How much does a CSM certification cost?

What the price actually includes

There is no separate fee for the Certified ScrumMaster certification. The price you pay is the price of the two-day course, and a reputable course bundles everything you need to walk away certified. That includes the official Scrum Alliance exam, the certification itself, and your first two years of Scrum Alliance membership.

Across the US, a two-day CSM course often runs from about $400 to $1,500 depending on the trainer, format, and location. In-person courses at conference venues sit at the higher end. Live online courses are usually the most affordable. Sustained Agility's live online CSM is $349, with the certification and two-year membership included.

Why you cannot skip the course

The CSM is course-required by design. Scrum Alliance only lets you take the CSM exam after you complete a two-day course led by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). You cannot buy the exam on its own, so there is no certified-on-the-cheap shortcut. The good news is that the course is where the real learning happens, and the exam is included once you finish.

To be fair, an exam-only path does exist elsewhere. Scrum.org's PSM is a separate, well-known certification that does not require a course, so you can pay for just the assessment. It is a different credential from a different body, not a cheaper version of the CSM. If a Scrum Alliance CSM is what you want, the CST-led course is part of the deal. For the full step-by-step, see our guide on how to become a Certified ScrumMaster.

Ongoing and renewal costs

A CSM is not a one-and-done purchase. Scrum Alliance certifications renew every two years. To renew, you earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs) through approved learning and pay a renewal fee, which is approximately $100 for the CSM. Those figures are approximate and set by Scrum Alliance, not by us. Because your course price already covers the first two years of membership, your next cost does not arrive until that window is up.

How to keep the cost down

The biggest lever is format. A live online course removes travel, hotel, and venue overhead, which is why it usually costs far less than the same two days at a conference center while still being taught live by a CST, not a recording. Group enrollments and private team courses can also lower the per-person cost when several people from one company need to certify together.

Before you spend anything, it is worth deciding whether the credential fits your goals. Our guide on whether a CSM is worth it walks through that honestly. When you are ready, you can browse our upcoming $349 live online CSM classes. Every seat comes with a 100% money-back guarantee before the start date and a free transfer to another class if your schedule changes.