PSM I or CSM: picking one Scrum Master certification
Checked November 2026: a PSM I attempt costs $200 at Scrum.org and needs no course. CSM has no exam-only option; the test comes with a Scrum Alliance course, and the one CSM class we priced, sold by New Horizons and Watermark Learning with the same trainer and dates, costs $995, test included; Scrum Alliance says prices range from $250 to $2,495 (October 2023). Across the four routes below, a first attempt runs $200 to $1,295. CSM renewal is $100 and 20 learning hours every two years; PSM I does not expire. Plan on 2 to 4 weeks of reading and practice tests for PSM I if you are new to Scrum (our estimate).
Key facts
- A PSM I attempt costs $200: 80 questions in 60 minutes, 85% to pass, and the password does not expire until used. (Scrum.org, checked November 5, 2026)
- Scrum.org calls PSM I a lifetime certification with no annual renewal fee, and a class is recommended but not required. (Scrum.org, checked November 5, 2026)
- CSM requires a 16-hour course with a Certified Scrum Trainer; afterwards you get two attempts within 90 days at a 50-question, one-hour test and need 37 correct. (Scrum Alliance, checked November 5, 2026)
- CSM renews every two years with 20 Scrum Education Units and a $100 fee. (Scrum Alliance, checked November 5, 2026)
Two Scrum Master credentials that test different things
Both credentials are about the Scrum Master role and both follow the Scrum Guide, so the knowledge overlaps almost completely. What differs is the proof. Scrum.org says PSM I "validates your knowledge of the Scrum framework, the Scrum Master accountabilities and how to apply Scrum", and earning it depends only on passing its test. Scrum Alliance builds CSM around a class taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer, with a shorter test at the end and continuing education to keep the badge active.
A good fit if
- PSM I: you study well on your own and want the credential for $200 without booking a class
- PSM I: you want a credential that does not lapse or carry a renewal fee
- CSM: you learn better in a live class and want the course and test bundled in one price
- CSM: your employer pays for training, or a job posting you are aiming at asks for CSM by name
Think twice if
- PSM I: you have never used Scrum and have no time to read and practice; an 85% pass mark leaves little room
- CSM: you would let the badge lapse rather than log 20 learning hours and pay $100 every two years
- Either: your work runs on several agile methods, not Scrum alone; a broader credential fits better
- Either: you already hold one of the two; the second repeats the same content
Consider instead: For agile work across frameworks, with experience behind you, see PMI-ACP; PMI counts a third-party agile certification held for over a year toward its experience rule. For project management in general, see CAPM or, with three or more years leading projects, PMP.
Side by side: course rule, test and renewal
Neither issuer sets formal eligibility rules such as years of experience. The difference is that CSM makes the course a requirement, while for PSM I a course is only recommended.
| Fact | PSM I (Scrum.org) | CSM (Scrum Alliance) |
|---|---|---|
| Course | Recommended, not required | Required: 16 hours, most classes over 2 to 3 days |
| Test | 80 questions, 60 minutes | 50 multiple-choice questions, one hour |
| Pass mark | 85% | 37 of 50 correct (74%) |
| Attempts | One per $200 password; passwords do not expire | Two attempts within 90 days of the course, included in the course price |
| Price set by | Scrum.org, $200 per attempt | Each trainer; Scrum Alliance cites $250 to $2,495 from its October 2023 listings |
| Renewal | None; lifetime certification | Every 2 years: 20 SEUs and $100 |
Scrum.org groups PSM I questions into three focus areas: applying the Scrum framework, developing people and teams, and managing products with agility. It does not publish weights. After the test you see a breakdown by area, not which questions you missed. The PSM I test is offered in English and Japanese, with Simplified Chinese through scrum.org.cn.
Studying for each
For PSM I. The Scrum Guide is the source the test is written from. Scrum.org's free Scrum Open practice assessment draws 30 questions from a larger pool; it gives no certification but shows whether you are near the 85% mark. Scrum.org's own two-day Professional Scrum Master class, taught by Professional Scrum Trainers from shared courseware, includes a PSM I password. If you sit the test within 14 days of getting that password and score under 85%, Scrum.org gives a second attempt free.
For CSM. The class is the preparation. Scrum Alliance says trainers follow common learning objectives but bring their own examples and exercises, so read the course listing for what it adds, such as practice tests or materials.
Scrum.org says its two-day PSM class earns 14 PMI PDUs for attendance, which matters if you also hold a PMI credential.
Class and test prices
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSM I, self-study | Scrum.org, PSM I assessment password, one attempt, no class required. Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $200 PSM I attempt | $200 |
| CSM, live online class | New Horizons, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), 2 days virtual, led by a Certified Scrum Trainer, CSM test and a 2-year Scrum Alliance membership included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $995 | Included | $995 |
| CSM, live online class | Watermark Learning, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), 2 days live online, test fee and a two-year Scrum Alliance membership included. Checked November 5, 2026. Lists the same trainer and dates as the New Horizons class. | $995 | Included | $995 |
| PSM class, live virtual | Improving (Scrum.org class), Professional Scrum Master, February 16 to 17, 2027, with a PSM I password. Checked November 5, 2026. Early-bird price $1,095 until February 2, 2027. | $1,295 | Included | $1,295 |
What the table leaves out. A second PSM I attempt bought on its own costs another $200. CSM renewal is $100 every two years once you hold it, plus the time to log 20 SEUs; the two CSM listings above say a two-year Scrum Alliance membership comes with the class. Scrum.org calculates any taxes at checkout.
What to check in a Scrum Master class listing
- CSM: who teaches it. Scrum Alliance says CSM courses are taught by Certified Scrum Trainers. New Horizons and Watermark Learning both name the trainer on each date; if a listing does not, ask.
- CSM: identical classes under two brands. The New Horizons and Watermark Learning listings show the same trainer and the same dates at $995. Compare dates and trainer before assuming two listings are different courses.
- PSM: an official Scrum.org class. The free second attempt applies to official Scrum.org live instructor-led classes. Ask whether the class is listed on scrum.org, as the Improving class is.
- Early-bird deadlines. The Improving class drops to $1,095 if you book by February 2, 2027. Ask any provider whether a lower price applies before a date.
After you pass
PSM I needs nothing further: Scrum.org lists it as a lifetime certification. CSM runs on a two-year cycle from the date you earn it. To renew, log 20 Scrum Education Units (one per hour of learning, such as reading, webinars, events or volunteering) and pay $100. Earning another Scrum Alliance certification renews the ones you already hold, and renewing an Advanced CSM also renews the CSM under it.
Buying for a Scrum team
For a whole team, a private CSM or PSM class keeps everyone on the same material, and Scrum.org points teams to its list of Professional Scrum Trainers for private classes; New Horizons also lists a private-group option for CSM. If the team mostly needs a shared vocabulary rather than a credential each, PSM I passwords at $200 per person and the free Scrum Guide cost far less than a class seat.
Questions about PSM I and CSM
- Can I take PSM I without a course?
- Yes. Scrum.org sells the test on its own for $200 per attempt.
- Can I take the CSM test without the course?
- No. Scrum Alliance gives access to the test only after you complete a CSM course.
- Does either one expire?
- CSM does after two years unless you renew it. PSM I does not.
- Is it worth holding both?
- Rarely. The content overlaps heavily; a second-level credential such as Scrum.org's PSM II or Scrum Alliance's Advanced CSM adds more than the other first-level badge.
Next step
If you are unsure whether self-study for PSM I will work for you, or your employer has asked for one of the two, send us your situation.
Ask for help choosing PSM I or CSM training
Sources
- Scrum.org: Professional Scrum Master I certification (fee, format, pass mark, lifetime status), checked November 5, 2026
- Scrum.org: Professional Scrum Master training (free attempt, second attempt, PDUs), checked November 5, 2026
- Scrum.org: Scrum Open practice assessment, checked November 5, 2026
- Scrum Alliance: Certified ScrumMaster (course rule, test, attempts, price range), checked November 5, 2026
- Scrum Alliance: renewing certifications (SEUs and fees), checked November 5, 2026
- Improving via Scrum.org: Professional Scrum Master, February 16 to 17, 2027, checked November 5, 2026
- New Horizons: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), checked November 5, 2026
- Watermark Learning: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.