Who should take the Scrum Master Certified (SMC) Exam

The Scrum Master Certified (SMC) Exam is targeted towards anyone out there aspiring to become a Scrum Master. The certification and training are suitable for members and managers of Scrum teams, teams transitioning to Scrum, and all other professionals who wish to pursue their career as Scrum Master.

The Agile approach has influenced the world by surprise. The demand for practitioners with experience in agile methodologies who can properly handle and implement agile projects has risen in agile software environments. One can be qualified in these techniques by having a Scrum Master Certification. At the same time, this qualification serves as concrete evidence for employers searching for people with these skills. So it is worth developing an interest in Scrum and take the Scrum Master Certified (SMC) Exam.

Rank vise

• Senior level Scrum Master: 75,000 - 150,000 USD
• Entry level Scrum Master: 50,000 - 70,000 USD

Difficulty in Writing Scrum Master Certified (SMC) Exam

In general, the Scrum Master Certified (SMC) Exam is not challenging at all. The key to any Agile method is practice. Agile methods demand empirical practice. They are very simple to read, understand and apply. The magic is in practice, in the application. That is where you observe, that is where the nuances come in, that is where you understand the practical challenges in your organization, and that is where you refine your knowledge and application of Agile. Certifications are only meant as an advertisement of your knowledge, a formalization, and not a necessary end in itself. If however one is taking the certification exam without prior practice and no foundation of empirical observation it is going to be tricky. If you have practiced Scrum for about 4-6 iterations before taking the training and also before taking the certification exam, it is not difficult at all. Scrum Master Certified (SMC) is a privileged achievement one could be graced with. Sample questions and study guides make sure to cover the entire course content.

Topics of Scrum Master Certified (SMC) Exam

The following topics are part of the Scrum Master Certified (SMC) Exam that a candidate must have a firm grip on, to pass the exam:

1. Agile Overview

Developing self-organizing and cross-functional teams to discover requirements and develop solutions. Valuing individuals and interaction, customer collaboration, accomodating changes over time and focus on working software rather than comprehensive documentation. Using agile methods like Scrum and Kanban to manage focus on workflow. Differentiating between Agile and traditional waterfall methodology.

This section constitutes of the following subtopics:

• The Importance and boost of Agile
• Interdependence Declaration
• Comparison of Agile and Traditional methodology
• The Manifesto of the Agile
• Methods of Agile
• Agile Manifesto Principles

2. Scrum Overview

Developing an agile framework to break the task in timeboxed iterations (sprints). Encourage teams to learn through interactions, to coordinate themselves when working on an issue, and to focus on wins and losses to constantly improve. Overview of a series of discussions, methods, and roles that work together to help teams coordinate and handle their work.

This section constitutes of the following subtopics:

• Advantages of Scrum
• Characteristics of Scrum
• Principles of Scrum
• Processes of Scrum

3. Scrum Roles

Learning clearly defined roles of individuals in Scrum to improve efficiency. Scrum roles define the main responsibilities for those on the team. Roles in Scrum aren't job titles. Empiricism, self-organization, and constant development are the core of Scrum. The Scrum roles, therefore, include a minimum description of responsibilities and accountability to encourage teams to conduct work effectively. Scrum Roles can be divided into two main categories; Core and Non-core. The core roles are further divided and described below:

• Scrum Team
• Scrum Master
• Product Owner

4. Phases of Scrum Project

Learning the main processes and phases involved in Scrum. These phases can be divided into 3 main groups namely pregame, game and postgame. The phases are listed below:

• Retrospect
• Implementation
• Estimation and Planning
• Initiation
• Review
• Release

5. Scaling Scrum

Scaling is becoming more effective as you grow. This refers to connecting several teams to deliver complex solutions that need proper coordinated working. The larger the size of a team, the greater the contact lines between team members, making it more difficult to establish trust and a shared goal. Scaling scrum will, therefore, help to establish personal relationships and maintain desired results. Scaling scrum comprises of the following contents:

• Significance of Executive Support
• Maintaining Traditional Roles to Scrum
• Use of Scrum in Portfolios and Programs
• Scrum Scalability
• Maintaining Stakeholder Engagement
• Mapping to Scrum from Traditional Roles
• Transition to Scrum
• Scrum of Scrums (SoS) Meeting

6. Mock Product Development

Develop mock product using the skills learned to practice agile development

7. Case Studies

Using simulated case studies to gain experience in carrying out a Scrum project

Reference: https://www.scrumstudy.com/certification/scrum-master-certification