Good ScrumMasters Fix Problems. Great Ones Redesign the System.
This isn’t advanced Scrum theory. This is leadership practice. If you’re ready to influence beyond your team and create sustainable change, this program is your next move.
Completing this class earns you the Scrum Alliance® Advanced Certified ScrumMaster® (A-CSM).
Take this first: Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
This Is Where You Start Leading
You’ve already mastered the basics. Now you need to know how to:
- Influence up, down, and sideways
- Navigate organizational resistance
- Coach real growth instead of just running retros
- Align leadership with team reality
- Protect delivery without killing autonomy
In this Advanced Certified ScrumMaster® program, you’ll become the kind of leader organizations can’t afford to lose.
Upcoming cohorts
No dates on the calendar right now.
Powered by the Scrum Mastery Empowerment System (SMES)
This course is built on Artisan Agility’s proprietary Scrum Mastery Empowerment System (SMES)—a structured path to real-world influence.
- EMBED Build trust, transparency, and psychological safety
- ENABLE Foster team autonomy and flow
- OPTIMIZE Eliminate friction, waste, and confusion
- AMPLIFY Align leadership and systems for scale
- ELEVATE Grow into a servant leader who drives lasting change
- TRANSFORM Expand agility across the organization and mentor future leaders
You’re not just learning Scrum. You’re becoming the person who makes Scrum actually work.
What you'll learn
- Advanced facilitation & coaching
- Influencing without authority
- Working with dysfunction, not around it
- Metrics that matter: value, flow, and engagement
- Systems thinking for sustainable agility
- Change leadership in the real world
Who this is for
- Experienced ScrumMasters who want to grow beyond team basics
- Agile coaches ready to sharpen their edge
- Leaders tired of transformation lip service
- Anyone who’s seen Agile done poorly—and wants to do it right
What you get
- Multi-session, cohort-based learning experience
- Hands-on coaching, not just lecture
- Tools and templates you can use immediately
- Your Advanced Certified ScrumMaster® credential
- Direct access to a seasoned, no-fluff trainer
- An experience that helps you lead—not just perform
The fine print
Agenda
This course isn’t a lecture—it’s a hands-on leadership upgrade. Each session blends practical tools, expert insight, and real challenges from the field.
Day 1 — Lead the Team
Focus: EMBED + ENABLE
- Clarify your role as a system-level leader
- Build trust, transparency, and true autonomy
- Learn the foundations of the SMES model
Day 2 — Lead the Organization
Focus: OPTIMIZE + AMPLIFY + ELEVATE
- Remove friction and increase flow
- Expand your influence beyond the team
- Grow into a strategic partner for change
Includes group discussion, exercises, and your personal leadership game plan.
Remote cohorts run the same two days, eight hours each.
Training formats
The A-CSM experience spans two high-impact days, eight hours each, in both in-person and remote classes. This isn’t training you sit through. It’s training that moves you forward.
2 days of live, professional training
Our risk-free guarantees that you will get your money’s worth from the course
A student handbook packed with more information than we can cover during the class, with plenty of room for notes
Lifetime access to the online version of the materials, including notifications whenever updates are made
2-year membership with the Scrum Alliance
Discounted access to all future Artisan training events
Risk-free guarantee
Satisfaction is guaranteed. If, for any reason, you are dissatisfied with the class by the lunch break on the first day (or after the first session in a cohort), let us know, and we’ll refund your class fees. No questions will be asked.
Prerequisites
To join the Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) program, you need to hold a current Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) credential and have at least 12 months of real-world ScrumMaster experience (cumulative, not consecutive).
Scrum Alliance requires it. We do too—because this course builds on your lived experience. If you’ve been in the role, seen the dysfunction, and are ready to lead change—not just run ceremonies—you’re in the right place.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM)?
A-CSM is more than a certification—it’s a milestone in your leadership journey.
Issued by Scrum Alliance, the A-CSM validates that you’ve moved beyond Scrum basics. You don’t just know the framework—you’re learning to lead within it. This course focuses on deepening your influence, removing systemic blockers, and growing as a strategic force for your teams and organization.
Who should take this course?
– Practicing Scrum Masters with at least one year of experience
– Agile coaches who want more structure to their impact
– Leaders of Scrum teams (or aspiring to be)
– CSM graduates ready for real-world application and strategy
If you’ve hit the limits of what basic Scrum training can give you, this course is your next step.
Do I need prior Scrum or Agile experience?
Yes. To enroll, you must hold an active Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) credential and have at least 12 months of ScrumMaster experience. This course assumes you’ve already lived the challenges of the role—and you’re ready to solve them at the next level.
How is the class delivered?
Live, immersive, and instructor-led—online via Zoom or in-person at select locations. Every session is interactive and built for high engagement. You won’t sit still—and you won’t leave unchanged.
What’s the course duration?
The A-CSM course is a 2-day experience, offered either remotely or in-person. We keep it fast, focused, and deeply practical.
What materials do I receive?
A digital workbook packed with tools and templates, lifetime access to updated course resources, SMES-based exercises and reference material, a personalized leadership action plan, and your official A-CSM credential from Scrum Alliance.
Is attendance mandatory?
Yes. To earn your certification, you must attend both full days and actively participate. This is a leadership training experience—not a passive lecture.
Is there an exam?
No. A-CSM doesn’t require an exam. Your participation and engagement are what count.
When do I get my certification?
Once you complete the course and Scrum Alliance verifies your eligibility (active CSM + 12 months of experience), your A-CSM credential will be issued. You’ll also receive a 2-year membership to Scrum Alliance.
Do I need to renew the certification?
Yes—every two years. To renew, earn 30 Scrum Education Units (SEUs) and pay a $175 renewal fee to Scrum Alliance. This can be bundled with other Scrum Alliance certification renewals.
What can I do with this certification?
An A-CSM shows that you can lead, not just facilitate; understand how to fix delivery problems at the system level; are ready to mentor others and shape team culture; and are prepared to advance to CSP-SM, coaching, or product roles. It signals to your org that you’re not just in the role—you’re mastering it.
Does this certification guarantee me a Scrum Master job?
No certification can guarantee a role—but this one will put you miles ahead. It proves you’ve moved beyond the basics. And you’ll leave with the tools to lead—not just pass a test.
What’s next after A-CSM?
You’re eligible to pursue Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster (CSP-SM), Advanced or Certified Product Owner tracks, and deeper coaching, mentorship, and leadership development. Plus, you’ll join a community of professionals serious about doing Scrum well.
What’s the cost?
Pricing is shown with each cohort above.
We don’t offer group discounts—because we don’t sell seats, we build leaders. Every seat is filled by someone ready to lead, not just attend.
What’s your refund policy?
– Full refund if canceled 10+ days before class
– Cancellations within 10 days receive a credit for a future session
– No-shows are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling
Do I get post-class support?
Yes—because your journey doesn’t end at 5 p.m. on Day 2. You’ll gain access to our community Slack/LinkedIn space, continued mentorship opportunities, and exclusive follow-up content, invites, and support.