Those who hold the Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) or Certified Scrum Alliance Trainer (CSAT) designation are required to submit an annual payment with continuing education renewal requirements due every two years. The current two-year renewal cycle to submit renewal requirements is January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025, and there will be a two-month grace period from December 31, 2025 extended into 2026.
If you don’t successfully submit your annual payment by the specified deadline, you may face the following penalties:
- Your Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) or Certified Scrum Alliance Trainer (CSAT) designation will no longer display on your Scrum Alliance® profile
- You’ll no longer be able to create new courses under your training organization
- If you submit your annual payment after the deadline, you’ll be subject to the full annual fee including any reinstatement/late fees
- If reinstatement is requested after one year of inactive or expired status, you must reapply for CST or CSAT designation
Leave of Absence
- Leave of Absence (medical or family leave) for a CST or CSAT will be granted on a case-by-case basis, after review of the request, submitted in writing to Scrum Alliance. An initial LOA request will be for two years. A LOA may not exceed five consecutive years.
- If a Trainer becomes inactive without an approved Leave of Absence, reinstatement will incur a reinstatement fee of 20% of the total annual fee.
- Reinstatement from LOA will require prorated payment of the annual fee and prorated completion of the renewal requirements.
- If an individual has not requested reinstatement after a granted leave of absence period has ended, the individual will be placed in expired status. If reinstatement is then requested, the individual must submit 60 SEUs and incur a reinstatement fee of 20% of the total annual fee.
- Reinstatement without LOA will require full payment of the annual fee, including any late and/or reinstatement fees.
Emeritus Designation
Certified Scrum Trainer® - Emeritus (CST® - Em), Certified Scrum Alliance Trainer™ - Emeritus (CSAT™ - Em); marks of distinguished service. The Emeritus designation is awarded to trainers who, upon retirement of their certification(s), served Scrum Alliance as a trainer for at least 10 consecutive years in good standing.
The Emeritus designee is awarded: (1) the right to use the current version of the word mark and logo to promote their status as a CST-Em or CSAT-Em; (2) honorary lifetime Scrum Alliance membership; and (3) a profile on the Scrum Alliance site. Emeritus designees are not required to fulfill any requirements nor incur any fees to maintain the designation nor will they be able to access the rights and responsibilities of the CST or CSAT certification. Emeritus designations are not eligible for CST/CSAT reinstatement nor renewal, and will be removed from all mailing lists, including the TCC Google Group.
If you are interested in applying for CST-Em or CSAT-Em, please complete the Emeritus application available on your dashboard.
Semi-Retirement Program
For CSTs or CSATs who are in current good standing, have reached age 65 (by 1 January of the renewal year), and have served Scrum Alliance as a trainer for at least 10 consecutive years (by 1 January of the renewal year), we have developed a Semi-Retirement program. CSTs or CSATs in Semi-Retirement will incur no trainer annual fees and 50% of the renewal SEU requirements.
If you are interested in applying for Trainer Semi-Retirement, please complete the Semi-Retirement application available on your dashboard.