🌀
Category - Agile & Scrum

Agile and Scrum certifications for teams that build software

CSM is the most widely held. PSM I is the most rigorous. SAFe is the enterprise standard. PSPO I is the fastest path for product owners. All four compared.

4
Certs covered
$118k
Top cert salary (SAFe)
85%
CSM pass rate
Compare all certifications 
Certification
pass rate
Difficulty
Prep time
Exam cost
Salary uplift
Best for
Readiness Test for
🏃
Professional Scrum Master I
Scrum.org
80%
3 w $200 +32% Scrum masters & agile facilitators Check PSM I Readiness Explore →
🌀
Certified ScrumMaster ★ Top pick
Scrum Alliance
85%
2 w $995 +31% New scrum masters & agile team leads Check CSM Readiness Explore →
🔩
SAFe Agilist
Scaled Agile
79%
3 w $995 +24% Enterprise agile at scale Check SAFe Agilist Readiness Explore →
📦
Professional Scrum Product Owner I
Scrum.org
78%
3 w $200 +35% Product owners & product managers Check PSPO I Readiness Explore →
Career path sequences 
Developer Scrum Master
The most common agile career pivot. CSM or PSM I are the entry credentials.
CSM PSM I SAFe Agilist
BA / PM Product Owner
Product-focused agile path. PSPO I is the recognised entry point.
PSPO I PSM I SAFe Agilist
Salary impact by certification 
Median salary before vs after certification - US market
Professional Scrum Master I
$72k
$95k
+32%
Certified ScrumMaster
$75k
$98k
+31%
SAFe Agilist
$95k
$118k
+24%
Professional Scrum Product Owner I
$78k
$105k
+35%
Is this category right for your goals? 
✅ You should certify in Agile/Scrum if…
You work in software development teams using agile or Scrum
You're a project manager moving into agile delivery roles
You want a fast, respected credential - CSM takes 2 days and is widely recognised
You work in enterprise environments that have adopted SAFe
⚠️ Consider alternatives if…
You manage large traditional projects - PMP or PRINCE2 will have higher direct ROI
You want the broadest PM credential - consider PMI-ACP which covers agile + traditional
You're not in a software or product context - agile certs are less valued in non-tech environments
Explore our top-rated prep 
Frequently asked questions 
PSM I (Scrum.org) is generally considered more rigorous - it requires a 80% score on a difficult 80-question exam with no mandatory training. CSM (Scrum Alliance) requires a 2-day training course with a Certified Scrum Trainer plus an easier exam. CSM is more widely held and recognised by employers. PSM I is more respected among technical practitioners. For most people, CSM is the right first credential; PSM I is worth adding later to demonstrate deeper mastery.
SAFe Agilist is worth it specifically if your organisation has adopted or is adopting SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework). SAFe is the dominant enterprise-scaled agile framework and is required by many large employers. The certification itself requires a 2-day training course, which makes it fast to achieve. If your organisation doesn't use SAFe, the credential has limited transferability - PSM I or CSM would be more broadly valued.
PSPO I (Professional Scrum Product Owner I) is Scrum.org's certification for product owners - the role responsible for maximising product value and managing the product backlog in Scrum teams. It is a rigorous exam (80% pass threshold, 80 questions) covering product ownership, backlog management, stakeholder engagement and agile product delivery. It is most valuable for product managers, business analysts and product owners in software teams.

Ready to start your agile career?

Most Scrum certs can be earned in 2–4 weeks. Start with a free readiness assessment.

Check readiness in 5 min