What is the Difference Between Certified Scrum Master and Project Management Professional?

 Certified Scrum Master Certification

Certified Scrum Master certification is the highest level of achievement in the field of project management. It requires ten years of experience working with agile software development and has completed at least six scrum ceremonies. They also must pass three difficult examinations to earn this status.

Project Management Professional

A Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate is awarded to individuals who complete 16 hours of continuing education courses and pass an exam on their knowledge base in project management subjects. The Scrum Master is a person who is responsible for the smooth, efficient, and successful implementation of a Scrum process.

An important difference between the Certified Scrum Master and a Project Management Professional is that a Certified Scrum Master is not just in charge of one project. They oversee the whole project life cycle, which includes managing all aspects of a product's development.

Certified Scrum Master has been trained in agile practices from different companies such as Microsoft, IBM, and Google. The Certified Scrum Master is focused on agile development techniques and experience, whereas Project Management Professional focuses on formal project planning and management techniques. A Certified Scrum Master might be a better fit for a project manager who wants to take on more responsibility, while PMP is better for someone who wants to manage projects from the beginning stages.

An individual with the Certified Scrum Master certification has completed all of the requirements to become a senior-level contributor in the software engineering field. A PMP credential does not require any experience, nor are they required to complete an equivalent amount of education or training.

The Final Thoughts

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification is not a project management certification. It is not required for project management roles, unlike the PMP certification. The CSM certification focuses on using agile methods to manage software development projects.