Scrum teams execute projects to provide incremental value in each sprint cycle. Each sprint cycle is scheduled for two to four weeks, and the team works towards small goals that contribute to overall objectives. Basic scrum training may help you facilitate effective collaboration. However, the need for a scrum master becomes inevitable to improve workflow alignment with the agile framework. The in-demand role requires you to earn the certification to gain a better understanding of the scrum principles and expose yourself to the agile process, increasing your job opportunities. There are many scrum certifications available, and you should choose one that aligns with your career goals and experience.
What is Scrum Certification?
A scrum certification can drive you to the path of a successful scrum master. Becoming a scrum professional is a great career choice as you get an opportunity to empower the team to work towards their goals. The scrum master helps the teams perform at their best by coaching them to develop an agile mindset and become self-managing.
Different Scrum Certifications
Let’s have a look at some of the popular scrum certifications.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
CSM is a foundation course designed for scrum masters who are aimed to foster an effective working environment. The CSM certificate will brush your knowledge on fundamental aspects of scrum and help you pave the way for a successful scrum master by being able to remove impediments that occur in project progress. The certification is the right choice for beginners who want to start their career as a scrum master. It teaches about the basics of the scrum framework and methods to implement them in teams and organisations.
Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM)
The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) certification is for individuals who have completed CSM certification and gained experience in a scrum role. The core teachings of the advanced scrum certifications go beyond cracking the fundamentals of scrum. The certified professional prepares the learners to implement scrum principles and facilitate effective collaboration. The second level certification gives you in-depth knowledge about implementation tools.
Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification
Professional scrum master certification is offered at various levels to validate individuals proficiency in scrum mastery. The course is designed to help the learners understand scrum principles and apply them in the real- time scenarios.
PSM I is an entry-level certification demonstrating fundamental knowledge of scrum principles and their application in scrum team environments. PSM A (PSM II) is a second-level scrum certification designed for professionals with advanced knowledge. One should have an extensive level of scrum master experience to enroll in the certification and earn the credential. PSM III is the third and highest level of designation, demonstrating one’s deep understanding of the application of scrum principles and practices in complex scrum environments. You can enroll in individual-level scrum certification each time or complete all three at a go.
Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster® (CSP-SM)
The certified scrum professional scrum master certification is for people who have completed advanced scrum master certification and gained deeper expertise in scrum to improve their career prospects. The certification focuses on helping the participant learn more about lean agile frameworks. You need to have at least two years of experience as a scrum leader within the past five years to get the certification. You need to renew the certification every two years to maintain it.
Certified Scrum Developer (CSD)
The certification is specially crafted for software developers. The participants who enroll in the certification course need to have sound knowledge of coding. The course program focuses on teaching the participants about the application of scrum principles in software development. It will teach you about how to build the products in the scrum framework. Even the developers have to undergo three levels of certification to reach the advanced level. After completing the course, you will familiarise yourself with the concepts of agile and scrum in product development.
SAFe Scrum Master (SSM)
The SAFe scrum master certification is for professionals who want to become scrum masters in agile and lean concepts. If you want to practice agile and lean concepts on a large scale, the SAFe scrum master certification is for you. The course is designed to get you acquainted with scrum and the tools needed to work effectively with remote teams.
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
As the name suggests, the certified scrum product owner is the accreditation offered to professionals to validate your scrum knowledge to perform the product owner role. The course program is designed to teach the participants about the basics of scrum and product-specific training in different aspects like managing multiple stakeholders, creating a product vision, and effective backlog management. The course program is recommended for product owners/ managers, business analysts and data analysts. The track of scrum product owner certifications will help you advance to different levels of certifications like ACSPO and CSP-PO.
Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)
The CSP certification is the highest level of scrum certification in product development. You can start your career path as a scrum master by becoming a certified product developer during the initial stage. The certified CSD are eligible to take a CSP course designed for developers to help them learn how scrum and agile principles are implemented on your team.
Which Certification Should You Choose?
Plenty of scrum certifications are available, and picking one could be overwhelming to aspiring professionals. While every certification is designed with an objective, you should choose the one that best suits your career goals, level of expertise, and job role on the scrum team. You should also analyse your current level of understanding of scrum principles and your experience implementing scrum principles in real-world scenarios.
You should then classify the certification based on professional aspirations for the specific role you want to work. Knowing your career objective will help you choose the appropriate scrum certification. You should select certifications that are reputable and well-recognised by employers. Make an informed decision when choosing the proper scrum certifications to achieve your professional goals and enhance your expertise in scrum.
