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Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) vs PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Beginner

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Scrum Alliance

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Costs

Exam fee1.295,00 $
Study time~16h
Renewal2 year(s)

Editorial summary (4 sources)

Editor
HR Value
3.5
Worth Cost
2.0
Learning Value
3.3
75%recommend

Aggregated from public discussion (3 sources). Not a replacement for community reviews. Updated .

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Intermediate

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Project Management Institute (PMI)

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Costs

Exam fee495,00 $
Study time~80h
Renewal3 year(s)

Editorial summary (4 sources)

Editor
HR Value
3.3
Worth Cost
2.3
Learning Value
4.0
100%recommend

Aggregated from public discussion (3 sources). Not a replacement for community reviews. Updated .

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Verdict: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) vs PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Editorial verdict

Based on 8 editorial summary entries, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) wins 3 of 4 measured dimensions. The right choice depends on your career direction — see the decision matrix below.This verdict uses aggregated editorial summaries from public discussion. Real community reviews will replace these once they accumulate.

HR signal

→ Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

3.5/5 vs 3.3/5

Worth cost

→ PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

2.0/5 vs 2.3/5

Learning

→ PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

3.3/5 vs 4.0/5

Recommend

→ PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

75% vs 100%

When to choose which

→Tightest budget: PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) (495,00 $ vs 1.295,00 $ exam fee).
→Lowest 6-year total cost (with renewals): PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) (~615,00 $ vs ~1.595,00 $).
→Easier entry point: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) (beginner vs intermediate).
→Working primarily in Scrum Alliance's ecosystem: choose Certified ScrumMaster (CSM).
Working primarily in Project Management Institute (PMI)'s ecosystem: choose PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP).
→Maximum HR signal: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) (community-rated higher on HR value).

Cost over 6 years (with renewals)

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

Initial exam1.295,00 $
3× renewal × 100,00 $300,00 $
6-year total1.595,00 $

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

Initial exam495,00 $
2× renewal × 60,00 $120,00 $
6-year total615,00 $

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