If you’re taking into consideration a career as a Scrum Master, but not sure if it’s the right course for you, you can get to know more about the course by taking a free Scrum Master certification training course. These courses generally offer basic information and short videos, and some are even less than an hour long.
Organizations provide these programs to expose you to Scrum principles, typically with an option to enroll in a paid course after completing the free version. While you cannot earn an actual Scrum Master certification for free, free Scrum Master certification training programs may help you decide whether pursuing certification is the right path for you.
Why Should You Earn a Scrum Master Certification?
The outlook for Scrum Master jobs is excellent. According to a report published by the World Economic Forum, Scrum Master jobs are listed among the top nine emerging product development jobs for the future economy.
If you’re new to the notion of Scrum, or already have worked on a Scrum team and want to advance it into a leadership role, earning a Scrum Master certification may be your next step. Scrum Master certification can open opportunities for you to build and develop your skills within the Scrum framework.
Scrum Master Certifications vs. Certificates of Completion
A few organizations offer official Scrum Master certifications. These credentials attest to your ability to lead teams through product and project completion using the Scrum framework. The training programs are rigorous, and the exams are comprehensive.
Other companies offer free Scrum Master certification training, but these training programs do not include certification. These training programs may come with a completion certificate at the end, but not always. A certificate of completion indicates that you have completed the free course, but it is not the same thing as a Scrum Master certification.
Why Should You Take Free Scrum Master Certification Training?
If you don’t end up with a certification, why would you take a free Scrum Master training course? The Scrum Master certification procedure may take some time. Cost differs significantly depending on the program, with most courses costing around INR 12,483 and INR 1,60,000.
Free courses provide a sample of what you would learn in a paid program. If you aren’t sure whether you want to commit time and money to a full training program, a free course can help you decide if earning a Scrum Master certification is right for you.
Free Scrum Master Courses
Below are some options for free Scrum Master training courses. If you’re on the fence, check out these free options to see if working on a Scrum team or as a Scrum Master is what you want to do. These free courses may provide you with the information you need to decide whether you should move forward with a paid Scrum Master Certification program.
Master of Project Academy – Free Scrum Master Certification Training
Course Description: This course may be a good option for team leaders, project managers and those who are considering becoming a professional Scrum Master (PSM®). It includes sample lectures, downloadable sample handouts and study materials, information on Scrum and Agile methodologies and information on the PSM certification. This free course is just a sample of what the paid coursework would be like.
Time Commitment: This free Scrum Master training is about 30 minutes long.
Cost: There is a free 30-minute training video available for you. If you like what you see then you can sign up for the paid course options, which cost around INR 4,327 per month, around INR 19,724 annually or around INR 38,034 for lifetime access to the course materials. These paid courses can help you prepare for your certification exam, but you will not be certified upon completing the course.
Coursera – Introduction to Scrum Master Training
Course Description: In this course, you learn the fundamentals of Scrum, including terminology, managing events, working in sprints and risk management. You earn a certificate of completion at the end. While this certificate is not an official certification, the course can prepare you for your certification exam or help you determine whether you want to pursue a career as a Scrum Master.
Time Commitment: The full course takes approximately two months to complete if you spend four hours per week on it.
Cost: You get a seven-day free trial, and after that, the cost is around INR 3,245 per month. Since Coursera approximately takes two months to complete the exam, you would probably not complete the entire course within the free trial period. However, you may fairly learn to come to a conclusion if you want to become a certified Scrum Master.
Coursera – Agile with Atlassian Jira
Course Description: This is not specifically a Scrum Master course. It’s a course on Agile methodology, including Scrum. Scrum is one framework that follows Agile principles, and the course touches on Scrum, along with other Agile fundamentals.
Time Commitment: This course is 13 hours.
Cost: You can get access to the full course at no cost, but with the free option you will not receive a certificate of completion. If you want to earn your certificate of completion, you can purchase the course for around INR 4,078. This certificate of completion is not a Scrum Master certification.
Scrumstudy Scrum Fundamentals Certified (SFC™)
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the foundational principles of Scrum. It provides students with a basic understanding of the Scrum framework. It is not a Scrum Master certification course.
Time Commitment: This is a five-hour virtual training course.
Cost: This initial course is free and may be followed up with a more intensive, two-day Scrum Fundamentals Certified™ course. The fee for this course is around INR 37,451, which covers study materials and the exam fee.
Udemy – Free Scrum Certification, Agile and Scrum Certification Course
Course Description: This course focuses on the basic fundamentals of Agile and Scrum. It covers how to use Agile and Scrum principles in real-world situations, and it prepares you to take the foundational certification in Agile Scrum™ (FCAS) exam.
Time Commitment: This course comprises 2.5 hours of training videos.
Cost: Here, the actual test is offered for free with the purchase of the FCAS course, which costs around INR 1,664. Upon completion of the paid course, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Udemy – Basics of Scrum, Agile and Project Delivery
Course Description: This course introduces the Scrum Body of Knowledge®, which provides information on the Scrum framework, Scrum principles and the phases of the Scrum process.
Time Commitment: This course consists of 58 minutes of video lectures.
Cost: This brief introduction is free, but it does not provide certification or a certificate of completion. This free training offers insight into what you would find in one of Udemy’s more comprehensive paid courses. If you decide to take a paid course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Paid courses will range from around INR 1,414 to INR 15,729.
Pluralsight – Agile Fundamentals
Course Description: This course focuses on Agile fundamentals, touching on the traditional Waterfall process and Scrum. It is not a Scrum Master certification class, and it does not prepare you to take a Scrum Master exam, but it may provide you with the insight you need to make a decision about moving forward with a Scrum Master certification.
Time Commitment: This course includes two hours and 39 minutes of training.
Cost: If you sign up for this course, you’ll have a 10-day free trial period. After that, the cost is around INR 2,413 per month.
