Thanks for Registering Your Interest!
Thanks for registering your interest in the Scrum training, coaching and/or mentoring! We will be in touch with next steps shortly!
Meanwhile, here are some things we have prepared for you to better equip you in this journey.
Just in case you might have missed this information, we at US (Upgrading Self) have chosen to hold Scrum workshops for young professionals who are thinking of upgrading their process improvement skills but who are unable to afford the high industry-rate fees for training.
Here is a quick recap!
What is Scrum?
Scrum helps people and teams deliver value incrementally in a collaborative manner.
You can learn a little bit more about Scrum, from Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org.
Who is a Scrum Master?
In simple terms, a Scrum Master is a process improvement specialist.
Scrum Certification
There are a number of globally-recognized scrum certification organizations out there that have trainers who offer training for interested persons. Out of all of them, 2 are the most commonly recognized: scrumalliance.org and scrum.org. Their certifications are two of the most demanded by employers and recruiters.
Scrum Alliance
For scrumalliance.org, you are required to sign up for a 16-hour training with a trainer on their portal after which, you get to write the certification exam for free to become a Certified Scrum Master (CSM). This cost averages $900 per training period.
This certification has to be renewed every 2 years at another cost.
You’ll have access to the required scrum master test after you’ve completed the course. This test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions; you must correctly answer 37 of the 50 questions (get 74%) to pass the test and receive your certification. The cost of your course includes two test attempts.
Scrum.org
For scrum.org, you are not required to sign up with a trainer on their portal before you can write the certification exam at the cost of $200 per test to become a Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I). The trainers on the portal charge an average of $1300 per training period. No annual renewal fee is required for this certification.
The passing score for PSM I is 85% with 80 questions.
Click here to learn more about this certification.
We have put together some pieces of information about both certifications to help you make an informed decision. No pressure!
Scrum Alliance vs Scrum.org
| Certification Title | Certified Scrum Master (CSM) | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) |
| Certifying Organization | scrumalliance.org | scrum.org |
| Training on their Portal | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Training Cost Average * | $900 | $1300 |
| Cost for Certification Exam * | 2 free attempts with training registration, but must complete the exam within 90 days of taking the course. | $200 per attempt |
| Exam Format | Online and open book | Multiple choice, multiple answer, True/False |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 50 | 80 |
| Passing Score | 74% | 85% |
| Practice Assessment | N/A | Scrum Open |
| Renewal * | About $250 every 2 years | N/A – life time certification |
| Scrum Education Units (SEU) Credits | 1 unit per hour of training | 1 unit per hour of training |
| Professional Development Units (PDUs) | 1 unit per hour of training | 1 unit per hour of training |
| * Please note that the amounts above are in USD | ||
The average number of learning hours per training period for each route is between 14 and 16 hours depending on the duration of breaks taken during the training.
Promos
To reiterate what we mentioned at the beginning of this email, we at US (Upgrading Self) have chosen to hold Scrum workshops for young professionals who are thinking of upgrading their process improvement skills but who are unable to afford the high industry-rate fees for training.
We want to bridge the gap between you and your skill development and that is why we have designed different packages specially for you.
Quick Scoop
This is a conditional promo!
For this 2-day weekend workshop, if there are 5+ interested candidates by noon (PST) of May 8, 2024, you will get to pay only $100 per student!
If you are less than 5, you get to pay only $200 per student!
Date of First Session: May 11-12 2024.
Time: 10 AM to 6 PM PST daily.
Platform: Google Meet, WhatsApp Business or Google Classroom
Benefit: Quick certification
Scrum level: Aspiring for Scrum Foundations
I will notify you and the other students by 1 PM on May 8, 2024 of what amount you would be paying for the class.
What you can do: Before then, you can spread the word to your friends and family to get more rebate!
Slow is Smooth
This is a non-conditional promo!
For this, you would have to become a Scrum Training (Tier 13) subscriber to the @TOECM TikTok Live to gain access.
Date of First Session: May 11 2024.
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 AM PST weekly.
Platform: TikTok Live Studio
Benefit: Better assimilation and time to practice.
Scrum level: Aspiring for Scrum Foundations knowledge
What you can do: In order to have variety and make the class more interesting, you can spread the word to your friends and family.
Why is this paid?
I have found that the few times I gave free process improvement lessons during my lives on TikTok, although there were viewers who were interested and following, there were others who quickly deviated from the track of the live.
So, in order to avoid the distractions and trolling that might make us deviate from the training path, it is only best if we were undisturbed in a safer environment.
Let’s Tango
This is a non-conditional promo!
For this, you would have to schedule a 15-minute interview session with me to work out what best works for you.
Date of First Session: To be determined (TBD) after our first interview.
Time: TBD
Platform: TBD
Benefit: Adapted to your needs.
Scrum level: Aspiring for Scrum Foundations knowledge or higher.
What you can do: Just schedule the interview session with the Agile Coach!
Meet your Coach
Onyi Mba, a.k.a. TOECM, is an experienced and inclusive Lean-Agile professional who loves to make things easy for those doing the work and those the work is being done for.
In other words, he is a third-culture, research-oriented and data-driven Lean-Agile servant-leader with over 2 decades of working with individuals, and organizations to have a continuously improved philosophy, processes, collaborations, problem solving approaches and more.
He is highly skilled in different coaching stances, communication styles, Agile (Scrum, Kanban, XP, DevOps et al.), Lean Six Sigma, Nudge change model, third-culture integration, systems thinking, value addition, design thinking, conflict resolution, risk and/or dependencies management, stakeholder management, and more.
Proof of His Continuous Learning Culture:
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Lean Foundation
- SAFe® 5 & 6 Release Train Engineer (RTE)
- Scrum Foundations Educator, from Scrum Alliance®
- Certified Scrum Professional®-ScrumMaster (CSP®-SM)
- Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM℠)
- Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®)
- Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
Read more about and follow Onyi Mba on LinkedIn.