PSM I vs PSM II: Which Scrum Master Certification Should You Take?

Scrum.org offers two Scrum Master levels that matter in practice: the PSM I and the PSM II. The naming suggests a simple progression, the same exam one notch harder. That is not what the PSM II is. Here is what actually separates the two exams, and which one is right for you.

The short answer

New to Scrum or early in the role: take the PSM I. It validates that you understand the framework, and it is the credential employers filter for.
Working as a Scrum Master with real experience: the PSM II is the meaningful next step. It tests judgment in messy situations, not Scrum Guide recall.

What both exams share

Both are Scrum.org assessments with the same basic rules:

85% passing score
No mandatory course: you buy a password and take the exam online
Valid for life: no renewal fees, no education credits

The differences are in format, price, and above all in what is being tested.

PSM I: the fundamentals

The Professional Scrum Master I checks whether you understand Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide 2020:

80 questions in 60 minutes (multiple choice, multiple answer, true/false)
$200 per attempt
At most 12 wrong answers to stay above 85%

Questions are precise: accountabilities, timeboxes, commitments, empiricism, self-management. With focused preparation, most candidates are ready within a few weeks. Our PSM I pass guide lays out a realistic study plan.

PSM II: judgment over knowledge

The Professional Scrum Master II assumes the framework knowledge and tests whether you can apply it as a practitioner:

30 questions in 90 minutes
85% passing score
$250 per attempt

The format looks friendlier: fewer questions, far more time per question. The exam is not friendlier. Most questions describe a realistic team or organizational scenario and ask what you would do. Several options sound plausible, and the best answer depends on Scrum values, empiricism, and a working understanding of servant leadership. That is hard to fake with reading alone, which is why Scrum.org positions the PSM II for Scrum Masters with at least a year of hands-on experience.

Why the PSM II is a different league

The PSM I rewards good studying. The PSM II rewards practice: facilitating a tense retrospective, coaching a Product Owner under stakeholder pressure, helping an organization stop interfering with a self-managing team.

Candidates who have never done this work often find the scenario questions ambiguous, because two answers can both sound agile while only one reflects how Scrum actually works. Each of the 30 questions carries real weight, and there is little room for lucky guesses on terminology.

Do you need the PSM I first?

Formally, no. Scrum.org lets you buy the PSM II assessment without holding any prior certification.

In practice, yes. The PSM II builds directly on the Scrum Guide knowledge the PSM I verifies. Skipping straight to level II only makes sense if you already work as a Scrum Master and know the framework cold. For everyone else, the PSM I is the foundation, and passing it first tells you whether your Guide knowledge is solid enough for scenario questions.

Which one should you take?

Career changer, student, or developer moving toward the role: PSM I. It is the recognized entry credential and the cheapest proof of knowledge.
Scrum Master with a year or more of practice: PSM II, ideally after a strong PSM I.
Job hunting right now: PSM I. It shows up in far more job postings, and HR filters rarely demand level II.
Already certified and want to grow: the PSM II is the honest test of whether your experience matches your knowledge.

Before you pay for an attempt

A real attempt costs $200 for the PSM I and $250 for the PSM II, and a failed retake costs the same again. Practicing under exam conditions first is the cheaper insurance.

For the PSM I, start with our free 20-question practice exam to find your baseline, then train with the PSM I package: full 80-question simulations with explanations for every question. All options are listed on the pricing page.