How to become a certified scrum master

What is a scrum master?

A Scrum is a framework for developing, delivering, and executing a project. It is usually designed for a team of about ten members, who fragment their work into goals that can be completed within a designated time frame.

The Scrum Team assess their daily progress via daily meetings of about fifteen minutes called daily scrums which is a form of the stand-up meeting. Standing up is meant to shorten the duration of the meeting due to the discomfort of standing.

Scrum is facilitated by a scrum master, whose primary responsibility is to ensure that the team achieves their goals within the designated timeframe.  

A Scrum Master is the Scrum Team member saddled with the responsibility of fostering an effective and productive working environment and guiding fellow team members to understand the Scrum values, principles and practices. 

Scrum Masters are usually people-oriented, have a high level of emotional intelligence, and find satisfaction in helping team members to grow.

The term scrum master is not synonymous with a team leader or project manager whose primary interest is in the project. The scrum master's interest is the scrum team, He or she ensures that the Scrum framework is followed by training the team in Scrum theory and concepts. The role can be referred to as a team facilitator.

How to become a scrum master

To become a scrum master, one needs to acquire certain skills and attributes required to effectively execute the responsibilities of a scrum master. The steps below will elaborate on how to become a scrum master

Step 1: Learning the basics of Scrum 

Before one can become a Scrum master the individual needs to be familiar with the  Scrums' values, principles and practices. For more information about scrum, check out this resource; Scrum guide

Step 2: Scrum master certification

The best way to become a  certified Scrum master is through a recognized scrum certification course, which will equip the individual with the scrum roles and requirements. Obtaining scrum certification will allow the individual to demonstrate the requisite knowledge peculiar to the field and will help open up new opportunities. 

There are different Scrum master certifications, such as: 

• Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM)
• ♦ The Certified Scrum Master certification offered by Scrum Alliance is considered by some authorities as the best scrum certification course because it is one of the most widely accepted Scrum certification courses for Scrum Masters. 
• ♦ Scrum Alliance offers both in-person and online virtual training around the world 
• ♦ The Scrum Alliance CSM certification is renewed every two years. The fee for a renewal is $100. Twenty Scrum Education Units is required for CSM recertification. 
• Professional Scrum Master™
• ♦ This is an alternative to the Certified Scrum Master, called the Professional Scrum Master (PSM). 
• ♦ While Scrum Alliance requires individuals to complete Scrum training before taking the certification exam, Scrum.org focuses on the exam itself. 
• ♦ Scrum.org offers three levels of PSM certification: PSM I, PSM II, and PSM III.
• ♦ PSM certificates do not require renewals or continuing education credits.
• Registered Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™
• There are no requirements for the Licensed Scrum Master training by scrum inc. and all levels of Scrum experience are accepted.

Step 3: Scrum certification course

Once you have decided which certification course is ideal for you, the next step is to provide the requirements for the course and register. Each certification option has its own unique specifications. As stated above, for more details please visit their web sites.

Step 4: Register for your certification exam

On completing the courses, the next step is to register for the scrum certification exam. 

Step 5: Study for your exam

While waiting for the exam, it is advisable to read the course content and additional Scrum resources to ensure you’re fully prepared to pass the test. 

The exam usually focuses on the course content which includes Scrum principles and practices, project management, team building, sprints, release planning, progress reporting and so on.

Step 6: Take and pass the scrum certification exam

The scrum certification exam depends on the certification program. In general, it is usually a multiple-choice test with a pass mark between 60–85%. The exam is usually about an hour long. Successful participants will receive a PDF copy of their Scrum master certification by email and officially become certified ScrumMaster.

Having passed the exam and acquired the certificate, it's time to develop your scrum master resume in preparation for scrum master jobs. 

Step 7: Renew certifications every two years

Scrum master certifications usually expire every two years, so to remain a certified Scrum master, you’ll need to pay a fee to renew your certificate and also meet other educational requirements.

Scrum Master Certification fee?

Scrum master certification cost depends on the certification program.

► CSM Training and certification by scrum alliance can cost between $800 to $1,500, which includes the cost of the exam.

► PSM certification through Scrum.org costs $150 for PSM I certification, $250 for PSM II, and $500 for PSM III. 

► Scrum certification by scrum inc. will cost about $1,995 including the exam fees.

Scrum master responsibilities include the following

• Leading daily stand-up meetings, reviews, demos, and other project-related meetings

• Supporting team members in their tasks

• Facilitating open discussion and conflict resolution

• Coaching the team, within the Scrum principles, in order to deliver high-quality features for its product
• Educating key stakeholders and the rest of the organization on scrum principles
• Helping the scrum team avoid or remove impediments to its progress
• Promoting self-organization and cross-functionality within the team
• Facilitating team events to ensure regular progress
• Ensuring that all Scrum events take place and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox.

Scrum master salary

Scrum masters in the United States earn an average of $98,000 annually, with most salaries ranging from $71,000 to $135,000.

scrum master jobs

Job openings for scrum masters are on the rise worldwide, with a lot of advertisements online. Their job description varies depending on the company and services provided.