What is the Scrum Alliance?
The Scrum Alliance is a global non-profit organization founded in 2001, dedicated to promoting Scrum and agile practices. Based in Colorado, USA, they offer certifications for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Developers, and Agile Leaders through their network of Certified Scrum Trainers.
Scrum Alliance Certifications
Scrum Alliance offers multi-level certification paths:
- Scrum Master: CSM → A-CSM → CSP-SM
- Product Owner: CSPO → A-CSPO → CSP-PO
- Developer: CSD → A-CSD → CSP-D
- Leadership: CAL-1 → CAL-2 → CTC/CEC
These certifications require live training from their accredited trainers and come with a 2-year renewal cycle. To maintain active certification, members must earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs) and pay renewal fees every two years.
We No Longer Offer Scrum Alliance Certifications
Agile Academy has transitioned fully to our own certification program: Certified by Agile Academy. We made this change because we believe the traditional certification model has significant limitations:
Scrum Alliance limitations:
- Renewal fees every 2 years
- Only available through live training (no self-paced option)
- Limited to Scrum-focused roles
- Ongoing SEU tracking requirements
Certified by Agile Academy advantages:
- No renewal fees – Your certification never expires
- Multiple learning paths – Self-paced online, live training, or blended
- Beyond Scrum – Covers the full agility landscape: OKRs, Kanban, Design Thinking, Agile Leadership, and more
- Three clear levels – Understand → Apply → Teach
If you need a Scrum Alliance certification for a specific employer requirement, please get in touch. We can work with our ambassadors and partners to find a solution. But for most people, Certified by Agile Academy offers better value, more flexibility, and lifetime validity.
