No—you cannot take the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) test without first completing an approved Scrum Alliance course. Scrum Alliance says the required course is 16 hours and must be taught live online or in person by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). Neither prior Scrum experience nor another agile certification substitutes for that course, and course completion is what unlocks the online test.
Can you register directly for the CSM test?
No. The CSM is different from certifications that let you buy an exam voucher and self-study independently. Scrum Alliance’s current course-requirement guidance says there is no option to skip the required course or apply directly to take the online test.
That rule has two practical consequences. First, a third-party practice test, a company’s internal agile training, or a prior role as a Scrum Master does not create test access. Second, the course decision is part of the certification decision: before comparing practice resources, make sure the class is an approved CSM offering taught by a Scrum Alliance CST.
What course do you need before the CSM exam?
Scrum Alliance requires a 16-hour CSM course with a Certified Scrum Trainer. The course may be live online or in person. After successful completion, the trainer creates your Scrum Alliance account, which is how you gain access to the online CSM test.
Use Scrum Alliance’s official CSM course page and Course Search to verify the provider rather than relying only on a marketplace listing. A course may use “Scrum Master” in its marketing without being an approved route to the CSM credential. The official course listing is the check that matters.
What does not replace the required course?
- Prior experience as a Scrum Master, project manager, developer, or product owner.
- A Professional Scrum Master, PMI-ACP, SAFe, or other agile credential.
- A self-paced Scrum video course or a free reading plan.
- A non-approved class that is not taught by a Scrum Alliance CST.
This is a certification-access rule, not a judgment about your existing knowledge. You may arrive with years of agile experience and still need the approved course to take this particular test. If you want a route without a mandatory class, compare the credential paths rather than assuming that CSM works like every other Scrum certification; our CSM vs. PSM comparison explains that difference.
What happens after you complete the course?
Your trainer submits your information to Scrum Alliance. You then receive a welcome email with an account-activation link. From your dashboard, you can start the CSM test. Scrum Alliance describes the test as online and not proctored at an in-person location, but course attendance remains mandatory before that step.
The test itself has 50 multiple-choice questions. You have one hour, and you must answer 37 questions correctly to meet the 74% passing score. Those facts matter when you plan the course-to-test gap: the test is short, but it is not a casual quiz you should take before reviewing the course’s learning objectives and the Scrum Guide.
The 90-day and two-attempt window
After the initial welcome email, Scrum Alliance gives candidates 90 days to take the test at no cost and includes two free attempts. If you use both attempts or take the test after the 90-day deadline, Scrum Alliance says each additional attempt costs $25 until you pass. The current CSM test guidance is the source of record for those terms.
The useful planning distinction is simple: the course is the access gate, while your review period is the time between course completion and the first attempt. Do not confuse the two. Completing class gives you a 90-day window; it does not mean you need to take the test the same evening.
Live online versus in-person: which formats count?
Both formats can count when they are approved CSM courses taught by a CST. Scrum Alliance specifically describes the required course as live online or in person. “Online” is not the problem; an unverified format or provider is. A live online course can be the correct route if it appears in the official course search and is delivered by the listed Scrum Alliance trainer.
Choose format based on the kind of participation you will realistically use. An in-person class may make peer discussion and scheduled focus easier. A live online class may be the better fit when travel would make attendance impractical. Either way, verify the course’s trainer, schedule, and whether the advertised price includes test access before paying. Our online versus in-person CSM training guide covers the trade-offs in more depth.
How much does the required CSM course cost?
There is no single CSM course price set by Scrum Alliance. Its CSM page lists a current range of $250 to $2,495 USD and explains that trainers set prices, which can vary by region, format, and other market factors. That is why two approved courses can have very different prices without one automatically being illegitimate.
Compare the full registration package, not just the headline price. Scrum Alliance says CSM registration includes the 16-hour training course, access to the CSM test and certification account, a complimentary two-year Scrum Alliance membership, and training materials supplied by the training company. Individual trainers may offer different agendas, resources, or post-course support, so read the course details before treating two prices as equivalent.
A course-verification checklist before you enroll
- Find the course in Scrum Alliance Course Search. That confirms it is an approved path to CSM certification.
- Confirm the trainer is a Certified Scrum Trainer. A generic “agile instructor” label is not the same credential.
- Confirm the course is live online or in person and meets the 16-hour requirement.
- Read what the registration includes. Verify test access, materials, schedule, and any stated support.
- Plan the first test attempt inside the 90-day window. Reserve time after class to revisit the Scrum Guide and course learning objectives.
This checklist is the practical reason the course rule deserves its own page. It prevents a costly mistake: paying for training that improves Scrum knowledge but does not qualify you to access the CSM test.
CSM course requirement FAQs
Can I take the CSM exam if I already have Scrum experience?
No. Scrum Alliance says prior experience does not substitute for the approved 16-hour CSM course required to access the test.
Can I take a self-paced CSM course and then take the exam?
Not for CSM test access. The required CSM course must be live online or in person with a Certified Scrum Trainer.
Does the CSM course price include the exam?
Scrum Alliance says course registration includes access to the CSM test and two free attempts within the first 90 days after the welcome email. Confirm the individual course listing before enrolling.
Use the course as the start of your CSM preparation
The required class is the gateway to the test, but it is also where the framework, learning objectives, and scenario discussions become usable. After class, use the complete CSM study guide to organize your review and the CSM exam-format breakdown to plan the one-hour test window. The site’s CSM Study Guide page lists the companion PDF resources; check its current availability before relying on it for your schedule.
For interactive practice after the course, SimpuTech’s CSM study coach can quiz you on roles, events, artifacts, and scenario logic, then focus the next session on the concepts you miss.
CSM course and test details verified against Scrum Alliance on August 6, 2026. Course availability, pricing, test terms, and certification policies can change—confirm current details with Scrum Alliance before enrolling.