Disciplined Agile Certification: DASM and DASSM Explained

Disciplined Agile certification is the Project Management Institute credential for people who want to choose the right way of working rather than follow one fixed method. This guide explains what Disciplined Agile is, the difference between DASM and DASSM, what the certification involves, and how PMCOE delivers the training.

What Disciplined Agile is

Disciplined Agile, often shortened to DA, is a toolkit owned by PMI that helps teams decide their own way of working. Instead of prescribing one method, it draws on Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and other approaches, and gives you a way to make context based choices. PMI groups it within its wider agile family, so it sits alongside other agile certification courses.

DASM vs DASSM

DASM (Disciplined Agile Scrum Master) is the entry level certification. It suits people new to Disciplined Agile who lead or support agile teams and want a solid grounding in choosing their way of working.

DASSM (Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master) is the advanced certification. It suits experienced practitioners who coach several teams, tackle harder problems, and tailor the approach across a wider part of the organisation. DASM is the usual first step before DASSM.

What the certification involves

Each certification pairs a training course with an exam. The course teaches the Disciplined Agile mindset and the decision framework, and the exam checks that you can apply it. If you are weighing agile credentials against the PMP, the PMP vs PMI-ACP comparison is a useful reference point.

How PMCOE delivers Disciplined Agile certification

PMCOE runs live, instructor led training as a PMI Authorized Training Partner, so you learn from a credentialed practitioner and can ask questions in real time. Sessions are online, currently with up to 50% off, strictly limited time only.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need DASM before DASSM? DASM is the normal starting point and gives you the foundation the senior certification builds on.

Is Disciplined Agile only for Scrum teams? No. It draws on Scrum, Kanban, and Lean, and helps you choose what fits your context.