Five Essential Evaluation Criteria to choose the best Scrum Master Certifications (Infographics & Career Guide Toolkit)
Introduction
I have been working with Agile methodologies for a long time (~10 years), and have had the opportunity to work with a variety of agile methodologies. In this time, I have seen the common myths around Agile been busted and I have also seen -up-close- the hype that agile purists create.
The beauty of iterative methodologies is that learning never stops. I recently acquired a new Agile certification – the Exin Agile Scrum Master [ASM.EN]. Here, I am going to share my views about this experience, and compare this certification with the other well-known Scrum Master certification.
About Exin ASM and the Scrum Alliance’s CSM
Exin is an organization which aims to be the world’s leading provider of independent information management certification and accreditation. Exin certifications span the entire spectrum of work in the ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) sector, including governance and cyber security, business information management, sustainability, software development, IT service management, Cloud computing, data center management, testing, and project and program management.
Recently, Exin launched the Agile Scrum Master [ASM.EN] certification, which is the second certification from the Exin stable that relates to Scrum. It follows the Agile Scrum Foundation that was launched a couple of years ago. The Agile Scrum Foundation is not a pre-requisite for [ASM.EN], but remember that [ASM.EN] is NOT a certification for beginners. It assumes a degree of familiarity with the methodology and builds on top of it. Simplilearn’s EXIN Agile Scrum Master Training is one such training available in the market that delves in gamification based learning of the scrum and agile principles,that can be taken online.
Scrum Alliance is a well-established membership organization that encourages and supports widespread adoption and effective practice of Scrum. It has over 400,000 members and promotes professional certifications that validate a professional’s knowledge, skill, and experience to apply scrum effectively. Among the most popular certifications they offer is the Certified Scrum Master (CSM), which is one of the entry-level certifications for scrum practitioners.
But which one do you choose? Which of these two certifications would offer the best returns for your investment years down the line? Which meets your needs better – and why?
Before that please have a look at this Infographic to build a Successful career in Agile & Scrum.
View the Original article at the Simplilearn website: How To Build A Successful Career In Agile And Scrum
Read to find out more, as we compare and contrast the two best Scrum Master certifications on the market using a set of 5 evaluation criteria.
Criterion #1 – Recognition
Exin has a powerful brand presence and is globally recognized. Its certifications in other areas (e.g. ITIL/ITSM) are known for their quality and pedigree. It is a safe bet that the Exin brand will boost the Agile certifications’ popularity in a short span of time.
That said, Scrum Alliance is among the first movers in the Scrum arena and its certifications have widespread recognition and name recall among the Scrum community. So it may be a while before [ASM.EN] becomes as coveted as the CSM certification.
Criterion #2 – Learning Content
The CSM curriculum is all about Scrum. There is a lot of excellent content on Scrum, but it is also somewhat narrow, and is restricted to Scrum. For example, engineering practices or practices related to scaling scrum to enterprise scale projects are barely covered.
It is fair to say that the [ASM.EN] curriculum covers a broader set of topics related to Agile ways of thinking and is not dogmatic about the methodology. It covers other agile frameworks and explicitly talks about complex projects and overcoming challenges in agile transitions.
In other words, Exin content is a lot more “practical” from the point of view of real world application of knowledge.
The other thing to remember is that CSM is a beginner certification and [ASM.EN] is not. In terms of learning content and the coverage of topics, [ASM.EN] should probably be compared with CSP (Certified Scrum Practitioner) than CSM. And it can be argued that even the CSP has too narrow a focus.
Criterion #3 – Examination
For exam-takers who have taken the 2 day CSM course, the CSM exam is almost a cakewalk! It is fair to say it would take a herculean effort to fail the test. The exam does not challenge the participants at all in terms of application of knowledge. In the eyes of many practitioners, this undercuts the quality of the certification, and works against the CSM. I have heard even Certified Scrum Trainers from Scrum Alliance say that a 2 day training and a simple test does not make you an expert in Scrum!
On the other hand, the [ASM.EN] test is tougher. I can tell you from firsthand experience that there are more scenario questions where you will have to apply your mind and come up with good solutions. This further reinforces the fact that this is not an entry-level certification that anybody can acquire without a lot of preparation and training.
Ultimately, in the long term, I would want to have a sense of pride and achievement at gaining a certification, and not have to be treated as any less of an expert because I took an ‘easy’ exam. Also, those who clear a more difficult test are also likely to be valued a lot more by the community.
Criterion #4 – Training and Availability
CSM certification mandates attending a training provided by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). There are about 100 or so CSTs worldwide. While the restriction of the trainers is with the intention of preserving the quality of the training sessions, it also ends up affecting the availability of training programs worldwide. For example, only a handful of CSTs regularly conduct training in India. The scarcity of training sessions leads to higher prices as well as larger class sizes. It is quite common to see a CSM training workshop with over 50 participants. And the quality of learning on such programs is best left to the imagination.
On the other hand, Exin has a well-established network of accredited trainers and exam providers. This ensures that the training sessions are available easily via different channels. At the same time, Exin also has mechanisms and a strong track-record to ensure quality of the delivery and content. EXIN has partnered with Simplilearn to come up with a training on Agile Scrum Master that lets you take the best in class trainings from anywhere in the globe, with access to great trainers and also uses engaging eLearning content, such as scrum games, scenario based games and projects for a more hands-on learning experience.
Criterion #5 – Cost
CSM trainings can be fairly expensive given the scarcity of training, as well as the fact that trainers often have to travel from abroad to deliver sessions. The Scrum Alliance also requires periodic renewal of its certifications, which increases the “total cost of ownership” of the certification for aspirants.
Conclusion
So which certification to go for? Any certification is good for you in the long run as it establishes your credentials and helps you enhance your professional capabilities. Use the table below to make your own judgment.
| Parameter | CSM | [ASM.EN] | Comments |
| Industry recognition | Established | Beginning | Exin Agile certifications are relatively recent, but it is a fairly strong brand. Yet, it will trail behind the CSM in terms of name recall |
| Learning content | Scrum only | Broader content | ASM content is more broad based and has better practical applicability |
| Examination difficulty | Trivial | Intermediate | CSM is a beginner certification that is almost too easy; ASM.EN will truly test your knowledge |
| Trainings | Restricted | Available | CSM trainings are restricted to CSTs and are often too crowded. Exin trainings are available through accredited training providers. |
| Cost | High | Medium | CSM trainingis more expensive compared to Exin’s offerings, and it will have to be renewed every 2 years. |
Disclaimer – these are just my opinions, having gone acquired both certifications and having spent over 10 years in the industry as an agile practitioner.
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Hi Illias & Sandheep
Thanks for the detailed article.It clarified lots of doubts in my mind on how to evaluate the best scrum master certification.This article arises me two more doubts.can you please clarify the following queries
Is a Agile scrum Master certification (ASM) meant only for software engineers?
Should a Scrum master needs coding Knowledge??
What are the scopes & benefits of agile scrum master certification.Is there any real time projects offered by Simplilearn??
@: Great questions. 1. Is the ASM certification meant only for software engineers? It is indeed true that Scrum was invented for Software development and the agile manifesto and principles mention the word software 4 times. However, Scrum and Agile have been successfully applied to other (non-software) disciplines as well. Basically any project where it is possible to develop incrementally and iteratively can apply Scrum. So in my opinion, the certification will be useful for anybody who works on a project that applies Agile and Scrum techniques. 2. Does a scrum master need coding knowledge? The question is similar to… Read more »
Sandeep, thanks for contributing this informative article. Quick question:
Is it possible to run Scrum in an organization or team without having a Scrum Master? If yes, in what scenarios?