Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$995-$1395 (includes training)
Provider
Scrum Alliance
Validity
2 years (renewal $100)
Available
Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
6-12 months of relevant experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- Attendance at a Certified ScrumMaster course delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer from Scrum Alliance. This is mandatory. Scrum Alliance states that course attendance is required and that individuals cannot skip the training to gain access to the online test.
- The course is typically two days and 16 hours, delivered live online or in person. Approved courses are listed only on the Scrum Alliance Course Search page.
- No prior certification is required. No work experience is required. No degree is required.
- No prior scrum experience is required either. Scrum Alliance describes the CSM as an introductory course and recommends it to anyone new to scrum or to an agile way of working.
- Recommended before the course, though not required: read the 2020 Scrum Guide, the Agile Manifesto and the five scrum values, all of which Scrum Alliance names as the basis for the CSM learning objectives.
- A working email address your trainer has correctly recorded, since the welcome email that activates your certification account and starts the 90-day test window is sent to it.
- A computer with a supported browser: Safari, Firefox, Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Number of Questions
50 multiple-choice questions
Duration
60 minutes. The test cannot be paused, but questions can be bookmarked and revisited inside the hour.
Question Format
Recall questions on scrum accountabilities, events and artifacts as defined in the 2020 Scrum Guide, Scenario questions asking what a scrum master should do in a described team situation, Distinction questions separating facilitating, teaching, mentoring and coaching, Timebox and event-purpose questions covering sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review and sprint retrospective, Questions on the definition of done, product backlog authority and impediment handling
Passing Requirement
74 percent, which Scrum Alliance states as 37 of the 50 questions answered correctly.
How It Is Delivered
Online only, taken from your Scrum Alliance dashboard and delivered on mytestcom.net. Not proctored and not held at an in-person test centre. Open book: Scrum Alliance states you may reference the Scrum Guide and the training materials provided during your course. Supported browsers are Safari, Firefox, Chrome and Microsoft Edge; Internet Explorer is not supported, pop-up blockers must be disabled, and you must use one computer and one browser for the session.
Languages Offered
Thirteen: English, Spanish (Castilian), Latin American Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Danish, Czech, Polish and Russian.
Visit the official Scrum Alliance certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Percentage correct out of 50 questions. There is no scaled score, no equating and no percentile rank; the number you get right is the number that counts.
Score You Need
74 percent, which Scrum Alliance states as 37 of the 50 questions answered correctly.
How It Is Calculated
Straight percentage-correct scoring against a fixed 74 percent threshold. Every question carries equal weight, wrong answers cost nothing beyond the mark itself, and there is no penalty for guessing, so leaving an item blank is strictly worse than answering it. Scoring is compensatory across the whole test: Scrum Alliance publishes no per-category minimum, so a weak area cannot fail you on its own.
When You Get Results
Immediately at the end of the test on the delivery platform. Passing earns the certification straight away, and the certificate is downloadable from your Scrum Alliance account. Scrum Alliance notes your score is visible only to you and is not shown to your trainer or to other members.
In raw terms: 37 of 50 correct. You can answer 13 questions wrong and still pass.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)?
Attendance at a Certified ScrumMaster course delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer from Scrum Alliance. This is mandatory. Scrum Alliance states that course attendance is required and that individuals cannot skip the training to gain access to the online test.. The course is typically two days and 16 hours, delivered live online or in person. Approved courses are listed only on the Scrum Alliance Course Search page.. No prior certification is required. No work experience is required. No degree is required.. No prior scrum experience is required either. Scrum Alliance describes the CSM as an introductory course and recommends it to anyone new to scrum or to an agile way of working.. Recommended before the course, though not required: read the 2020 Scrum Guide, the Agile Manifesto and the five scrum values, all of which Scrum Alliance names as the basis for the CSM learning objectives.. A working email address your trainer has correctly recorded, since the welcome email that activates your certification account and starts the 90-day test window is sent to it.. A computer with a supported browser: Safari, Firefox, Chrome or Microsoft Edge..
How much does the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) cost?
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) exam costs $995-$1395 (includes training). This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)?
Visit the official Scrum Alliance certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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