Here's the full PSM I cost picture — the Scrum.org fees you'll pay, plus how to keep your total down by passing on the first attempt.
| Item | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Exam attempt | $200 (verify on scrum.org) |
| Course requirement | None — self-study allowed |
| Renewal | None — valid for life |
$200 USD per attempt, purchased directly from Scrum.org (verify current pricing on scrum.org). No membership needed; a failed attempt means buying another.
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 PSM I once is to walk in genuinely ready.
That's where affordable practice pays for itself: ExamDeck is $15 for lifetime PSM I 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 →Because the exam tests the exact 2020 Scrum Guide, not how Scrum is practised at work. Common workplace habits — velocity, story points, mandatory Daily Scrum questions — aren't in the Guide, and the 85% pass mark leaves little room for folklore.
PSM I (Scrum.org) requires no course, costs $200, is passable by self-study and never expires. CSM (Scrum Alliance) requires a paid course and biennial renewal. For self-driven learners PSM I is usually the better value.
80 questions — multiple choice, multiple answer and true/false — in 60 minutes, taken online directly through Scrum.org (no test centre required, English).
The passing score is 85%. Aim for a consistent 80–85% on realistic practice exams before booking.
Scrum.org 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.
No prerequisites — anyone can buy an attempt and take it online, anytime. No mandatory course (unlike CSM): self-study of the Scrum Guide plus serious practice is a normal path.
$200 USD per attempt, purchased directly from Scrum.org (verify current pricing on scrum.org). No membership needed; a failed attempt means buying another.
For most candidates, commonly reported 20–40 hours for practitioners (the 85% pass mark punishes casual prep). What matters most is practising questions and analysing why each option is right or wrong — not just reading.
None — PSM I is valid for life, with no renewal fees or continuing-education requirements.
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.org's policies.