That sizable investment also means that most people must be discriminating as to which certification to pursue. Few have enough time, money, and energy to get more than one certification in a field, so a question we often get is, “Which one do you recommend?”
This article explores two popular agile certifications: Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM), awarded by the Scrum Alliance, and the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, awarded by Project Management Institute. Each certification and awarding organization offers different considerations that might go into choosing one over the other.
Highlighting the most salient “plusses” of each certification seems the best way to illustrate the value proposition for each certification. Of course, to highlight a benefit of one certification is not to say that it is unique to that certification. But to appreciate the benefits of each, it seems helpful to ask, “What does each certification say about you when your signature includes CSM or PMI-ACP?”
On the other hand, the PMI-ACP certification, like all PMI certifications, is earned after going through the notoriously rigorous PMI application and testing process. The PMI-ACP exam is not nearly as difficult as the PMP, but passing it is more difficult than the CSM exam. Even the application process, while considerably easier than it used to be, still requires pulling together details about project experience, contact info, etc. The PMI-ACP exam is a three-hour, 120-multiple-choice question exam taken at a testing site. If you do not pass, you must pay another, relatively substantial fee. So, considering the difficulty of the exam and the testing process, it’s more of an accomplishment from a testing standpoint than the CSM.
Of course, a test proves nothing other than you answered the minimum number of questions correctly to receive a passing score. A test doesn’t make anyone a better practitioner. But for most people, a PMI certification indicates that you have taken the certification seriously enough to make the investment to get through the process of passing one of their tests. PMI’s certification program is very well developed and has a long tradition, and there’s something to be said for that.
Check our calendar for upcoming CSM and PMI-ACP classes
Something to keep in mind as you compare these two certifications is that both are scheduled to undergo changes in the coming months. Scrum Alliance is currently revising their entire certification program. At this point, many of the details are still unknown, but changes to the CSM may include things like being able to take a class online. It will continue to be an entry-level certification much like it is now. Other than that, we’ll have to wait and see.
What’s happening at PMI regarding the PMI-ACP is more certain. First, PMI has partnered with Agile Alliance to develop an Agile Practice Guide, coming out in September of this year (2017). This partnership clearly speaks to PMI’s intent to enhance its credibility in the agile world.
Also, the PMI-ACP exam will be updated in first quarter of 2018 to reflect the content in the new Guide. Given the history of PMI, their investment in putting agile at the forefront of their image, and the significant growth of that certification since it was first awarded in 2011, the PMI-ACP is likely to retain its value and continue to be a sought-after certification, both from professionals and the organizations that hire them.
So, the question as to which is better, CSM or PMI-ACP? There really isn’t a right answer. CSM after your name means you have learned about Scrum from a CST, who is a true, experienced, expert. You have participated in a class that utilized hands-on exercises so you have at least classroom experience with basic Scrum activities and artifacts. And you’re a member of the Scrum Alliance, an organization dedicated to helping professionals apply agile and Scrum practices, principles, and values to create healthy, happy work environments.
PMI-ACP after your name means you have 1000s of hours of project experience, some of which includes working with agile techniques and practices. You have passed a rigorous exam that took significant commitment of time, money, and effort to complete, and you understand the repertoire of agile methods, including Scrum. It also says that you either have or will be continuing to invest time, money, and effort to keep abreast of what’s happening in the field and to your knowledge and skills sharp.
It is almost always a safe bet that certification will give you an edge and be worth the investment. If you are considering a choice between the CSM and PMI-ACP, hopefully the perspectives shared here will help you discern which agile certification is right for you. Good luck!
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View Comments
great way of explaining all the differences between CSM vs PMI-ACP, thanks for sharing.
Glad you found it helpful.
I don't see PSM mentioned here. Is not widely recognized or worth getting?
That's a good observation. I should have mentioned that I limited my comparison to the two certifications that I am most familiar with. I wouldn't dismiss PSM or suggest that it's not worth getting; I just don't hear as much about it or know many people that have it. Perhaps it's a good idea for a future article.
Thanks for writing!
Great article. It doesn't say which is high in demand or which is preferred in general by the industry
Thanks for writing, Haris. That is true - I did not address that aspect of comparison. If you do a quick search on job sites, I suspect you’d find CSM to be referenced more often in job postings, which might be one way of getting at your comment.
I’d be interested in what others think about which is more in demand, as well.
Thanks Andrea, this is a great article. Comparing CSM and PMI-ACP which pays more? Upon completion of PMP certification what would you recommend one to invest in certifications?
Hi Emma. I am unaware of any data on salary differences between CSMs and PMI-ACPs. I think there is a wide variety of roles these folks may have, so I'm not sure how helpful that would be anyway. I know PMI regularly publishes the salary differences between PMPs and non-PMPs, but it's a little harder to do something like that when comparing two different certifications from two different organizations. If you have a PMP, I think adding either the CSM or PMI-ACP has benefits and is a great move considering the effort most organizations are putting into introducing agile into their organizations. I don't think you can go wrong either way. Good luck and thanks for commenting!
The PMI-ACP tends to pay more based on what I was reading the other day. For the money, if you want Scrum, go with the PSM certificate over the CSM. They have harder tests, higher requirements to pass, and require a more intensive understanding of Scrum. I have heard stories of people taking the CSM classes and sleeping through them and passing the exam. PSM also doesn't require you to pay money every couple of years. PSM from Scum.org was started by the same people who started the Scrum Alliance, they still maintain the same body of knowledge together.
Hi Josh. Thanks for your thoughts about the PSM. That agile cert seems to generate a lot less interest than the other two, and I don’t have experience with it – two reasons I didn’t include it in this article. But you’re right in that it’s certainly worth considering and their model may hold more appeal for some folks. Thanks for your comment.
PMI-ACP takes 35 questions? Seems to be confused with CSM: I had to make 120 questions in 180 minutes (2015).
Hi Stefan. You are correct that the ACP is 120 questions. It actually says that in the article, but I broke that paragraph up a bit to hopefully make it less confusing. Thanks for the question.
Andrea
Hello Andrea,
Your article was quite helpful. I am graduating next year with my Masters in Business Administration with a specialization in IT Project Management. I do not have the relevant job experience or hours needed for most of the Agile related certifications. So, would CSM be my best bet to gain knowledge regarding the same? Thanks
I think the CSM will be a great option for you and I think you will find it a very worthwhile investment. Good luck to you!