Best Agile Scrum Certifications you need to know

To say a particular Best agile scrum certification is the best may be arguable. There are a lot of factors to put into consideration when gunning for Agile certification. Each of the certification providers also has their unique offer in terms of price, the nature of the exam, prerequisite, and of course, their brand reputation. So rather than saying one provider is the best, let me list the top 3 certification providers that you can get. 

So you can make a more precise decision, I will highlight the benefits of each of these. 

1. Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification by scrum.org

This is one of the most popular agile scrum master certifications. While having a PSM certification can earn you a pretty impressive income (to the tune of $93k per annum), the requirements/assessment for getting it is rigorous. Scrum.org requires serious preparation from applicants. The idea is to ensure that holders have a firm understanding of Scrum inside-out. 

Their assessment is done online and you are at liberty to surf the internet for possible answers. However, it may not be a good idea to check for answers during the exams as the exam is timed at 1 hour. The exam has 80 questions which implies you have about 45 seconds for one question. 

Benefits of Professional Scrum Master (PSM)

• Showcase of top-level understanding of Scrum 
• Relatively low fees
• Potential of earning high salaries 
• No renewal fees

Drawbacks 

• The exam is tougher to pass

2. Certified Scrum Master (CSM) by Scrum Alliance

This is yet another popular scrum certification. Perhaps, more popular than PSM. It is relatively easier to pass than the PSM and also gives you a mandatory course to take before sitting for the exams. One thing about CSM is that there are renewal fees. After getting your certification, you’d need to renew at $100 every two years. 

The exam time is 1 hour and contains 50 questions. It is an in-person examination so you have to come to a designated center. It is also a closed book implying that you will not be allowed to bring any additional resources into the exam hall. 

Benefits 

• Employers particular asked for CSM certification
• Potential of earning high salaries
• The exam fee is added to the training course and

Drawbacks

• The fee is expensive. Can get to $1500
• There are renewals fees
• There is a compulsory 2-day physical training 

3. Scrum Master Certification by SAFe

SAFe Scrum Master Certification is another fantastic certification that ensures you can confidently perform Scrum in a scaled system. Holders of this certificate are expected to lead Agile Scrum transformations, drive an highly efficient team and ensure Scrum practices are well implemented in any organization. 

Candidates are expected to be professionals with about 5 years of working experience. The exam contains 45 multiple choice questions and lasts for 60 minutes. Its difficulty level is relatively high so you are expected to adequately prepare for the exam. 

Benefits

• Get access to premium resources from SAFe
• Earn as high as $110,000 per annum
• Perform program increment planning 
• Get SAFe Scrum Master Digital Badge

Downside

• Must attend the 2-day training organized by SAFe
• Fees are quite high 
• Exam difficulty is high 

Final words

In order not to burn your exam fees, it is strongly advisable to begin with an Agile online course that teaches you the key things to know about Agile methodologies and practices. H2k Infosys is a leading edu-tech company that provides top-notch Agile scrum master certification training for individuals who want to move up quickly in their tech careers. 

The curriculum of their Agile training course is carefully designed to world-class standards and are taught by industry-based instructors. You can check out their website to find out more.