CSM vs PSM: Complete Comparison Guide [2025]

Picking between two mainstream certifications can be quite difficult, particularly when you are attempting to understand which one suits your career path. I often get questions like these from my students:  

Should I go for CSM or PSM?   

If I get PSM certified, do I still need the CSM? 

Which certification is better for my career, or which certification can help me get a better pay? 
 
The truth is- pursuing PSM™ or CSM® is an individual decision based on your dreams, knowledge acquisition approach, market requirements and what it offers.  

Thus, if you are in the position that you are confused between CSM vs PSM certification, you are in the right place.   

Let me tell you a lot of my students have been in the same situation once in their life. Stick with me till the end so I can help you get out of this situation and help you make the best-informed decision.  

In this article, I shall outline the fundamental differences, advantages and career effects of each certification to guide your choice. 
 

What is Scrum 

Scrum Master can be described as a coach that helps a Scrum Team implement Scrum correctly and effectively. 

They help the team to identify and address barriers, encourage and enhance co-operation and increase the productivity of a team. 

Why Get Scrum Certified? 

• Enhanced Job Opportunities: The certifications given are added value on your resume and you become more desirable to the company or organizations seeking candidates to recruit. 
• Career Advancement: The certifications can be a key to a better-paid position as well as managerial occupations in the Agile organizations. 
• Skill Boosting: Certifications make the process more ordered and can help you progress through the framework of Scrum. 
• Global Industry Recognition: Official certifications are valuable in constructing credibility and market positioning the holder as a professional in that field. 
• Better Team Collaboration and Management: Learn effective ways to foster collaboration, transparency and boost team productivity. 
   

The Industry leading Scrum master Certifications 

Let’s look at the two leading scrum master certifications i.e.., Certified Scrum Master vs Professional Scrum Master: 

Certified Scrum Master (CSM) - Scrum Alliance: 

• Industry Benchmark: The CSM is on the list of the most popular Scrum Master certification course today. Gaining your CSM also proves that you understand various aspects of Scrum and the improvement that practices entail. 
• Focus on Core Values: CSM is designed and based on the fundamental beliefs, objectives and activities of Scrum. You will get deeper insights on how these values can be applied in the Scrum team practices.  
• Flexible Learning Options: The Scrum Alliance has multiple CSM training courses, making it easy for you to study in a way that is appropriate for you depending on whether you are a learner who learns effectively in the classroom or one who learns effectively from a virtual classroom or online. 

Picking the Right Certification 

• Consider your career goals: Do you want to work as Scrum Master, Agile Coach or in any particular industry? 
• Do thorough research for certification providers: Determine how does focus, format and cost of certification differ. 
• Read reviews and testimonials: Read about the other professionals’ certification experiences. 
   

Beyond Certification 

• Gain practical experience: All the principles described in the guide must be applied in practical projects. 
• Continuous learning: Be aware of all the new trends and recommendations related to Agile. 
• Build a strong professional network: Attend Agile conferences, join online forums and subscription groups to get in touch with other Agile professionals.

The Certified Scrum Master Certification (CSM) offered by Scrum Alliance is and effective way to gain an understanding of Scrum practice in action. This is an ideal foundation for beginners who want to deal with Agile frameworks. 

Key Features of CSM Training: 

• Foundational Framework/Principle: Ensures all aspects of roles, events, and artifact within Scrum are explained. 
• Live Instructor-Led Sessions: Get trained by certified industry experts and crack your CSM exam in one go. 
• Focus on Facilitation: Find out and learn ways to manage conflicts within a team, facilitate people’s/team’s interaction and contribute to development of successful team dynamics. 
• Well-Structured Certification: Training provides you with all the knowledge necessary for passing the CSM® exam, which means that even novices in Agile can take it. 
• Networking and Community Access: Scrum Alliance offers community affiliations for career enhancement in Scrum for its members. 
   

Professional Scrum Master (PSM™) certification is subsequent level of education for those intending to advance their knowledge about Scrum framework and how it is used in practice.  

The PSM training is intended for the people who want to increase their level of Scrum proficiency, as well as for Scrum Masters, team members, and project managers who work with Agile. 

Key Features of PSM™ Training: 

• Mastering Scrum Principles: This program aims at basic concepts of Scrum to educate the professionals about Agile frameworks. 
• Real World/ Practical Learning: The Scrum Master Certification training course is designed in a way that is conducive to knowledge retention and application and structured in a way that you will be able to apply Scrum in your workplace. 
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Get more information on Scrum roles, events, and tools including facilitation techniques and handling of impediments raised by the team. 
• Challenging Certification Process: The PSM™ exam is quite challenging and checks a profound knowledge of Scrum. 
• Flexible Learning Options: Flexible, self-directed learning makes PSM a great option for the working professionals. 
   

Now, you must be thinking is CSM or PSM better OR what is the difference between CSM and PSM? Let's find out the key difference between CSM and PSM including CSM vs PSM salary, PSM 1 vs CSM difficulty level, and much more: 

A survey suggests that there is an increase in the demand of at least 15% per year in Agile related positions and 75% of organizations prefer to hire certified scrum professionals.  

Check out the career impact and salary prospects that CSM and other Scrum Master certifications brings in: 

Selecting between the PSM vs CSM Scrum certifications; (CSM certification offered by the Scrum Alliance  and the PSM certification offered by Scrum.org) should consider several factors. Below I have shared a few factors and characteristics of both the certifications that may help you decide and find that which one of them is more appropriate in terms of career objectives, learning style or background.  

So, what things you should Look at When Deciding on Certified Scrum Master and Professional Scrum Master? Here are some key factors to consider: 

You should go for CSM certification if: 

• You are seeking a globally recognized certification. 
• You want well-structured, practical hands-on learning with the certified industry trainers. 
• You are looking for networking and community interaction. 
• You are unfamiliar or new to agile or Scrum framework. 
  
   

You should go for PSM certification if: 

• You want more independence and the ability to choose how, when and with whom they will study. 
• You have previous exposure in Scrum and are looking for a higher certification exam. 
• You are looking for an inexpensive certification that does not come with annual recertification policy. 
• You need an internationally accredited qualification much appreciated worldwide. 
   

Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Preparations Guideline 

• Attend Certified Scrum Master (CSM) training course for at least 2-day: This is mandatory often provided by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). 
  Scrum Guide Review: This is the main source on Scrum and is the guide for the examination. 
• Understand the core concepts: Recognize Scrum value, principles, roles , artifacts, events and ceremony like commitments, courage, focus, openness, respect, Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team, product backlog, sprint backlog, increment, sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review, sprint retrospective. 
• Prepare well with the mock exams: Perform a literature search or take a proctored practice examination to learn elements relating to the examination. 
• Participate in group discussions: Engage in the class discussion, make questions to the teacher in order to clear the information. 
  CSM Handbook from Scrum Alliance Review: The following is reference material for CSMs which contains useful information that was not included in the previous pages. 
  
  
  
  Professional Scrum Master (PSM) Preparations Guideline 

• Dive deep into the Scrum Guide: PSM exam places massive importance on the knowledge of the Scrum Guide and its tenets. 
• Do Self-study: Though the Professional Scrum Master course is advised to be taken in 2 days these are not mandatory days. It is possible to study for the exam independently. 
• Implementation and application: The PSM exam focuses on the exemplification of Scrum methods and provides the candidate with a set of situative tests. 
• Utilize all the resources from Scrum.org: Go to Scrum.org for information about the Scrum Framework, articles, sample questions, and the Scrum Guide. 
• Prepare well for exam with mock tests: Employ either practice exams or web resources to get acquainted with the examination conditions and the viewed material. 
• Join online communities/groups: Here you can freely comment with other Scrum interested parties on matters relating to Scrum. 
   

Scrum is one of the most popular methodologies in today’s world and both the CSM and PSM are some of the most popular certificates in Scrum. Although the CSM is more popular as people assume it easier to obtain than the PSM, however the CSM certification renewal is need to be done every two years. PSM has a little higher level of difficulty in terms of assessment, it is valid for life. 

I truly hope this article has helped you understand CSM vs PSM which is better for you and would make it easier for you to make a worthy decision! If you still have not made your decision in regards with CSM vs PSM1, 2, 3, feel free to contact any of our counselors using the contact form provided and get the answers to your questions here. In any case, you cannot lose.  

I hope my quick exploration of Agile provides you with the kickstart you need to have a fruitful experience with the framework. All the best!