FAQ for 3Back Training Awarded by Scrum Alliance
Here you’ll find frequently asked questions (FAQ) about our Scrum Alliance (SA) training courses, services, and policies, all designed to help you get the most out of your learning experience with 3Back. If you can’t find the information you need, feel free to contact us directly.
Certified ScrumMaster: FAQ SA
If you would like to become a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), you will need to attend a CSM course taught by an approved trainer. After the course, you will be eligible to take the Certified ScrumMaster exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive your certification. Read our FAQ Scrum Alliance list of questions.
No. Successful completion of a Certified ScrumMaster course is required to take the CSM exam. Passing the exam will result in becoming a Certified ScrumMaster.
You must take your CSM exam within 90 days of your CSM course. Although some providers choose to administer the exam at the end of class, we at 3Back believe that students should be allowed to utilize the 90-day timeframe to study or review if they wish. Additionally, we understand that many learners will be more comfortable taking the exam in an environment of their own choosing. Therefore, we do not offer the exam in class, instead allowing each student to take it at his or her own convenience. Please note, although you have 90 days during which to take your exam, you must take the exam in its entirety during one sitting. You will not be able to stop and restart the exam.
After completing your CSM course, your instructor will notify the Scrum Alliance that you are now eligible to take the exam. You will then receive an email from Scrum Alliance that includes a link to create your login credentials. The first step will be to take the exam. The exam is online and non-proctored, so you can take it at your convenience from your home or work anytime within 90 days of your course. Once the test is complete, you will be asked to accept a license agreement and setup your online profile. It typically takes 1-2 days after course completion to receive your welcome email from the Scrum Alliance. Please note, although you have 90 days during which to take your exam, you must take the exam in its entirety during one sitting. You will not be able to stop and restart the exam.
Although 3Back students have a pass rate of over 99%, in the event that you should need to retake the exam, a second attempt is included at no cost. Additional attempts are $25 each. Please be aware that the exam is designed and administered by the Scrum Alliance. While we have done our best to provide the most up to date information, we do suggest checking the Scrum Alliance directly for additional details or confirmation of the above.
Your initial exam fee is included in your course registration. If necessary, the cost of a second attempt at the exam is also included. Additional attempts are $25 each. Also, if you do not take the exam within 90 days of your course, you will be required to pay a $25 fee to take the exam. Please be aware that the exam is designed and administered by the Scrum Alliance. While we have done our best to provide the most up to date information, we do suggest checking the Scrum Alliance directly for additional details or confirmation of the above.
Yes. However, you will be required to pay a $25 exam fee since your 90-day window has elapsed.
In order to obtain your certification following the CSM class, you will be required to pass an online exam administered by the Scrum Alliance. The exam is online and non-proctored, so you can take it from the convenience of your own home or work. You will need to take the exam within 90 days of your CSM course. It will be timeboxed to 60 minutes. You must take the exam in its entirety during one sitting. You will not be able to stop and restart the exam. The exam consists of 50 questions selected randomly from a battery of questions. A passing score requires a minimum of 37 correct answers. Please be aware that the exam is designed and administered by the Scrum Alliance. While we have done our best to provide the most up to date information, we do suggest checking the Scrum Alliance directly for additional details or confirmation of the above.
The Scrum Alliance is the world’s largest, oldest and most recognized Scrum certification organization. 3Back is a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance and therefore approved to teach courses that will lead to Scrum Alliance issued certifications.
Yes, our CSM course is worth 14 PDUs each. As a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance, our CSM course is worth 14 SEUs as well.
20 SEUs need to be completed in 2 years time and payment fee of $100 to the Scrum Alliance must be made, before the CSM license can be renewed. See the link for more information on Claiming SEUs. You can also use 3Back Resources to read our publications and receive SEUs under Category E.
Advanced Certified ScrumMaster: FAQ SA
You need 12 months of professional experience as a Scrum Master during the last five years and a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification.
Yes, you can. The required work experience is a requirement that can be met before, during or after you have completed the A-CSM coursework. You can complete the education component while you earn work experience as a ScrumMaster.
No, unlike the CSM course, there is no test after the A-CSM course.
Yes, a Scrum Alliance issued CSM® certification is required.
Yes, Validate on your Scrum Alliance Profile at least 12 months of work experience specific to the role of Scrum Master (within the past five years).
The Scrum Alliance is the world’s largest, oldest and most recognized Scrum certification organization. 3Back is a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance and therefore approved to teach courses that will lead to Scrum Alliance issued certifications.
30 SEUs need to be completed in 2 years time and payment fee of $175 to the Scrum Alliance must be made, before the A-CSM license can be renewed. See the link for more information on Claiming SEUs. You can also use 3Back Resources to read our publications and receive SEUs under Category E.
Yes, our CSM course is worth 14 PDUs each. As a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance, our CSM course is worth 14 SEUs as well.
Complete 13 Self-Paced Modules with assignments. Attend 4 One-Hour Open Discussion with the trainers.
You need to make sure you update your Scrum Alliance profile with your work experience and have a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification. In addition to needing a CSM certification, you need at least 12 months of professional experience as a Scrum Master during the last five years.
Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster: FAQ SA
You need to hold an Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) certification with the Scrum Alliance and have at least 24 months of work experience specific to the role of a ScrumMaster within the past five years.
40 SEUs need to be completed in 2 years time and payment fee of $250 to the Scrum Alliance must be made before the CSP-SM license can be renewed. See the links for more information on Claiming SEUs and you can use 3Back Resources to read our publications and receive SEUs under Category E.
Yes, you will receive 16 PDUs upon completion of the course. As a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance, our CSP-SM course is worth 16 SEUs as well.
Complete 14 Self-Paced Modules with assignments. Attend 4 One-Hour Open Discussion with the trainers.
On-Demand is a blended approach of both instructor-led and independent, self-paced learning. As a learner, you can find your own rhythm and you choose how fast you go. You have up to 3 months to complete the course and office hours from the purchase date.
The typical Module includes 20-60 minutes of reading (depending on your reading speed), and a multiple-choice quiz. After you complete these, you need to work through assignments in the module/quiz and do one or more scenario-based exercises. Each module will take about 1-3 hours of your time.
You have up to 3 months to complete the course from the purchase date. The average completion time is 4-6 weeks.
Fastest On-Demand: A fast pace would be two weeks for completion. You need to attend four Open Discussion Hours, and we are each planning to have two available per week.
Quick On-Demand: If you want to be quick, it makes sense to do it in a month. Do 3-4 modules a week, and attend an Open Discussion Hour each week.
Minimum On-Demand: You must be finished within 3 months of the purchase date (see our policy page for details).
You need to make sure you update your Scrum Alliance profile with your work experience and have an Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) certification. In addition to needing an A-CSM certification, you need at least 24 months of professional experience as a Scrum Master during the last five years.
Certified Scrum Product Owner: FAQ SA
If you would like to become a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), currently you only need to attend a CSPO course taught by an approved trainer; no exam is required at this time to obtain your CSPO certification.
While we have done our best to provide the most up to date information, we do suggest checking the Scrum Alliance directly for additional details or confirmation of the above.
Currently, the Scrum Alliance does not require an exam to obtain certification following your CSPO class. We do suggest checking the Scrum Alliance directly for additional details or confirmation of the above.
The Scrum Alliance is the world’s largest, oldest and most recognized Scrum certification organization. 3Back is a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance and therefore approved to teach courses that will lead to Scrum Alliance issued certifications.
Yes, our CSPO course is worth 14 PDUs each. As a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance, our CSPO course is worth 14 SEUs as well.
20 SEUs need to be completed in 2 years time and payment fee of $100 to the Scrum Alliance must be made, before the CSPO license can be renewed. See the link for more information on Claiming SEUs. You can also use 3Back Resources to read our publications and receive SEUs under Category E.
Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner: FAQ SA
You need 12 months of professional experience as a Scrum Product Owner during the last five years and a Certified Scrum product Owner (CSPO) certification.
Yes, you can. The required work experience is a requirement that can be met before, during or after you have completed the A-CSPO coursework. You can complete the education component while you earn work experience as a Scrum Product Owner.
No, there is no test after the A-CSPO course.
Yes, a Scrum Alliance issued CSPO® certification is required.
Yes, Validate on your Scrum Alliance Profile at least 12 months of work experience specific to the role of Scrum Product Owner (within the past five years).
The Scrum Alliance is the world’s largest, oldest and most recognized Scrum certification organization. 3Back is a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance and therefore approved to teach courses that will lead to Scrum Alliance issued certifications.
30 SEUs need to be completed in 2 years time and payment fee of $175 to the Scrum Alliance must be made, before the A-CSPO license can be renewed. See the link for more information on Claiming SEUs. You can also use 3Back Resources to read our publications and receive SEUs under Category E.
Yes, you will receive 16 PDUs upon completion of the course. As a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance, our A-CSPO course is worth 16 SEUs as well.
Complete 13 Self-Paced Modules with assignments. Attend 4 One-Hour Open Discussion with the trainers.
You need to make sure you update your Scrum Alliance profile with your work experience and have a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certification. In addition to needing a CSPO certification, you need at least 12 months of professional experience as a Scrum Product Owner during the last five years.
Certified Scrum Professional – Product Owner: FAQ SA
The Certified Scrum Professional – Product Owner (CSP-PO) is the highest level certification for Product Owners offered by Scrum Alliance. It represents advanced knowledge and experience in product ownership, strategy implementation, product assumption testing, and product backlog management.
The CSP-PO is a more advanced certification that builds upon the A-CSPO. It requires more experience and covers more in-depth topics related to product ownership.
Benefits include:
– Recognition of advanced skills in product ownership
– Enhanced career opportunities
– Preparation for roles in shaping product success and organizational growth
– Potential pathway to becoming a Certified Scrum Trainer
You need to hold an Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) certification with the Scrum Alliance and have at least 24 months of work experience specific to the role of a Product Owner within the past five years.
40 SEUs need to be completed in 2 years time and payment fee of $250 to the Scrum Alliance must be made before the CSP-PO license can be renewed. See the links for more information on Claiming SEUs and you can use 3Back Resources to read our publications and receive SEUs under Category E.
Yes, you will receive 16 PDUs upon completion of the course. As a Registered Education Provider for the Scrum Alliance, our CSP-PO course is worth 16 SEUs as well.
Complete 13 Self-Paced Modules with assignments. Attend 4 One-Hour Open Discussion with the trainers.
On-Demand is a blended approach of both instructor-led and independent, self-paced learning. As a learner, you can find your own rhythm and you choose how fast you go. You have up to 3 months to complete the course and office hours from the purchase date.
The typical Module includes 20-60 minutes of reading (depending on your reading speed), and a multiple-choice quiz. After you complete these, you need to work through assignments in the module/quiz and do one or more scenario-based exercises. Each module will take about 1-3 hours of your time.
You have up to 3 months to complete the course from the purchase date. The average completion time is 4-6 weeks.
Fastest On-Demand: A fast pace would be two weeks for completion. You need to attend four Open Discussion Hours, and we are each planning to have two available per week.
Quick On-Demand: If you want to be quick, it makes sense to do it in a month. Do 3-4 modules a week, and attend an Open Discussion Hour each week.
Minimum On-Demand: You must be finished within 3 months of the purchase date (see our policy page for details).
You need to make sure you update your Scrum Alliance profile with your work experience and have an Advanced Certified Scrum product Owner (A-CSPO) certification. In addition to needing an A-CSPO certification, you need at least 24 months of professional experience as a Product Owner during the last five years.
Before, During, & After Class: FAQ
Enrollment in all of our public courses includes the following: class materials and certification or badging fees. In addition, our CSM, CSPO, and A-CSM courses include a 2-year membership to the Scrum Alliance. Our CSM course also includes a Scrum Study Guide with two practice exams and Scrum Alliance exam fees.
Although most of our courses are introductory level, we strongly recommended that students have a basic understanding of agile and/or Scrum. The ebook, Scrum 101, is a prerequisite for many of our courses and will provide a basic understanding of Scrum. If you would like additional reading, we suggest checking out our blog, or perusing the Scrum Dictionary. Our KMP II course requires completion of a KMP I level class or a demonstrated working knowledge of Kanban.
Although most of our courses are introductory level, we strongly recommended that students have a basic understanding of agile, Kanban and/or Scrum. The ebook, Scrum 101, is a prerequisite for many of our courses and will provide a basic understanding of Scrum. If you would like additional reading, we suggest checking out our blog, or perusing some Scrum Glossary terms. Our KMP II course requires completion of a KMP I level class or a demonstrated working knowledge of Kanban.
Just yourself and your desire to learn! We will provide everything else you need.
Yes, breaks will occur regularly during class. Although the break times may vary slightly from class to class in order to accommodate questions, discussion or activity.
We maintain a flexible agenda during class so that we can adapt to the skill and experience level of each group and address the unique questions and situations that arise in each course. However, for a list of topics that will be covered in your particular class, please locate the appropriate course page on our Training Menu at the top of the page.
Due to the interactive nature of our classes, missing large portions not only impacts your own learning, but that of your teammates as well. For this reason, we strongly recommend that students make arrangements so they can attend class in its entirety. Also, missing a large portion of class will result in an our inability to approve your eligibility for certification or badging. For more information, please see our Public Course Policies. If you have an idea of which portion of the class you will be missing, please contact us at 855-32-3BACK (855-323-2225) or [email protected] so that we can determine whether this will be an issue.
Due to the interactive nature of our classes, missing large portions not only impacts your own learning, but that of your teammates as well. For this reason, we strongly recommend that students make arrangements so they can attend class in its entirety. Also, missing a large portion of class will result in an our inability to approve your eligibility for certification or badging. For more information, please see our Public Course Policies. If you have an idea of which portion of the class you will be missing, please contact us at 855-32-3BACK (855-323-2225) or [email protected] so that we can determine whether this will be an issue.
Every class is a bit different. However, most of our classes have somewhere between 10-15 students in them.
When you register for one of our classes, we take your commitment seriously and will do everything we can to ensure your class will run. Although we do reserve the right to cancel or reschedule courses due to unforeseen events (such as illness, family emergency or inclement travel weather), it is extremely rare that we do so. In the event that we do find it necessary to cancel or reschedule your class, you will be given the option of rescheduling your attendance to a future class or receiving a full refund.
To claim your PDUs, log into your PMI account at www.pmi.org and complete the PMI PDU Self Reporting Form.
Here is the information you will need:
– Log into pmi.org, go to your Dashboard
– Scroll down to PMP or PMI-ACP and select “Report PDUs”
– Select “Course or Training” and enter the following information:
– Provider: 3Back LLC
– Course: Name of course you completed
– Description: Scrum Masters and Product Owners are Leaders on Scrum Teams. This course helps us become better Scrum Masters and/or Product Owners
– Dates: enter start and end dates of the course
– PDUs claimed: 14 PDUs for CSM and CSPO and 16 PDUs for A-CSM, A-CSPO, CSP-SM, and CSP-PO in Power Skills
For more information about obtaining PDUs, please contact PMI directly at 855-746-4849 or [email protected].
Course Delivery: FAQ
Live Online is 2 eight hour days of instructor-led training. Class will be held using a video conference software and will deliver live, instructor training at a scheduled time and date.
On-Demand is driven by ‘you’ the learner and allows you to self-pace through the material with Open Office Discussion Hours to supplement your learning, completed at your convenience. On-Demand is a blend between instructor-led and independent, self-paced learning. The On-Demand course supports the following Study pattern: read 1 Module at a time on your own, complete a quiz, and an exercise. On-Demand courses can be completed as quickly as about 2 weeks. You have up to 6 weeks to complete the CSM and CSPO courses and up to 3 months to complete the Advanced and CSP level courses from the purchase date.
On-Demand is a blended approach of both instructor-led and independent, self-paced learning. As a learner, you can find your own rhythm and you choose how fast you go. You have up to 3 months to complete the course from the purchase date.
Live Online refers to training done when the learner and the instructor are in separate locations. We use video conferencing technology to deliver Live Instructor interactions and pre-recorded content.
All participants must have a microphone, webcam, internet and web browser. Google Docs/Sheets are used in the course and the class is done over Zoom.
We will provide all materials required for the class electronically and email the Zoom link the day before class begins. Physical copies of the Scrum Books are also available for purchase to reference during and after class if you prefer a physical copy.
Trainers will use a common video conference tool like Zoom, Google Hangouts or Webex to facilitate classes. All students are required to participate using their microphone and webcam. A video conference account is not required.
A-CSM, A-CSPO, CSP-SM, and CSP-PO Bundle+: You have 3 months to complete the course from the purchase date. View our full policies here.
There are 13-14 Modules to complete and 4 Open Discussion hours you must attend.
Fastest On-Demand: A fast pace would be two weeks for completion. You need to attend four Open Discussion Hours, and we are each planning to have two available per week.
Quick On-Demand: If you want to be quick, it makes sense to do it in a month. Do 3-4 modules a week, and attend an Open Discussion Hour each week.
Minimum On-Demand: You must be finished within 3 months of the purchase date for A-CSM, A-CSPO, CSP-SM, or CSP-PO.
The typical Module includes 20-60 minutes of reading (depending on your reading speed), and a multiple-choice quiz. After you complete these, you need to work through assignments in the module/quiz and do one or more scenario-based exercises. Each module will take about 1-3 hours of your time.
We have a regularly posted schedule of Open Discussion Hours that will be posted at the time of your registration. There will be a link to a calendar so that you can find and attend a session. During the Open Discussion Hour with the trainer, you will have an opportunity to get questions answered and discuss the material.
Yes, once you complete the CSM, CSPO, A-CSPO, or A-CSM course, no matter what the course delivery method is, we will submit you to the Scrum Alliance and you will be certified.
Payment, Rescheduling and Cancellation: FAQ
There are no additional fees for any of our courses. Your course registration includes the following: Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks on all days of the course, course workbook and other materials, and all applicable certification or badging fees. In addition, our CSM and CSPO courses include a 2-year membership to the Scrum Alliance. Our CSM course also includes a Scrum Study Guide workbook with two practice exams and Scrum Alliance exam fees.
Our classes often sell out. You must provide payment in order to guarantee your your seat in the class. If the class reaches capacity and we have not yet received your payment, you will be moved to a waitlist and notified if a seat becomes available.
We accept all major credit cards, including American Express. We also accept payment by check or money order and can send you an invoice if necessary to do so. However, please be aware that payment is due upon receipt of invoice. If the course reaches capacity and your payment has not been received, you will be moved to waitlist and notified if a seat becomes available. Payment must be received by 3Back in advance of your course.
Yes. However, payment terms for Purchase Orders is ‘Due Upon Receipt’. If you would like to use a Purchase Order, please contact our Finance Department at 855-323-2225 or email us at [email protected].
Yes. If you would like to pay by check, please select the “Invoice” option when enrolling in the course. Our Finance Department will then send an invoice due upon receipt. For question, please contact our Finance Department at 855-323-2225 or email us at [email protected].
Yes. Please contact our Sales Department at 855-323-2225 or email us at [email protected] to let us know how many individuals are in your group so we can provide you with the appropriate promo code.
We understand that life can be unpredictable, so we are happy to reschedule your course attendance to another 3Back course if necessary. For more information, please see our Public Course Policies. If you need to reschedule, please contact our Finance Department at 855-323-2225 or email us at [email protected] to proceed.
Yes. Substitutions are accepted at any time prior to commencement of the class. There is no charge for this service. For more information, please see our Public Course Policies. If you would like to transfer your registration to another person, please contact us at 855-323-2225 or email us at [email protected].
You can see our cancellation policy here. If you need to cancel your registration, please contact our Finance Department at 855-323-2225 or email us at [email protected].
When you register for one of our classes, we take your commitment seriously and will do everything we can to ensure your class will run. Although we do reserve the right to cancel or reschedule courses due to unforeseen events (such as illness, family emergency, or inclement travel weather), it is extremely rare that we do so. In the event that we do find it necessary to cancel or reschedule your class, you will be given the option of rescheduling your attendance to a future class or receiving a full refund.