Scrum Master certification can help you get more job opportunities and elevate your career. It’s a good investment that will pay off over the long-term.
How much does Scrum Master certification cost you? This guide will help you understand the cost of Scrum Master certification.
What is a Scrum Master Certification?
A Scrum Master certification, as the name suggests, is a credential that allows software developers to become Scrum Masters. Scrum Masters are responsible for guiding team members in following Scrum guidelines and helping them organize their work schedules.
Scrum Alliance’s Certified Scrum Master (CSM), is the most popular Scrum Master certification among junior-level professionals and newly-graduated Scrum Masters. Why? Simply put, the requirements for certification are simple to meet and the exam itself doesn’t require much effort.
Learn More About Scrum Alliance
Scrum Alliance is a highly respected Scrum certification body. Scrum Alliance is a non-profit organization that has over 750,000 members, spanning all parts of the Agile community.
The organization is a leader in the industry when it comes to creating new work standards, training, and contributing to this exciting field of work.
Scrum Alliance was established in 2001 by Mike Cohn and Ken Schwaber, both software developers. The organization is located in Denver, Colorado, United States.
Cost of Scrum Master Certification
The training fees are the main cost of Certified Scrum Master (CSM), certification. Costs associated with training vary depending on which course you choose. It can cost anywhere from $500 to $2000 depending on where you live and how long you take the course. Different instructors may charge different fees.
If you have already completed an accredited course, the exam is free.
Keep in mind, however, that if you fail to score a passing score on your first attempt, you will be charged $25 for each additional attempt.
Maintaining certification
There are additional fees for renewing Scrum Master certification. These include the examination fees and initial training. The CSM renewal fees, which are $100 each year, are being paid at the time of writing.
You will need to pay renewal fees and acquire 20 Scrum Education Units (Scrum Education Units). This can be done by volunteering, attending courses, seminars, or attending events. These activities are difficult to estimate. CSM holders get discounts on courses and seminars.
It is also worth noting that higher-level certifications, such as the Advanced CSM certification, don’t require you to pay renewal fees. In this case, you would only need to pay the renewal fees for your highest level certification. The lower ones will be renewed automatically. However, you still need to earn half the required SEUs to obtain each lower-level certification.
Scrum Master Certification: Benefits
As you can see, being a Certified Scrum Master is expensive. You’ll receive a lot of benefits in return.
Better Job Opportunities
CSM certification can help you establish credibility as a subject-matter expert. The CSM accreditation will impress potential employers and help you score more interviews and get accepted for the right roles.
Non-certified practitioners cannot assume the role of Scrum Master. This is exactly why certification will make you stand out among your peers.
Skill Development
The CSM certification will allow you to learn new concepts, and gain the skills necessary to become a Scrum Master.
Even after you have earned the certificatei