CSM® is Scrum Alliance's foundation credential, so you need to meet a few requirements before you can sit it. Here's exactly what qualifies — and how to prepare once you do.
To be approved for the CSM® exam, Scrum Alliance requires:
✓ 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.
Keep a record of your projects and roles — Scrum Alliance may audit a sample of applications.
CSM® requires every 2 years — 20 scrum education units (seus) plus a $100 renewal fee to stay current.
Meeting the requirements gets you to the exam; passing it is a separate job. CSM® is an application exam, so the fastest route is targeted practice with explanations, not just reading. ExamDeck gives you original CSM® questions, per-area readiness, and a spaced-repetition error log — 6 free to start.
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.