What is the CSM and can you get it without a course?
CSM stands for Certified ScrumMaster, the foundational Scrum credential from Scrum Alliance. Unlike most certifications, it cannot be obtained by examination alone: you must attend a live course delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer, and only then does the certification test become available. That course requirement is deliberate — Scrum Alliance's position is that the ScrumMaster role is learned through facilitated practice and discussion rather than reading, so the trainer network and the live cohort are treated as part of the credential rather than optional preparation. The course covers Scrum theory and values, the accountabilities of ScrumMaster, Product Owner and Developers, the events and artefacts, and the facilitation and coaching skills a ScrumMaster relies on. Certification runs two years and is renewed with Scrum Education Units and a renewal fee.
- The CSM is Scrum Alliance's foundational ScrumMaster credential and cannot be obtained by examination alone.
- A live course with a Certified Scrum Trainer is mandatory and unlocks the certification test.
- The course covers Scrum theory, the three accountabilities, the events and artefacts, and facilitation skills.
- Certification runs two years and renews with Scrum Education Units plus a renewal fee.
CSM at a glance
| Cost | Bundled into the price the Certified Scrum Trainer charges for the course, which varies by trainer and region, plus the Scrum Alliance renewal fee at each cycle |
| Duration | A live course, commonly delivered across two days, followed by the certification test |
| Issued by | Scrum Alliance |
| Format | Mandatory live course with a Certified Scrum Trainer, then an online test |
| Expiry | 2 years |
| Who needs it | ScrumMasters, agile coaches, delivery leads, and team members and managers working in Scrum environments |
| Course requirement | Mandatory — the certification test is unlocked by course attendance, not purchasable alone |
| Renewal | Scrum Education Units plus a renewal fee every two years |
Sources: Scrum Alliance, Certified ScrumMaster · Scrum Alliance. Reviewed August 2026 by the GlobalCybers team.
CSM Format, Course First and Test Second
The course is the credential's substance
You cannot buy the CSM test. Attendance at a live course delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer is what makes the test available, and Scrum Alliance treats the facilitated cohort experience as part of what is being certified. Trainers themselves go through a demanding approval process, which is why course quality is relatively consistent and why choosing the trainer matters more than choosing the venue.
The Scrum credential landscape
How does the CSM affect agile delivery roles?
The CSM is the most commonly named Scrum credential in job postings, so it functions as a screening credential for ScrumMaster and delivery roles rather than as a measure of coaching capability.
GlobalCybers reimburses certification fees after a successful permanent placement through our network.
What the CSM Course Covers, Scrum Content
Empiricism
Transparency, inspection and adaptation — the theoretical basis for why Scrum is structured as it is, and the argument a ScrumMaster needs when asked to skip an event.
Accountabilities
What the ScrumMaster, Product Owner and Developers are each accountable for, and the boundary problems that cause most team dysfunction when they blur.
Events
Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective — their purpose, timeboxes and the failure modes each is prone to when run mechanically.
Artefacts & Commitments
Product Backlog with the Product Goal, Sprint Backlog with the Sprint Goal, and the Increment with the Definition of Done.
Facilitation & Coaching
The skills the role actually runs on: facilitating a retrospective that surfaces something real, coaching without directing, and holding a boundary against pressure.
Anti-Patterns
The recognisable dysfunctions — the ScrumMaster as project manager, the retrospective with no actions, the Product Owner who is not empowered — and what to do about each.
How do you become a Certified ScrumMaster?
Choose a Certified Scrum Trainer, not just a date
The course is mandatory and its quality varies with the trainer far more than with the venue or the price. Read the trainer's background and how they run the class — the value of a course-gated credential lies almost entirely in the facilitation you get.
Attend the live course
Commonly delivered across two days, in person or virtually, covering Scrum theory, accountabilities, events, artefacts and the facilitation skills of the role. Participation is expected; the format assumes discussion and exercises rather than lecture.
Take the certification test
The test becomes available after the course and is completed online. It is a check on the course content rather than the substance of the credential, which is why nobody prepares for it independently of the class.
Renew every two years with SEUs
Renewal requires Scrum Education Units and a renewal fee. Units can be earned through learning, events, coaching and community contribution, so most practitioners meet the requirement through activity they would undertake anyway.
A Screening Credential, Not a Licence
Nothing requires a certification to work as a ScrumMaster, and experienced practitioners are hired on their track record. What certifications do is get applications past screening: job postings frequently name a Scrum credential, and the CSM is the most commonly named. Because several bodies certify Scrum roles with different requirements — some by examination only, without a course — it is worth checking whether an employer or client names a specific one.
CSM, Frequently Asked Questions
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