Scrum is a “lightweight framework that helps people, teams and organizations generate value through adaptive solutions for complex problems” (as defined in the Scrum Guide).
Although all members of a Scrum team are aware of how it works, the Scrum Master is the one accountable for establishing it in the team and the organization.
This means Scrum Masters will have a deep understanding of the events, artifacts, accountabilities, values and theory of Scrum. For different reasons, it might be interesting to get a certification. Which brings up that old question: is there a way of getting certified for free?
The answer is no, the certifications are paid. What to do if that’s too expensive right now?
Getting a Sponsor
What you could consider is asking your employer to sponsor you. After all, it is a win-win situation.
The worst that can happen is that they say no and even that has a positive effect: you get to train being rejected.
Quick side note: there is such a thing as rejection therapy and it seems to have benefits.
If your employer says yes, that's fantastic!
If they say no or you don't have an employer, how about learning more about being a Scrum Master on your own?
Learning on Your Own
There is a lot to Scrum that you can learn and apply without a certification. And when you have the time and money to take one, you will be prepared.
A good place to study is Scrum.org. It offers lots of free high-quality material. You can register there for free and follow the learning path for Scrum Master (or the accountability you're interested in). They have already curated the material you would need to better understand the framework.
You can also watch the webinars that are offered there to refresh what you know and gain insights from experienced practitioners.
There are several other sources of information, like Scrum Alliance. Feel free to look for more material if you want more variety!
Of course, nothing beats working with Scrum in real life in one of the roles, so try to do that as soon as possible. That is helpful not only to get acquainted with the values, events, accountabilities and artifacts but also to see the impact of Scrum on the team and the project.
And if you can't do it at work right now, you could try applying it to your personal life. Why not? There is even a TED talk about it! Here's an article from someone who implemented it with the partner and another about using Scrum and Agile in different moments of personal life.
Getting a Certification
A Scrum Master Certification for free does not exist. Currently, the most affordable reputable certification is the one from Scrum.org because you only need to pay for the test. So you could focus on the material from that website.
Proactively studying is definitely a way of improving your understanding. And once you already have a good foundation, checking out the material regularly is a way of staying updated and consolidating the concepts.
After all your studies, you might feel so confident that you decide to pay for a certification yourself!
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