Professional Scrum Master I in London
Validates knowledge of the Scrum framework and ability to apply it in real-world agile environments as a Scrum Master.
What is Professional Scrum Master I?
The Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) is an entry-level Scrum certification issued by Scrum.org that validates your understanding of the Scrum framework, its roles, events, and artifacts. Unlike trainer-led certifications, PSM I has no mandatory course requirement — you study independently and sit a rigorous 80-question online exam. In London, where Agile adoption is deeply embedded across fintech, media, consultancy, and the public sector, PSM I has become a baseline credential for project and delivery roles. Holding it signals to London employers that you understand Scrum beyond surface-level buzzwords, making you immediately more competitive in one of Europe's most active tech hiring markets.
At $200 USD, the PSM I exam is one of the most cost-efficient professional certifications available. Against London's average IT salary of approximately $85,000/yr, the average uplift of $9,000/yr means the cert pays for itself within the first few weeks of a new role. London's Agile job market is particularly strong — demand for Scrum Masters and Agile delivery leads has grown consistently across sectors including banking, e-commerce, and government digital services. Many London recruiters now filter candidates by Scrum credentials before interview, so PSM I acts as both a salary lever and a shortlist filter. For anyone entering or pivoting into Agile delivery roles in London, the ROI case is straightforward.
Exam details
Prerequisites: None required
12-week study plan
Exam tips
Treat the 2020 Scrum Guide as your only source of truth — if an answer contradicts the Guide, it is wrong regardless of how logical it sounds from real-world experience
Pay close attention to the exact wording around who is accountable for specific artifacts: the Product Owner owns the Product Backlog, the Developers own the Sprint Backlog, and the Scrum Master owns the Definition of Done in collaboration with the team
For scenario-based questions asking what a Scrum Master should do, the correct answer almost always involves coaching, facilitating, or removing impediments — never commanding or making decisions on behalf of the team
Do not confuse Sprint Review with Sprint Retrospective — the Review inspects the product increment with stakeholders, while the Retrospective inspects the team's process; mixing these up is one of the most common PSM I mistakes
Memorise that a Sprint cannot be extended or shortened once it begins, that only the Product Owner can cancel a Sprint, and that cancellation is only warranted when the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete — these edge-case rules appear frequently in exam questions