CertPath Score
8.5
/10
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
CertPath 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 CertPath.
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+
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 →