and not.
6. You do not need to pay any money for exam preparation.

A scrum master certification will broaden your employment options and set you apart from colleagues who lack the qualification. It strengthens your capacity to influence organizational change and achieve business objectives while exhibiting your agile methodology.

In addition to coaching and instruction, the function of a Scrum Master frequently involves project management, technical skill identification, and implementation. Scrum masters will still be in demand in the years to come.

Many people believe that a Business Analyst can perform the tasks of a Scrum Master in an Agile team and vice versa because they share the same talents. I’m not here to crush your hopes, but I am here to let you know that a Business Analyst cannot also serve as a Scrum Master on the same project’s team.

They might be. Although there is nothing in the Scrum methodology or book that forbids a software developer from serving in both capacities, it can be extremely challenging for them to do so successfully, particularly if they are an experienced senior developer.

A common career path for people with a passion for product management is to start out as a scrum master and eventually move up to the position of product owner.

Yes, even someone with no prior expertise may become a Scrum Master. However, being certified, getting hands-on experience managing agile teams, and using Scrum concepts are all advised. A effective Scrum Master must have excellent facilitation, facilitation, and leadership abilities.

Individuals cannot miss the training necessary to acquire access to the online CSM test; course attendance is needed in order to earn the CSM certification.

Can the product owner serve as a scrum master as well? The quick response is no. There are a few reasons why it is advantageous for your company that the Scrum Master and Product Owner positions remain distinct.

They might be. Although there is nothing in the Scrum methodology or book that forbids a software developer from serving in both capacities, it can be extremely challenging for them to do so successfully, particularly if they are an experienced senior developer.

Although project managers and scrum masters can both be those roles, they are not the same. A project manager is a term used to describe the person in charge of almost any sort of project, whereas a scrum master is a function entrenched exclusively on a scrum team.

Only the Product Owner has the power to cancel a Sprint in Scrum, albeit he or she may do so with the help of the Development Team, the Scrum Master, or the stakeholders.

knowledge of the scrum master position. A plus is having a Scrum master certification. Across the country, we provide a multitude of positions with onsite, hybrid, remote, or flexible work options.

Though there are no formal education requirements for scrum masters, most earn a bachelor’s degree to be a competitive candidate in the field. A degree in engineering or business administration is helpful, though scrum masters can major in any field.

The ScrumMaster’s job is to facilitate and eliminate obstacles from the Scrum process. Developers are not given assignments by the ScrumMaster.

According to the Scrum Guide, it is not necessary for Scrum Masters to be engineers or to possess advanced technical knowledge. To succeed as servant leaders, they must have a solid awareness of the agile process as well as a general understanding of the technical aspects of the field.

User Stories must be created by the product owner. Usually, the Product Owner develops such, but occasionally, the Scrum team works with the Product Owner to produce them. The Product Owner engaging the team in the creation of User Stories benefits from the Scrum team’s collaboration.

The CSP®-SM, CSP®-PO, and/or CSP® level credentials must be renewed every two years. Your CSM®, CSPO®, CSD®, A-CSMSM, and/or A-CSPOSM fundamental and advanced certifications are also renewed when you renew your professional level certification. 90 days prior to the expiration of your certification, we’ll email you a reminder.

The kanban board belongs to the entire crew. While some teams use an agile coach, unlike scrum, there isn’t a single “kanban master” that oversees the seamless operation of the team. The entire team is accountable for working together and completing the tasks listed on the board.

None of these require Scrum Masters to attend. We are in charge of assisting the team and organization in comprehending the advantages and appreciating the occasions. With teams, I’ve done it without feeling obligated to be present.

The role and duties of the Scrum Master necessitating coding skills are not defined inside the Scrum methodology. Actually, the Scrum Master Responsibilities and job do not require any coding experience.

The retrospective meeting must take place and receive the necessary attention and time, according to the Scrum Master. This might entail working with the team to locate a time that works for everyone and promoting the retrospective’s worth to the team to make sure they appreciate its significance.

The Scrum master’s job is not to direct developers on how to organize their work or deal with issues pertaining to development. The daily Scrum may be driven by the Scrum master, but he or she may also attend.

By facilitating breakout groups with a focus on certain issues. The team may improve in areas like quality, predictability, and flow with the guidance of a skilled scrum master.

Preparing for a Scrum Master interview involves several steps to ensure you are well-prepared to showcase your knowledge, skills, and experience. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a Scrum Master interview:

1. Understand Scrum and Agile
2. Study Common Interview Questions
3. Reflect on Your Experience
4. Be Familiar with Scrum Artifacts and Ceremonies
5. Know Your Role as a Scrum Master
6. Research the Company
7. Brush up on Agile Metrics and Practices
8. Prepare Questions to ask
9. Practice with Mock Interviews
10. Stay Calm Confident

The team has to be led by the scrum master, who must convey to them that conflict is a regular issue in the workplace and can be managed by taking an assertive stance. The team’s leader is responsible for making sure that the team members’ concerns are understood and addressed.

1. Mood in the team. It is proven that a satisfied and motivated team achieves better results in the long run.
2. PO satisfaction.
3. Customer satisfaction.

Assign a product, backlog, and product owner to the team. Give them the space and time they need to improve, learn new skills, and become experts in their fields. Give the team as much freedom to decide on their own as possible by fully empowering them. Let the group arrange themselves.

Instead of providing the answers, ask insightful questions and give the Scrum Team the freedom to come up with their own solutions. Pay close attention while keeping an open mind to help them clarify their ideas. Help them identify their blind spots so you may prevent disastrous failures.

Product planning is easier to comprehend in an empirical setting with the aid of a scrum master. ensures that the Product Owner sets up the Product Backlog to achieve the greatest value possible. It aids product owners in comprehending and using agility. provides Scrum Event facilitation as needed or asked.

A vision that is audacious, motivating, and attainable. A vision that gives the team a feeling of purpose and generates the internal drive required for individuals to pursue greatness. A scrum master’s role is to reinforce the team’s alignment with the motivating product vision.

Scrum Masters must avoid the urge to address obstacles and provide solutions as they arise. Instead of the immediate issue, they should concentrate on the main issue. To better comprehend the problem, ask questions. Verify whether it actually is a barrier or a chance for the developers to learn.

The Daily Stand-up, Sprint Planning, Retrospective, and Review, among other Scrum activities, are facilitated and hosted by the Scrum Master, who fosters greater team productivity and transparency.

The Daily Stand-up, Sprint Planning, Retrospective, and Review, among other Scrum activities, are facilitated and hosted by the Scrum Master to promote team productivity and enhance transparency.

They make sure that the agreed-upon Agile methods are followed and assist the team in becoming knowledgeable about Scrum, Built-in-Quality, Kanban, and SAFe. They also assist in removing barriers and creating an atmosphere that promotes high-performing team dynamics, constant improvement, and efficiency.

The Scrum Master removes roadblocks, supports activities, guarantees process transparency, settles disputes, and assists the team in comprehending the scope of work and how to adhere to objectives in order to produce high-quality products.

Ensuring that Scrum is understood and used is the responsibility of the Scrum Master. The Scrum Master must make sure the stakeholders comprehend the Scrum philosophy, methods, and rules in order to do this.

Although becoming a Scrum Master is not difficult, successfully managing your team according to the Scrum principles requires dedication, bravery, and attention. You may do that because of the prerequisites to become a CSM.

In essence, an Agile coach is a seasoned Scrum master with more training and more advanced knowledge. An Agile coach works to improve organizational agility, as opposed to a Scrum master who concentrates on and manages a single team.

You will learn about the scrum framework and how to become a successful scrum master over a two-day (14–16 hour), live online or in-person training. You’ll take an exam on our website after finishing the course, and you’ll need to get 37 out of 50 questions right.

The Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification is a globally recognized certification program offered by Scrum.org. It is designed to validate the knowledge and skills of individuals who work as Scrum Masters or have responsibilities related to facilitating Scrum teams and implementing Scrum principles.