My notes to understand what’s difference between Scrum.org and Scrum Alliance
Differences in the courses:
- Scrum.org creates and maintains standardized curriculum, context and depth for all Professional Scrum courses and selects only the most qualified instructors to deliver them. Each instructor may have his or her individual experiences and areas of expertise, but all students learn the same core course content. This improves a student’s ability to pass the Professional Scrum assessments and apply Scrum in their workplaces. You can be confident in the quality and value the training will provide. Those who attend a Scrum.org course will also receive a complementary password to attempt one of our professional-level assessments for certification. Detailed information regarding the types of courses we offer, their intended audience, and recommended prerequisites can be found on our Courses page.
- The Scrum Alliance does not have any standardization for its courses or content. The course materials are created by the individual trainers, and are limited by that particular trainer’s experience and opinion. Attendance in a Scrum Alliance course is required for earning a CSM, CSPO or CSD certification.
Differences in the certifications:
- PSM I (through Scrum.org) requires that a student demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Scrum through a rigorous assessment. PSM I certification is not proof of attendance, but is rather proof of Scrum knowledge. The PSM I and the PSM II assessments and corresponding certifications do not require attendance in a Scrum.org class. Scrum.org certificates are lifelong, and do not require any additional payments or renewals.
- CSM (through the Scrum Alliance) requires a student attend a course through the Scrum Alliance and then take an “exam” in which the passing score needed is only 69%. This certification is little more than a certificate of attendance, and requires credential holders to pay renewal fees in order to keep their certifications active.
Scrum.org
Scrum.org offers a smaller number of certifications than the Scrum Alliance, but its certifications are considered to be more rigorous. The Scrum Alliance is more focused on the business side of Scrum, while Scrum.org is more focused on the technical side. The Scrum Alliance also has a more open and collaborative approach, while Scrum.org is more structured and hierarchical.
| Scrum.org | Scrum Alliance | |
|---|---|---|
| Mission | “Improving the profession of software delivery.” | “Transforming the world of work.” |
| Leadership | Founded and led by Ken Schwaber, co creator of Scrum. | Governed by a board of directors. |
| Scrum Master****Certification | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Professional Scrum Master IIProfessional Scrum Master III | Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) |
| Training | 2 day PSM Course | 2 day CSM Course |
| Courseware | Collaboratively maintained courseware from all Trainers, ensuring a consistent high quality learning experience, globally. Overseen by Ken Schwaber | Created by individual trainers, so content, quality and learning experience varies per trainer. |
| Certification | Must pass a rigorous assessment associated with the course content. No requirement to attend a course. | Must attend 2 days of training. Assessment is almost impossible to fail |
| Cost | Assessment cost included in the training. $150 without training. No renewal fee. | First two years of certification included in training, then $100 every 2 years. |
| Other****Training | Professional Scrum FoundationsProfessional Scrum Product OwnerProfessional Scrum DeveloperScaled Professional Scrum | Certified Scrum Product OwnerCertified Scrum Developer |
| Other****Certifications | Professional Scrum Product Owner IProfessional Scrum Product Owner IIProfessional Scrum DeveloperScaled Professional Scrum | Certified Scrum ProfessionalCertified Scrum Product OwnerCertified Scrum Developer |
| More****Information | www.scrum.org | www.scrumalliance.org |