Scrum is an agile software development framework developed by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland in the 1990s at their company, Scrum Inc, and it’s still in use today. The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification was developed to certify that individuals have a deep understanding of Scrum and its principles and can effectively implement it in their organization or client teams. This article will discuss the benefits of becoming certified as well as what the exam covers.
Why Should You Become a CSM?
Becoming a Certified Scrum Master (CSM®) Certification offers several tangible and intangible benefits. For starters, there’s no charge to become a CSM, so it costs nothing upfront. It also improves your resume and makes you more marketable by demonstrating that you have an in-depth understanding of Agile methodology and can explain how to implement agile practices in any organization.
The best reason for becoming a CSM is that it forces you to learn about Agile principles, methods, and practices. You’ll probably also meet other people involved with agile development — which leads to networking opportunities as well as job placement assistance should you ever need or want it.
How do I Earn my CSM Certification?
Earning your CSM certification is an incredibly valuable experience. The process includes completing one or more training courses and passing two tests:
1) Exam #1: CSM Written Exam
2) Exam #2: CSM VOCE (Voice of Customer Experience).
The details can be found here at Training > CSM certification> Courses and Exams.
Upon completion of these two exams, you’ll receive your official certification from Scrum Alliance! It’s as simple as that!
What If I’m Not Certified Yet?
If you’re not certified yet, there’s no need to worry. It’s not the end of the world. However, if you decide to commit to it, you have to commit fully. If you get certified and stop attending meetings, then you aren’t a Certified Scrum Master any longer!
To put it simply, if you pass CSM certification or CSPO but do not attend meetings for three months and stop learning about Scrum, then your efforts become useless. Don’t let that happen to you! Attend meetings. Read books by Dr. Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber – everyone in our field recommends these two books highly as must-reads!
What do Scrum Masters do all Day?
Some agile coaches like to say that Scrum Masters do whatever needs to be done. This, however, is not true; Scrum Masters can’t cross certain boundaries—they have defined roles and responsibilities. Scrum Masters don’t prioritize tasks or make day-to-day decisions. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t busy during all those meetings.
Why Get Trained in Scrum Before Taking the Exam?
Scrum training is great for learning the framework and fundamental concepts that Scrum Masters need to know to lead successful Scrum projects. If you’re going to sit for the CSM certification exam, you must complete at least one week of in-person Scrum training with an authorized Scrum training provider or two hours of self-paced online Scrum course. Before taking the CSM exam, we recommend attending a 3-day class taught by an authorized instructor; it will be the best way to prepare you for test day.
Who can Earn the CSPO Certification?
Anyone with experience leading software teams in the context of agile development processes can take the CSPO exam and earn the certification. However, you do need to meet some prerequisites before you’re eligible. You must have led an agile team or participated in an agile leadership role for at least one year.
You also need to hold any level PMI Agile certification or equivalent agile qualification from another organization, like the CSM certification (CSPO is built on top of these certifications). Lastly, you need to complete 30 hours of approved continuing education every two years to renew your CSPO credential. The courses taught by PMI provide 20 hours’ worth of credit for a fraction of the cost; books and publications can fill out the rest.
Where and When is CSM Training Offered?
When it comes to finding CSM training, timing is everything. The first thing you’ll want to do is figure out when courses are being offered. Keep in mind that not all training options will be available in your area, so take some time to research and learn about what’s available near you.
From there, you can start planning how best to fit CSM certification into your schedule while making sure you don’t sacrifice other priorities (i.e., your day job).
What is Needed with Certified Scrum Master?
To become certified as a Scrum Master, you need to have experience in using Scrum, knowledge about how it works, and be familiar with its tools. You also need to possess good communication skills and be able to help people succeed using Scrum.
Finally, you must know how to execute all Scrum ceremonies correctly, including sprint planning, daily scrums, and sprint reviews. Without these criteria met or documented by your employer on your resume or in another format that is accepted by accredited training partners (like an online course), you will not pass your CSM certification exam.
What are the Main Responsibilities of a Scrum Master?
The main responsibilities of a Scrum Master include facilitating scrum meetings, managing the Product Backlog, and providing support and advice to the development team. A Scrum Master is also responsible for ensuring that tasks are completed on time, assigning and prioritizing tasks when necessary, removing impediments that impede progress toward sprint goals or deadlines, and reporting results at the end of each sprint meeting.
Additionally, a Scrum Master facilitates communication between all stakeholders by establishing a shared understanding of priorities so that everyone can make informed decisions about how to improve efficiency. Finally, a Scrum Master helps everyone involved in the project achieve higher levels of performance through continuous improvement and cross-training in scrum principles.
Conclusion
To become a Certified Scrum Master, you need to pass a rigorous exam through the Scrum Alliance. This CSM certification program is the only way to become officially certified as an expert in Scrum, which means your employer will know that you have all the necessary training and education needed to run effective, efficient Scrum projects.