Scrum is a popular framework used for project management and software development. An agile approach emphasises collaboration, iterative development, and continuous improvement. 

A Scrum Master is a critical role in Scrum, responsible for facilitating and ensuring the successful implementation of the framework. Scrum Masters are in high demand in the technology industry, and obtaining a Scrum Master certification can help professionals advance their careers and increase their earning potential. 

In this article, we will discuss seven in-demand Scrum Master certifications that professionals can obtain in 2023, and they are listed below:

Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification is offered by the Scrum Alliance, a non-profit organisation that promotes using Scrum. The CSM certification is designed for professionals who want to become Scrum Masters or work as part of a Scrum team. The certification requires attendance at a two-day training course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) and passing a certification exam. The course covers the basics of Scrum, including the framework's roles, events, and artefacts. The certification exam is a 60-question multiple-choice test that must be completed within one hour.

The CSM certification is highly regarded in the industry and is recognised by many employers. According to a survey conducted by Scrum Alliance, professionals with a CSM certification earn an average of $108,000 per year in the United States.

Professional Scrum Master (PSM)

The Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification is offered by Scrum.org, a global organisation that provides training and certification in Scrum. The PSM certification is designed for professionals who want to become Scrum Masters or work as part of a Scrum team. The certificate requires passing an online assessment of 80 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within one hour. The evaluation covers the Scrum framework, including the roles, events, and artefacts.

The PSM certification is highly regarded in the industry and is recognised by many employers. According to a survey conducted by Scrum.org, professionals with a PSM certification earn an average of $119,000 annually in the United States.

Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM)

The Scrum Alliance offers the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) certification. The CSP-SM certification is designed for professionals who have already obtained a CSM certification and want to further their knowledge and skills in Scrum. The certificate requires at least two years of experience as a Scrum Master and completion of an advanced training course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). The course covers advanced topics in Scrum, such as scaling Scrum, coaching, and facilitating Scrum events. The certification also requires the submission of a Scrum Master Application, which demonstrates the applicant's experience and knowledge in Scrum.

The CSP-SM certification is highly regarded in the industry and is recognised by many employers. According to a survey conducted by Scrum Alliance, professionals with a CSP-SM certification earn an average of $133,000 per year in the United States.

Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II)

Scrum.org offers the Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification. The PSM II certification is designed for professionals who have already obtained a PSM certification and want to further their knowledge and skills in Scrum. The certificate requires passing an online assessment of 30 multiple-choice questions and ten essay questions that must be completed within 120 minutes. The evaluation covers advanced topics in Scrum, such as facilitating collaboration, scaling Scrum, and coaching Scrum teams.

The PSM II certification is highly regarded in the industry and is recognised by many employers. According to a survey conducted by Scrum.org, professionals with a PSM II certification earn an average of $126,000 annually in the United States.

Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)

The Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) certification is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), a non-profit organisation that provides certification and training in project management. The certificate requires at least 2,000 hours of experience working on agile teams or a 21-hour training course in agile practices. The certification exam is a 120-question multiple-choice test that must be completed within three hours.

The ACP certification is recognised by many employers and can help professionals demonstrate their expertise in agile methodologies. According to a survey conducted by PMI, professionals with an ACP certification earn an average of $118,000 annually in the United States.

Certified Scrum Developer (CSD)

The Scrum Alliance offers the Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) certification. The CSD certification is designed for professionals who are part of a Scrum team and want to develop their technical skills in software development. The certificate requires the completion of a two-part training course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). The first part of the course covers the basics of Scrum, and the second part covers technical practices in software development, such as test-driven development, continuous integration, and pair programming. The certification also requires the completion of a hands-on coding project.

The CSD certification is recognised by many employers and can help professionals demonstrate their technical expertise in software development within Scrum. According to a survey conducted by Scrum Alliance, professionals with a CSD certification earn an average of $105,000 per year in the United States.

Scrum@Scale Practitioner

The Scrum@Scale Practitioner certification is offered by Scrum@Scale, a framework created by Jeff Sutherland, co-creator of Scrum. The framework is designed to help organisations scale Scrum beyond a single team. The Scrum@Scale Practitioner certification requires completing a two-day training course and an online assessment of 75 multiple-choice questions. The evaluation covers the Scrum@Scale framework, including roles, events, and artefacts.

The Scrum@Scale Practitioner certification is recognised by many employers and can help professionals demonstrate their expertise in scaling Scrum. According to Scrum@Scale, professionals with a Scrum@Scale Practitioner certification can earn between $150,000 and $200,000 annually in the United States.

Scrum is a popular framework used for project management and software development, and Scrum Masters play a crucial role in its successful implementation. 

A Scrum Master certification can help professionals advance their careers and increase their earning potential. There are many Scrum Master certifications available in the market, each with its requirements, training, and certification exams. 

Professionals should choose a certification that aligns with their career goals, experience, and knowledge in Scrum. 

The seven in-demand Scrum Master certifications discussed in this article are the Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM), Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II), Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), Certified Scrum Developer (CSD), and Scrum@Scale Practitioner.