Every now and then, we receive an enquiry from an individual or organisation who is about to take the next step in their Scrum journey, but is unsure whether to go down the Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org route.
Often the basis of the conversation revolves around selecting either the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional ScrumMaster (PSM I) course, and/or the Product Owner equivalents CSPO or PSPO.
Therefore, to help make an informed decision, we’ve summarised the similarities and (more importantly) the difference between the two options below.
A brief background
Despite founding the Scrum Alliance together in 2001, the two co-creators of Scrum Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber eventually followed separate paths. This led to Ken Schwaber establishing Scrum.org in 2009, while Jeff Sutherland continue to develop the Scrum Alliance.
While both organisations have developed a similar training offer, the main differences lie with the respective course materials, content, training delivery and the examination/certification process. The requirements and journey to becoming a Certified Trainer also vary quite considerably.
Side-by-side comparison
We’ve included a side-by-side comparison of the two organisations below.
| Scrum Alliance | Scrum.org | |
| Leadership | The Scrum Alliance is largely a committee-driven, and managed, organisation. | Scrum.org has a much heavier steer and leadership directly from Ken Schwaber. |
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Example of Certification (CSM / PSM1)
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Delegates must attend the mandatory 2 days of face-to-face Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) training – delivered by a CST. The online CSM exam is then completed post-course to achieve the certification. Test has a pass mark of 74%. |
Delegates have the option to take the PSM assessment without attending the 2-day training course. However, attending the training prior to taking the PSM assessment is highly recommended. The PSM test / assessment can be taken alone for $150. Test has a pass mark of 85%. |
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Courseware and |
Trainers develop their own materials to support centrally specified learning objectives. These course materials are reviewed and approved as part of the CST approval process (above). Trainers review, tweak and improve their materials on a regular basis. |
Standard course materials are created centrally by Scrum.org and used by all trainers. These are maintained collaboratively when needed. There are no trainer requirements to improve the centrally managed materials. |
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Renewal Fees
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Fees per two-year term: Foundation: CSM, CSPO, CSD – $100 |
No renewal fees. |
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No. of Certified Trainers
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No. of Certified Scrum Trainers (CST’s): Based in the UK: 26 |
No. of Professional Scrum Trainers (PST’s): Based in the UK: 39 |
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Certified Trainer Requirements |
The process to become a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) focuses on possessing significant real-world experience of Scrum training and implementation. Before candidates can apply for CST status, they must:
Once the above has been met, candidates can apply. The application will be considered by the Trainer Approval Community (TAC) |
The process to become a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) is predominantly theory and assessment based:
With the exception of attending the 3-day Train the Trainer (TTT) course – there are no explicit prior training experience requirements. |
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Upcoming Course Dates
If you’re looking to gain the key knowledge and skills required to effectively implement Scrum, then join us on one of our Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) courses. Our 2 day, highly interactive CSM course investigates the Scrum framework in detail from theory and foundations to practical application and pitfalls, covering all the team roles, activities, and artifact.