PMI ACP vs CSM vs PSM is three of the most popular project management certifications. PMI ACP® is an entry-level certification that covers the basics of project management. The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification is for people who have experience working on agile projects.
The Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification is for people who want to become scrum masters.
This blog post will compare PMI ACP vs CSM vs PSM and help you decide which one is right for you.
What Is PMI ACP®?
PMI ACP® is an acronym for Project Management Institute’s Agile Certified Practitioner.
It signifies that the holder has the experience and skill set necessary to apply this knowledge in real-world situations.
To earn the PMI-ACP®, candidates must have a minimum of 35 contact hours of formal education in agile practices,
along with either:
- An active PMI® membership
- At least one year of general project experience and at least
- One thousand hours of agile project experience
In addition, candidates must pass an examination consisting of 120 multiple-choice questions. Earning the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® will position you to:
- Stand out from the crowd as a go-to person for agile methodology
- Help your organization move forward with agile practices
- Earn 35 contact hours of formal education in agile practices
- Pass an examination consisting of 120 multiple-choice questions
What Is CSM?
Customer success management (CSM) is a term for the organization’s activities, teams, and programs focused on ensuring customer retention and successful outcomes.
The CSM role exists to help customers realize maximum value from a product or service.
A key metric for CSMs is the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures how likely customers are to recommend a company’s products or services. Other vital metrics for CSMs include customer lifetime value (CLV) and churn rate.
CLV measures the total revenue that a customer will generate for a company throughout their relationship.
On the other hand, the churn rate measures the percentage of customers who cancel or do not renew their subscription to a product or service. A good CSM team will increase CLV and decrease the churn rate. CSMs typically have backgrounds in customer support, account management, or sales.
The CSM role is often confused with the customer success manager (CSM).
However, these are two distinct roles with different goals.
- While the CSM’s focus is on managing the relationship between the customer and the company, the CSM’s focus is on ensuring that customers are successful in using the product or service.
- In other words, while the CSM manages customer accounts, the CSM helps customers achieve their desired outcomes. The CSM role is a relatively new one, and as such, there is no standard job description or career path.
What Is PSM?
PSM is an agile framework that helps organizations deliver value to their customers faster and with fewer risks. It is a set of values, principles, and practices that guide our work together to achieve our common goal.
The PSM framework was created by the software development company Scrum.org.PSM is based on three pillars: transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
The main goal of PSM is to help organizations deliver value to their customers faster and with fewer risks. PSM is different from other agile frameworks because it focuses on providing business value instead of just working software. PSM also has a strong emphasis on teamwork and collaboration.
Differences Between The Three:
- PMI ACP is a globally recognized certification
- CSM is also a globally recognized certification
- PSM is not as widely known, but the Scrum Alliance offers it
Each of these certifications has different benefits that can be helpful in your career as a project manager. Let’s take a look at each one in more detail.
The PMI ACP® (Project Management Institute – Agile Certified Practitioner) credential recognizes your ability to lead agile projects. To earn this credential, you must first meet the PMI’s experience and education requirements and then pass an exam. The PMI ACP® credential is valid for three years.
The CSM (Certified ScrumMaster) credential is offered by the Scrum Alliance and recognizes your ability to lead a Scrum team effectively. To earn this credential, you must first take a training course from a certified Scrum trainer and then pass an exam. The CSM credential is valid for two years.
The PSM (Professional Scrum Master) credential is also offered by the Scrum Alliance and recognizes your advanced knowledge and skills in leading agile projects using the Scrum framework. To earn this credential, you must first take a training course from a certified Scrum trainer and then pass an exam. The PSM credential does not expire.
Another interesting read: Important Of Attempting A PMI Practice Test
Which One Should You Get: PMI-ACP vs CSM vs PSM?
The answer to that question is: it depends on your career goals.
Do you want to be a project manager? If so, then the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) certifications will probably fit you. The PMI offers three primary credentials Agile project managers: PMI-ACP®, CSM®, and PSM®.
However, if you’re not interested in becoming a project manager, but still want to work with Agile methodology. Scrum Alliance’s Certified Scrum Master (CSM) might be a better choice.
Let’s take a more detailed look at each of these certifications to help you decide.
PMI-ACP®: If you want to become a certified project manager, then the PMI-ACP® is probably the best choice. To earn the credential, you need to have 2000 hours of broad project experience and 750 hours of Agile project experience. You also need 35 contact hours of formal education in Agile practices.
Another interesting read: Important Of Attempting A PMI Practice Test
CSM: The CSM® is offered by Scrum Alliance and does not require experience or education. However, it does require that you attend a two-day training course taught by a Scrum Alliance authorized trainer. Once you’ve completed the training, you’ll need to take an online exam.
PSM: The PSM® is also offered by Scrum Alliance and, like the CSM®, does not have any experience or education requirements. However, it is a more advanced credential than the CSM® and requires a rigorous assessment.
So, which certification is proper for you?
The answer to that question depends on your career goals. If you want to become a certified project manager, then the PMI-ACP® is probably the best choice.
Whichever certification you decide to pursue, make sure you do your research and choose to help you achieve your career goals.
Another interesting read: Important Of Attempting A PMI Practice Test
Conclusion:
What are the best certifications? The PMI-ACP® covers a lot of ground and is agnostic to specific Agile frameworks. It requires less experience than the CSM or PSM. If you are new to Agile or take a broad approach, the PMI-ACP could be a good choice.
The CSM focuses on Scrum specifically and gives you more in-depth training on the framework. The PSM is even more specific, covering only the product owner role within Scrum. If you want to focus your career on one particular Agile framework, these could be better choices.
Ultimately, there is no “right” answer when choosing between these certifications. The best decision is the one that makes the most sense for your career goals and experience level. Whichever path you choose, getting certified will give you a leg up in the job market and help you advance your career.
Another interesting read: PMI Agile Certified Practitioner Course Guide