Is it possible to sign-up, pay for and attend a Scrum Master certification class and not get certified?

Question

If you go to the class and pay for it, will you ever not get certified.

If thats the case... What exactly does it certify? That you have 2k, and can show up to a place for 2 days?

Answer 1

There is a test, and we've actually been making it more rigorous, but right now it would be kind of hard to complete the course and not be certified. CSM is really meant as a "good introduction" certification, not SCRUM Guru of Gurus.

Answer 2

As Joseph Pelrine, one of the most prominent certified Scrum Trainers, likes to say (as far as I know): the CSM doesn't really certify much more than that you have breathed the same air than a Scrum trainer for two days.

The value of the CSM really is in the course, not in the certificate.

Answer 3

This begs the question of whether training should even be coupled with certification. I am from the school of thought that says they should be decoupled...

Answer 4

I did the Scrum Master course last November and found the reading material recommended for the course, plus course slides, plus the course itself a worthwhile experience. I believe the knowledge learnt has proved useful.

There is an exam which must be passed before you can call yourself a Scrum Master. It was introduced not long before I took the course, and in November 2009 it was in 'Beta' which meant any one who took the exam passed. At the time I was told the 'Beta' would be ending sometime early this year, at which stage a pass mark would be set.

Its fair to say getting a Scrum Master qualification is not difficult. Its also fair to say the Scrum framework itself is pretty small and reading it could be completed in a few hours.

The hard part is actually implementing Scrum in practice, through the course the opportunity to ask questions about certain situations was probably the most valuable.