By Quick answer: Which agile or Scrum certification is best in 2027?
- Scrum Master — PSM I or CSM.
- Experienced agile PM — PMI-ACP.
- Beginner — Google Project Management.
- Hybrid — PMP covers agile and predictive.
Key takeaways
- PSM I and CSM are both widely accepted; choose by learning style and budget.
- PMI-ACP needs experience, so it signals more seniority.
- Practise facilitation; Scrum Master interviews test it.
Agile certifications split into two camps: Scrum Master credentials, which prove you know the framework, and broader agile credentials, which prove experience. This list covers both and explains the PSM-versus-CSM choice that most people get stuck on.
Six agile certifications at a glance
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum.org | Check the official page1 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 2 | Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)Scrum Alliance | Included in a 2-day course price2 | 16-hour course, then a 50-question test | Free test |
| 3 | PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)PMI | $435 PMI members / $495 non-members3 | 180 minutes, 120 questions | Free test |
| 4 | Google Project Management Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan4 | 6 months at 10 hours a week | Free test |
| 5 | PMP – Project Management ProfessionalPMI | $425 PMI members / $675 non-members5 | 240 minutes, 180 questions | Free test |
| 6 | ITIL 4 FoundationPeopleCert / AXELOS | Check the official page6 | Check issuer | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- PSM I Practice TestPractise for Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) before you pay.Start free test →
- CSM Practice TestPractise for Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) before you pay.Start free test →
- PMI-ACP Practice ExamPractise for PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) before you pay.Start free test →
- Project Management Fundamentals CertificationPractise for Google Project Management Professional Certificate before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and the agile role it fits
- Scrum.orgProfessional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Exam-only Scrum proofCheck the official page
- Scrum AllianceCertified ScrumMaster (CSM)Course-based Scrum MasterIncluded in a 2-day course price
- PMIPMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)Experienced agile practitioners$435 PMI members / $495 non-members
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Cost
- Check the official page1
Scrum.org's exam-only credential: no course required. Study the free Scrum Guide and book the exam. It doesn't expire. Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master I is exam-only, with no course required, and it doesn't expire. Study the free Scrum Guide and practise before booking; check Scrum.org's page for the current fee.
Best forexam-only Scrum proof
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Cost
- Included in a 2-day course price2
- Format
- 16-hour course, then a 50-question test
Scrum Alliance's credential, earned through a 16-hour course and a 50-question test. The course price varies by trainer. Scrum Alliance's Certified ScrumMaster is earned through a 16-hour, trainer-led course and a 50-question test. The price is set by the trainer, it renews every two years, and it's widely named in Scrum Master posts.
Best forcourse-based Scrum Master
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
- Cost
- $435 PMI members / $495 non-members3
- Format
- 180 minutes, 120 questions
- Entry
- 2+ years of experience and 21 hours of agile training
PMI's agile credential: 120 questions in three hours, with two years of experience and 21 hours of agile training required. PMI's agile credential is a 180-minute, 120-question exam covering several agile approaches. It needs two or more years of experience and 21 hours of agile training and costs $435 for PMI members or $495.
Best forexperienced agile practitioners
Google Project Management Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan4
- Time
- 6 months at 10 hours a week
Teaches traditional and agile basics, including Scrum, for beginners. About six months part-time. Google's professional certificate teaches traditional and agile project management for beginners, about six months at ten hours a week. It can meet CAPM's 23-hour education requirement, and financial aid is available.
Best foragile basics for beginners
PMP – Project Management Professional
- Cost
- $425 PMI members / $675 non-members5
- Format
- 240 minutes, 180 questions
- Entry
- 3–5 years leading projects (by education) plus 35 hours of training
The current PMP exam covers agile and hybrid approaches as well as predictive ones, useful for hybrid project roles. PMI's Project Management Professional is a 240-minute, 180-question exam covering predictive, agile and hybrid approaches. It needs 3–5 years leading projects plus 35 hours of training and costs $425 for PMI members or $675.
Best forhybrid project roles
ITIL 4 Foundation
- Cost
- Check the official page6
ITIL 4 includes agile and value-stream ideas for IT service teams. PeopleCert's ITIL 4 Foundation covers the core concepts of IT service management and continual improvement. It's foundation-level, quick to prepare for and especially common in IT service roles in the UK and Australia.
Best foragile IT service teams
PSM I or CSM?
| PSM I | CSM | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Scrum.org | Scrum Alliance |
| Course required | No | Yes, 16 hours |
| Renewal | None | Every two years |
| Best for | Self-learners | People who want a trainer |
Table: PSM I and CSM compared
How we ranked these picks
We ranked agile certifications by job-post recognition and fit to agile roles. This category has fewer credible options than ten, so we list six. Fees and formats come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which Scrum certification is best?
PSM I and CSM are both widely accepted. PSM I is exam-only; CSM includes a course.
Is PMI-ACP worth it?
Yes for experienced agile practitioners. It requires two years of experience, so it signals seniority.
Can I become a Scrum Master without experience?
Many start as team members or coordinators first. PSM I or CSM plus facilitation practice helps.
Does PSM I expire?
No. Scrum.org's PSM I does not require renewal. CSM renews every two years.
Is there a free Scrum practice test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free Scrum Master and agile practice tests with instant results.
Sources
- Scrum.org — Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum Alliance — Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Project Management Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMP – Project Management Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PeopleCert — ITIL 4 Foundation, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best Agile & Scrum Certifications of 2027: Top 10 Ranked — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 agile and Scrum certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones agile job posts nameThe top 5 agile and Scrum certifications to get hired in 2027: Certified ScrumMaster, PSM I, PMI-ACP, PMP and ITIL 4, matched to agile job titles.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best project management certifications of 2027: ten from first project to programme leadThe 10 best project management certifications of 2027: PMP, CAPM, Google PM, PMI-ACP, CSM, PSM I, ITIL 4, Six Sigma and more, with verified fees.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The agile and Scrum certification roadmap for 2027: from beginner to expertAn agile and Scrum certification roadmap for 2027: Google PM basics, PSM I or CSM, PMI-ACP with experience, then PMP for hybrid leadership.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Agile and Scrum certifications for beginners: five best for 2027The 5 best agile and Scrum certifications for beginners in 2027: PSM I, Certified ScrumMaster, Google Project Management, CAPM and ITIL 4 Foundation.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 certifications for project managers in 2027: PMI, agile, AI and specialistThe top 10 certifications for project managers in 2027: PMP, PMI-ACP, PSM I, CSM, CAPM, ITIL 4, Six Sigma, AI for Business, GenAI Leader and PL-300.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) review for 2027: is it worth it, who it's for and the best alternativesCertified ScrumMaster review for 2027: two-day course plus test, cost by trainer, renewal, job value and how it compares with PSM I.
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