CSMCertified ScrumMaster
The most popular agile certification for Scrum teams
Exam details independently verified January 2026
About this certification
The CSM validates knowledge of the Scrum framework and the ScrumMaster role. It requires completion of a 2-day live training course, making it more experiential than most certifications. CSM is the most held agile certification in the world.
What you'll validate
- ✓Scrum framework
- ✓Sprint planning and execution
- ✓Removing impediments
- ✓Facilitating Scrum events
- ✓Servant leadership
- ✓Agile principles
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Most widely held agile credential
- +Practical 2-day training format
- +Highly recognized by software employers
- +Quick to earn vs PMP
Disadvantages
- −Training cost varies widely
- −2-year renewal with fee
- −Entry-level scope — less valuable alone at senior levels
Who it's for
Best for
- →Project managers moving into agile roles
- →Team leads working in Scrum teams
- →Those in software development or product roles
Not ideal for
- ×Traditional waterfall environments
- ×Those seeking a self-study credential (must take live training)
Career paths this unlocks
Study Resources
Affiliate links — we may earn a commissionTop picks for CSM
Register for the exam
Exam included in your course registration — no standalone voucher
More places to study
Most popular cert prep courses, often on sale for $14.99
Highest-rated practice exams for AWS, Azure, and GCP
University-backed courses from Google, IBM, DeepLearning.AI
Practice tests and hands-on labs for 30+ cert tracks
Official study guides and exam prep books
Hands-on cloud sandboxes and cert prep subscriptions
1-month free trial — includes 21,000+ cert prep courses
MyCertPath earns a commission when you purchase through these links — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend resources we'd stand behind.
Jobs for CSM holders
CSM holders typically see a 5–15% salary increase.
Job links open external sites. Search results are live and not curated by MyCertPath.
Quick Facts
- Exam Cost
- $250 (Included in 2-day training course ($895–$1,500 typical total))
- Exam Duration
- 60 minutes
- Questions
- ~50
- Passing Score
- 74% (37/50 correct)
- Exam Format
- Multiple Choice
- Study Time
- ~20 hours
- Validity
- 2 years
- Salary Impact
- Moderate (5–15% uplift typical)
- Certified Globally
- 700k+
- Last Verified
- January 2026
Prerequisites
- !Completion of Scrum Alliance–approved 2-day CSM training
Provider
Scrum Alliance
The original agile and Scrum certifications
Actyra Training
Custom eLearning built on the science of how people actually learn
Actyra designs and builds cert-prep training programs for enterprise teams — custom courseware grounded in cognitive science.
Talk to a training expert →