Top 4 Scrum Master Courses to Boost Team Productivity for IT Leaders

The Agile framework, Scrum, promotes flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement. In the fast-paced IT industry, it allows teams to respond to requirements that keep changing quickly. IT leaders, project managers, software engineers, or similar, must consider these Scrum Master courses to guide Agile teams effectively. 

The most sought-after Scrum Master certifications in India are from Scrum Alliance, Scrum.org, and Scaled Agile. The online training for such Scrum Master courses are available worldwide through authorised partners, some of which include Simplilearn, StarAgile, and others. 

Here are a few things to expect with Scrum Master certifications. 

Best Scrum Master Certification Providers	Scrum Alliance, Scrum.org, and Scaled Agile
Skills to Gain from Scrum Master Certifications	Agile best practices, Scrum Master core responsibilities, collaboration, emotional intelligence, change management, business strategy, product development, leadership.
Cost for Scrum Master Certification Exams	~ USD 200 (~INR 16,500) and above
Is Scrum Master Certification Renewal Necessary?	Yes, but not for most foundational-level Scrum Master courses
Authorised Online Training Partners	StarAgile, KPMG, Simplilearn, LeanPitch, KnowledgeHut, and more

From these, IT leaders of eight to 15 years in the field will find advanced certifications in Scrum. These certification bodies, especially Scrum Alliance, also have beginner to intermediate-level Scrum Master courses and certifications at intermediate level.  

So, whether you are looking to acquire advanced training or have a few years of experience as a project manager, choose from these Scrum Master courses. 

1. Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) | Scrum Alliance

Scrum Alliance is a global member-based global organisation. This is at the base level of its three certifications. This one has no eligibility requirements like the other two. 

The reason for putting this Scrum master certification on top is to help those at the beginning of a project management career or already a software engineer aspiring to lead their organisations shortly.  

You can choose various official partners for the training depending on your location. In India, you have plenty. The one listed here is the LeanPitch platform. You have to register for the virtual training workshop covering real-world scenarios.

More details below. 

Course Name	Certified Scrum Master training from LeanPitch
Duration	16 hours
Authorised Training Partner	LeanPitch
Cost for training and exam	INR 16,899
Trainer(s)	Apeksha Patel -  Enterprise Coach and Certified Scrum Trainer
Skills Gained	Identify Scrum Team needs, support Product Owner, follow development practices

Key Takeaways for IT Leaders in the Making

The CSM certification follows pre-defined learning objectives. Some key ones include understanding the Agile Manifesto, and Scrum Alliance’s own guide to the framework. 

The competencies that this certification helps with are Scrum, Scrum Master Core Competencies, and Service to the Scrum Team, Product Owner, and Organization. 

Note: Since this is a foundational Scrum Master certification, you can follow along the learning track and get into the Professional one. 

How Will CSM Course Boost Team Productivity?

1. You will be able to define what responsibilities you have towards the team, developers, organisation, etc. 
2. The training will help you perform Sprint Planning and Sprint Review.
3. You will facilitate group discussions and more. 

2. Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II (PSM II) | Scrum.org

This is a fine advanced Scrum Master certification course. The recognising body is Scrum.org, which offers live online training with partners all over the world. 

The PSPO II training and certification is ideal for product owners. 

If you are one, the course considers your knowledge of bridging the gap between strategy and agile product management. That aspect is covered in the first course, ie., Professional Scrum Product Owner I certification, and it is recommended you earn this one too. 

Course Name	Professional Scrum Product Owner II Certification
Duration	2 days or more
Authorised Training Partner	Agile Ways of Working
Cost for training and exam	USD 250
Skills Gained	Decision-making, customer and product alignment, collaboration

Key Takeaways for IT Leaders

The PSPO II certification highlights your real-world knowledge of managing an Agile oriented organisation. 

You will also be able to demonstrate your responsibilities towards the Scrum team, as you are the product leader. 

How Will PSPO II Course Boost Team Productivity?

• Gather a case-study-based understanding of empiricism, Scrum values, team roles, and events.
• Make sure that workflows are smoother with transparent communication.
• You will showcase evidence-based management. Your decisions will align with long-term strategies. This way, you can reduce wasted effort. 

3. Advanced Certified ScrumMaster | Scrum Alliance 

This certification course requires the foundational CSM certificate that aligns with Scrum Alliance’s Agile framework and learning objectives. Twelve months of work experience is also necessary. 

Completing this Scrum Master course and certification, you will be able to boost team involvement, accountability, and commitment.

Learn more. 

Course Name	Advanced Certified ScrumMaster
Duration	2 days
Authorised Training Partner	KnowledgeHut
Cost for training and exam	USD 1,299 (Approx. INR 1,09,481.58)
Skills Gained	Company-wide scrum adoption, change management, etc.

Key Takeaways for IT Leaders

The Scrum Master course delves into collaboration best practices among product owners, teams, customers, stakeholders, and executives. 

You will be to provide maximum value delivery. Not only that, but also improve developer engagement to boost accountability and commitment. 

How Will A-CSM Boost Team Productivity?

1. Spot resistance in the organisation and consequently work on effective measures that make transitions smoother. 
2. Promote Agile values and principles for consistent and long-term team productivity. 

4. SAFe Advanced Scrum Master | Scaled Agile

This course for Scrum Master aligns with SAFe's own Agile framework and learning objectives. It’s ideal for Scrum Masters to deepen expertise and amplify their impact on Agile teams and organisations.

Address conflicts, optimise team flow, and cultivate high-performing teams with this advanced course with micro-credentials. 

Course Name	SAFe Advanced Scrum Master
Duration	1 day or more
Cost for training and exam	Varies among vendors.
Skills Gained	Advanced facilitation, team performance measurement, SAFe ART implementation

Key Takeaways for IT Leaders

You will be able to focus on collaboration and resolve team conflicts effectively.

Using the SAFe principles, you can implement strategies to measure and accelerate team and Agile Release Train (ART) flow.

How Will SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Certification Boost Team Productivity?

• Reinforce Agile values to maintain a company culture of long-term productivity. 
• Apply practical frameworks to navigate and streamline organisational transitions. 

Are These Scrum Master Courses Worth It For IT Leaders?

Scrum Master certifications, be it, foundational or advanced, demonstrate the commitment to continuous improvement. This is the perfect example of leading by example. 

The training for the above certifications will help you utilise advanced Agile practices to lead in various aspects, including collaboration, resolving conflicts, and building high-performing teams.