CSM (Certified ScrumMaster) is a credential offered by Scrum Alliance. It is designed for those who want to learn and apply agile principles in ensuring the self-organization of a team with a goal of delivering successful projects. This person is in charge of helping the team to avoid any kind of distractions, whether external or internal. The certification is offered both at the foundational (Certified ScrumMaster) and advanced (Advanced CertifiedScrum Master) levels.

To attain the CSM certification (foundational level), an individual must first understand the Scrum structure that focuses on continuous improvement in developing the right form of software based on Scrum best practices. The other step is to go through a training process provided by Scrum Master accredited trainers. The mandatory training lasting two days costs about $1,295. The fee covers the course and exam fees. There are also some other resources like the Scrum Guide and the Scrum Alliance e-learning series that one can use when preparing for the exam. Once the students have gone through training, they are given up to 90 days after it to sit for the test that is based on the Scrum objectives. Scrum Alliance sends login details by email to the candidates who have completed their trainings. These are the details that will be used to access the dashboard to enable the individuals to sit for their test. The exam consists of 35 multiple-choice questions, has an allocation of one hour, and the pass score of 24/35. The exam scores appear on the computer screen almost immediately after submitting your answers. Only two attempts are allowed within the 90 days after training. If one fails the exam after two attempts, he/she would be required to pay $25 for any other additional attempt. The CSM certification is valid for two years.

To achieve the A-CSM certification (advanced level) , a candidate must meet a number of requirements, namely, be a holder of the CSM certificate, attend a compulsory two-day (16-hour) training, and have at least a year of experience working as a CSM. This experience must have been attained in the last five years. The cost of the training and assessment is around $1,495. Just before classes, the students must go through an assessment process to determine their eligibility. On meeting the prerequisites, the candidate must fill a short questionnaire that comes after training. There is no exam for this particular certification. Once applicants have met all these requirements, they are supposed to sign a license agreement giving them the title of an Advanced ScrumMaster Certified Professional. The certification is sent by Scrum Alliance by email and is valid for two years.

The CSM-001 certification exam includes 40 questions of a multiple-choice format and lasts for one hour. The passing score is 70%.