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Professional Scrum Master Advanced (PSM-A) Certification Course

Advanced course for experienced Scrum Masters covering servant leadership, conflict resolution, facilitation, metrics, and includes PSM II certification attempt.

AdvancedScrum.orgTraditional (Full Day) · Traditional (Half Day) · Immersive

What changes for your team

  • Turn team friction into forward motion
  • Move beyond ceremonies to real change
  • Prove advanced mastery with recognized certification

Immersive training pays back differently to a two-day course. Sessions spread across several weeks mean each idea is applied in your real work before the next one lands — so capability builds instead of fading under a backlog. Why immersive produces better returns →  ·  Other formats available in the panel above.

Course Code: PSM-A

Overview

The Advanced Professional Scrum Master (PSM-A) course is an advanced class, delivered over 8 half-day sessions, designed for experienced Scrum Masters seeking to deepen their understanding of the Scrum framework and enhance their effectiveness in the role.

Target Audience

  • Scrum Masters (with at least one year of experience)
  • Managers
  • Lean Agile Practitioners

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the effects on the organization of a successful Scrum Master
  • Apply servant leadership and deal with complexity
  • Manage and resolve team conflict
  • Remove impediments to team progress
  • Utilize facilitation techniques
  • Recognize the importance of a “Done” Increment and the Sprint Goal
  • Refresh understanding of the purpose of Scrum Events
  • Clarify the role of management in Scrum
  • Support successful product delivery
  • Apply measurement in Scrum
  • Support the Product Owner effectively
  • Address challenges of middle management
  • Act as a change agent within the organization

Course Topics

  • Scrum Master stances: Teacher, Coach & Mentor, Facilitator, Change Agent
  • Servant leadership
  • Facilitation techniques (e.g., Liberating Structures)
  • Team conflict resolution
  • Removing impediments
  • Supporting Product Owners and Development Teams
  • Organizational change and stakeholder engagement
  • Measurement and metrics in Scrum

Certification

  • Includes a free attempt at the Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification exam

Frequently Asked Questions

The PSM-A course is designed for experienced Scrum Masters with at least one year of hands-on experience, as well as managers and lean-agile practitioners who want to deepen their Scrum skills. It’s not suitable for those new to Scrum or anyone looking for an introductory overview of the framework; beginners should attend the foundational PSM course first.

The course includes a free attempt at the Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification. If you take the assessment within 14 days and don’t pass (score at least 85%), you’re allowed a second attempt at no extra cost.

You’ll tackle issues such as managing team conflict, removing impediments, enabling agility within the organization, engaging with stakeholders, and clarifying management’s role in Scrum. The trainer will also coach you and your classmates on live challenges you bring from your workplace.

You should have at least one year of experience as a Scrum Master and a solid understanding of the Scrum framework, often gained by having completed the PSM course or equivalent professional experience.

PSM-A builds on the foundational PSM course by focusing on advanced Scrum Master stances, organisational change, and servant leadership. Having taken PSM or gained equivalent experience is expected before attending PSM-A.

Syllabus

Here is exactly what your team will cover, and how we deliver it. Every format teaches the same modules; what changes is how the time is spread and what happens between sessions:

Immersive RecommendedTraditional (Full Day)Traditional (Half Day)
Sessions 8 sessions 2 days 4 half-days
Each session 4h: 2h reflect + 2h learn 8h incl. breaks and lunch 4h incl. breaks
Total time with an expert 32h 16h 16h
New concept and practice
incl. breaks		 16h 16h 16h
Facilitated reflection
what happened when you tried it		 16h — —
~Expert time per topic
breaks removed		 ~3h20
1h40 reflect + 1h40 learn		 ~1h30 ~1h40
Time to apply between sessions 1–2 working weeks (≈36–72h) Overnight Half a working day (≈4h)

Each immersive session follows a learning cycle: reflect on what happened when you applied the last concept, learn the next one and practise it, then take it back to work as an outcome-based assignment. It is designed for triple-loop learning, so participants do not just change what they do; they question why they do it and how they see their organisation.

Need more support? The immersive experience can be combined with additional coaching, consulting or mentoring to create a Mentor Program for your team.

Choose a format above to see how the modules group into sessions.

Session 1 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Understanding the Stances of the Scrum Master

Module 1

Learn a new concept

Participants will explore the various stances that an effective Scrum Master must take, including servant-leader, coach, facilitator, and change agent. This module helps Scrum Masters understand how to adapt their approach based on the team’s needs and organizational context.

Session 2 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Serving the Development Team

Module 2

Learn a new concept

This module focuses on how Scrum Masters can best support the Development Team, helping them become self-managing, cross-functional, and high-performing. Participants will learn techniques for removing impediments, facilitating team dynamics, and fostering collaboration.

Session 3 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Serving the Product Owner

Module 3

Learn a new concept

Participants will learn how to help Product Owners maximize value by effectively managing the Product Backlog, stakeholder expectations, and product vision. This includes techniques for facilitating refinement, supporting strategic decision-making, and ensuring transparency.

Session 4 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Serving the Organization

Module 4

Learn a new concept

This module explores how Scrum Masters can drive organizational change and support the broader adoption of Agile practices. Participants will learn strategies for addressing systemic impediments, promoting empiricism, and coaching leadership.

Session 5 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Advanced Facilitation Techniques

Module 5

Learn a new concept

Participants will enhance their facilitation skills with advanced techniques for managing complex group dynamics, addressing conflicts, and facilitating productive Scrum events. This includes practical approaches to improve collaboration and decision-making.

Session 6 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Coaching and Mentoring Skills

Module 6

Learn a new concept

This module focuses on developing the coaching and mentoring capabilities essential for effective Scrum Masters. Participants will learn techniques for asking powerful questions, active listening, and helping others grow in their understanding of Scrum and Agile practices.

Session 7 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Dealing with Complexity and Impediments

Module 7

Learn a new concept

Participants will explore strategies for navigating complex organizational environments and addressing challenging impediments. This includes techniques for systems thinking, change management, and organizational influence.

Session 8 · 2h facilitated reflection + 2h new concept and practice · 10m break each hour

Measuring Success and Continuous Improvement

Module 8

Learn a new concept

The final module focuses on how Scrum Masters can measure effectiveness and continuously improve their practice. Participants will learn about useful metrics, feedback mechanisms, and approaches for ongoing professional development.

Catchup & After · Immersive only

Catchup & After

Two weeks after completion, participants are invited to join a follow-up catch-up session designed to address any remaining questions, ideas, or challenges that have emerged since the training. This session provides an opportunity to reflect on your experiences applying the concepts learned in the course, share insights, and receive additional support.

* Assignments are part of our Immersive Training Programs, encouraging participants to apply their learning practically between sessions for a more hands-on experience.

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