Best Agile and Scrum Certifications in 2021
By Susan May
Scrum and Agile jobs continue to dominate the recruiting landscape in 2021. LinkedIN listed Scrum Master and Product Owner as among the most promising jobs of 2019. 2 years on, the popularity for Scrum and Agile related roles is at an all-time high. Agile and Scrum certifications go a long way in helping professionals establish themselves in a competitive job market and land lucrative job roles.This article presents the best agile certifications in 2021 along with an in-depth look at Certified ScrumMaster® certification, SAFe® Agile certifications, Scum Alliance® Certifications, along with agile certification costs.Why Agile Certifications?Agile and its frameworks are being widely implemented in organizations across the world. They provide proven solutions to the otherwise slow and unresponsive project management methodologies that were used for product development before. Fast paced technology, digitization, and evolving markets have hastened the adoption of Agile and frameworks like Scrum that provide quick marketing times and fast response to customer requirements.Although agile implementation requires a certain level of expertise barring which its adoption often goes south. This is why there is a huge demand for certified professionals who can lead and maintain agile transformations and reap its benefits.Agile certifications are a way to assess the capability of the professional in bringing about Agile transformations. These are provided by world renowned certification bodies like the Scrum.org, Scaled Agile Inc and Scrum Alliance that facilitate agile scrum master certifications.These credentials are obtained on passing rigorous exams that one needs to pass after attending a hands-on workshop or self-study. These exams test one’s knowledge of Agile, Scrum and its various practices and principles. Market studies have shown that agile and scrum certified professionals earn more than their non-certified peers.Who can take up this training?Typically, the eligibility for taking up certification exams depend on the certification being pursued. Entry level certifications like Certified ScrumMaster® or Certified Scrum Product Owner® do not have any prerequisites and the training can be pursued by anyone who wants to master the key agile and scrum principles and practices. Other certifications such as Certified Scrum Developer®, Certified Scrum Professional®, Advanced-CSM, Advanced-CSPO etc can be considered as next level expertise and can be taken by professionals who have some experience in Agile and Scrum.Typical audience for these courses would include: Project ManagersDevelopersProduct OwnersManagers-Software developmentArchitects-Software developmentProduct ManagersSoftware DevelopersSoftware CodersSoftware TestersTeam Leads/Team MembersAgile CoachesProject ManagersDelivery ManagersScrum MastersDevelopment ManagersAgile coach certifications such as ICP-ACC, help professionals to pursue careers as Agile coaches.Benefits of Scrum and Agile CertificationsThere are several benefits that come along with gaining Scrum and Agile certifications. Besides giving you a great platform to launch your career from, they also help you learn about Scrum and Agile best practices that can be implemented in diverse sectors and organizations.These certifications will help you:Validate your commitment to continued excellence and quality in Agile and Scrum Demonstrate proficiency in Agile and Scrum Advance your career in Scrum with confidence Stand out at interviews and leverage on career growth opportunities Earn higher than experienced non-certified peersBecome part of a greater Scrum and Agile communityNetwork with industry leaders and Agile professionals Advance your agile journey with each certificationTop Agile and Scrum certifications to consider with key points of the certification like eligibility, target audience, budget, popularity, efforts etc.CertificationEligibilityTarget audienceCost in North America in USDPopularityEffort requiredCertified ScrumMaster®No eligibilitySoftware EngineersProduct ManagersProject ManagersTeam LeadersBusiness AnalystsDevelopment team membersTestersAnyone who would like to build a career as a Scrum Master84933%2 days training plus additional study hoursProfessional Scrum Master™ INo eligibilityProject ManagersScrum MastersScrum team membersDevelopersProduct OwnersSoftware development managersSoftware ArchitectsProduct ManagersSoftware DevelopersSoftware CodersSoftware TestersTeam Leads/Team Members99953%2-days training plus additional study hoursCertified SAFe® Program Consultant5+ years of experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product, or project management3+ years of experience in AgileOne or more relevant Agile certificationsProgram or Project ManagerScrum MasterRelease Train EngineerBusiness AnalystAgile CoachDevelopment ManagerProfessional Services ConsultantConsultantDirectorManagerProduct ManagerProduct OwnerAgile Change AgentSoftware Engineer9%4 days training plus additional study hoursPSPO INo eligibilityProject ManagersDevelopersProduct OwnersManagers-Software developmentArchitects-Software developmentProduct ManagersSoftware developersSoftware testersTeam leads/Team members interested in learning ScrumLeadership Team 99916%2 days training plus additional study hours.CSPONo eligibilityProject ManagersDevelopersProduct OwnersManagers-Software developmentArchitects-Software developmentProduct ManagersSoftware developersSoftware testersTeam leads/Team members interested in learning Scrum99911%2 days training plus additional study hours.PMI-ACP2000 hours of working on project teams within the last 5 years or having an active PMP®/PgMP® credential1500 hours of working on Agile Project Teams or with Agile Methodologies, in addition to “General Project Experience” above;21 contact hours earned in Agile PracticesProject ManagersProject PlannersQuality Assurance StaffDevelopers/ProgrammersDesigners, TestersProject ControllersProduct OwnersScrum MastersScrum Team Members8995.05%3 days training plus additional study hoursTraining + certification exam cost offered by KnowledgeHutAs per the 2019 Scrum Master trends by Scrum.orgHow to choose the best Agile CertificationAccording to the 2019 Scrum Master trends by Scrum.org, the top three certifications among survey participants were Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I).One thing common among these certification holders according to the survey, was that 51% of the participants who earned more than $150,000 USD, had undergone training. This emphasizes the need for training from certified coaches and accredited training institutes who can guide you through the concepts and best practices and help you aim for a first time pass of the exams.ConclusionWhen it comes to Scrum vs Agile certification, you may be wondering which to pursue. Since Scrum is a framework under the Agile umbrella and imbibes all the principles and values, it makes sense to first understand Agile and gain proficiency in it by undertaking an Agile certification. Also, most Scrum certifications will require you to have Agile knowledge, so having a good foundation can help you not only in entry level Scrum certifications, but also advanced.
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