Professional Scrum Master (PSM) is the industry-leading Scrum Master certification offered by Scrum.org, the organization co-founded by Ken Schwaber — the co-creator of Scrum itself. Unlike competing certifications that require expensive mandatory training courses, PSM allows anyone to take the assessment directly, making it the most accessible and cost-effective path to proving Scrum mastery. PSM is globally recognized, never expires, and requires no renewal fees — once certified, you are certified for life.

Program Structure

PSM I (Professional Scrum Master I) — Foundational certification demonstrating understanding of Scrum framework as described in the Scrum Guide. 80-question multiple-choice exam, 60-minute time limit, 85% passing score. Cost: $200 per attempt
PSM II (Professional Scrum Master II) — Advanced certification proving ability to apply Scrum in complex, real-world situations. 30-question exam (multiple-choice, multiple-answer, essay), 90-minute time limit, 85% passing score. Cost: $250 per attempt
PSM III (Professional Scrum Master III) — Distinguished-level certification for deep Scrum expertise. Essay-based assessment evaluated by Scrum.org experts. Cost: $500 per attempt
Optional Training — Scrum.org offers Professional Scrum Master training courses ($1,000–$1,500) taught by Professional Scrum Trainers, which include a free exam attempt. Training is recommended but not required
No Renewal Required — PSM certifications never expire. No continuing education requirements and no renewal fees, unlike CSM (Scrum Alliance) which requires biennial renewal at $100+
Online Assessment — All PSM assessments are taken online from anywhere, anytime. No scheduling required at testing centers

What You Will Learn

Scrum Framework — The complete Scrum framework including roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers), events (Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective), and artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment)
Scrum Values — Commitment, focus, openness, respect, and courage — and how to embody them as a Scrum Master
Servant Leadership — Facilitating team effectiveness, removing impediments, coaching the organization in Scrum adoption, and protecting the team from external interference
Agile Principles — The Agile Manifesto, empirical process control (transparency, inspection, adaptation), and lean thinking principles
Scaling Scrum — Applying Scrum in larger organizations using frameworks like Nexus, understanding cross-team coordination, and managing dependencies
Facilitation & Coaching — Advanced facilitation techniques for Scrum events, coaching Product Owners on backlog management, and helping organizations transition to agile ways of working

Why PSM Stands Out

Key advantages: (1) Created by Ken Schwaber, co-creator of Scrum — the most authoritative source. (2) Lifetime certification with no renewal fees — CSM costs $100+ every two years to maintain. (3) Assessment-based, not attendance-based — proves actual knowledge rather than just sitting through a class. (4) Lowest cost entry point at $200 for PSM I. (5) Globally recognized by employers — consistently ranked alongside or above CSM in job postings. (6) Progressive certification levels (I, II, III) allow career-long growth. (7) Open book exam based on the Scrum Guide — emphasizes understanding over memorization.

Career Outcomes

Scrum Masters earn a median salary of $99,000–$115,000 per year according to Glassdoor and Indeed, with senior Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches earning $130,000–$170,000+. Entry-level Scrum Masters: $75,000–$90,000. Mid-level with 3–5 years experience: $100,000–$130,000. Senior/Enterprise Scrum Masters: $130,000–$160,000. Agile Coaches and Release Train Engineers: $140,000–$180,000+. The demand for Scrum professionals continues to grow as more organizations adopt agile methodologies across software development, marketing, HR, and operations.

Who It Is For

Software developers and team leads transitioning into Scrum Master roles, project managers moving from waterfall to agile methodologies, existing Scrum Masters seeking formal validation, aspiring Agile Coaches, product managers wanting to deepen agile understanding, anyone in tech or business looking to facilitate team effectiveness and organizational agility.

Format and Pricing

Online assessment taken from anywhere. PSM I exam: $200 (one attempt). PSM II exam: $250 (one attempt). PSM III exam: $500 (one attempt). Optional Professional Scrum Master training course: $1,000–$1,500 (includes one free exam attempt). Self-study materials: Free (Scrum Guide) to $50 (practice assessments on Scrum.org). Total investment for PSM I via self-study: $200–$250. Total investment with training course: $1,000–$1,750. No renewal or maintenance fees ever.

Professional scrum master (psm) — scrum.org scrum master certification

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