How Do You Earn a CSPO Certification?

Key takeaways

You can earn a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certification by completing a two-day training course, with no exam required.

• With a CSPO certification, you can show potential employers your product development knowledge and Scrum skills.

• The certification doesn’t have any prerequisites, although having some Scrum knowledge is helpful before completing the training course.

• You can benefit from earning the CSPO certification if you work as a business analyst, system architect, or software tester.

Learn more about the CPSO certification, including who it’s for, how to earn it, and what its benefits are. If you’re ready to start building your skills, consider enrolling in the IBM Product Owner Professional Certificate. In as little as two months, you’ll have the chance to learn about the principles, tools, and terminology that product owners use. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a shareable career credential to add to your resume.

What is CSPO certification?

The CSPO certification from Scrum Alliance is a credential that equips you with product development expertise, including project management skills. Product owners need to know how to streamline processes, lead teams, and effectively communicate project parameters and deadlines. A CSPO credential can help demonstrate your expertise in Scrum, an Agile framework prominent in many industries. With a CSPO certification, you show that you possess the following skills:

• Leading the product development team in delivering high-quality products

• Communicating effectively with team members and stakeholders

• Creating a product vision, including planning a product release in increments

• Performing customer discovery and validation work

• Connecting the development team with the customer

• Validating product assumptions based on their cost and quality

• Maximizing product outcomes using a product backlog

• Understanding product economics

For an in-depth understanding of the Scrum framework, you'll learn the basic Scrum concepts and the Agile Manifesto.

The CSPO credential is a globally and industry-recognized certification and can lead to higher pay and more job opportunities. As a Scrum product owner, you’ll typically translate and communicate the product vision to all stakeholders. You provide a roadmap and create a product backlog to help prioritize items. You’ll keep everyone accountable and aligned while overseeing dependencies that impact product development sequencing. 

Is CPSO certification worth it?

The CSPO certification can be worth it for you if you’re seeking a career as a Scrum product owner or an Agile coach, since the CSPO certification equips you with skills that prepare you for various roles in product development and project management. Earning the CPSO validates your Scrum knowledge and helps you prepare to earn additional certifications in the field, showing employers your product management expertise.

What is Scrum?

Scrum is a framework used by teams that want to collaborate to produce and deliver products using an Agile methodology. Agile breaks project management into short “sprints” or development cycles in which small groups of skilled individuals work together to achieve a focused set of goals. Scrum is one of several Agile methodologies focusing on self-organization, experience, and continuous improvement.

The Scrum method requires three specific roles: product owner, Scrum Master, and development team. The Scrum Master leads the team’s functioning, the product owner keeps everyone on task and liaises with the client, and the development team completes most of the hands-on work with the product. 

In general, the Scrum methodology emphasizes rapid feedback, adaptability to change, and short, focused sprints. It aims to accelerate the delivery of products and services through collaboration among cross-functional teams. Scrum focuses on ensuring the finished product is relevant and meets consumer needs. 

Read more: What Is Product Management? Process, Tools + Requirements

Who should get CSPO certification?

Anyone who works as a primary liaison in product development and employs the Scrum framework could benefit from this credential. This includes people in roles, such as:

• Product owner

• Business analyst

• Project manager

• Team leads and members

• System architect

• Software tester

• Software developer

A CSPO certification can support many roles and responsibilities, and a person with this credential often acts as a product manager or developer. You will develop a product vision and roadmap, order and manage the product backlog, and oversee prioritization to ensure client and team stakeholders see their needs met. 

CSPO certification vs. CSM & CSD 

In addition to the CSPO credential, the Scrum Alliance also offers basic-level Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) certifications. These offer credentials for the other two Scrum roles. A summary of the three certifications is as follows: 

• CSM: This certification covers the basics of the Scrum framework and how to lead current and future Scrum teams, particularly for Scrum Masters.

• CSD: Specialized for software developers, this more intensive certification requires a robust awareness of coding and other engineering skills.

• CSPO: This certification typically draws people from the business side of product ownership to enhance their understanding of project management and communication with varied stakeholders.

How do you get CSPO certification?

Follow these steps to become CSPO certified:

1. Complete a training course: Attend a two-day to four-day course offered by a Scrum Alliance Registered Education Provider (REP) and taught by a Certified Scrum trainer.

2. No prerequisites: Anyone can attend the training, but basic knowledge of Scrum is helpful.

3. No exam required: Certification is granted upon course completion without an exam.

Most product owners hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field such as computer science, IT, IT management, or business analytics [1]. However, skills-based learning through a Professional Certificate or certification can help build a solid foundation of skills as well.

Current product owners and people who want to take on a product owner role can benefit from the curriculum, along with those who want to become Agile coaches or trainers. As identified above, many different roles can profit from a foundational understanding of product owner responsibilities within the Scrum framework.

Do you have to take a CSPO certification exam?

You don’t have to take an exam to earn CSPO certification. Attending and completing the required course with a Certified Scrum Trainer can earn you the certificate.

Benefits of having CSPO certification

• Globally recognized: Earn a certification respected in various industries.

• Enhanced skills: Learn to manage stakeholder expectations and communicate across teams.

• Career advancement: Stand out in job searches and expand into higher-paying job opportunities.

• Salary: Median total pay for CSPO holders in the US is $165,000, according to Glassdoor [2]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Consider advancing your skills with A-CSPO certification

The Scrum Alliance also offers an Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) credential. Those who already have a CSPO and at least 12 months of experience in a product owner role in the last five years can advance their value to their employer or potential employers with this course. 

The A-CSPO curriculum focuses on:

• Defining and validating business value

• Creating a focused, useful product vision

• Ordering and expressing product backlog items

• Managing the needs of different stakeholders

• Achieving project alignment across competing stakeholder groups

• Streamlining processes for improved efficiency

After earning the A-CSPO certification, product owners can opt for the professional-level Certified Scrum Professional Product Owner (CSP-PO) as well. 

Explore free resources for a product management career

Explore career paths, assess your skills, and connect with resume guidance while browsing our Career Resources Hub. Then, discover the following resources for a career in product management:

• Learn key concepts: Product Management Terminology: Glossary Terms and Jargon 

• Explore emerging trends: How AI Is Changing Product Management Careers 

• Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight: Product Manager 

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