A Scrum Master acts as a coach for the development team, helping them understand and apply the framework to deliver value efficiently. Certifications serve as professional credentials validating a practitioner’s knowledge and are valuable for career advancement. Whether a credential maintains its validity indefinitely is determined entirely by the organization that issues it.
The Crucial Difference: Organizational Policies on Expiration
Certification bodies generally fall into two distinct philosophical camps regarding the long-term validity of their credentials. One approach grants a permanent, non-expiring credential based on passing a rigorous assessment, viewing the initial achievement as the sole measure of competency. The alternative philosophy centers on continuous professional development, requiring certificate holders to demonstrate ongoing learning. Organizations adopting this model enforce a time-bound validity period, typically between one and three years, which necessitates recurring renewal activities.
Scrum Alliance Certifications: Expiration and Renewal Requirements
The Scrum Alliance (SA) is the primary organization whose certifications are time-bound, requiring holders to actively renew their credentials every two years. This process is designed to ensure that certified individuals engage in continuous learning related to the Scrum and Agile domains. Renewal requires both the accumulation of continuing education units and the payment of a fee.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
The foundational Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) credential is valid for a period of two years from the date of its issuance. To successfully renew the CSM certification, practitioners must accumulate 20 Scrum Education Units (SEUs) over the two-year period and pay a renewal fee, which is typically $100. SEUs are the metric used to track professional development, with one hour of participation in a qualifying activity generally equating to one SEU.
Advanced Certifications
Advanced credentials offered by the Scrum Alliance, such as the Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) and the Certified Scrum Professional (CSP-SM), also operate on a two-year renewal cycle. The renewal requirements for these higher-level certifications are more demanding, reflecting their advanced nature. For instance, the A-CSM requires 30 SEUs and a $175 renewal fee, while the CSP-SM requires 40 SEUs and a $250 fee for the two-year term.
Scrum.org Certifications: Perpetual Validity and Assessment
Scrum.org, founded by one of Scrum’s co-creators, grants its credentials, including the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) series, with perpetual validity. Once a candidate passes the required assessment, the certification does not expire and requires no ongoing renewal fees or continuing education units. The PSM validity is tied entirely to the successful completion of a challenging, assessment-based examination. This model assumes the initial test is a sufficiently rigorous measure of a practitioner’s understanding of the Scrum Guide. While the credential does not expire, the organization periodically reviews its assessments to reflect major updates to the Scrum Guide.
Other Major Certifications for Scrum Masters
Beyond the two largest providers, other organizations offer Scrum Master certifications with distinct renewal requirements. Scaled Agile, Inc., for example, offers the SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) certification, which is valid for one year. Maintaining this credential requires an annual renewal fee, typically $195, to extend the associated SAFe Foundational Membership. The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), a broader Agile certification. This certification requires renewal every three years, involving the accumulation of 30 Professional Development Units (PDUs) and paying a renewal fee.
The Process of Renewing an Expiring Certification
The mechanics of renewing a time-bound certification revolve around the systematic accumulation and logging of continuing education units (SEUs or PDUs). These units quantify a practitioner’s engagement in activities that enhance their knowledge and skills in the Agile and Scrum domains. Practitioners are responsible for tracking and documenting these activities throughout the renewal cycle.
Qualified activities include attending training courses, workshops, or conferences, where each hour often counts as one unit. Other avenues for earning units include self-study, volunteering time, or creating new knowledge through writing or presenting. Once the required units are gathered, the practitioner submits the activity details via the certification body’s online portal and pays the requisite renewal fee.
Benefits of Maintaining Active Scrum Master Status
Keeping a Scrum Master certification current provides professional advantages beyond preventing the credential from lapsing. An active status demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, which is highly valued in the technology sector. This ongoing engagement helps practitioners maintain marketability and competence in their role. Regularly renewing the certification ensures the practitioner stays updated on the latest industry trends and best practices. Furthermore, maintaining an active credential often grants continued access to exclusive community resources, networking opportunities, and advanced learning materials.