Discover the top reasons to pursue Scrum Master certification in 2024.

I often receive a question from people asking - WHY one should attend a PSM training when it is not mandatory for taking the certification? And it is a very valid question. Also, lot of people are doubtful of taking a training because if they go for certification directly it costs them just $150 while a training will cost about $400 (in the Indian subcontinent), so why should they pay more?

In this blog, I would like to answer such questions and doubts, so that people can make the right decisions. Let me first share my personal experience on the journey of being a Scrum Master. When I was introduced to Scrum in my organization in 2010-11, I assumed that the role of a Scrum Master is that of a "Scrum Secretary", the person responsible for taking notes, updating JIRA boards, scheduling events and so on.

I lived in that bubble for the next couple of years without making much change or creating any impact as a Scrum Master. Then I took my training and was introduced to a plethora of things that a Scrum Master is supposed to do for the Scrum Team and the organization. Also, it gave me clarity on a variety of skills that I needed to acquire to become a change agent who could create business impact. Having said that and now being a Professional Scrum Trainer, let me share my top 5 reasons why anyone should attend a training.

Top 5 reasons why anyone should attend a training.

1. Active Learning: The way grown-ups learn is much different from how kids learn. With a lot of research and evidence, it has been proved that grown-ups learn by doing. And whether you agree or not if you are preparing for the certification on your own; you probably might only be reading and not doing. A training workshop provides you with an opportunity to learn by implementing the concepts to practice.
2. Clarity: Another aspect is Clarity. When we read a book or a white paper, we read it with our own biases and make assumptions about many things through our own lens of the world. The Scrum Guide which is the go-to source for Scrum has left many things for readers interpretation. And if someone interprets Scrum Guide with their biases, they are going to make assumptions which might be incorrect.For ex: Scrum Guide just has one paragraph about the Scrum Values which states that successful Scrum depends on becoming proficient in these values. But what does that mean? In a Scrum Workshop, we as trainers try to fill up this gap by breaking those biases and creating a shared understanding of what Scrum framework is all about.
3. Experience Sharing: Which side of Scrum are you on? The Scrum…But or Scrum…And. Let me clarify, majorly there are two groups in which Scrum users can be classified -
   1. a. We do Scrum but our we do not have a Product Owner
   2. b. We do Scrum but our Daily Scrum happens every alternate day.
   The Scrum…Buts. Another group is the Scrum…And -
   1. a. We do Scrum and we also craft a Sprint Goal every sprint.
   2. b. We do Scrum and we have inculcated XP practices in our engineering culture.
4. Peer Pressure: As humans and as individuals when it comes to holding ourselves accountable for something we are not very good at it (yes, I am generalizing it and it might not be true for everyone out there but that has been my observation). Find a learning partner or an accountability partner and you can see the difference. When you come to a training and experience your peers asking questions, challenging thoughts, expressing views; you would be also encouraged to do so, clarify your doubts and get a better understanding of the concepts.
5. Economic Impact: Now this could be the last reason, but it might make sense to a lot of people. When you attend a PSM training in the Indian subcontinent, the fee you pay is about $400. Which is more than twice the amount of the certification if you buy the license directly from Scrum.org (considering PSM I). So why should I pay more? Here are few economic benefits of attending the training (PSM I) -
   1. a. Two attempts at PSM exam - $150 x 2 = ($300.00)
   2. b. 40% discount on PSM II exam - 40% x $250 = ($100.00)
   3. c. Content curated by course stewards and experiences of the PST - if only I could put a price tag to it. If you are even as good as I am at Mathematics (considering it was never my forte) you still know that you get more VALUE than the PRICE, you pay.

If you are planning to take up Professional Scrum Master, I hope this post might have answered your queries and should help you to make the right decision.