Scrum.org vs Scrum Alliance

There are quite a few articles online comparing both the organizations/platforms distributing these Scrum Master, Product Owner certifications. 

9 out of 10 times these articles have been written by interested parties who have a dog in this fight as to which type of certification gets more preference/prestige. Full disclosure, I have a PSPO - 1 certification from Scrum.org.

In my experience, obtaining this certification from Scrum.org required me to gain 100% familiarity with the Scrum Guide. I had to find out all the details about the examination, prepare for it, select a date and appear. The minimum passing score was 85%. You score less than that and you don’t get a certificate and quite a substantial amount of your money has gone down the drain. This is the reason I had to be doubly sure prior to appearing for the examination - that I have the capability of passing it. I purchased several mock tests as well in anticipation of my final exam that was to be conducted by Scrum.org. I did all this because I was wary of the very real possibility of me failing the exam and losing the money. 

With ScrumAlliance.org however, I don’t have that much clarity, but apparently there, you sit through a few classes for a couple days, get some online material which you are to study and just give the exam. If I’m not much mistaken, there is no cooldown period between the “coaching” phase of the certification and the “examination“ phase. You have to do them immediately one after other. There is a plethora of study material available with lots question and answer pairs for self-evaluation purposes. It’s not unheard of these questions getting repeated verbatim in the exams conducted forward. The passing percentage required is a paltry 60%. The success rate is 98%. Makes me wonder of which “gems“ fall in the remaining 2% who can’t manage to pass even in this situation. In any case, previously empty resumes get beefed up over the weekend this way. “Instant Karma“, John Lennon said; this is obtaining “Instant Expertise“.

I am not cheerleading Scrum.org certification above anyone else, especially when I don’t have clarity regarding the specifics of what the acquisition of a ScrumAlliance.org certificate entails.

All I know is - Since it is I who have done the Scrum.org certification, naturally it must be better. Axiomatically. 

BTW No prospect of the successsful completion of PSPO - 2 anywhere on the horizon for me. It’s just too vast, difficult and time consuming (at least for me) and shall require a sustained effort. Kinda makes me think and be envious of all the candidates who breeze through like dozens of these certifications without breaking a sweat.

Hey, that reminds me - ScrumAlliance.org certifications also need to be renewed periodically (every 2-3 years) by paying a certain fee. This is mandatory for all conferees of all their certificates. Not a requirement with Scrum.org, whose certifications have a lifetime validity.

“नाही खर्चली कवडीदमडी, नाही वेचला दाम … विकत घेतला श्याम, बाई मी विकत घेतला श्याम !“

विकत घेतला Scrum.