(2021 update) CSM vs. PSM-Which Scrum Certification should you choose?

Why this article when other comparisons exist?

1. A lot has changed in how both Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org offer these courses in 2020 including delivering the courses virtually. Most comparisons are pre-2020 when classes were only in-person.
2. I see a bias in many people making an argument for their recommendation e.g. trainers who say CSM is better are invariably CSTs who teach CSM and trainers who say PSM is better are PSTs who teach PSM. Also, people who write these comparisons invariably miss some information (e.g. no one mentions that CSM can be offered by CECs/CTCs through coaching)
3. I am one of the three people (as of this time) who is a CST AND PST. I am approved to teach CSM, A-CSM and CSP-SM and PSM-I and PSM-II. So I hope I can offer similarities and differences from an instructor perspective
4. Beyond comparing CSM and PSM, I am going to be comparing the certification progress pathways for both the certification. Rather than merely pointing the differences, I am going to dig deeper on if those differences matter in the long run
5. I am going to offer concrete recommendation on how to maximize your return on time & money invested - not just "what is better CSM or PSM"

Note: When I mean PSM, unless otherwise mentioned, I am usually meaning PSM I (and not PSM II or PSM III)

Quick Summary and Recommendations (TL;DR)

1. The certification you get matters. And what also matters is the trainer you choose, their credibility, knowledge and experience they bring in, and how they can help you in your career/agile journey
2. You cannot go wrong taking a CSM or PSM course, set that worry aside. You will learn a lot. Both courses will help you deepen your knowledge and understanding of Scrum and what a Scrum Master should be doing.?If you are looking to attend both the courses, space them apart because your learning decays over time. And if your trainer offers free refreshers, take advantage of it.
3. The optimal route to both CSM and PSM certifications: This is how you can maximize the return your time/money invested- Take a rigorous CSM workshop. Then use that knowledge (and with a little bit more studying) to take the PSM test on your own. How do you choose the CSM workshop? Ask the CSM Trainer (CST) if there are other participants who have done what you are trying to do (and if the trainer themselves have done the PSM-I, II, or III test). You can check if the trainer themselves has any Scrum.org certification by entering their email here . (Note: All CSMs have to adhere to CSM learning objectives, but the rigor, depth, and delivery of each course is dependent on the instructor and their experience)
4. If you are pretty confident about your Scrum knowledge (either before/after your CSM), take the PSM-I test directly. Unlike CSM, you do not have to attend a PSM workshop to take the PSM test. Practice the open assessments from scrum.org (specifically Scrum open, Product Owner open, Scrum Developer Open, and Nexus open). Practice them multiple times. Study your answers and understand why your answers were right and why your answers were wrong (tip - take a final print out of the answers each time and use that for your preparation).
5. If you are a job seeker, there are more jobs asking for CSM certification (in the US) than PSM certification (for other geographies, this may vary, please do your own research). And of course, it would not hurt to differentiate yourself by getting both CSM and PSM certifications .
6. If you are a manager/decision maker looking to get people in your organization trained with multiple trainers and want the participants them to have same/similar experience with respect to course content and case studies, go with PSM ("PSTs bring their own style and experiences with a consistent delivery of Scrum.org training around the world, so you know each course we teach is aligned with Professional Scrum, and all of your teammates are learning from the same course materials." - from Why Scrum.org? ) While all CSMs adhere to CSM Learning Objectives, the content and the amount of time each instructor spends on a specific topic may be different (note: I am not saying PSM is better than CSM or CSM is better than PSM, I am merely suggesting one certification based on what a decision maker might want).

My motivation for this article: As one of the only three CST and PST (till date) this is one of the most frequent questions that I get from potential participants - "What is the difference between CSM and PSM, and what should I choose?" Hopefully, this article will address that question and I do not have to answer everyone individually (Simplicity, the art of maximizing the amount of work NOT done, is essential)

My Journey: I have the fortune of being associated as a Scrum Trainer with both Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org (CST with Scrum Alliance since May 2014 and PST with Scrum.org since May 2019). Both Scrum organizations have their own mission statements and focus. While many other comparisons which focus on the number of test questions, test time, etc (note - CSM test has changed in the recent past, so some of the other comparisons may be outdated), I want to focus on how someone can get maximum value for their time/money

Before you deep dive into this, there are a few things you might want to refer to later (or as you are reading this article)

CSM - About Scrum Alliance , Description from Scrum Alliance , CSM Learning Objectives (May 2021) , CSM Test Content Outline , CSM FAQ

PSM - Why Scrum.org , PSM Training , PSM I training datasheet , PSM-I assessment

In this article, I am NOT going to

1. Compare other Scrum certifications
2. Discuss how you can get a CSM certification through coaching, but focus more on getting CSM through training
3. Give tips on how to get PSM I certification without attending the PSM I course. You can google that yourself
4. Compare the cost of the certifications (it is not apples to apples comparison as you can take the PSM I test without attending the course. Also, the cost of the courses vary with geography and considering most courses are delivered virtually, potential participants have a much more options today)

Before we get into the differences, a few common things with respect to both CSM and PSM courses (which many comparisons do not mention)

• Both CSTs and PSTs are highly qualified (and vetted) to deliver the respective courses. The process of becoming a CST/PST itself is challenging (in their own ways). During the process, trainers are vetted for their knowledge, their delivery, and how they manage the class dynamics. During the course, expect the trainers to uphold Scrum Values and be professional in their interactions
• Regardless of the course, you can expect the trainer to run an interactive, engaging courses. Expect your questions to get answered. You should go out of the course with practical tips that can help you be a better Scrum Master
• Both CSM and PSM courses adhere to The Scrum Guide (2020)
• The CSTs/PSTs cannot (and should not) teach to the CSM/PSM tests
• Both courses, at minimum should be 14 hours in duration (not including breaks). It can be scheduled as 2 consecutive days or spread across multiple days
• Since 2020, both courses can be delivered online (in addition to in-person delivery)
• Both CSTs and PSTs have the flexibility to choose their mode of delivery (e.g. PSTs do not have to use powerpoint) for their courses as long as they meet the learning goals set for the respective courses
• Ultimately, the only person responsible for your learning is the person in the mirror.

Here are some significant differences between the two courses and my perspectives on the differences

• PSM certification pathway is independent, CSM certification pathway is not

You can take the PSM II workshop (and the test) without attending PSM I workshop (or having PSM I certification). Also, you can take PSM III test (and pass it to get the certification) without having PSM I or PSM II certifications. Yes, the tests are progressively more difficult (and more expensive). Also, note, you do not have to take PSM I course to attend PSM II course.

For you to get to A-CSM and CSP-SM (higher level Scrum Master certifications from Scrum Alliance), you would need to have CSM certification. Unlike PSM II or PSM III (which does not specifically ask for your experience), both A-CSM and CSP-SM require that you deliver the accountabilities as a Scrum Master (1 year for A-CSM, 2 years for CSP-SM). Just like how you might expect, the CSP-SM certification builds on your A-CSM certification

Technically, you can attend a A-CSM program (a live 2-day workshop, a coaching/mentoring program, or a self-paced course) and learn from it, but you will only be able to get your A-CSM certification after you complete your CSM certification (by attending a CSM program either through 14 hours of training or through a coaching+mentoring program offered by a Certified Agile Coach (CEC/CTC)). Also, it is a hassle to take this route, beware !!

• CSM vs PSM Course Content Pedagogy

Pedagogy refers to the method or practice of teaching a particular concept.

Scrum Alliances Scrum Master pathway (CSM => A-CSM => CSP-SM) is built on top of Bloom's taxonomy and the requirements for the certification will progressively move to a higher Bloom's level

Image source: wikimedia

Example topic - coaching and facilitation

One CSM learning objective is "restate how facilitating, teaching, mentoring, and coaching are different" - would be Bloom's taxonomy Level 2 (Comprehension)

Some corresponding A-CSM learning objectives for coaching and facilitation are (a) apply at least two facilitative listening techniques for effective meetings/events (b) demonstrate at least two alternatives to open discussion (c) practice creating an agenda for and facilitating at least two collaborative event (d) apply an appropriate coaching technique for two interventions - which would be Bloom's taxonomy Level 3 (Application)

Scrum.org does not use Bloom's taxonomy. For PSM I and II courses, PSTs use a constructivist, collaborative, reflective, and inquiry Based approach to deliver content based on Scrum Master Learning Path. Compared to PSM I, PSM II course goes a lot more deeper into Scrum and implementing Scrum in the organization. You can look at the PSM-I and PSM-II datasheet to get a detailed comparison between the two courses

• PSM certification does not expire, you would need to renew your CSM after 2 years

Yes, your PSM certifications never expires and you pay only once (for your test or for your course. If you take a PSM-I course, your PSM-I test is included in the PSM course, and you also get a discount on PSM-II and PSM-III tests). By comparison, you pay US$100 to renew your CSM every two years and you need to get 20 SEUs. Also, when you get/renew your higher level certification (e.g. A-CSM), all your lower level certifications get automatically renewed (you do not have to pay separately for different certifications). Even if you only get CSM certification, $100 every two years is $4.16 a month. That is $0.01 more than your Starbucks Grande Caffe Latte , without tax (and without any extras). And if you cannot afford it, either cut down one latte per month, or you seriously need to find a different job.

pro-tip: If you have a CSM and CSPO certification, try to see if you can get to an advanced certification as soon as possible (e.g. A-CSM or A-CSPO). When you get your advanced certification (e.g. A-CSM) ALL your lower level certifications (CSM, CSPO, CSD) get renewed with the advanced certification and you do not have to pay separately for your lower level certifications, you just pay for renewing one advanced level certification.

• Live delivery of content vs. recorded content

Scrum Alliance allows the trainer to deliver upto 30% of the course content as pre-recorded content. Example: 30% of the 14 hours ( 4.2 hours) required for CSM can be through videos which the participants can watch before the class. On the contrary, all Scrum.org courses have to be delivered live by the instructor (example: even if you watch a video, it has to be watched live during the course)

From a very practical standpoint, there are probably very few CSTs using 30% recorded content for their CSM courses, most courses are run live.

• CSM vs PSM test and Test Difficulty

CSM Test: You take the CSM test after attending the CSM workshop. You answer 50 questions in 60 minutes. If you fail your first attempt, your second attempt is free. Beyond your second attempt, you would need to pay $25 per attempt to take the CSM test. You have 90 days to take the CSM test after completing your CSM course. If you do not take the test within 90 days, you would have to retake the course

PSM I Test: You get 60 minutes to answer 80 questions. If you are taking the PSM-I test within 14 days of attending a PSM-I class, and if you fail, then you can retake the test.

Test Difficulty: Unfortunately (a) I do have a bias here as I did my CSM test way before my PSM test and my experience is not representative of others' experience (b) The CSM test has evolved since I took my CSM test in 2011(b) Per my license agreement(s) I cannot state XYZ certification test is more harder than ABC certification test. I would refer you to google (I do not agree or disagree with what other authors might state)

• CSM vs PSM course content and access to course content after the course

While CSTs are required to adhere to CSM learning objectives, they are independently responsible for their own course content. This means that the CST is responsible for content correctness and for updating their own material. This gives the ability for the CSTs to experiment with new content and new ways to deliver the content

Scrum.org follows an internal open source model with respect to course content and the course content is primarily shepherded by the two course stewards. This gives consistency to the course material (and the trainer adds their own style, experience, and stories during the course). And if the PST wants to add additional content, " ...(PSTs) need to vet their material with scrum.org before they include it." - quoting Steve Porter (PST and Scrum.org staff). Even though the course content is maintained by the stewards, course content does evolve over time based on feedback

Regardless, you should expect high quality content in both the courses. One important thing you would probably want to clarify with your trainer is how will the course content be made available after the course.

CSM vs PSM-I content overlap: Since each CST maintain their own content (and I do not have visibility into their content), it is hard for me to personally put a number on what % of the content will overlap. But if I just look at my content alone, I can probably say that, conceptually, there would be 10% - 15% overlap (a fundamental concepts). Guess there are multiple ways to be a Scrum Master (note: Just to clarify, I do not and cannot use PSM content for my CSM classes)

• # of jobs requiring CSM vs # of jobs requiring PSM

In the US, there are more jobs requiring CSM than jobs requiring PSM

• Google Trends CSM vs PSM

On an average,over the course of 5 years, there are more web queries for CSM than PSM (though the difference is not significant IMHO). There are regions where there are more queries for CSM (e.g. North America) and there are regions where there are more queries for PSM (e.g. Germany and Brazil).

Though, CSM remains popular, over the past 12 months, the average difference (in web trends) has become much more narrow

Conclusions:

1. Why do you to get a Scrum certification? Get very clear about this. Focus on your learning journey, not just certification.
2. Instead of asking "What is better, CSM or PSM?" change your question to "How can I get maximum value for my time & money invested?". Instead of CSM or PSM, think CSM AND PSM
3. Your instructor, their experience, and support you will receive in your agile journey also matter. Do your own research on the trainer, this is probably the most important thing IMHO.
4. Dig deeper into what the past participants have said about the trainer. What do you like about what past participants say? If you take the trainer's workshop, most likely your experience may mirror other participants' experience
5. Based on google trends and job searches via indeed, CSM is currently more popular than PSM in the US. But Google trends is showing that the gap is narrowing over the past 12 months (this may be different in other geographies). Be smart, get your PSM certification as well.

A question for you: I am curious to know what question remains unanswered for you after reading this article. If you can share it as a comment, I will try to address it

Disclaimer: (a) The opinion expressed here is my personal opinion only (based on my knowledge and experience), and are not reflective or representative of any organization. (b) Utmost care has been taken to ensure the validity of the data, information, and the hyperlinks but they may become outdated and/or I may still be wrong (c) While I have tried to remain as much neutral as possible and be cognizant of my own biases, I don't know what I don't know and I may still have my own biases at play here. Please be aware of that.