Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) 2025 Guide: Exam Details, Cost, Difficulty & Best Study Plan

If you’re exploring the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification, you’re likely ready to step into a leadership role that empowers teams, accelerates delivery, and makes real business impact. Great choice. In today’s job market, the CSM is one of the most recognized entry points into agile leadership—and it’s especially valued by hiring managers who want proof you’ve learned Scrum the right way. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification: what it is, how it works, how to prepare, how much it costs, and how to turn the credential into a career boost you can actually measure.

By the end, you’ll have a clear, step-by-step plan to earn your CSM, avoid common pitfalls, and show your value fast.

What Is the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Certification?

The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is a foundational agile credential issued by Scrum Alliance, one of the earliest and most recognized organizations in the Scrum community. To earn it, you complete a Scrum Alliance–approved training course and then pass an online test. Courses are taught by Certified Scrum Trainers (CSTs) and can be taken live online or in person. The required class time is at least 16 hours of live trainer-student contact, after which you’ll receive access to the exam.

• Course requirement details (16 hours, CST-taught, online or in-person) are outlined in Scrum Alliance’s official guidance (see “Course Requirements for Scrum Alliance Trainers” and “Is the CSM course required before taking the test?” on the Scrum Alliance Help Center).

• The CSM course typically includes two exam attempts and a two-year membership in Scrum Alliance as part of your initial certification package. You’ll see these inclusions on the official CSM page.

Actionable takeaway:

• If you’re debating certs, note this key difference: CSM requires hands-on instruction, so employers know you learned by doing—not just cramming for a test.

Why the CSM Exists—and Why It’s Still Valuable

Scrum is a lightweight framework that revolves around empiricism: transparency, inspection, and adaptation. The Scrum Master role is accountable for helping everyone understand and apply Scrum theory and practice, and for removing impediments that slow teams down. The current official reference is the Scrum Guide (Nov 2020), authored by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland.

What the CSM signals:

• You understand the roles, events, artifacts, and commitments of Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide.

• You’ve practiced facilitation and coaching techniques in a CST-led class, not just memorized trivia.

• You’ve joined a professional community (Scrum Alliance membership) and are encouraged to keep learning through periodic renewal and continuing education.

Who benefits most:

• New or aspiring Scrum Masters, project managers moving to agile delivery, team leads, business analysts, QA/devs stepping into facilitation, and career switchers targeting agile roles.

Actionable takeaway:

• If you’re new to agile, the structured training + exam format of CSM provides a reliable foundation—and an immediate network through the Scrum Alliance community.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

The CSM is accessible by design:

• No formal prerequisites (degree, years of experience) are required.

• You must attend an approved 16-hour CSM course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) before you can take the test. Scrum Alliance explicitly requires the course; you cannot skip straight to the exam.

• Courses may be delivered live online or in-person, but must meet the minimum live contact hours.

Language and accessibility:

• CSM courses are offered worldwide. The CSM exam is available in multiple languages (e.g., English, Spanish variants, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and more). You can also request accommodations (e.g., extended time) through Scrum Alliance Support.

Actionable takeaway:

• Decide early whether you prefer live online or in-person. In-person can be great for networking; live online often provides more date/time flexibility.

CSM Exam: Structure, Content, Timing, and Attempts

The CSM exam is straightforward but scenario-driven. Here’s what to expect:

• Questions: 50 multiple-choice

• Time: 60 minutes

• Passing score: 37 correct (74%)

• Format: Online, not proctored, and open-book—you can reference your course notes and the Scrum Guide

• Attempts: You get two free attempts within 90 days of receiving your exam access email. After that, each attempt is $25. Additional attempts do not require re-attending the course.

Content coverage:

• Questions map to the Scrum Guide (2020) and the CSM learning objectives used by Scrum Alliance trainers. Expect practical, scenario-focused items about the Scrum Master’s accountability, facilitating events, coaching stakeholders, and working with Product Owners and Developers.

Languages:

• The exam is offered in numerous languages, including English, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Danish, Czech, Polish, and Russian.

Actionable takeaway:

• Even though it’s open-book, time is tight. Practice quickly locating key definitions (roles, events, artifacts, commitments) in the Scrum Guide and your class materials.

The CSM Study Plan That Works (A 2–3 Week Timeline)

You don’t need months to prepare. A focused plan over two to three weeks is enough for most students—especially if you time your exam soon after class.

Week 0: Enroll and Prepare

• Choose your course dates (two full days or four half-days are common).

• Skim the Scrum Guide (2020) once to get familiar with terminology. Focus on:

  • Accountabilities (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers)

  • Events (Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective)

  • Artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment) and related Commitments (Product Goal, Sprint Goal, Definition of Done)

Week 1: Pre-Class Foundations (4–6 hours)

• Read the Scrum Guide carefully and mark where key info lives.

• Write down questions and real scenarios you want to discuss in class: e.g., “Our stakeholders require weekly status reports—how do we adapt Daily Scrum outcomes to their needs without turning Scrum into a status meeting?”

• Optional: Watch a short introductory video or webinar from your trainer (many CSTs send pre-work).

Week 2: Take the Class and Sit the Exam

• Attend the 16-hour CSM course. Engage in exercises, ask questions, and request examples relevant to your work or target role.

• Within a week of the class, take the exam while the material is fresh. Use your course notes and a bookmarked Scrum Guide to save time.

• If needed, use the second free attempt within your 90-day window.

Actionable takeaway:

• Treat the class as your primary prep. Capture facilitation tips, typical anti-patterns, and stakeholder coaching techniques—these will help on scenario questions.

Smart Use of Study Resources (Without Overwhelm)

The CSM is first-principles focused. You don’t need a giant library of materials; you need the right ones used well.

Recommended:

• The Scrum Guide (2020): Your single source of truth for what is—and isn’t—Scrum.

• Your trainer’s materials: Many CSTs share concise summaries, diagrams, and question sets aligned to learning objectives.

• Scrum Alliance’s study guidance and resource library: Articles and tips focused on exam prep and practical application.

Optional:

• Light practice with reputable, concept-oriented quizzes can help you diagnose gaps. Use these to identify weak spots (e.g., confusion between Sprint Backlog and Product Backlog), then go back to the Scrum Guide for authoritative language.

Avoid:

• Brain dumps or rote memorization focused on non-Scrum practices. The exam targets understanding and application, not cargo-cult checklists.

Actionable takeaway:

• Create a quick-reference “exam map”: a one-page index of where key topics live in your notes and in the Scrum Guide (e.g., “Daily Scrum—members, purpose, 15 min, inspect toward Sprint Goal”).

How Much Does the CSM Cost? (And What’s Included)

Training fees vary by region, format, and trainer. As a general range, Scrum Alliance lists prices from about $250 up to $2,495 across markets. The course fee typically includes:

• The CSM exam access with two included attempts

• A two-year Scrum Alliance membership tied to your new certification

Additional costs to plan for:

• Exam retakes beyond the first two or after the 90-day window: $25 per attempt

• Renewal every two years for foundational certifications like CSM: typically 20 Scrum Education Units (SEUs) plus a $100 fee

  • Note: A temporary “no SEUs required” promotion ran through September 30, 2025. After that date, the standard SEU requirement applies again.

Time investment:

• Class time: 16 hours

• Self-study: 4–10 hours (typical)

Budgeting tips:

• Compare not just price, but also extras: post-class coaching, practice labs, community access, or discounts for teammates.

• Ask your employer about tuition reimbursement or professional development budgets.

Actionable takeaway:

• If you’re price-sensitive, look for weekday live-online options and early-bird discounts; they often come in at the lower end of the price range.

What’s the ROI? Jobs, Salaries, and Career Momentum

The CSM is widely recognized by employers, especially for entry-to-mid Scrum Master and delivery roles. It’s frequently listed as “preferred” or “required” in job postings for Scrum Masters, Agile Project Managers, Delivery Leads, and Agile Coaches (junior). It reassures hiring managers you’ve received hands-on instruction and passed a standards-aligned assessment.

Salary perspective:

• In the United States, recent estimates place median total pay for Scrum Masters around $125,000/year (with most-likely ranges roughly in the high five to low six figures), though compensation varies by location, industry, company size, and your experience.

Beyond salary:

• The real payoff is in your ability to improve outcomes: faster cycle times, clearer priorities, stronger stakeholder alignment, higher team morale, and more predictable delivery. Those are resume bullets that open doors.

Actionable takeaway:

• Keep a simple “impact log” after you certify—track improvements you contribute to (e.g., “cut average lead time from 20 to 12 days within two Sprints by removing a handoff and clarifying Definition of Done”).

How Scrum Masters Create Real-World Impact (Post-CSM)

Certification is the starting line—not the finish. Here’s where new Scrum Masters often move the needle:

• Facilitation: Run high-impact Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Reviews, and Retrospectives. Design events around outcomes (Sprint Goal clarity, stakeholder feedback, actionable improvements) rather than ceremony.

• Impediment removal: Identify bottlenecks (e.g., environment setup delays, unclear acceptance criteria, competing priorities). Drive the right conversations to remove or reduce them.

• Coaching: Help the Product Owner sharpen the Product Goal, simplify priorities, and make value and risk transparent. Coach Developers on self-management, flow, and quality practices.

• Organizational influence: Educate leaders on empiricism and why smaller, testable increments de-risk big bets. Make value hypotheses explicit and measurable.

Actionable takeaway:

• Pair your CSM with a team experiment: for example, introduce a “Sprint Goal scoreboard” to visualize progress toward the goal daily. Measure the impact on focus and predictability over two Sprints.

CSM vs. PSM (and Other Alternatives): Which Is Right for You?

The CSM and Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) are both respected—but they’re designed differently.

CSM (Scrum Alliance):

• Mandatory 16-hour class with a CST

• 50 questions, 60 minutes, 74% to pass

• Two free attempts within 90 days

• Renewal every two years (20 SEUs + $100 for foundational-level certs)

• Community membership and emphasis on ongoing education

PSM I (Scrum.org):

• Exam-only (training optional)

• 80 questions, 60 minutes, 85% to pass

• $200 per attempt

• Lifetime credential (no renewal requirement)

Which to choose:

• Pick CSM if you want structured, experiential learning and a built-in professional community, and you’re comfortable with periodic renewal.

• Pick PSM I if you prefer a self-study, exam-only route and want a lifetime credential; it’s widely regarded as a rigorous knowledge check.

• Many practitioners do both: CSM for guided learning and community; PSM I to validate independent mastery.

Actionable takeaway:

• If budget allows, take a strong CSM class first to build muscle memory—then sit PSM I within 4–6 weeks to reinforce your understanding.

A Step-by-Step Action Plan to Earn and Use Your CSM

1. Decide your path (10 minutes)

• If you want mandated training, community, and ongoing learning, go CSM. If you want exam-only, consider PSM I—or plan to do both.

2. Choose the right course (30–60 minutes)

• Compare CSTs on the official listings:

  • Format (in-person vs. live-online), dates, time zone, language

  • Price and what’s included (post-class coaching, practice labs, alumni community)

  • Reviews and trainer background (industry focus, teaching style)

3. Pre-class prep (4–6 hours)

• Read the Scrum Guide end to end, highlight definitions and commitments, and jot scenarios you want to discuss.

• Skim your trainer’s pre-work if provided.

4. During class (2 days or 4 half-days)

• Engage: volunteer during exercises, ask for real examples, and try facilitation techniques.

• Note distinctions between “Scrum Guide musts” and “commonly useful practices” so you don’t mix them up on the exam.

5. Sit the exam (within 1 week)

• Organize your notes and the Scrum Guide for quick lookup. Time yourself as you practice scanning for answers.

• Use your second free attempt if needed within the 90-day window.

6. Update your professional presence (1 hour)

• Add CSM to your resume and LinkedIn profile. Include course topics and any hands-on exercises you completed.

• Write a short post sharing three insights from your class and one change you’ll try with your team.

7. Turn the badge into business outcomes (ongoing)

• Pick one Scrum event to improve this Sprint (e.g., make Sprint Goals laser-focused and visible).

• Track metrics (lead time, predictability, stakeholder satisfaction). Convert improvements into bullet points for performance reviews and job applications.

8. Plan your renewal (10 minutes now; little bits later)

• Keep a simple SEU log (webinars, meetups, articles you read/write, mentoring). Set calendar reminders every few months to record activities.

• Budget for the $100 renewal fee and aim for your 20 SEUs well before your two-year mark—or plan to earn another Scrum Alliance certification that auto-renews your CSM.

Actionable takeaway:

• Put two dates on your calendar now: “Exam by [one week after class]” and “Renewal check-in [18 months from now].” Future you will thank you.

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

• Treating Scrum as a checklist: The heart of Scrum is empiricism. Tie every practice back to transparency, inspection, and adaptation.

• Waiting too long to test: You’ll forget details. Take the exam within a week of your course.

• Over-studying tool specifics: The test checks Scrum fundamentals, not JIRA configurations or company-specific processes.

• Ignoring renewal until it’s urgent: Capture SEUs as you go; don’t scramble at the deadline.

Actionable takeaway:

• After each Sprint, jot a one-line “learning note.” Many of those reflections can be turned into SEU-eligible posts or talks later.

FAQs

Q1: Do I have to take a class before the CSM test?

Yes. A Scrum Alliance–approved 16-hour CSM course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) is required to unlock the exam.

Q2: Is the CSM exam proctored or closed-book?

It’s online, unproctored, and effectively open-book. You can reference your class materials and the Scrum Guide. Plan your time wisely.

Q3: How many attempts do I get, and what happens if I fail?

You have two free attempts within 90 days of your exam access. After that, you can retake for $25 per attempt; no course reattendance is required.

Q4: How long is the CSM valid, and how do I renew?

The certification is on a two-year cycle. For foundational-level certs like CSM, plan for 20 SEUs and a $100 renewal fee. Earning another Scrum Alliance certification also renews your existing ones automatically.

Q5: Can I request extra time or other accommodations?

Yes. Contact Scrum Alliance Support to request testing accommodations.

Q6: What languages are available for the CSM test?

The exam is offered in multiple languages including English, Spanish (Castilian and Latin American), Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and others. You can review the current list in the test overview.

Q7: How quickly do I get results?

Immediately after submitting the online exam, you’ll see whether you passed.

Q8: CSM or PSM I—what should I pick?

If you value guided, hands-on learning and a community (with periodic renewal), choose CSM. If you prefer self-study with a lifetime credential and a rigorous exam, consider PSM I. Many professionals hold both.

Q9: How much should I budget for the whole journey?

Expect course fees within a wide range (about $250–$2,495 depending on market and trainer). Your initial course generally includes the first two exam attempts and two-year membership. Plan for a $25 fee for any additional exam attempts and $100 renewal every two years (plus earning 20 SEUs at the foundational level).

Q10: Do I need technical or coding skills to be a Scrum Master?

No. Technical literacy helps in software contexts, but Scrum Masters serve across industries (marketing, design, operations). Your core skills are facilitation, coaching, and systems thinking.

Conclusion:

You don’t need years of experience to start leading with impact—you need solid fundamentals, the right mindset, and a clear plan. The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification gives you a structured path to learn Scrum properly, validate your knowledge, and connect with a global community. If you follow the plan in this guide—choose a strong CST-led course, use the Scrum Guide as your compass, test within a week, and track your outcomes—you’ll do more than add three letters to your LinkedIn headline. You’ll become the kind of Scrum Master teams ask for by name.

About FlashGenius

FlashGenius is an AI-powered learning platform that helps professionals prepare smarter for today’s most in-demand certifications. While we don’t currently offer CSM practice tests, you’ll find expert-crafted study guides, flashcards, and exam resources for popular project management certifications like PMP® and CAPM®. Our goal is simple: make certification prep faster, clearer, and more effective for learners at every level.