Best Scrum Master Courses in 2026 for Career Switchers & IT Professionals

Being in an age of constant change and digital innovation, learning and receiving a Scrum Master certification can change the trajectory of your career in the field of IT and Business. It can help experienced Software Engineers transition to upper-level Management. It can increase your level of expertise in Project Management. It can help career switchers find and explore in-demand job opportunities. The certificate will give you the ability to unlock multiple doors come 2026.

As stated by the Project Management Institute, the increase in certifications in agile practices has become a growing trend in almost all fields and industries. Companies are receiving a major return on investment when hiring certified agile Scrum employees. Because of these reasons, 2026 is the ideal year to obtain a Scrum Master certification and become an Agile Leader.

Why Is 2026 The Best Year to Get A Scrum Master Certification?

The Scrum Master position had a deep focus and knowledge in Software Engineering practices, but come 2026, major fields, such as Finance, Healthcare and Education, will be able to use and integrate the practices of a Scrum Master to improve the overall culture of the organisation. Agile leaders are the primary conductors of a team, making sure they are delivering constant value to the organisation.

Obtaining a Scrum Master certification can help you:

• Understand and implement Agile practices
  
  
• Accelerate your ability to manage employees.
  
  
• Decrease the knowledge gap between employees and management.
  
  

Benefits of Higher Pay – If we take a look at the estimates made by Glassdoor (2026), we can see how people with certifications in Scrum Mastering can earn between 30%-45% more than people with the same job description who do not have a certification.

Best Scrum Master Courses in 2026

These listed courses are among the best courses worldwide starting in 2026. The courses have been tailored in a way that keeps in mind and guides IT professionals who want to further advance in the agile leadership space and those who are making a career shift.

1. Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) – Scrum Alliance

Best for: Beginners who are starting in agile or making a shift from traditional project management to a more agile one. The certification focuses more on the principles of the Scrum methodology, the roles of the teams, how to plan for a sprint, and resolving conflicts.

Highlights:

• 2-day instructor-led courses
  
  
• Participation in workshops and case studies
  
  
• The exam fee is covered.
  
  
• Globally recognized certificate
  
  

Why it’s the best for a career shift:
 They don’t have a technical background. The CSM allows people from business, non-tech, and operations to transfer to the more technology-driven atmospheres and to facilitate agile projects.

2. Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM I, II, III) – Scrum.org

Best for: IT professionals and developers who already have previous project experience.

Overview
 There are three levels of assessments in Professional Scrum Master Courses offered by Scrum.org, ranging from the most foundational level to the highest level of mastery,with PSM I to PSM I, respectively. The Professional Scrum Master Courses are aimed towards individuals who want to prove and demonstrate their thorough, in-depth knowledge of Scrum to the industry via difficult, challenging assessments.

Highlights
 Self-paced + live workshops, industry-leading assessments, and lifetime validity without renewal are some of the highlights of the Professional Scrum Master Program.

Helping IT Professionals Align with the Tasks of the PSM Course.

Real-world problems, agile scales, and delivery of value in products are major focuses of the PSM Course in Professional Scrum Master, which help with the transition into Scrum Master or Agile Coach roles from senior engineer or team lead positions.

3. PMI-ACP® (Agile Certified Practitioner) – Project Management Institute

Best For: Mid-career professionals, Project Managers, and those with extensive experience.

Overview:
 Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP®) covers multiple frameworks, including but not limited to Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and XP. This course is most suitable for professionals with large, complex projects to manage who are in need of a wider and broader view of the agile ecosystems.

Highlights
 21 contact hours of training, an extensive syllabus of all agile methodologies, recognition from the PMI brand, which is recognised globally, and excellent potential for salary uplift.

Career Edge
 Enterprise roles that involve a blend of Scrum Master roles and project management are targeted for PMI-ACP certified professionals, which provides them with a distinct edge in the market.

4. SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) – Scaled Agile, Inc.

Best For: Employees in large companies using agile at the enterprise level.

Overview
 The SS SCM certification is best suited for individuals leading large or geographically dispersed teams. This certification teaches individuals how to use Scrum and Kanban in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) – critical for companies that use agile at scale.

Highlights

• Team and programme level focus
  
  
• Real-world experience with PI (Program Increment) planning
  
  
• SAFe® certificates and recognition worldwide
  
  
• Membership in the Scaled Agile Community for one year
  
  

Pro Tip
 If you work for a company that practices Agile using SAFe®, this certification is invaluable for agile leadership positions like Release Train Engineer or Program Scrum Master.

5. Advanced Certified ScrumMaster® (A-CSM) – Scrum Alliance

Best For: Experienced CSMs looking for skills in coaching and facilitation.

Overview
 The A-CSM is a continuation of CSM and focuses on the advancement and building of other CSM knowledge, especially in the areas of team formation, resolution of conflict, and advanced servant leadership. This is ideal for those wishing to become sponsors of Scrum Masters or to manage large agile teams.

Effective learning through:

• Interactive learning tasks
  
  
• Feedback from mentors
  
  
• Group exercises
  
  
• A focus on soft skills
  
  
• Stakeholder management
  
  

Career Growth Suggestion:
 Finishing your CSM and then A-CSM can set you on a path to complete the Certified Scrum Professional (CSP) or Agile Coach by 2026.

6. Simplilearn’s Scrum Master Certification Program

Target Group: Professionals who are trying to manage a job and focus on learning new skills.

Brief Description:
 This blended learning program from Simplilearn is a combination of learning online, and through real-time mentoring. It trains participants for both CSM and PSM I certifications and includes additional modules on agile transformation and digital tools for collaboration.

Best Features:

• 24-7 learning access, instructor-led sessions
  
  
• Practical projects and mock tests
  
  
• Respected by Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org
  
  
• Contains modules on Jira, Trello, and Miro to help participants gain real-world skills
  
  

Additional Information:
 This platform also has certification tracks on Scaled Agile, allowing participants to broaden their expertise on enterprise-level frameworks.

Choosing the Right Scrum Master Course

Determining the best Scrum Master course to take depends on one’s skills and goals. Here’s a quick summary:

Career Goal	Best Course Type	Reason
Entry into Agile / Career Change	Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM)	The best course to start with offers a strong knowledge base
Technical / IT Professional	Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM)	Excellent course to master Scrum implementation
Enterprise Leadership	SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM)	Best course to focus on large-scale agile transformation
Project Management Blend	PMI-ACP®	Best course as it covers different agile frameworks
Continuous Growth	A-CSM or CSP	Best course to master leadership and coaching

New Trends in Scrum & Agile Education

The most recent agile education trends are rapidly changing. Here are a few of the most significant.

Mastering Virtual Collaboration: Agile education is improving with the addition of collaboration simulations like Miro, Jira, and Notion.

Micro-Credentials: These additional training paths are gaining popularity and focus on specialised skills such as agile coaching, DevOps integration, and product ownership.

Cross-Domain Adoption: Professions outside of IT, such as human resources, marketing, and finance, demand agile-certified professionals.

The agile education trends are strong indicators of what to expect in 2026 for pursuing a Scrum Master certification. Organisations are rewarding adaptability and learning agility. The demand and value for upgrading skills and knowledge to pass the certification are outstanding.

Conclusion: How to Get Started With Your Scrum Career

It seems like there is a never-ending demand for qualified Scrum Masters. If you plan to continue your advancement in IT or are looking to change careers completely, getting a Scrum Master Certification or Scaled Agile Certification in 2026 will be extremely beneficial.

If you are looking to secure your future in your current role, select a certification in compliance with your experience, preferred methods of learning, and future goals. All the certifications mentioned, will help you secure vital technical skills and the modern-day Agile professional’s requisite leadership skills.