CST
Coming Soon
Expected availability announced soon
This course is in active development. Preview the scope below and create a free account to be notified the moment it goes live.
CST
The Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) program equips experienced Agile educators with advanced mastery of adult learning theory, Scrum fundamentals, facilitation, delivery excellence, and curriculum design, enabling them to certify and mentor high‑performing Scrum teams.
Who Should Take This
It is intended for senior Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and instructional designers who have several years of hands‑on Scrum experience and a proven track record of delivering workshops or trainings. These professionals seek formal recognition of their expertise and aim to expand their impact by leading certified Scrum training programs worldwide.
What's Covered
1
Domain 1: Adult Learning Theory and Instructional Design
2
Domain 2: Scrum Knowledge Mastery
3
Domain 3: Facilitation of Learning Experiences
4
Domain 4: Training Delivery Excellence
5
Domain 5: Curriculum Design and Assessment
6
Domain 6: Professional Trainer Development
What's Included in AccelaStudy® AI
Adaptive Knowledge Graph
Practice Questions
Lesson Modules
Console Simulator Labs
Exam Tips & Strategy
20 Activity Formats
Course Outline
61 learning goals
1
Domain 1: Adult Learning Theory and Instructional Design
4 topics
Foundations of adult learning
- Apply Knowles' principles of andragogy including self-direction, experience-based learning, relevance orientation, and problem-centered focus to design training that respects adult learner characteristics.
- Apply Kolb's experiential learning cycle including concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation to structure Scrum training activities.
- Analyze learning style diversity within training groups to evaluate how different learners process information and design multi-modal activities that reach all participants.
Cognitive load and memory
- Apply cognitive load theory to manage intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load during Scrum training, ensuring content complexity matches learner capacity.
- Apply spaced repetition, retrieval practice, and interleaving techniques to improve long-term retention of Scrum concepts beyond the training classroom.
- Analyze the relationship between cognitive overload symptoms and curriculum design to identify where content sequencing, complexity reduction, or additional scaffolding is needed.
Motivation and engagement theory
- Apply motivation theory including intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, self-determination theory, and flow states to design training experiences that sustain learner engagement.
- Analyze learner motivation patterns across different participant demographics including voluntary attendees, mandatory attendees, skeptics, and enthusiasts to tailor engagement approaches.
Instructional design methodology
- Apply backward design methodology to create training curricula starting from desired learning outcomes, then designing assessments, and finally selecting learning activities.
- Design comprehensive learning journeys that extend Scrum training beyond the classroom through pre-work, post-training assignments, follow-up sessions, and ongoing learning resources.
- Analyze the effectiveness of different instructional design approaches for Scrum training to evaluate which methods produce the deepest understanding and most lasting behavioral change.
2
Domain 2: Scrum Knowledge Mastery
4 topics
Expert-level Scrum Guide understanding
- Apply expert-level understanding of every element of the Scrum Guide to explain nuanced distinctions, address common misconceptions, and relate Scrum principles to real-world scenarios.
- Analyze the evolution of the Scrum Guide across versions to explain why specific changes were made, what problems they addressed, and how the framework's understanding has matured.
- Design training explanations that illuminate the principles behind Scrum rules, helping learners understand why the framework works rather than merely memorizing what to do.
Contextual Scrum application
- Apply Scrum knowledge to diverse organizational contexts including startups, enterprises, non-software domains, and regulated industries to demonstrate framework adaptability.
- Analyze the boundaries of Scrum applicability to help learners understand where Scrum is effective, where it needs complementary practices, and where alternative approaches may be more appropriate.
Addressing misconceptions and difficult questions
- Apply techniques for identifying and addressing common Scrum misconceptions including mechanical Scrum, role confusion, event misuse, and artifact misunderstanding.
- Analyze the root causes of persistent Scrum misconceptions to design training approaches that prevent rather than merely correct misunderstandings.
- Design responses to challenging Scrum questions that demonstrate deep knowledge, acknowledge legitimate concerns, and maintain intellectual honesty when the framework has limitations.
Complementary knowledge domains
- Apply knowledge of Lean, Kanban, XP, and other agile approaches to contextualize Scrum within the broader agile ecosystem for learners with diverse agile experience.
- Analyze the relationships between Scrum and complementary frameworks to help learners understand how Scrum integrates with organizational practices beyond the team level.
- Design training modules that help learners build bridges between Scrum and their existing organizational context, enabling practical application of Scrum principles upon return to work.
3
Domain 3: Facilitation of Learning Experiences
4 topics
Experiential activity design
- Apply experiential activity design principles to create simulations, games, and exercises that allow learners to discover Scrum concepts through direct experience rather than lecture.
- Analyze the learning impact of experiential activities by evaluating whether they produce genuine insight, emotional engagement, and behavioral intention versus superficial entertainment.
- Design novel experiential activities that illuminate specific Scrum concepts, create memorable learning moments, and can be reliably facilitated across different learner groups.
Managing group learning dynamics
- Apply group facilitation techniques to manage diverse learning groups including balancing participation, managing dominant learners, encouraging quiet participants, and handling disruptive behavior.
- Analyze group learning dynamics in real time to identify when the group is confused, disengaged, in conflict, or experiencing breakthrough understanding and adjust facilitation accordingly.
Creating safe learning environments
- Apply techniques for creating psychologically safe learning environments where learners feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, challenging assumptions, and sharing experiences.
- Design inclusive training environments that accommodate diverse learning needs, cultural backgrounds, physical abilities, and professional experience levels.
Real-time adaptation
- Apply real-time training adaptation techniques to adjust content, pacing, activities, and emphasis based on learner needs, energy levels, and emerging questions during training delivery.
- Analyze the trade-offs between curriculum adherence and real-time adaptation to evaluate when following the plan serves learning versus when departing from the plan creates more value.
- Design flexible training curricula with built-in adaptation points, modular activities, and contingency plans that enable graceful real-time adjustment without losing learning coherence.
4
Domain 4: Training Delivery Excellence
4 topics
Presentation and communication skills
- Apply advanced presentation techniques including storytelling, metaphor, visual aids, voice modulation, and physical presence to create compelling and memorable Scrum training delivery.
- Analyze the effectiveness of different communication techniques for conveying complex Scrum concepts to evaluate which approaches produce the clearest understanding for diverse audiences.
Energy and pacing management
- Apply energy management techniques to maintain learner engagement across multi-day training programs including strategic breaks, activity sequencing, and rhythm variation.
- Design training day structures that optimize learning energy through attention to circadian rhythms, cognitive load accumulation, and the strategic placement of high-energy versus reflective activities.
Handling difficult situations
- Apply techniques for handling difficult training situations including hostile participants, off-topic tangents, political agendas, and fundamental disagreements with Scrum principles.
- Analyze the root causes of difficult participant behavior to distinguish between legitimate concerns, misconceptions, organizational frustrations, and interpersonal dynamics.
- Design proactive strategies for preventing common difficult situations through clear expectations, early engagement, inclusive activity design, and building psychological safety from the first minutes.
Virtual and hybrid training delivery
- Apply virtual training delivery techniques including digital collaboration tools, engagement polling, breakout rooms, and attention management for remote Scrum training.
- Design hybrid training experiences that maintain equitable learning quality for both in-person and remote participants simultaneously.
- Analyze the strengths and limitations of virtual versus in-person Scrum training to recommend the optimal delivery format based on learning objectives, participant context, and practical constraints.
5
Domain 5: Curriculum Design and Assessment
4 topics
Scrum Alliance courseware
- Apply Scrum Alliance courseware standards and learning objectives to design training content that meets certification requirements while creating engaging, differentiated learning experiences.
- Analyze the alignment between Scrum Alliance learning objectives and actual learner needs to identify where courseware enhancement, supplementation, or customization adds value.
- Design courseware that exceeds minimum Scrum Alliance standards by incorporating original activities, industry-specific examples, and advanced facilitation techniques that differentiate the training.
Assessment design
- Apply assessment design principles to create formative and summative evaluations that measure genuine Scrum understanding rather than surface-level memorization.
- Design authentic assessment methods including scenario-based questions, role-play evaluations, and reflective exercises that demonstrate applied Scrum understanding.
Continuous curriculum improvement
- Apply continuous improvement principles to training curriculum by collecting learner feedback, analyzing assessment results, and iterating on content and delivery methods.
- Analyze training effectiveness data including learner satisfaction scores, knowledge retention measures, and post-training behavior change to evaluate curriculum impact.
- Design a systematic curriculum review process that incorporates learner feedback, industry trends, Scrum Guide updates, and pedagogical research into regular courseware updates.
Customization for organizational clients
- Apply training needs analysis techniques to customize Scrum training for organizational clients, incorporating their specific challenges, industry context, and transformation goals.
- Design customized training programs for enterprise clients that address organizational-specific scenarios, use relevant examples, and connect Scrum concepts to the client's business context.
6
Domain 6: Professional Trainer Development
4 topics
Building a training practice
- Apply business development strategies to build a sustainable Scrum training practice including marketing, client acquisition, pricing, scheduling, and managing the logistics of training delivery.
- Design a training practice business model that balances public classes, organizational engagements, and community contribution for sustainable professional growth.
Continuing education and growth
- Apply continuous learning practices to stay current with Scrum Guide updates, pedagogical research, industry trends, and emerging training technologies.
- Analyze personal training delivery through self-assessment, video review, peer feedback, and participant evaluations to identify growth areas and refine training craft.
- Design a personal professional development plan that integrates training delivery practice, pedagogical skill building, Scrum knowledge deepening, and community contribution.
Community contribution and mentoring
- Apply mentoring techniques to support aspiring CSTs in developing their training skills, building their courseware, and preparing for the CST application process.
- Design contributions to the Scrum training community including co-training events, courseware sharing, conference presentations, and published training insights.
Maintaining Scrum Alliance standards
- Apply Scrum Alliance brand and quality standards to ensure all training delivery meets certification requirements, maintains professional ethics, and upholds the Scrum Alliance reputation.
- Analyze the balance between personal training style and Scrum Alliance standards to evaluate where creative expression adds value and where standard compliance is non-negotiable.
Scope
Included Topics
- All topics in the Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) learning objectives: adult learning theory and instructional design, Scrum knowledge mastery, facilitation of learning experiences, training delivery excellence, curriculum design and assessment, and professional trainer development.
- Adult learning theory including andragogy, experiential learning models, learning styles, cognitive load theory, motivation theory, and the neuroscience of learning applied to Scrum training contexts.
- Scrum knowledge mastery at expert depth including comprehensive understanding of the Scrum Guide, ability to address nuanced questions, capacity to relate Scrum to diverse organizational contexts, and deep understanding of why Scrum works.
- Facilitation of learning experiences including designing experiential activities, managing group learning dynamics, creating psychologically safe learning environments, and adapting to diverse learner needs in real time.
- Training delivery excellence including presentation skills, storytelling, timing and pacing, energy management, handling difficult participants, and creating memorable learning experiences.
- Curriculum design and assessment including backward design from learning objectives, assessment rubric creation, formative and summative evaluation, and continuous curriculum improvement based on learner feedback.
- Professional trainer development including building a training practice, marketing and business development, continuing education, contributing to the Scrum training community, and maintaining Scrum Alliance standards.
Not Covered
- Team-level and enterprise-level coaching techniques covered by CTC and CEC certifications.
- Organizational transformation strategy and change management covered by CAL1 and CAL2 certifications.
- Scaling framework implementation details covered by CASP certification.
- Technical engineering practices, DevOps, and software architecture.
- Product management, product strategy, and advanced Product Owner techniques.
- Formal academic pedagogy research and educational psychology beyond practical application to Scrum training.
Official Exam Page
Learn more at Scrum Alliance
CST is coming soon
Adaptive learning that maps your knowledge and closes your gaps.
Create Free Account to Be Notified