I'd like to share my experiences with the PSM (Professional Scrum Master) II certification from Scrum.org which I took & passed this afternoon.
It's a thirty question, multiple choice test and you are given 90 minutes to complete it. It is $250 US (vs $150 US for the PSM I).
Unlike the PSM I exam, there is no directly applicable practice exam to help you prepare, but reviewing the Scrum Guide, Nexus Guide and taking the Scrum Open and Nexus Open sample tests can help if you have sufficient practical experience with Scrum.
The key difference between this and the PSM I test is that the majority of the questions are situational and many require you to pick more than one response from a set of possible responses.
Only a couple of the questions tested foundational knowledge of either Scrum or Nexus so I would classify this as a much harder test than the PSM I and arguably I found it tougher than the (current) PMI-ACP exam.
All in all, I can support the reasoning behind there being only one PSM II for every one hundred PSM I's out there!
Sante, it helps that I teach an agile foundational course which covers a lot of what's tested in the ACP in terms of values, principles & the essence of multiple frameworks and methods.
I'm interested in getting feedback from those who take the ACP exam after March 26 to see if it is getting tougher or not.
On one hand, there's a lot of content which can be gleaned from the new practice guide for writing questions, but on the other, the Exam Content Outline has not been touched so exam item writers are still constrained by the existing domains & tasks.
Thanks Riyadh - you'll need to translate that last part for me :-)
Thanks Vincent - having got the ACP & CDAP/CDAI but wanting to get past those gatekeepers who insist on a Scrum-based credential, it was a choice between Scrum Alliance's credentials and Scrum.org.
The former uses credentials as a way to sell training whereas the latter doesn't require a candidate to take their courses.
Having worked with Scrum for over a decade, I didn't see the value in paying for a costly two day course which wasn't going to teach me something new so I decided to align with Scrum.org which cost me only $400 for two credentials (PSM I and PSM II).
I would still feel the ACP is the one credential "to rule them all" until the Agnostic Agile movement comes out with its own credentials...
Kiron
Thanks Kiron,
Have you look at Agile in the PRINCE2?
PRINCE2 is not yet recognize in North America in my opinion.
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2 replies by Kiron Bondale and Sergio Luis Conte
Feb 15, 2018 6:44 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Vincent - I've steered clear of Prince2 and its agile cousin to date so there'd need to be a pretty compelling reason for me to look at it. Out of 150+ clients I've worked with in the North America, only one had implemented Prince2 as their methodology of choice.
Kiron
Feb 15, 2018 8:56 AM
Sergio Luis Conte
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I take a look and I have to use it. I have to use it because the project management world is divided into two parts: USA and The Americas are PMI´s advocates. Europe (west, center and part of the east) are PRINCE2 advocates. From India to Japan you can find a mix. Agile in PRINCE2 is more closelly to be a hybrid but is something that works fine. Obviously, taking into account the context and evironment where you have to apply it.
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Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Thank you very much for publish your experience. Just a question, why do you choose Scrum.org certification? If for market demand proposes? Thanks.
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Feb 15, 2018 6:46 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Sergio -
Great question!
I did not want to take a course to earn a credential, hence Scrum Alliance's CSM was out. And as Andrew said, since Ken Schwaber backs Scrum.org, I felt it had the necessary credibility behind its credentials.
Why did I pursue ANY Scrum-aligned credential after getting my ACP and DAD ones? Well, unfortunately many recruiters and hiring managers don't take the time to understand the different flavors of agile delivery approaches and hence having at least one with Scrum in the name would avoid me getting eliminated from a bid out of hand...
Kiron
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Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Personally, I chose Scrum.org b/c the company is founded by the writer's of the Scrum guide, with the exam is based specifically on the principles of the Scrum Guide. The exam does not require a class, or renewal, you do not have to pay to be part of the Scrum.org community, the exam was relatively difficult; requiring strong result and was timed. With that, I felt the exam and organization was more reputable, though maybe not as recognized as another organization, and I'm proud to have taken this route.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Feb 15, 2018 6:50 AM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Couldn't have said it any better myself Andrew, and I totally agree with you.
Have you look at Agile in the PRINCE2?
PRINCE2 is not yet recognize in North America in my opinion.
Vincent - I've steered clear of Prince2 and its agile cousin to date so there'd need to be a pretty compelling reason for me to look at it. Out of 150+ clients I've worked with in the North America, only one had implemented Prince2 as their methodology of choice.
Kiron
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2 replies by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD and Vincent Guerard
Feb 15, 2018 6:52 AM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Wow Kiron that's interesting that you only ran into Prince2 once. Over here its about 60% Prince2 and 40% PMP just looking at the job ads. But safe to say around 50/50.
Feb 15, 2018 8:52 PM
Vincent Guerard
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Kiron,
PRINCE2 is not more popular in the province to the Est, just a few organisation use it.
Thank you very much for publish your experience. Just a question, why do you choose Scrum.org certification? If for market demand proposes? Thanks.
Sergio -
Great question!
I did not want to take a course to earn a credential, hence Scrum Alliance's CSM was out. And as Andrew said, since Ken Schwaber backs Scrum.org, I felt it had the necessary credibility behind its credentials.
Why did I pursue ANY Scrum-aligned credential after getting my ACP and DAD ones? Well, unfortunately many recruiters and hiring managers don't take the time to understand the different flavors of agile delivery approaches and hence having at least one with Scrum in the name would avoid me getting eliminated from a bid out of hand...
Kiron
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Feb 15, 2018 8:52 AM
Sergio Luis Conte
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Thank you very much Kiron. That is the answer I am looking for mainly when it comes from people like you. It helps me a lot.
Personally, I chose Scrum.org b/c the company is founded by the writer's of the Scrum guide, with the exam is based specifically on the principles of the Scrum Guide. The exam does not require a class, or renewal, you do not have to pay to be part of the Scrum.org community, the exam was relatively difficult; requiring strong result and was timed. With that, I felt the exam and organization was more reputable, though maybe not as recognized as another organization, and I'm proud to have taken this route.
Couldn't have said it any better myself Andrew, and I totally agree with you.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Feb 15, 2018 9:58 AM
Rami Kaibni
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I fully agree too and those were the reasons I went that way too.
Vincent - I've steered clear of Prince2 and its agile cousin to date so there'd need to be a pretty compelling reason for me to look at it. Out of 150+ clients I've worked with in the North America, only one had implemented Prince2 as their methodology of choice.
Kiron
Wow Kiron that's interesting that you only ran into Prince2 once. Over here its about 60% Prince2 and 40% PMP just looking at the job ads. But safe to say around 50/50. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Another thing to keep in mind is that many organizations are deciding with an Agile Transformation. SAFe is gaining a lot of traction. I want to remain a student of the profession to make sure I am marketable regardless. I currently have a client that is currently implementing SAFe and recently moved on from an organization that was doing the same.
@Sante - thanks :)
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Feb 15, 2018 10:37 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Andrew -
SAFe tempts me too from a market share perspective but the cost of attaining and maintaining certification is pretty steep when converted to Canadian dollars. Also, I have run across very few companies which do a full implementation of any of the four SAFe configurations given how significant the organization role and process changes involved are.
Kiron
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William BarbieriSenior Project Management Consultant/President| Quantum Network Consulting, LLCProvidence, Ri, United States
Congratulations Kiron on your new certification! I passed the PMI-ACP exam last March and now enrolled in an A-CSM class. I am not sure if and/or when I will stop pursuing certifications but thank you for sharing your experiences. It is very helpful information!
