The guide level of certification (CSC and CST) is offered to those CSPs who have substantial experience in not only the use of Scrum but also in assisting others in being successful with Scrum. Becoming a guide is intentionally difficult because guides can play significant roles in helping both projects and organization transition to the successful use of Scrum.

Become a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST)

A Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) is CSP who is certified to teach ScrumMaster Certification courses. A CST is a person who not only has guide-level experience with Scrum, but has proven excellence as a classroom instructor/trainer.

  1. Complete application. The CST application is now available for download for Certified Scrum Practitioners who are applying for Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainer certification. If you are a CSP, login to download your CST application. (You must have been a CSP for at least one year before becoming a CST.)
    • Please complete this entire application. You should edit this Microsoft Word document to contain your answers. 
    • Applicants will be required to submit reference materials that clearly illustrate experience in helping others learn and use Scrum.
    • Applicants will be required to submit references and will have substantial requirements for the on-going maintenance of their certification.
    • Please feel free to include other documents along with your application package that you feel provide present your qualifications.
  2. Submit your complete CST application package to trainingcertification@scrumalliance.org. If you have any questions regarding this application, please send them to the same email address.
  3. Pay your $100 application fee.
    4. Please note: In 2008 the board is reviewing CST applications on July 1 and Nov 1.
    • Complete applications submitted by May 1 will be considered in July
    • Applications submitted by Sept 1 will be considered in November.
  4. The certifying committee recommends candidates to the Scrum Alliance Board for final approval. 
  5. Once you have been approved as a trainer (approval can take as long as four months), you will be asked to
    1. Pay a one-time fee of $7400 (enter discount code newcst).
    2. To maintain your active CST status, you will pay annual renewal fees of $7500, which includes the Scrum Alliance annual membership fee.
    3. Both fees are payable annually or quarterly.

Become a Certified Scrum Coach (CSC)

A Certified Scrum Coach (CSC) is a CSP who is certified to coach Scrum teams through the numerous issues that will arise when adopting and using Scrum. CSCs possess hard fought knowledge that is invaluable to projects and organizations as they apply Scrum to their software development efforts. CSCs have a history of success working with Scrum teams to help them understand and apply core Scrum concepts in the context of their specific environment. CSCs excel in helping teams find the proper solutions to the many issues that Scrum will reveal.

Below is a quick overview of the CSC Certification process, see the CSC Program document for more details on the program entry and renewal criteria, the review process and the Professional Development Units (PDUs) required for renewal.

  1. Verify you meet the CSC program requirements.
    • You have been a Certified Scrum Practitioner for at least one year.
    • You have at least 1,500 hours of Scrum coaching over the past 5 years.
    • You have two client references who can verify your coaching experience.
    • You have been actively engaged in the Scrum Community over the past 3 years.
  2. Complete application. The CSC application is now available for download for Certified Scrum Practitioners who are applying for Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Coach certification. If you are a CSP, login to download your CSC application.
    • Please complete this entire application. You should edit the Microsoft Word document to contain your answers. 
    • Applicants will be required to submit two client reference letters that clearly illustrate experience in helping others learn and use Scrum.
    • Please feel free to include other documents along with your application package that you feel provide present your qualifications.
  3. Submit your complete CSC application package to coachingcertification@scrumalliance.org. If you have any questions regarding this application, please send them to the same email address.
  4. Pay your $100 application fee. From this point forward, the approval process could take as long as two months.
  5. The certifying committee recommends candidates to the Scrum Alliance Board for final approval. 
  6. Once you have been approved as a coach, you will be asked to pay a one-time fee of $650 (enter discount code newcsc).
    • To maintain your active CSC status, you will need to fill out a renewal application and pay annual renewal fees of $750, which includes the $50 Scrum Alliance annual membership fee.

Add Product Owner to Current CST Certification

Current Certified Scrum Trainers can now apply to teach Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) classes. Please login and click here for application details.