Life of a Scrum Master: How to Prepare for the PSM I Certification

Introduction

This article aims to help technology professionals obtain their PSM I (Professional Scrum Master I) certification. Throughout the article you will learn about what the certification is, the topics covered in the exam, as well as tips to optimize your studies and earn your certification in record time.

The article was written by Zappter Erica Raiza.

My experience with the PSM I certification

The PSM I (Professional Scrum Master I) certification is one of the most recognized certifications in the field of agile project management. Large national and international companies adopt the Scrum framework as a tool to improve productivity, increase ROI (return on investment), and reduce time to market in complex projects. As I have been working in the agile projects area for some time and have had some opportunities to act as a Scrum Master, I decided to pursue the certification to validate my knowledge and skills regarding the Scrum framework.

To achieve success and approval, planning and dedication to studies were necessary, especially since the exam is relatively difficult and there is the issue of costs to take it, which is in dollars. Although it is not a prerequisite to take an official course before the exam, I took a basic preparatory course where it was possible to cover the exam content and practice knowledge with practical examples of Scrum application. The exam is based on the Scrum Guide (2020), which in my opinion is sufficient material to begin studying. With this material in hand, available on the Scrum.org website, I started preparing, organizing study times after work and on weekends, summarizing the material and practicing through official Scrum.org mock exams. Pay attention if the mock exam you are using is based on the most recent Scrum Guide (2020). This way, I was able to measure week by week how I was doing. It is important to note that the PSM I certification is in English. Even though you can download a Google Chrome plugin to take the exam in Portuguese, it is important to be familiar with the language and Scrum-related terms.

After this long study routine, I felt confident and took the PSM I exam. The questions were challenging, but well aligned with the Scrum Guide and agile practices. I was able to complete the exam within the sixty-minute time limit programmed to answer all exam questions, and obtained a satisfactory percentage to earn the certification.

Obtaining the PSM I certification was an extremely positive experience. Preparing until I felt very confident was fundamental for success, in addition to providing me with an official validation of my skills as a Scrum Master. Now, with the certification in hand, I also have more confidence to share knowledge in the teams I am part of.

About the Certification

Offered by Scrum.org, an organization that promotes the adoption and effective use of the Scrum framework for agile software development, the PSM I certification is aimed at professionals who wish to prove their knowledge and skills as Scrum Masters, who are the facilitators of the Scrum process in an agile development team. The certification is internationally recognized and is the most basic of the three PSM certifications available: PSM I, PSM II, and PSM III.

The candidate who passes demonstrates knowledge of the Scrum guide and related agile practices. The exam is online and in English, consisting of 80 multiple-choice questions, and there are 60 minutes to complete the exam overall. You will only pass if you achieve 85% score, so come prepared. It seems like little, but 1 hour for the exam is a good amount of time to finish and review some questions. On the other hand, it is important to pay attention to the clock. It goes by very fast! The certification cost is one hundred and fifty dollars ($150 USD) and you will have only one chance to pass. Once the purchase is completed, a password is sent to the registered email and you can take the exam whenever you want, meaning once you buy the voucher to take the exam, this voucher has no expiration date. You take the exam from home, needing only a computer with internet access, but it is important to pay attention, since once the exam is started, it is not possible to pause. Remember that once you pass the exam, the certification is valid for life and does not require renewal.

Some of the topics covered in the exam are:

• Scrum Fundamentals: fundamental principles and values, empirical theory, concepts of transparency, inspection and adaptation, and the definition of what Scrum is.
• Scrum Roles: description and responsibilities of the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team.
• Scrum Events: Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective, and the definition of “Done”.
• Scrum Artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment.
• Agile Development Practices: requirements management, iterative and incremental development, quality and risk management, and software engineering techniques.
• Scrum in Large Projects: coordination and integration of multiple teams, scalability strategies, and portfolio management.
• Leadership and Facilitation: leading autonomous teams, conflict resolution, effective communication, and facilitation of Scrum events.

Why get the PSM certification?

Believe it, things change completely after you pass and here are some reasons to invest in the certification:

• Skill improvement: This certification will help you develop additional skills necessary to be an effective and competent Scrum Master, such as meeting facilitation, leading autonomous teams, conflict resolution, and effective communication. The certification can serve as additional motivation to improve your skills and become a more competent Scrum professional.

• Career opportunities: Having the PSM I certification can open doors for employment or promotion opportunities in organizations seeking qualified Scrum Masters.
• Recognition and credibility: the PSM certification is globally recognized as a quality certification in the Scrum field, which can increase the professional’s credibility among colleagues, managers, and clients.
• Networking: by becoming a member of the Scrum.org community, the professional can access a network of contacts and learning and collaboration opportunities with other Scrum professionals around the world.

How much time do I need to dedicate to studying?

There is no right or wrong period when it comes to studying for a certification. It will depend on the complexity, your available time for studying, and any prior theoretical and practical knowledge. Another important point is that study time is influenced by your learning style. Some learn more with in-person classes and others with more self-directed classes. A tip is: test your best study format, whether it is through repeated reading of material, listening to a video of a class, or taking mock exams.

Speaking of the PSM I, in general a study plan of around two months with one or two hours daily is recommended to review the material and practice some mock exams. It will help a lot in preparing you for the sixty minutes of the exam and will give you an honest view of your performance.

Final Tips

• The Scrum Guide is your main study material, but it doesn’t need to be the only source of study. Besides the Scrum Guide, there are many books, articles, and other materials available that can help you improve your knowledge of Scrum. Read or listen to them several times, review and focus on understanding the concepts, don’t memorize: The PSM I evaluates not only your ability to memorize information, but also your understanding of Scrum concepts and practices.
• Pay attention to the questions and answers: At some moments the question may ask you to choose the best answer or the answer that would least apply in the context.
• Pay attention to the number of answers requested: Sometimes there are multiple-choice questions on the exam and you may end up choosing only one option. Be careful.
• If you are in doubt about a question, start by eliminating the wrong options, before trying to find the correct answer.
• Manage your time during the exam: If you are not sure about an answer, don’t spend too much time thinking about it – move on and come back to it later if you have time.
• Don’t forget to be in a place where you won’t be interrupted during the exam time. It is possible to consult the Scrum Guide while you answer the questions, but it can distract you and make you lose time. Be prepared.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the PSM I certification is an excellent way to validate the knowledge and skills of professionals who work with Scrum in agile projects. Although the exam is relatively difficult and in English, it is possible to prepare with dedicated and organized study. Taking a preparatory course can help you better understand the concepts and practice them through practical examples. With the Scrum Guide and mock exams in hand, it is possible to measure your progress and prepare for the exam. Having the PSM I certification not only proves skills, but also provides more confidence to guide teams and projects, in addition to improving the professional resume.

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