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Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) vs Project Management Professional (PMP)

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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Expert

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Project Management Institute (PMI)

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Costs

Exam fee555,00 $
Study time~100h
Renewal3 year(s)

Editorial summary (5 sources)

Editor
HR Value
4.2
Worth Cost
2.0
Learning Value
3.4
80%recommend

Aggregated from public discussion (2 sources). Not a replacement for community reviews. Updated .

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Verdict: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) vs Project Management Professional (PMP)

Editorial verdict

Based on 9 editorial summary entries, Project Management Professional (PMP) wins 3 of 3 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

→ Project Management Professional (PMP)

3.5/5 vs 4.2/5

Worth cost

tie

2.0/5 vs 2.0/5

Learning

→ Project Management Professional (PMP)

3.3/5 vs 3.4/5

Recommend

→ Project Management Professional (PMP)

75% vs 80%

When to choose which

→Tightest budget: Project Management Professional (PMP) (555,00 $ vs 1.295,00 $ exam fee).
→Lowest 6-year total cost (with renewals): Project Management Professional (PMP) (~675,00 $ vs ~1.595,00 $).
→Easier entry point: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) (beginner vs expert).
→Working primarily in Scrum Alliance's ecosystem: choose Certified ScrumMaster (CSM).
Working primarily in Project Management Institute (PMI)'s ecosystem: choose Project Management Professional (PMP).
→Maximum HR signal: Project Management Professional (PMP) (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 $

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Initial exam555,00 $
2× renewal × 60,00 $120,00 $
6-year total675,00 $

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