What is PSM-A Certification?

In the evolving era of digital transformation and changes in technological trends, it becomes easier for IT professionals to remain updated about the latest tools, skills, and subject matters, which gives them the edge in the work and allows them to complete the project successfully. These certifications act as stepping stones in their careers as they guide the professionals in their career journey and learning paths, which helps them make progress ahead and sharpen their skill set.

Let's examine the PSM-A certification in detail and consider how it can help you shape your career.

Definition of PSM-A Certification

Professional Scrum Master certification, also known as PSM, is an advanced designation designed for scrum masters who want to become more effective and for professionals who want to coach a scrum team. The PSM is a specialization credential focused on building the expertise and skill set of candidates who want to effectively manage and mentor other scrum teams. 

Candidates who are looking to pursue the PSM certification must be equipped with the proper knowledge and skills to handle the scrum decorum and transformation easily, which allows them to mentor teams and individuals to adopt, accept, and embark on their journey in the field of agile. 

The certification aims to build a foundational and structural understanding of the scrum concepts and examine avenues that provide hands-on training to the candidates on handling real-life project crunch and chaos effectively. 

No training is required for Foundation Level-A of the professional scrum master certification. Still, the individual must learn the scrum concepts in detail, which allows you to set the tone effectively and boosts the candidate's confidence in clearing the certification exam on their first attempt.

PSM 2 is being called PSM Advanced now

The professional scrum master advanced (PSM-A) course is a two-day advanced scrum master class which is designed to support the scrum masters in their professional development. The courses was previously called "Professional Scrum Master II".

The PSM-A courses are directed at scrum masters with at least one year of experience who are looking to grow their knowledge and abilities as scrum masters. The courses are focused on helping you get one step ahead in the journey. Also, candidates can take a free attempt at the globally recognized PSM-A certification exam. 

Unlike the PSM course, PSM-A is a refined and advanced course that is focused on helping the students understand everything that makes an effective scrum master while diving deep into how they are focused on serving the developers, product owners, and organization. The course aims to build an understanding of the related practices and skills that enable them to have the right path and apply them to become better scrum masters.

Purpose and Benefits of PSM-A Certification

The Professional Scrum Advanced certification is another tier offered by scrum.org. It is focused on advanced concepts and practices within the Scrum framework. Let's understand the purpose and benefits of retaining the PSM-A certification.

Purpose

1. Advanced Understanding

The PSM-A certifications are designed for individuals who have a solid understanding of the scrum fundamentals and are focused on advancing their knowledge of advanced scrum concepts and practices.

2. Enhancing Leadership Skills

The certifications aim to equip scrum masters with the advanced leadership and coaching skills necessary to effectively facilitate high-performing agile.

3. Working in complex scenarios

The certification prepares the scrum masters to navigate the complex scenarios and challenges in real-world agile environments, such as scaling scrum, dealing with organizational impediments, and building a culture that promotes continuous improvement.

4. Promote continuous improvement

It encourages continuous learning and improvement by providing the participants with advanced tools, techniques, and strategies that enhance their effectiveness as scrum masters. 

Benefits of PSM-A Certification 

1. PSM-A is a three-tiered certification, such as foundation, intermediate, and advanced levels, which offers several benefits.
2. I have proven scrum expertise in the assessment criteria and tiered curriculum and methodology.
3. It helps develop a connection with experts and co-learners in the scrum.org community.
4. It opens up many doors for career opportunities, considering the credibility of an advanced certification.
5. It acts as a platform for individuals who are looking to build and get certified, thereby gaining a robust and more progressive skill set.
6. The course is apt for individuals who are starting out as professionals, looking to grow in their careers, and ready to take advanced scrum-related courses to excel.
7. The course aims to connect with other scrum professionals on the scrum.org platforms and keep you updated with current agile trends.

Comparison with Scrum Master Certifications & PSM-A Certification

Let's compare the PSM- Certification with other scrum master certifications, i.e., certified scrum master certification, one of the most widely recognized certifications. 

Certified Scrum Master Certification vs. Professional Scrum Master Advanced Certification

1. Certifying Body

CSM and PSM-A have similar certifying bodies, i.e., scrum.org, a renowned and leading authority on scrum practices.

2. Focus

CSM focuses on developing the foundational understanding of the scrum principles, roles, Scrum events, and artifacts. It's an entry-level certification for individuals new to scrum or aspiring scrum masters. 

PSM-A is an advanced certification designed for scrum masters with prior experience and a solid understanding of scrum foundations. It is focused on learning advanced topics such as scaling scrum, advanced coaching, mentoring high-performing teams, and more.

3. Training Level

The CSM comes with only one level, while PSM has two different levels, PSM I and PSM II.

4. Training Duration

CSM and PSM training courses last two days, i.e., 14-16 hours each. A certified scrum trainer leads the CSM course, while a professional scrum trainer leads the PSM course.

5. Passing Grade

In order to pass the CSM exam, individual must score 37 out of 50 marks as it considered easier to achieve this passing grade in the PSM exam. In PSM I, the passing criteria is quiet tough as you to have complete the 80 questions and achieve at least 85% to retain the professional scrum master certificate.

6. Format of Exam

The CSM contains multiple choice questions, and the PSM certifications include multiple choice, multiple answer questions, and some actual false questions. The PSM-I is focused on testing the scrum facts and some scenario-based questions.

PSM. vs. CSM Comparison Table

Conclusion

Understanding and developing scrum knowledge is one of the most required skills in recent times. The PSM-A course is considered one of the easiest exams, is highly reputable, and helps individuals excel in their careers at a faster pace. Simpliaxis Professional Scrum Master advanced course is designed to keep the individual in mind and help them reach new heights by learning every concept in depth to retain great results. Enroll in the certification course and advance your career by landing the best projects.