Discipline Agile: Understanding the Certifications and Their Key Differences

Discipline Agile (DA) is a powerful and flexible approach to organizational agility that goes beyond traditional agile methods like Scrum or Kanban. It offers a customizable toolkit to help organizations choose the most effective practices for their specific needs. For professionals looking to get certified in Discipline Agile, the PMI (Project Management Institute) offers different levels of certifications, each focusing on a distinct stage of experience and DA application.

The order of the certifications, from entry-level to the most advanced, is as follows:

DASM - Discipline Agile Scrum Master
DASSM - Discipline Agile Senior Scrum Master
DAVSC - Discipline Agile Value Stream Consultant
DAC - Discipline Agile Coach

Below is a comparison table to clarify the main differences between these certifications:

Certification	Experience Level	Prerequisites	Focus	Target Audience
DASM	Beginner	None	Fundamentals of Discipline Agile and agile methods like Scrum and Kanban	Professionals new to agility or DA
DASSM	Intermediate	DASM or significant agile experience	Agile leadership and managing teams using DA	Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, agile team leaders
DAVSC	Advanced	DASSM or agile leadership experience	Optimizing value streams and leading agile transformations	Executives, portfolio managers, agile transformation leaders
DAC	Expert	DAVSC or vast agile leadership experience	Agile coaching and organizational transformation at scale	Senior Agile Coaches, organizational leaders

1. DASM - Discipline Agile Scrum Master

The Discipline Agile Scrum Master (DASM) is the entry-level certification for those new to the Discipline Agile universe. Despite its name, this certification goes beyond Scrum, covering the broader philosophy of DA and introducing agile practices more comprehensively.

Who is it for?

Professionals new to agility or DA.
Those with some experience in agile methods who want to understand Discipline Agile as a whole.

What does it cover?

Fundamentals of Discipline Agile, including the differences between prescriptive and flow-based approaches.
Introduction to the DA Toolkit, such as choosing practices for different contexts (context-driven approach).
Scrum and Kanban principles within the DA context.

Key differences:

Unlike traditional Scrum Master training, DASM offers a broader perspective, covering different approaches and how to apply them based on the team’s and organization’s needs.
There are no formal prerequisites for this certification, making it accessible to beginners.

2. DASSM - Discipline Agile Senior Scrum Master

The Discipline Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM) is the next step for those with experience in agile management who want to deepen their knowledge of leading agile teams using the Discipline Agile Toolkit.

Who is it for?

Professionals who already have some experience as Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, or agile team leaders.
Those who hold the DASM certification or equivalent agile certifications and want to advance in DA.

What does it cover?

Advanced agile leadership practices for scaling the use of Discipline Agile.
Techniques for managing multiple teams and more complex initiatives.
How to use Discipline Agile to solve common coordination, flow management, and governance challenges at the organizational level.

Key differences:

DASSM focuses on more strategic issues, such as scaling and customizing agile approaches for different contexts.
Requires practical experience or prior certification, such as DASM or relevant agile experience.

3. DAVSC - Discipline Agile Value Stream Consultant

The Discipline Agile Value Stream Consultant (DAVSC) is aimed at experienced professionals in organizational leadership, focusing on optimizing value streams within organizations using Discipline Agile principles.

Who is it for?

Executives, portfolio managers, agile transformation leaders, or senior Agile Coaches.
Professionals seeking to lead large-scale agile transformations in complex organizations.

What does it cover?

How to analyze and optimize end-to-end value streams, driving organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Coaching and facilitation techniques to improve alignment between teams, departments, and stakeholders.
Developing agile transformation roadmaps, including continuous improvement and practice adjustments based on context.

Key differences:

DAVSC is the first level to focus on the organizational value stream, setting it apart from previous certifications, which are more team- or program-oriented.
This certification involves an advanced level of DA expertise, targeting leaders seeking to transform organizations at a broader scale.

4. DAC - Discipline Agile Coach

The Discipline Agile Coach (DAC) is the most advanced Discipline Agile certification, intended for professionals who want to serve as consultants and mentors, helping entire organizations become agile in a strategic and sustainable way.

Who is it for?

Experienced Agile Coaches and organizational leaders who wish to guide the implementation of Discipline Agile across multiple areas within an organization.
Professionals with previous DA certifications or extensive agile leadership experience.

What does it cover?

Applying Discipline Agile across the entire organization, guiding teams to choose the most effective approaches and practices for their context.
Developing advanced coaching skills to support and guide agile transformations.
Facilitating enterprise agility, helping to balance governance, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Key differences:

DAC goes beyond DAVSC, adding a strong component of coaching and cultural transformation.
Focuses on helping leaders develop internal organizational capacity to evolve agile practices over time.

Conclusion: Which Certification to Choose?

Choosing the right Discipline Agile certification depends on your level of experience and the role you want to play within your organization or market. If you are just starting in the world of agility, DASM is an ideal entry point. For those looking to lead large-scale agile transformations, DAVSC and DAC offer the tools and knowledge to do so.

Regardless of the certification, Discipline Agile allows you the flexibility and autonomy to choose the agile practices that best meet the needs of your project, team, or organization. It’s an approach that embraces the complexity and diversity of work environments, rather than sticking to rigid frameworks.