Scrum Master Certification Requirements: Explained

A Scrum Certification has become the topmost requirement to practice as a professional across organisations. However, simply earning the certification is insufficient; candidates must also meet the Scrum Master Certification Requirements.   

Having a Scrum Master Certification helps students understand the fundamental principles that form the foundation of Agile. Today, over 821,100 professionals are Certified with Scrum, according to Scrum.org.  

So, if you aren’t aware of Scrum Certification, it is high time to begin with, the basics. Having a Scrum Master Certification helps students understand the fundamental principles that form the foundation of Agile.

Table of Contents 

1) What is Scrum Master Certification? 

2) What are the Scrum Master Certification requirements? 

3) Who can obtain a Scrum Master Certification? 

4) Scrum Master Certification exam format 

5) What are the benefits of obtaining a Scrum Master Certification? 

6) How long does it take to become a Certified Scrum Master? 

7) Average salary of a Scrum Master 

8) Scrum Master career path 

9) Advanced Scrum Master Certification 

10) Conclusion  

What is Scrum Master Certification?

A Scrum Master Certification is a testament that the individual understands the fundamentals of the Scrum Framework. Additionally, it demonstrates that they can implement the Agile Framework across various organisational environments and real-time projects. 

It examines that the candidate understands the core concepts of Scrum and the roles and responsibilities of Scrum roles such as Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Development Teams. Further, the certification testifies to the candidate’s capability of conducting Scrum ceremonies and artefacts in real-world simulations and case studies.

 

What are the Scrum Master Certification Requirements? 

Anyone on the lookout on how to become a Scrum Master is required to fulfil certain Scrum Master Certification requirements to appear for the certification examination. There are different requirements for beginners and already practising professionals. So, let’s have a detailed look at these Certification requirements: 

Educational qualifications 

There are no formal prerequisites for both beginners and professionals. A three-year graduation degree or a high school diploma is the only requirement. 

Certification requirements 

It is preferable to first obtain a Scrum Developer Certification before applying for the Scrum Master Certification (SMC). Since Scrum Masters manage and facilitate the entire team, they must also know how a Scrum Team functions internally. Therefore, obtaining a Scrum Developer Certified (SDC) Certification becomes one of the major requirements for Scrum Master Certification. 

Training requirements 

The candidate is supposed to attend a 2-day Scrum Master Certification instructor-led virtual/ classroom training. Training helps the candidate gain hands-on experience for implementing Scrum in a realistic environment. So, it is highly recommended that you take up training, and it is significant for beginners as they need more experience.

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Who can obtain a Scrum Master Certification? 
 

Scrum is applicable across industries and all possible cross-functional teams. So, anyone passionate about helping others learn and adopting Scrum Framework in Agile methodology can obtain a Scrum Master Certification. and ecposed to a world of professional opportunities in the scrum domain. The candidates only need to complete the certification requirements. 

The opportunity is also open for professionals working with organisations who want to change their career paths. It includes Marketers, Data Scientists, Business Analysts, Project Managers, Scrum Team Members, HR Representatives or other professionals looking for a better career opportunity. 

Scrum Master Certification exam format 

It is essential to appear for, and pass the examination to gain Scrum Master Certification and become a certified professional. The certification examination follows a particular format that is as follows: 
 

The candidates are granted two attempts within 90 days of receiving the initial welcome email to pass the examination that they can avail of at zero cost. 

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Benefits of Scrum Master Certification? 

A Scrum Master Certification can benefit the candidates in various ways. Some of the benefits are as follows: 

1) Gain a high competence in executing Scrum. 

2) The certification sets the certified candidate a notch higher than other non-certified peers. 

3) Candidates can contribute to cultivating a healthy work environment under Scrum values and principles.

4) The certification implies a better understanding of the Scrum concepts that can further help elevate the team's performance. 

5) It helps open more significant earning opportunities as the probability of receiving job offers in IT and non-IT organisations increases.

How long does it take to become a Certified Scrum Master? 

It is a lengthy journey for candidates to become a Certified Scrum Master. One of the Scrum Master Certification Requirements is the CSM course. The course is necessary for the CSM Certification and has a duration of 16 hours. Candidates are recommended to allot extra time for studying in addition to the training period of two days. Now, candidates are required to familiarise themselves thoroughly with the theory of Scrum and its principles, and this includes gaining insights into the Advantages and Disadvantages of Scrum to equip themselves with a comprehensive understanding of the framework. Recognising both the strengths and limitations of Scrum is crucial for practitioners as it prepares them to navigate challenges effectively and contribute meaningfully to the successful implementation of Scrum principles in real-world scenarios.  

The candidates can expect to attempt a quiz that validates their readiness to start the CSM training process. Candidates must be knowledgeable about the basics of the roles, events and artifacts in Scrum.  

Furthermore, they are advised to invest their time into covering the pre-requisite study materials. The time spent for this material ensures that they are well prepared for the class.  

Now, once they have successfully finished the course, they will proceed to take the CSM examination online. The tools and knowledge provided by the course may not suffice for the candidates to pass the examination.  

The candidates can be proactive by allocating extra time for reviewing the course material and their notes prior to their test attempt. More importantly, it is always a good practice for candidates to plan well in advance.

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Average salary for a Scrum Master 

Here is the average Scrum Master salary in various countries, highlighted as shown. It's noteworthy that these salary variations are influenced by factors such as the economic and technological landscape of each nation.

                                                                                                                      Source: PayScale

Scrum Master career path  

A professional awarded with the Scrum Master Certification is welcome to a host of opportunities for growing in their career. Below are the key designations they can aim for: 

1) Scrum Master: The successful completion of the Scrum Master Certification enables a Scrum Master to perform the complete set of roles that they are assigned to carry out. They are required to be employed in this designation for at least one to five years. 

2) Senior Scrum Master: The next level after a Scrum Master is that of a Senior Scrum Master.  Now, a Scrum Master at a senior level is required to source out advanced knowledge of the Scrum methodology’s best practices. Additionally, they need to be skilled at implementing these practices in their project teams.  

3) Agile Coach: The pre-requisite for a Senior Scrum Master to be awarded the title of an Agile Coach, is at least five years of experience as a Scrum Master which makes Agile Coach and Scrum Master different.

Additionally, they are required to hold a minimum of one year experience in coaching and mentoring. 

Moreover, Scrum Masters should remember their responsibility and role of not only implementing Scrum amongst their team, but also to help eliminate any obstacles they face.  

Advanced Scrum Master Certification 

Scrum is an Agile framework designed to enhance the delivery of software. The delivery is ensured through short, collaborative, high-effort and very productive team ‘Scrum Sprints’, as opposed to working on a longitudinal and resource-consuming project.

The Advanced Scrum Master Certification is aimed at a wide variety of professionals, including the likes of Software Engineers, Project Managers, Programme Managers, Product Owners, IT Managers, and more.  One of the most important Advanced Scrum Master Certification Requirements, is that the professionals are required to hold a minimum of one year’s experience as Certified Scrum Masters. 

Moreover, this certification required Certified Scrum Masters to participate in a course of two days, so they are trained to take the next step in learning, developing, facilitating and coaching. 

Conclusion

A Scrum Master Certification can help candidates land their dream job. However, they are required to meet certain Scrum Master Certification Requirements. So, anyone planning to step into the arena of Scrum should check out the requirements first and then get going! 

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