The Professional Scrum Master certification is touted as the best credential for individuals willing to expand their career in the niche of Scrum and Agile. Accredited by Scrum.org, the PSM certification validates one’s expertise in Scrum principles, frameworks, and practices.
If you’re wondering how the PSM certification adds value to your resume, we’ve got you covered. This blog will highlight the benefits of this certification & help you decide if the PSM certification is worth your time and money.
1. Validates your Scrum Expertise
The PSM certification helps you find out what are the roles and responsibilities of Scrum team members, Scrum Masters, and Product Owners. You’ll learn how to conduct sprint planning, sprint retrospectives, sprint reviews, and daily scrums. The theoretical and practical training will teach you how to apply techniques such as release planning, estimation, and user stories.
2. Boost Risk Management Skills
As a PSM certified professional you’ll learn how to brainstorm and discuss potential risks at the time of sprint planning meetings. You’ll gain the skills necessary to maintain a risk register and inspect it, gauge how each risk can affect the project, brainstorm mitigation strategies to prevent risks and track the status of risks during the sprint cycle.
It helps individuals develop strong problem-solving and analytical skills to control any deviations from standard levels. To manage these deviations, professionals can teach the team members to allocate additional resources, reduce scope, and modify work estimates when necessary.
3. Increased Salary and Job Opportunities
A PSM certification can work wonders, when it comes to opening up new job opportunities or boosting your resume. A PSM-certified professional’s salary is relatively higher than non-certified individuals. As per the ‘State of Scrum’ salary report released by Scrum Alliance, the average salary of a PSM certificate holder is $1,30,000.
A candidate holding a PSM certificate can expect to earn 13% to 15% more than non-certified professionals. The PSM certification is a lucrative option for candidates aspiring to become Product Owner, Agile Coach, Scrum Master, and so on.
4. Boosts your Coaching and Leadership Skills
Having a PSM certification showcases you are capable of handling complex projects within an Agile environment. Candidates with good soft skills and strong leadership qualities find it easy to motivate and coach team members towards a common goal.
You’ll learn how to evaluate team dynamics and find out reasons that impact team collaboration. The PSM certification teaches you how to maintain a clear chain of communication and improve team bonding. Most importantly, you can practice active listening. With the help of mediation and active listening skills, you’ll find it easy to address conflicts.
Is it Worth It?
Yes, the PSM certification is highly valuable for professionals willing to ace up their careers in Scrum and Agile. The certification showcases your proficiency in the application of Scrum principles and commitment towards continuous learning. Having this certification will help you stand out in the competitive job market. To derive the best results out of the Advanced PSM certification, you should improve your practical expertise by engaging in interactive workshops and Agile communities.
Conclusion
Although a PSM certification helps you to succeed in your career, it’s important to consider the cost and time involved. While it’s possible to prepare for PSM I at an affordable cost and within shorter timeframes, advanced levels like PSM III and II require a huge investment.
