Professional Scrum Master II is an advanced certification in the Scrum field that focuses on in-depth practice and coaching facilitation capabilities in complex scenarios.

1. Introduction to the Professional Scrum Master II certification

Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) is an advanced Scrum certification launched by Scrum.org, which is an upgraded version of PSM I. It focuses on verifying your deep practical skills and coaching guidance ability in applying the Scrum framework in complex scenarios. It requires you to not only master the core principles of Scrum, but also be able to flexibly respond to team growth obstacles and promote the effective implementation of Scrum at the team and organizational levels. It is a key certification for advancing from a "basic practitioner" to a "senior guide."

As Scrum teams move from "entry-level" to "mature," they will face more complex challenges such as insufficient team self-organization ability, inefficient cross departmental collaboration, management's misunderstanding of agile, and dynamic imbalance between requirements and resources.

The core positioning of PSM II certification is to cultivate "coaching talents who can diagnose and solve complex Scrum problems," rather than simply being process executors. The certificate holder needs to act like a "doctor" by observing team behavior, analyzing collaboration patterns, accurately identifying deep problems in Scrum implementation, and using coaching skills to guide the team to independently solve them, while promoting the optimization of the organizational environment towards supporting Scrum. These types of talents usually play the role of "team catalysts and organizational change drivers," balancing team health and business goals.

2. The Competitive Edge of a PSM II Certification 

PSM II is a widely recognized "proof of seniority" in the Scrum field, and its high difficulty exam ensures that you have the practical ability to solve complex problems. It is the core screening criteria for positions such as "Senior Scrum Master" and "Agile Coach" in recruitment.

According to industry data, the average annual salary of PSM II holders is 30%-40% higher than that of PSM I holders. The PSM II certification learning process cultivates the analytical ability to "see the essence through phenomena" and helps practitioners shift from passive problem-solving to proactive problem prevention.

After obtaining the certificate, you can join the advanced community of Scrum.org, access the world's top Scrum practice cases and expert resources, participate in industry sharing, and enhance your personal brand influence.

3. Core Components of the Professional Scrum Master II Certification

PSM II certification, as an advanced certification for Scrum professionals, focuses on the deep cultivation of agile practice skills and coaching leadership in complex scenarios.

On the basis of PSM I, PSM II certification has built five core competency systems, with deep application modules that go beyond the mechanical execution of standard processes, cultivating the ability to flexibly adjust practices according to team size, distribution characteristics, and industry characteristics, mastering the integration of Scrum with XP, Kanban and other methods, and solving complex problems such as quality assurance under high-frequency changes.

Team empowerment guidance involves diagnosing self-organizing disorders, using coaching techniques such as active listening and powerful questioning to help the team establish independent improvement capabilities, and achieving a transition from "management" to "stimulation."

Organizational change drives the focus on identifying and removing organizational level barriers, presenting agile value through dataization, optimizing performance evaluation systems and reengineering collaborative processes, and building an environment that supports self-organizing teams.

Complex risk management targets fuzzy requirements and rapidly changing scenarios, introducing advanced practices. An efficient collaboration mechanism enhances the value decision-making ability of product owners, optimizes stakeholder collaboration models, and ensures maximum collaboration efficiency within and outside the team.

PSM II certification places special emphasis on cultivating students' judgment and adaptability in real business environments. Through case analysis and practical tools, it helps you grow from a standard executor to an agile coach capable of handling complex challenges. The certification covers real-world scenarios such as large-scale teams, distributed collaboration, and strong compliance environments, providing students with a systematic framework for problem diagnosis and resolution.

4. What are the requirements to be a Professional Scrum Master II?

(1) Qualification prerequisites:

The prerequisite for obtaining PSM II is that you first obtain the Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) certification and have a solid foundation in Scrum. Scrum.org recommends that you have 1-2 years of practical Scrum Master experience, have participated in at least 1-2 complete Scrum project cycles, and have experienced typical challenges of team growth.

PSM II does not require mandatory training, but Scrum.org strongly recommends attending advanced training taught by a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) to deepen the ability to cope with complex scenarios. 

(2) Training and examinations:

The PSM II exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions and lasts for 90 minutes. A maximum score of 100 is required, with a minimum score of 85 to pass. The difficulty level is significantly higher than PSM I, with a focus on analyzing and making decisions in complex scenarios. The exam fee is approximately $250 

(3) Qualification maintenance:

But the good news is that the PSM II certificate is valid for life and does not require renewal, but Scrum.org encourages holders to deepen their professional skills through continuous practice, participation in community activities, or taking the PSM III exam.

5. Comparable Certifications to Professional Scrum Master II Certification

• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
• Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II)
• Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM)
• SAFe Scrum Master (SSM)