Professional Scrum Master I in New York
United States · North America
What is Professional Scrum Master I?
The Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) is an entry-level certification issued by Scrum.org that validates your understanding of the Scrum framework, its values, and how to apply it in real team environments. Unlike many certifications, PSM I requires no prerequisites, making it accessible to career changers and junior professionals alike. In New York, where agile adoption is widespread across finance, media, tech, and healthcare sectors, holding a recognized Scrum credential signals immediate readiness to employers. The exam costs $200 USD and tests practical Scrum knowledge rather than rote memorization, making solid preparation essential. For anyone looking to break into or advance within New York's competitive project management and agile coaching market, PSM I is a smart, low-barrier starting point.
Exam details
- Exam cost
- $200 USD
- Duration
- 60 min
- Passing score
- 85
- Renewal
- Every 3 yrs
Prerequisites: None required
Is Professional Scrum Master I worth it in New York?
At $200 for the exam and a $9,000/yr average salary uplift, the PSM I pays for itself within the first week of a higher-paying role. In New York, where the average IT salary sits around $110,000/yr, even a modest bump from a Scrum credential pushes your earnings meaningfully above baseline. New York employers — from Wall Street firms to Brooklyn-based startups — actively filter for Scrum credentials when hiring project leads, product owners, and team facilitators. The PSM I carries strong credibility because Scrum.org assessments are proctored and knowledge-based, not attendance-based. With a three-year renewal cycle and no mandatory training costs, the long-term ROI in a market as salary-competitive as New York is difficult to argue against.
12-week study plan
Weeks 1–4
Master the Scrum Guide
- Read the official 2020 Scrum Guide cover to cover at least twice and take margin notes on accountabilities, events, and artifacts
- Study the five Scrum values — commitment, courage, focus, openness, and respect — and practice explaining how each applies in real sprint scenarios
- Complete the free Scrum Open assessment on Scrum.org daily until you consistently score 90% or above
Weeks 5–8
Apply Scrum Concepts to Scenarios
- Work through scenario-based practice questions that test how Scrum roles interact during Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, and Sprint Review
- Study the difference between the Scrum Master's responsibilities toward the team, the Product Owner, and the broader organization
- Review common anti-patterns — such as a Scrum Master acting as a project manager — and practice identifying them in case study questions
Weeks 9–12
Simulate Exam Conditions and Close Gaps
- Take full 80-question timed practice exams to simulate the 60-minute real exam pressure and identify weak topic areas
- Revisit any questions answered incorrectly and trace each back to the specific Scrum Guide section that covers it
- Book your exam once you are consistently scoring 85% or higher on full practice tests, and review the Nexus Guide briefly for scaling context
Recommended courses
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Professional Scrum Master I Learning Path
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View on Pluralsight →Exam tips
- 1.The PSM I pulls questions directly from the 2020 Scrum Guide — if an answer feels right but isn't explicitly supported by the Guide, it is likely wrong. Anchor every answer to the Guide's language.
- 2.Know the three Scrum accountabilities cold: the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developers each have distinct responsibilities, and many exam questions hinge on who is actually responsible for a specific action.
- 3.The exam has 80 questions and a 60-minute time limit, giving you roughly 45 seconds per question. Flag difficult questions, move on, and return — do not let a single question drain your time.
- 4.Multiple-select questions appear on the PSM I and are not marked as such — read every question carefully to determine whether more than one answer might apply before selecting your response.
- 5.Scrum does not prescribe how teams do their technical work, only the framework for managing it. Questions testing whether you understand Scrum's boundaries versus team autonomy are common and frequently tricky for first-time candidates.