What is the difference between SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) & Certified Scrum Master (CSM)?

The SAFe Scrum Master certification is specific to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), a framework for managing and executing large-scale, complex projects. The certification focuses on the role of the Scrum Master in a SAFe environment and the unique challenges of scaling Scrum. In SAFe, Scrum Master plays a vital role in inter-team collaboration and facilitation since, in SAFe multiple agile teams work together as one big group. The SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) certification is offered by Scaled Agile and is recognized as a tool to educate Scrum Masters working in SAFe.

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification focuses on the general role and responsibilities of a Scrum Master for a given scrum team, as defined by the Scrum framework. The CSM certification is offered by Scrum Alliance and is recognized as a leading certification for Scrum Masters.

In summary, the SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) certification is for those who want to specialize in scaling Scrum using the SAFe framework, while the CSM certification is for those who want to become a general Scrum Master.