Here's the full CSM® cost picture — the Scrum Alliance fees you'll pay, plus how to keep your total down by passing on the first attempt.
| Item | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| CSM course (required) | ~$250–1,500+ — set by trainer; incl. exam + 2 attempts |
| Extra retake | $25 |
| Membership | 2 years included |
| Renewal (every 2 yrs) | 20 SEUs + $100 |
The course (set by each trainer, commonly ~$250–1,500+ depending on region and format) includes the exam, two attempts and a 2-year Scrum Alliance membership. Additional retakes cost $25.
The biggest hidden cost of any certification is the retake — fail once and you pay the exam fee again, plus weeks of lost momentum. The cheapest way to sit CSM® once is to walk in genuinely ready.
That's where affordable practice pays for itself: ExamDeck is $15 for lifetime CSM® access (or $19/month All-Access across every exam) — a fraction of the exam fee — with original questions, an explanation for every option, and a readiness report that tells you when you're ready to book.
6 free questions · per-area readiness · no dumps · no ads.
Start free →Generally no — CSM follows a mandatory instructor-led course, includes two attempts and needs 74% (37/50), while PSM I is self-study with a single paid attempt at 85%. The course requirement is CSM's real gate.
Yes — a course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (16h in person / 14h live-online) is mandatory; the online test unlocks only afterwards.
Every two years: earn 20 SEUs through qualifying learning activities and pay a $100 renewal fee.
50 multiple-choice questions, open book, in 60 minutes — taken online after completing a CSM course from a Certified Scrum Trainer.
The passing score is 74% — 37 out of 50 questions. Aim for a consistent 80–85% on realistic practice exams before booking.
Scrum Alliance does not publish official pass rates, so any exact percentage quoted online is unverified. The readiness signal that actually predicts passing: consistently holding 80–85% on realistic, full-length practice exams before you book.
Completion of a CSM course from a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainer is required — 16 hours in person or 14 hours live-online. No self-study path exists.
The course (set by each trainer, commonly ~$250–1,500+ depending on region and format) includes the exam, two attempts and a 2-year Scrum Alliance membership. Additional retakes cost $25.
For most candidates, the 14–16-hour course itself; attentive participants typically pass right after it. What matters most is practising questions and analysing why each option is right or wrong — not just reading.
Every 2 years — 20 Scrum Education Units (SEUs) plus a $100 renewal fee.
No — every question is original, written to test the concepts and reviewed before it ships, with an explanation linked to the source for every option. Dumps are stale, often wrong, and against Scrum Alliance's policies.