PSM I Exam Cost: What You'll Really Pay

The short answer: the PSM I assessment costs $200 at Scrum.org, and that is the only mandatory expense. There is no required course, no membership fee, and no renewal. But the number you should actually plan with depends on one cost most candidates ignore — here is the full breakdown.

What the $200 includes

The assessment fee buys you a password for one online exam attempt:

• 80 questions in 60 minutes, taken from home, without proctoring
• Question types: single choice, multiple choice, and true/false
• If you score 85% or more: the certification, a digital badge, and a listing in your public Scrum.org profile

Once you pass, the certificate is valid for life. Scrum.org charges no annual fees and requires no continuing education — a real difference compared to certifications that put you on a renewal treadmill.

The hidden cost: retakes

This is the part people skip. If you fail, there is no discount and no included second attempt: every retake costs another $200, full price.

That changes the math. The 85% passing score allows at most 12 wrong answers out of 80 — under time pressure of 45 seconds per question. Underprepared candidates regularly pay $400 in total: once to fail, once to pass. Plan your budget around passing on the first attempt, not around the cheapest possible first try.

One practical consequence: don't buy your exam password before you are ready. Prepare first, and purchase the attempt only when you consistently score above 90% in realistic simulations. The fee stays the same — your probability of paying it twice drops.

Optional costs, ranked by value

The Scrum Guide 2020 — free. Every exam question is based on it. Reading it carefully several times is non-negotiable and costs nothing.

Practice exams — free to $49. Scrum.org offers a free Scrum Open assessment with 30 questions. Useful as a baseline, but shorter and easier than the real exam. Realistic 80-question simulations with a timer and explanations for every answer — like our PSM I preparation package at $49 with lifetime access — are the closest you get to the real thing.

Training courses — typically $1,000 and up. Scrum.org does not require a course for the PSM I. Official classes are high quality, but they cost many times the exam fee. They make sense if your employer pays; they are not necessary to pass.

The cheapest insurance you can buy

Compare the two numbers that matter: a failed attempt costs $200, while thorough preparation costs $49. Spending a quarter of the exam fee to protect the full fee is the best trade in the entire certification process.

If you don't know where you stand yet, start with our free 10-question practice exam. It takes about six minutes and tells you immediately whether you are close to exam-ready or still have gaps to close.

Total budget at a glance

• Exam fee (mandatory): $200
• Scrum Guide 2020: free
• Preparation (strongly recommended): $0–49
• Retake, only if you fail: another $200

Well-prepared candidates pay $200 plus preparation — and never think about the last line. More answers in our FAQ.