Getting a Scrum Master certification is the first step to getting started on your journey to agile transformation, whether you want to transition to a Scrum Master role, are adopting Scrum at work, or just need the know-how to be more agile.
What Does a Scrum Master Do?
A Scrum Master dons many hats.
As a core member of the Scrum Team, they are primarily responsible for establishing Scrum, and ensuring that Scrum values, principles and practices are followed during the lifetime of an agile project.
While fulfilling their role, they act as coach and mentor to the other team members and ensure a productive working environment. They also act as project facilitators, host daily stand-up meetings, enable better communication and collaboration within the team as well as with the Product Owner, and help the team maximize their productivity by removing roadblocks.
As Scrum Alliance says, “people are the focus of Scrum”. And a Scrum Master’s focus is the Scrum Team.
At UC Agile, our focus is to prepare you with all the tools and techniques you need to succeed in your role as a Scrum Master.
Why Become a Certified Scrum Master?
As a Scrum Master, you can play a vital role in the success of your organization. At the company level, you may be tasked with leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption, planning Scrum implementations, and so on.
At a team level, you’ll have the opportunity to foster a productive and effective working environment for team members and ensure the delivery of the best possible outcome of a product or project. You may also have the opportunity to participate in developing groundbreaking products that improve the lives of others and have a positive impact on the world around you.
Getting certified as a Scrum Master gives you an advantage over other project or product managers as it gives you a solid foundation in the Scrum framework and practical ways to implement Scrum within the team and throughout the organization.
Demand for Certified Scrum Masters (CSMs) has seen a surge since the beginning of 2020 as more and more companies are looking to adopt agile methods of working and are, therefore, looking for people who can help them implement Scrum as part of their transition to agile. An indication of this high demand comes from the rise in listings for Scrum Master in job portals. As of April 2022, LinkedIn lists over 146,000 US Scrum Master job listings.
Not only are there jobs in the market for Scrum Masters, but the average salaries claimed by CSMs are also higher than most project managers at the same level of experience and skill. Payscale reports that the average salary of a Certified Scrum Master is $93,708 in the United States.
It’s no wonder that CSM Certification was one of the most requested certifications in 2020. Learn more about the Scrum certifications at UC Agile.
Who Can Become a Certified Scrum Master?
There are no prerequisites for getting your Scrum Master certification. Anyone can get certified and become a CSM. In fact, at UC Agile, we welcome aspirants from all walks of life in our Scrum certification courses.
That being said, professionals who work in the software development field can greatly benefit from getting certified as a Scrum Master. Software developers, software architects, team leads, QA managers, project managers, product owners, business analysts, new scrum team members, and others working in the IT industry can add to their credentials by getting a Scrum Master certification.
While agile, and by extension Scrum, were developed for the software development field, they are now being applied across industries where you can find cross-functional teams, so marketing companies, data analysts, HR departments, and other professionals looking to adopt an agile way of life can also benefit from getting certified as a Scrum Master.
No matter what your background is, if you enjoy working with people and helping them reach their full potential, you’ll make a great career out of being a Scrum Master.
How to Become a Certified Scrum Master?
Becoming a Certified Scrum Master will allow you to explore opportunities in diverse careers, companies, and industries. You might start by working with one small team and add on multiple teams and more complex projects as you get more experience. As you advance in your career, you could add on advanced and professional level certifications or train to become a Product Owner, Agile coach, and so on.
Here how you can become a Certified Scrum Master in 3 easy steps:
- Select a certification course – Among the options for Scrum Master certification, the Certified Scrum Master® (CSM®) from Scrum Alliance is the most well-known and widely accepted across the world in multiple industries. The Scrum Alliance® CSM® course as conducted by UC Agile’s Certified Scrum Trainers is an interactive and engaging learning experience. Select a convenient date for your course from our list of scheduled online classes.
- Attend the Course – Attend the 2-day live online training with a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®) where you will learn all you need to know about Scrum. At the end of the session, your trainer will guide you in registering for the exam. Learn more about our expert trainers.
- Pass the test and get your certificate – Take the online test after reviewing your course material. Once you pass the test, you can sign in to Scrumalliance.org, accept their licensing agreement and download your certificate. Have further questions about the course and exam? Read our FAQs.
Certified Scrum Master is one of the most in-demand certifications required for various jobs in IT and non-IT industries.
So go ahead, take the first step in your journey to agile transformation. Schedule a live online Scrum certification course here.
Related FAQs
Can I get Scrum certified without taking the course?
No, you need to complete the mandatory 2-day training course from an authorized trainer and take the online exam (for CSM) in order to get certified.
What is the format and duration of the Scrum certification exam?
The Scrum certification exam is a multiple-choice, closed-book test conducted online. The duration of the test is 60 minutes.
Is there a separate fee for taking the Scrum certification exam?
No, our course fees include the cost of the Scrum certification exam.
What is the passing score for the Scrum certification exam?
You need to get a minimum score of 74% to pass the exam.
What is the validity of my Scrum certification?
Your initial Scrum certification is valid for 2 years. To maintain your certification after that, you will need to earn 20 hours of SEUs over two years and pay a renewal fee of $100 ($50/year).
