Project Management
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Certified ScrumMaster
Free CSM practice questions 80 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →Overview
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is Scrum Alliance's entry-level Scrum Master credential. Its defining feature is the course requirement: before you can sit the exam, you must complete a 16-hour official CSM course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). No prior Scrum experience is needed, which makes it a common first step into agile.
The exam itself is short and approachable - 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, open book, taken online and non-proctored, with a pass mark of 37 out of 50 (74%). Because the value sits largely in the live course and the two exam attempts it usually includes, the cost is bundled and set by the trainer, so it ranges widely. The certification is valid for two years and is renewed with Scrum Education Units (SEUs) and a renewal fee. Confirm the current price, course details and renewal rules with Scrum Alliance and your course provider.
✓ Who it is for
- New and aspiring Scrum Masters who want a recognised foundation
- Project managers and team leads moving into agile delivery
- Anyone on a Scrum team who wants a shared understanding of the framework
✕ Who it is not for
- People who want to skip training - the 16-hour CST course is mandatory and cannot be bypassed.
- Experienced Scrum Masters seeking an advanced credential - look at Scrum Alliance's later tracks.
- Those wanting a method-neutral or general project-management qualification - consider PMI-ACP or PMP.
Exam structure
| Format and pass mark | 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, open book, taken online and non-proctored; pass mark 37 out of 50 (74%). Sat after the required 16-hour CST course, which usually includes two attempts. There are no percentage-weighted domains; questions are drawn from the Scrum Guide and the CSM Learning Objectives. |
|---|---|
| Scrum Foundations | The purpose of Scrum, agile values and principles, empiricism (transparency, inspection, adaptation) and the Scrum values that underpin the framework. |
| Scrum accountabilities, events and artifacts | The three accountabilities (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers), the Scrum events, and the artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment) with their commitments. |
| The Scrum Master role and service | Serving the team, Product Owner and organisation; facilitation and coaching; removing impediments; and supporting agile adoption and organisational change. |
Realistic study time
- Through the required course 16-hour CST course plus light review before the open-book exam
- New to Scrum Add a few hours reading the Scrum Guide before and after the course
Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.
Turn this into a week-by-week schedule with the Study Plan Generator.
What it really costs
Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.
Want your full out-of-pocket figure? Try the Cost Calculator.
Salary & career value
Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice. Sources and date below.
These are indicative US ranges for the Scrum Master career path the CSM supports, not for the entry certificate on its own; actual pay varies widely by region, employer and experience, and the cert is one factor among many alongside real delivery work. Aggregators such as Glassdoor and Payscale put mid-level Scrum Masters roughly in the US$100k-135k band, with senior and agile-coach roles higher.
Pass rate: Not published. Scrum Alliance does not release an official pass rate for the Certified ScrumMaster exam. The exam is open book with a 37-out-of-50 (74%) pass mark and follows a required 16-hour course, so pass rates are widely reported as high, but no official figure exists - treat any number you see as an unofficial estimate.
Indicative annual pay (USD), each role's typical band on a shared scale.
Other markets (indicative)
| United Kingdom | ~£50k-75k |
|---|---|
| Canada | ~CA$95k-125k |
| Australia | ~A$120k-160k |
Jobs that often ask for it:
- Scrum Master
- Agile Delivery Lead
- Agile Coach
- Project Manager (agile teams)
- Team Lead / Delivery Lead
Is it worth it?
Worth it for people entering a Scrum Master or agile delivery role who value a structured, instructor-led start and a widely recognised name. The required CST course is the main expense and the main benefit - you are paying for the training as much as the badge. If you only want a cheap exam-only certificate, the bundled course model will feel expensive, and a self-study Scrum exam may suit you better.
Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.
Compare CSM with other exams
Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.
Career paths featuring CSM
What to do next
After the CSM, many people pursue Scrum Alliance's Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) track, or broaden into agile delivery with the PMI-ACP. If you want an exam-first alternative, compare it with Scrum.org's PSM.
On exam day
50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, open book, taken online and non-proctored, after you complete the required 16-hour CST course. The pass mark is 37 out of 50 (74%), and the course usually includes two attempts. Confirm the current format on the Scrum Alliance certification page.
Keeping your certification
Valid for two years. Renew by earning Scrum Education Units (SEUs) and paying a renewal fee within the cycle. Confirm the current SEU requirement and fee with Scrum Alliance.
FAQ
- Do I have to take a course to get the CSM?
- Yes. You must complete a 16-hour official CSM course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) before you can take the exam. There is no exam-only path, and no prior Scrum experience is required to enrol.
- How hard is the CSM exam?
- The exam is approachable: 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, open book, online and non-proctored, with a pass mark of 37 out of 50 (74%). Most of the learning happens in the required course, and the course price usually includes two exam attempts.
- How much does the CSM cost?
- The fee is bundled into the required course and set by the Certified Scrum Trainer, so it varies widely - roughly US$250 to US$2,495 depending on the provider and format. This usually covers the course and two exam attempts. Confirm the current price with the course provider; treat these figures as approximate.
- How long is the CSM valid for?
- Two years. You renew it by earning Scrum Education Units (SEUs) and paying a renewal fee within the cycle. Confirm the current SEU requirement and fee with Scrum Alliance.
- How is the CSM different from the PSM?
- Both certify Scrum Master knowledge, but the CSM (Scrum Alliance) requires a 16-hour course from a Certified Scrum Trainer before the exam, while Scrum.org's PSM can be taken by self-study with no mandatory course. The CSM is instructor-led; the PSM is exam-first.
Related exams
- Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) - Scrum.org
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
- PMP - Project Management Professional (PMI) - Project Management Institute (PMI)