30/01/2023, 22:14 PMP vs CSM, which one should I get first?

Carlos Correia

PMP vs CSM, which one should I get

first?
Carlos Correia
Project Manager, Zetes + Follow
Published Nov 22, 2017

In this post I will give you a brief overview about two different certifications that you
can get to improve your overall knowledge in project management practice.

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® is the most important certification for
project managers and is recognized as the gold standard in project management.

The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is the most popular certification for Scrum and
from here you will get a better understanding of the agile values and Scrum
framework, including team roles, activities and artifacts.
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30/01/2023, 22:14 PMP vs CSM, which one should I get first?

These two certifications are very different in nature and form and the commitment
that you need to apply to successfully complete the certification is also different.
Let’s check some topics and compare both certifications.

Prerequisites
For PMP, if you have a secondary degree you need to have 7,500 hours leading and
directing projects and 35 hours of project management education. However, if you
have a degree you only need 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and also 35
hours of project management education.

For CSM you don’t have any prerequisite.

PMP requires previous project management experience.

CSM does not require any prerequisite

Study time
To successfully complete the PMP certification you will need 1 to 3 months (or even
more depending on your daily commitment) to be able to assimilate all information
that is on PMBOK and related materials. Passing the PMP exam is really challenging
and you need to be very well prepared.

To complete the CSM certification will only require 3 days from you. When you
apply to CSM you will need to attend a two-day class with a certified Scrum alliance
coach that will teach you the agile values and Scrum framework. After these two
days, you will be eligible to take the CSM exam. Preparing yourself for the exam will
only require one more day to consolidate the information that was provided during
the classes.

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30/01/2023, 22:14 PMP vs CSM, which one should I get first?

PMP +- 3 Months

CSM +- 3 Days

Exam
Both certifications have an electronic test with multiple-choice questions (one
question, four possible answers). However, the similarities between both exams end
here.

In PMP you need to execute the test in a PMI authorized facility that is monitored by
security cameras and you have no access to the internet. The exam lasts 4 hours and
contains 200 questions. There is no defined pass rate since the passing score for all
PMI credential examinations is determined by sound psychometric analysis, this
means that the passing score for each candidate is different and based on the overall
difficulty of that exam.

The CSM exam is available on the internet and you can execute it from anywhere
(e.g. home, office). You need to answer 35 questions in 1 hour and the pass rate is
69% (from 35 questions you need to answer 24 questions correctly). The exam has a
functionality that lets you pause the test and resume it later. The CSM exam is very
easy and you will probably pass on your first attempt.

PMP 200 question in 4 hours

CSM 35 questions in 1 hour

Which one should I take first?

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30/01/2023, 22:14 PMP vs CSM, which one should I get first?

As you saw the difficulty level is totally different in these certifications. In PMP you
really need to commit yourself and find time to study every day so you can absorb all
the information and pass the exam. In CSM you just need two days and you will be a
Certified ScrumMaster without any doubt.

However, both certifications have the power to boost your knowledge in project
management practice and give you different tools so you can apply what best fits
your organization and projects.

My personal advice is that you should start by taking the PMP certification. In this
journey, you will learn all the standards in project management practice around the
world and you will cover every aspect of any project (start project, planning project,
executing project, monitor project and close project).

After that if you are curious about agile values and Scrum framework, take the CSM
certification! In this certification, you will get some guidelines that are very important
for your daily activities, even if you don’t follow Scrum by the book. Keep in mind
that the Scrum framework can’t be applied in every project or organization (e.g.
decentralized team around the world) so don’t be frustrated if you can’t apply Scrum
in your projects right away. You will find useful information throughout the
framework (e.g. daily meetings, retrospective, estimation techniques). 

Please write your questions in the comments section if you want to know more about
these two certifications. I will be glad to help you.
159 · 40 Comments
Like Comment Share
Sarah Jane Murray 2mo
Do you recommend any particular online programs for Project Management
Education? The community colleges near me don't offer anything.
Like Reply
Kris Murray 3mo
I am looking into PMP, however I don't have the prerequisite hours. Is there another
method or program I should look into? Thank you.
Like Reply
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30/01/2023, 22:14 PMP vs CSM, which one should I get first?

Annie T. L. 9mo
*The PMP® Examination Content Outline (ECO) specifies that "About half of the ex‐
amination will represent predictive project management approaches and the other half
will represent agile or hybrid approaches." of the 180 questions, 90 questions cover
the predictive project management approach, and the other 90 questions cover agile
or hybrid approaches. 
*Agile knowledge includes Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming or XP, Test Driven
Development or TDD, Lean, Dynamic Systems Development Method or DSDM, etc.
*IF you have CSM credential, you are only known as having better knowledge on
Scrum methodology in agile but you are not exposed to other variants in agile prac‐
tices that are used across the industry.
Like Reply
LinkedIn User 1y
Carlos Correia great information sharing 😊
May I ask what’s the difference between a PMP & PMP-ACP? Which certificatation is of
the higher global value recognition?
Like Reply
Carlos Correia 1y
PMP is the oldest certification and still get the higher global value recognition,
no doubts about it. The major difference between them is that PMP-ACP totally
focus on major agile frameworks and concepts., you don't get too much detail
about agile frameworks on PMP. However, PMP gives you a full picture of all pro‐
cesses that exist in project management.
Like Reply 1 Like
Osama Ibrahim 1y
Thank you
Like Reply
Yogendra Shekhawat, PMP® 2y
Hi, i am majorly associated with infrastructure development companies as HR lead.
Worked on various projects, start from mobilisation till demobilisation. What would be
right order for me? Should i opt for scrum master certification first (team roles, activi‐
ties, artifacts) and then later if feel right, can opt for PMP?
Like Reply
RAHUL KUMAR 2y
Thanks for the valuable information Carlos.
But this two certificates are rarely compared bcoz both serve the difference purpose.
Like Reply 1 Like
Molly Muir, MBA, CSM (Scrum Master) 2y
Very helpful distinction. Thank you
Like Reply
Carlos Correia 2y
Thanks for your kind comment Molly Muir.
Like Reply
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30/01/2023, 22:14 PMP vs CSM, which one should I get first?

Angela Estes, PSM 2y

I have done traditional project management for 5 years within a PMO. I found that more
and more of my projects were utilizing Agile implementation or even if they were water‐
fall, it transformed into an Agile-hybrid because the business wanted results faster. I am
at a point where I need to get certified. I really enjoy Agile and would like to work in an
exclusive Agile environment. I would like to get my CSM instead of PMP. I understand
the value of the PMP, but I feel like if I move into an exclusive Agile environment I don't
need the PMP as much. What are your thoughts?
Like Reply 2 Likes
Angela Estes, PSM 2y
Carlos Correia d - thank you!
Like Reply 1 Like
Carlos Correia 2y
Hello Angela, I find that Agile certifications are very purists. On the CSM certifi‐
cation, I asked a lot of questions (the training staff was very recognized and re‐
spected in the industry), and for each question, I got the answer: "then the
Scrum framework is not for you". I understand the reason for such harsh re‐
sponses, we should not adapt (aka hybrid) agile frameworks without first deeply
understanding all its nuances and why the framework was proposed this way.
The point here is that by taking the CSM only, you will know the Scrum frame‐
work, but you will not be prepared to adapt it. If you will work in a 100% agile en‐
vironment which fully embraces Scrum, that's OK! If not, if you will work on a hy‐
brid approach I fully advise you to take the PMP-ACP and then CSM so that you
have all the tools to know how to tweak the existing frameworks.
Like Reply 6 Likes
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