CSM · ● Active · Associate · Scrum Alliance
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $700–$1,500 (course); exam included in course fee; retake $25 after 90 days |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Questions | 50 multiple-choice |
| Passing | 74% (37/50 correct) |
| Format | Multiple choice (unproctored online assessment) |
| Delivery | Online, self-proctored (included in course) |
| Languages | English; other languages available through vendor partners |
| Valid | 2 years |
| Renewal | 20 Scrum Education Units (SEUs) + $100 renewal fee every 2 years |
| Prerequisites | REQUIRED: 2-day live training course from Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) |
| Released | 2001 (original launch; continuously active) |
| Retiring | N/A — no retirement date announced |
Vendor source — Scrum Alliance Get Certified ↗
Official exam requirements — CSM Exam Overview ↗
CST course finder — Scrum Alliance Courses & Events ↗
About
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is an entry-level practitioner credential for individuals who understand the Scrum framework and can apply it in real-world environments. Unlike some certifications, CSM requires mandatory attendance at a 2-day live training course delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) before sitting the exam. The exam itself is online and unproctored, delivered immediately after course completion or within 90 days. CSM is one of the most widely recognized agile practitioner credentials, particularly valued in organizations adopting Scrum for product development and project delivery.
Domain context — Agile/Scrum
Agile project delivery methodology with emphasis on iterative development, cross-functional teams, and empirical feedback. Scrum Alliance operates one of the two major Scrum certification tracks (the other being Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master track).
Read full deep dive — Scrum Alliance Ecosystem →
Topics covered
Official Scrum Alliance CSM exam domains:
- Scrum Framework Fundamentals — roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team), events (Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Standup, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective), artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment)
- Scrum Master Accountability — servant-leader role, removing impediments, facilitating Scrum events, coaching team and organization on empiricism
- Empiricism & Self-Management — transparency, inspection, adaptation; supporting Development Team autonomy and self-organization
- Scrum Values — Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, Courage
- Working with the Product Owner — backlog refinement, stakeholder management, ensuring clear user value
- Scaling & Organizational Context — applying Scrum in multi-team environments, dependencies, organizational change
Source: Scrum Alliance CSM Training ↗
Common skills at Agile/Scrum · Associate
Shared practitioner skills for Scrum delivery at associate level — not specific to CSM.
- Agile Mindset — iterative delivery, embracing change, customer collaboration
- Sprint Planning & Backlog Refinement — translating user needs into stories, capacity estimation
- Daily Standup Facilitation — timeboxing, impediment identification, team synchronization
- Sprint Retrospectives — team reflection, process improvement, psychological safety
- Stakeholder Communication — managing expectations across Product Owner, Development Team, leadership
- Servant Leadership — empowering teams, removing blockers, coaching over commanding
Recommended courses at Agile/Scrum · Associate
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Goat Software (Mike Cohn, CST) | Certified ScrumMaster 2-Day Course | $1,100–$1,400 | ↗ |
| Scrum Inc. (Jeff Sutherland, CST) | CSM Certification Course | $1,200–$1,500 | ↗ |
| Scrum Alliance (via partner network) | Certified ScrumMaster — Any CST | $700–$1,500 (varies by region) | ↗ |
| Agile For All (Bob Galen, CST) | CSM Certification Training | $1,100–$1,300 | ↗ |
| Simpliaxis | CSM Training + Exam Prep | $500–$1,200 | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: All courses must be delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) to satisfy the CSM prerequisite. Scrum Alliance maintains a publicly searchable directory of CST-led courses worldwide.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpliaxis | CSM Practice Test (Free) | Free | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | Certified Scrum Master Practice Exams | $19–$25 | ↗ |
| Scrum Alliance | Official CSM Sample Questions | Free (with course enrollment) | ↗ |
| KodKloud | Agile & Scrum Practice Tests | $15–$30 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrum: A Pocket Guide (4th Edition) | Gunther Verheyen | Van Haren Publishing | 2024 | 978-9401807349 | ↗ |
| Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum | Mike Cohn | Addison-Wesley | 2009 | 978-0321579362 | ↗ |
| User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development | Mike Cohn | Addison-Wesley | 2004 | 978-0321205681 | ↗ |
| Agile Estimating and Planning | Mike Cohn | Prentice Hall | 2005 | 978-0131479417 | ↗ |
Book rule: CSM candidates benefit most from "Scrum: A Pocket Guide" (comprehensive reference), Mike Cohn's "Succeeding with Agile" (practitioner guidance), and "User Stories Applied" (backlog and estimation mechanics). Books do not explicitly match a single exam code (Scrum evolves continuously), but these four remain canonical resources for Scrum fundamentals.
Typical job titles at Agile/Scrum · Associate
Scrum Master · Agile Coach (Junior) · Project Manager (Agile) · Agile Project Manager · Team Lead (Scrum) · Delivery Manager
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list CSM as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $99,523–$162,210 (mid-range $126,472) | Glassdoor ↗ |
| ZAR | R38,333–R76,733 (mid-range R48,958) | Glassdoor ZA ↗ |
| GBP | £45,000–£67,500 (mid-range £55,000) | IT Jobs Watch ↗ |
Salary rule: Ranges reflect roles requiring or listing CSM as preferred qualification, aggregated from anonymized employee surveys (2026 data). Regional variation reflects cost of living and market maturity in agile adoption. Experienced Scrum Masters and those transitioning to Agile Coach or Product Owner roles command higher salaries.
Skills validated
Scrum-specific competencies assessed by CSM exam:
- Scrum Framework — roles, events, artifacts, rules, empiricism
- Facilitation & Servant Leadership — enabling team autonomy, removing blockers, coaching without command
- Backlog & Sprint Mechanics — story definition, capacity planning, velocity, sprint goals
- Stakeholder & Product Owner Collaboration — managing expectations, balancing demand
- Team Dynamics & Psychological Safety — fostering trust, handling conflict, retrospectives
- Organizational Change — scaling Scrum beyond single team, cultural adoption, metrics
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Professional Scrum Master I (Scrum.org) ↗ — many practitioners hold both CSM and PSM I to demonstrate breadth
- Prerequisite for: Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) ↗ · Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) ↗
- Equivalents at this level: Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I, Scrum.org) ↗ — primary competing credential
- Vendor overview: Scrum Alliance Ecosystem ↗
CSM vs. PSM I: Key differences
Many practitioners ask whether to pursue Scrum Alliance's CSM or Scrum.org's PSM I. Both certify Scrum Master competency but differ in approach:
| Aspect | CSM | PSM I |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Required 2-day live course from CST (Scrum Alliance) | Optional; can test without training (Scrum.org) |
| Exam | 50 questions, 60 min, 74% passing, unproctored | 80 questions, 180 min, 85% passing, proctored (more rigorous) |
| Cost | $700–$1,500 (course + exam included) | $200 (exam only); optional courses available separately |
| Renewal | 20 SEUs + $100 fee every 2 years | Lifetime (no renewal required) |
| Career Path | A-CSM → CSP-SM (advanced tracks) | PSM II, PSM III (multi-level progression) |
| Reputation | Workshop-oriented, practical coaching emphasis | Rigorous assessment, appeals to experienced practitioners |
Best for CSM: Organizations valuing structured workshop training, hands-on facilitation skills, and shorter time-to-certification.
Best for PSM I: Individual practitioners with prior agile experience seeking validation and lifetime credential without renewal burden.
Many practitioners pursue both to signal comprehensive Scrum knowledge across assessment styles.
Sources
- Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster ↗
- CSM Exam Expectations & Passing Score ↗
- CSM Retake & Renewal ↗
- Scrum Alliance Course Directory ↗
- Mountain Goat Software CSM Training ↗
- Glassdoor Scrum Master Salary (USD) ↗
- Glassdoor Scrum Master Salary (South Africa) ↗
- Scrum: A Pocket Guide (4th ed.) – Gunther Verheyen ↗
- Succeeding with Agile – Mike Cohn ↗
- User Stories Applied – Mike Cohn ↗
- Agile Estimating and Planning – Mike Cohn ↗
- Simpliaxis CSM Practice Tests ↗
- CSM vs PSM Certification Comparison ↗
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: Scrum Alliance Ecosystem
Parent domain: Agile/Scrum Domain
Vendor overview: Scrum Alliance Vendor Overview