Software development has come a long way since its inception, and the methodologies used to create software have evolved just as rapidly.
From the traditional Waterfall approach to the iterative and incremental Agile methodology, software development has progressed to be more efficient, flexible, and responsive to change.
One of the most popular Agile methodologies in use today is Scrum. It is an iterative and incremental framework for managing software development projects that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and delivering working software early and often.
It focuses on creating a culture of continuous improvement, where teams work closely together to deliver value to the customer.
The Agile approach and Scrum, in particular, have revolutionized the software development industry, enabling teams to be more responsive to changing customer needs, minimize project risks, and deliver higher-quality products faster.
This approach has also led to the emergence of new roles in the development process, such as Scrum Master and Product Owner, who are responsible for facilitating and managing the project in accordance with Agile principles.
Do you want to explore your opportunities in Agile or become a Scrum Master? If yes, then the Certified Scrum Master or CSM certification is something you should achieve to demonstrate your skills.
Today, it is common to see people searching for CSM certification, with queries like CSM Certification Hyderabad and ways to prepare for it.
This article makes you familiar with the CSM certification and how you can prepare for it.
What is the CSM Certification?
If you have worked in an organization that follows the Agile methodology, you must be aware of the Scrum Alliance.
It is a well-established and reputable organization that offers Agile training and certification programs for professionals to network and share their knowledge and experiences. The Certified ScrumMaster is probably the most popular offering of this organization.
When pursuing the CSM certification, you will have a clear understanding of the Scrum framework along with team accountabilities, events, and artifacts, as well as how to guide your team to apply Scrum.
The process of achieving a CSM certification involves completing formal training and then passing the CSM exam. Here are the details regarding the training and exam:
Scrum Alliance has made it mandatory for participants to undergo a live online or in-person CSM course with interactive mentoring sessions by a verified trainer. This training should be at least 14 hours long in duration. You can find a suitable course on the Scrum Alliance website itself.
Once you complete the training, you can activate your Scrum Alliance certification account and pass the CSM exam. This test involves a total of 50 questions, out of which you need to answer at least 37 of them correctly to pass it. The time allowed for the exam is 60 minutes.
After achieving the CSM certification, you can demonstrate to employers that you have gained the right skills to guide a team to use Scrum effectively. With your leadership skills, you can influence organizational change and expand your professional community.
Steps to Prepare for the CSM Certification
By reading the above information, you may think that the preparation for the scrum certification would be completed just by attending a CSM course. However, you need to put some efforts and ensure that you pass the exam in a single try.
For this, you need to build a strong foundation of the Scrum framework. Read the Scrum Guide and become familiar with concepts and terminology used.
Next, you can attend the CSM training course and learn everything that is covered under the syllabus of the CSM exam. Note that the learning objectives of the CSM exam fall into these categories:
- Scrum
- Scrum master Core Competencies
- Service to the Scrum Team, Product Owner, and Organization
So, when you attend the CSM training, you will be given detailed instructions on these three areas.
Next, we recommend that you practice applying Scrum in real-life situations by participating in a Scrum team or observing a team that follows the Scrum framework. This will help you gain practical experience and reinforce your knowledge.
When you have done enough preparation, it is time to explore the additional study materials like sample questions, webinars, and communities where you can discuss your preparation ideas. In this way, you may come to know about the topics that you have missed during the revision.
Finally, you can appear for the CSM exam online on the Scrum Alliance website. Once the exam is completed, the results are immediately available. Note that you have one free attempt to take the CSM exam in case you fail on your first attempt.
After you pass the exam, you need to complete the CSM application on the Scrum Alliance website. You also need to agree to the Scrum Alliance Code of Ethics and provide evidence of your Scrum experience.
Now that you know how to prepare for the CSM exam don’t delay getting this valuable credential. According to Indeed.com, 72% of job seekers affirmed that it was career progression that they decided to earn their CSM. You too can reap the career benefits associated with this certification.
