Guide To Earn 20 SEUs For Free And Renew Your CSM Certificate

If you’re planning to renew your Scrum Alliance certifications, such as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), or any others, you’ll need SEUs. Before delving into the details of earning SEUs and the renewal process, it’s essential to understand what SEUs are and how these SEUs contribute to renewing your certificates.

What is Scrum Education Units (SEU):

SEUs are valuable learning opportunities in Agile and Scrum that showcase your commitment to continuous growth. They are Scrum Education Units earned by participating in educational activities like pursuing next-level certification, reading books, watching videos, attending events, and volunteering. Every hour you invest in such activities earns you one SEU, whether it’s learning, attending events, or volunteering. For example, a one-hour webinar grants you one SEU towards your renewal.

It’s important to note that there is a maximum of 8 SEUs that you can claim from a single day of activity, even if you participate in a training or workshop lasting more than 12 hours. These SEUs reflect your dedication to staying current in the field and enhancing your expertise in Scrum-related roles like Scrum Master, Product Owner, and more.

This blog will cover the following topics:

• Ways to earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs):
• Renewal Process:
• iZenBridge Support in your Continuous Growth and SEU Earning for Renewal

Ways to earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs):  

When selecting SEUs, you have the option to choose from four (4) categories. Here are the descriptions for each category to help you make your selection:

1. Learning: This category involves activities like reading books, watching videos, or attending courses to enhance your knowledge of Agile and Scrum. You can also earn SEUs by preparing presentations or contributing to the Scrum community through authoring books, articles, or blogs. Engaging in these activities helps you gain valuable insights and expand your understanding of Scrum. Attending next-level certification programs, like doing A-CSM after CSM, is the most valuable way to earn SEUs under the Learning category. These programs provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills, automatically renewing your existing certification for added convenience. Pursuing higher-level certifications can open up career opportunities, potentially leading to higher salaries or promotions. It further enhances your skills and expertise, ensuring your certifications remain valid and up-to-date.

2. Events: You can earn SEUs by actively participating in various events. Scrum Alliance Global Gatherings, Regional Gatherings, and Non-Scrum Alliance-Sponsored Events all offer opportunities to accumulate SEUs. User Group events and activities also count towards earning SEUs. Whether you’re presenting, coaching, or attending sessions, these activities contribute to your continuous learning and growth in Scrum. Engaging in these events allows you to network with like-minded professionals, exchange knowledge, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and practices in Agile and Scrum approaches.

3. Volunteering: Giving back to the Scrum community through volunteering allows you to earn SEUs. By providing non-compensated professional Scrum services, such as mentoring, coaching, or facilitating Scrum events, you can accumulate SEUs. Engaging in volunteer work not only helps you earn credits but also enables you to make a positive impact on the Scrum community, share your expertise, and support others in their Scrum journey. It’s a rewarding way to contribute to the growth and development of Scrum practices while enhancing your own skills and knowledge.

4. Other: SEUs can be earned through a wide range of diverse learning activities. Scrum Alliance acknowledges that not all learning fits neatly into the above categories. If you have SEUs that you feel do not fall under any of the above categories, you can report them as part of the “Other” category.

Renewal Process:

The renewal process has two key components: required SEUs for renewal and renewal fees. Different certifications have varying SEU requirements and specific renewal fees. You can earn SEUs in any of the 4 categories as explained in the “Ways to earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs) section”. The table below offers a clear overview of the SEUs needed and corresponding renewal fees set by Scrum Alliance for each certification:

SEUs and Renewal Fees:

So, If you hold a foundation-level certificate, like CSM, renew it within two years by reporting 20 SEUs and paying USD 100. If you have multiple foundation-level certificates, such as CSM and CSPO, the renewal criteria remain the same: 20 SEUs (Per certification) and a USD 100 renewal fee.

Also, Attending any other Scrum Alliance certification course will automatically renew your previously earned certifications. It does not require additional efforts to earn SEUs and saves your renewal fee. For instance, attending the CSPO certification program will renew your existing CSM certification. Completing an advanced program will also renew your existing foundation certification. For example, finishing A-CSM renews your CSM certification, and A-CSPO renews your CSPO certification. These advanced certifications offer much more than just renewal; they also provide opportunities for continuous growth in professional development.

Simple Steps to renew your Scrum Alliance certification (CSM, CSPO etc):

1. Visit the Scrum Alliance website and log in to your account.
2. Navigate to your dashboard. You can usually find it after logging in, or it may be listed under your profile settings.
3. Look for the “Manage SEUs” or a similar option. It is typically located on the right-hand side of the page.
4. Click on “Manage SEUs” to access the SEUs dashboard.
5. On the SEUs dashboard, you will find options to add SEUs. Select the appropriate activity from the provided drop-down menu. This could be an event you attended, a training program, or any other eligible activity.
6. Provide a brief description of the activity in the designated field. For example, if you attended a Scrum workshop, mention the name of the workshop and the topics covered.
7. Enter the number of SEUs you are claiming for the activity. Make sure to accurately calculate the SEUs earned based on the duration of the activity (one SEU per hour).
8. Once you have filled in the necessary details, click on the “Submit” or similar button to report your SEUs.
9. Review your SEU submission to ensure accuracy before finalizing the process.

iZenBridge Support in your Continuous Growth and SEU Earning for Renewal

iZenBridge, a Scrum Alliance REP, provides various foundation, advanced, professional, and Agile leadership programs, including CSM, CSPO, A-CSM, A-CSPO, CSP-SM, and CAL-E. You can explore this diverse selection of courses to enhance your skills, starting from the foundations and advancing to professional and Agile Leadership levels.

Moreover, iZenBridge goes beyond Scrum Alliance courses, serving as a REP of other governing bodies like Scaled Agile, IC-Agile, and PMI. The content of these programs remains highly relevant to Agile and Scrum, offering an excellent opportunity to earn SEUs. Choose the courses that align with your career goals and areas of interest, as iZenBridge supports your continuous growth in Scrum mastery and facilitates SEU earning for renewal.

The following table provides an overview of the SEUs earned for different certifications, activities, and iZenBridge programs:

To obtain comprehensive instructions on renewing your CSM certificate, consider watching the informative video provided below:

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is the CSM certificate valid forever or it gets expired too?

Answer: No, the CSM (Certified ScrumMaster) certificate is not valid forever. It has an expiration date and is typically valid for two years. Once expires, your certification status becomes inactive not invalid. You can restore active certification stratus any time after reporting SEUs and paying the renewal fee.

Question: My CSM Certification is about to expire. How do I earn 20 SEUs for Free?

Answer: There is an alternative to earning SEUs for renewing your CSM certification, which is the Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (ACSM) certification. By obtaining the A-CSM certification, your CSM certification is automatically renewed for an additional two years.

If you are not planning to pursue the next level certification right now, the following points will help you earn 20 SEUs for free and renew your CSM certification:

• Write a blog on any Scrum Topic and earn up to 8 SEUs.
• Read a quality book on Scrum Topic and earn up to 16 SEUs, depending on the time invested in reading.
• Attend a free webinar on iZenBridge and earn 1 SEU for a 60-minute webinar.
• Visit the Community Channel and watch Agile and Scrum Webinars recording 20 hours.

Question:  What would be the renewal fee if I have more than one foundational (CSM, CSPO) certificate? Should I pay 100 USD per certificate or in total 100 for CSM and CSPO?

Answer: If you have more than one foundational certificate, such as CSM, and CSPO you only need to pay a total of 100 USD to renew all of them at once. The renewal fee is based on the certification level, so regardless of the number of certificates you hold, you can renew them collectively by paying a single fee of 100 USD. Here is scrum alliance’s authentic info: Certification Renewal for Scrum Alliance CSM, CSPO and CSD

Question: How to renew Scrum Alliance certifications without earning SEUs or paying renewal fees?

Answer: Attending any other Scrum Alliance certification course will automatically renew your previously earned certifications. It does not require additional efforts to earn SEUs and saves your renewal fee. For instance, attending the CSPO certification program will renew your existing CSM certification. Completing an advanced program will also renew your existing foundation certification. For example, finishing A-CSM renews your CSM certification, and A-CSPO renews your CSPO certification. If you earn CSP-SM, all your existing professional, advanced-level, and foundation certifications will be renewed. Moreover, when you complete the Agile Leadership program, like CAL-E, all of your previously earned foundation, advanced, and professional certifications will be renewed. Participants often pursue next-level certifications to renew their previously earned Scrum Alliance certificates. However, these certifications offer much more than just renewal; they also provide opportunities for continuous growth in professional development. For example, if you are already CSM certified, we highly recommend considering the A-CSM certification. This advanced level will elevate your skills beyond the basics of Scrum and empower you to enhance your coaching and facilitation abilities, opening up new horizons for your career advancement.

Question: How do I calculate the required SEUs and renewal fee for my multiple Scrum Alliance certifications?

Answer: To calculate the required Scrum Education Units (SEUs) and renewal fee for your multiple Scrum Alliance certifications, follow these straightforward steps:

Step 1: Determine your highest-level certification

Identify your highest-level Scrum Alliance certification. For example, if you have both the CSM (Certified Scrum Master) and the A-CSM (Advanced Certified ScrumMaster), focus on earning SEUs for the A-CSM, as it is at a higher level.

Step 2: Earn SEUs for your highest-level certification

For the A-CSM certification, you’ll need to earn 30 SEUs to renew it.

Step 3: Collect half of the required SEUs for additional certifications

If you hold additional certifications besides the A-CSM, you’ll need to collect at least half of the required SEUs for each of those certifications. For example, renewing both CSM and A-CSM together requires an additional 10 SEUs, which is half of the SEUs required for CSM. So, for both certifications, you need a total of 40 SEUs (30 for A-CSM and 10 for CSM, which is half of CSM’s required SEUs).

Step 4: Pay the renewal fee for the higher-level certification

When it’s time to pay the renewal fee, remember to only pay for the higher-level certification. In this example, the renewal fee for the A-CSM is USD 175, and it automatically covers the renewal for both the A-CSM and CSM certifications. So, you’ll only need to pay the renewal fee for the A-CSM, and it will take care of renewing both certifications.

To summarize, for the given example:

• Earn 30 SEUs for A-CSM.
• Collect an additional 10 SEUs for CSM.
• Pay the A-CSM renewal fee of USD 175, which covers both A-CSM and CSM renewal.