How To Become A Scrum Master

In today’s world, competition is rife, and businesses are becoming increasingly dependent on innovation in software to get an edge over their peers. Agile methodologies have been lauded as the most popular innovation engines, and among all the various frameworks under the Agile umbrella, Scrum is the most widely used. 

The 15th State of Agile Report states that over 66% of the respondents who participated in the survey follow Scrum as their preferred Agile framework. Key Scrum activities such as the Daily Stand-up and retrospectives are adopted even by other Agile approaches and in hybrid methods of project management as they have been proven to work well.  And in all Scrum teams, the role of the Scrum Master is one that is key to ensuring team success.  

It is the Scrum Master who works as a leader, coach, guide, mentor and facilitator to ensure that the principles and practices of Scrum are followed to best advantage. All this makes this role one that is much in demand across industries, and with Agile adoption accelerating like never, this is the best time to explore a career as a Scrum Master. 

What exactly does this entail, and how can you become a Scrum Master? We bring you the how toes.

What Is a Scrum Master?

The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization.- Scrum Guide 

A Scrum Master can be described as the captain of the Scrum team, who navigates the team through uncertainties and helps them to iron out obstacles in their path. As the team coach, the Scrum Master is the expert and the go-to person on all things Agile, and ensures that the team lives, breathes and follows the Agile mindset, values and principles. 

Some of the accountabilities of a Scrum Master include: 

• Smoothening out impediments to progress 
• Facilitating team dynamics 
• Establishing an environment that nurtures an Agile mindset 
• Coaching the team on Scrum processes 
• Setting up Scrum events 
• Protecting the team from any distractions 
• Ensuring that there is good communication and transparency between team members 
• Helping the Product Owner define product goals and manage the backlog 
• Enabling communication with stakeholders as needed 
• Leading and guiding the organization through the Scrum adoption 

While the Scrum Master’s role was initially one of servant leadership, the 2020 Scrum Guide has revised this stance and now positions a Scrum Master as a true leader who leads by example.

Scrum Master Certifications: CSM®

If you’re looking to make a start in your Scrum Master journey, an industry-acclaimed certification should be the first step. Holding a certification increases your employability, as it validates your knowledge and competencies in the eyes of potential employers.  

The Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) from Scrum Alliance® is the gold standard of certification, and offers a solid understanding of Scrum, with the toolkit and skillset you need to apply Scrum on your team and across the organization.  As a future-proof career, the CSM is the certification to earn if you want to coach teams to respond to change and adapt to complex, volatile needs.

How To Become a CSM?

The CSM is a foundational course and does not require any prior knowledge of Scrum.  

To get certified…. 

1. You’ll have to undertake a 14 to 16 hour in-person or live, interactive training led by a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®). 
2. Complete the course 
3. Activate your account with Scrum Alliance, using the login credentials given by your CST. 
4. Pass the online CSM test by answering at least 37 out of 50 questions correctly, within one hour. 
5. Once you have received your CSM credential, you should maintain it in good standing. You will have to pay the renewal fee of $100 and login 20 SEUs (Scrum Educational Units every two years to keep the certification active. SEUs can be collected through activities that are related to continuing education, which can include reading articles, volunteering, taking courses or attending events. 

What Is the CSM Course?

The CSM course is a 14-16 hour in-person or live interactive training that is led by a Scrum-Alliance approved CST.  

Anyone who is new to Scrum will find this course invaluable as a primer to the world of Scrum, but even experienced Scrum team members who have not undertaken any formal training will find immense value from attending this course and getting certified. 

The Learning Objectives are based on the Agile Manifesto, and include: 

• Lean, Agile and Scrum 
• Scrum values and principles 
• Scrum events and artifacts 
• Product backlog, Sprint backlog and Definition of Done 
• A study of the Scrum Guide 
• Core competencies of a Scrum Master 
• Role and responsibilities 
• The Scrum Master’s service to the Product Owner, the team and the organization

What Is the CSM Exam?

The CSM exam is an online, closed book assessment which must be completed in one hour. The questions are MCQs, and you must get at least 37 out of 50 correct to get the passing score of 74%.  

On getting the minimum passing score, you can immediately download your certificate from the Scrum Alliance portal.

How Long Does It Take To Become a CSM?

While the CSM training is for 16 hours, you will need to familiarise yourself with the course material and the Scrum Guide before you attempt the exam. Having prior knowledge of the Scrum Guide will help you grasp the concepts taught during the training much faster. 

CSM Salary  

Glassdoor reports that the average salary of a Scrum Master in India is INR 13.2 lakhs, and a senior Scrum Master can make INR 19 lakhs a year. As you gain experience in your role as a Scrum Master, you will be able to command a proportionally higher salary. With a CSM certification, you stand to earn considerably more than others in the same role who are not certified. 

Conclusion 

The CSM credential is considered to be one of the most sought-after Scrum Master certifications in the world. With the global adoption of Agile at an all-time high, and a vast majority of IT enterprises following Scrum as their preferred framework, the demand for expert Scrum Masters who can help organizations to glean its benefits is on the rise.