A Certified Scrum Product Owner® plays a crucial role in product development for organizations that have embraced the Agile framework. They are responsible for maximizing the value of the products created by the development team and represent the Product Stakeholders’ interest in the Scrum framework. A Product Owner, together with the Scrum Master, acts as a bridge between the user community and the development team to guide a product’s development effort towards success. Product Owners are an indispensable part of the product team and play an important role in the success of an organization. A CSPO® certification by Scrum Alliance gives you a formal recognition as a Product Owner and paves the way for better career opportunities.
Many top organizations like IBM, ANZ, Google, Spotify, Ernst and Young, Dell, Siemens, Target, Honeywell and GE Healthcare have recognized the importance of Scrum framework for their development efforts and have hired CSPOs to represent their interest. Not only large enterprises but even upcoming businesses and start ups are going the Scrum way and are keen on hiring Product Owners who know their responsibilities well and can help meet business objectives. This has led to an increase in the hiring of CSPOs who have the skills and expertise to implement Scrum and Agile. Hence if you want to make an impact in the Agile and Scrum world then gaining a CSPO certification is your best bet.
A CSPO course brings in many advantages for you as a Product Owner and also for your organization’s development efforts.
When you hire a Certified Scrum Product Owner, you bring in a host of benefits. With the gap between your stakeholders and the development team bridged, you can focus on things that can lead the project towards success. A CSPO® helps you:
So, if you want to establish your career as a Product Owner, a CSPO® certification from the Scrum Alliance is a formal way to enhance your career opportunities in an Agile Framework.
Meet industry experts to enhance your knowledge with in-class activities and simulation sessions.
Grow your knowledge with accredited CSTs having years of experience as active Scrum practitioners.
Gain access to an active community of Scrum professionals to grow your practical knowledge of Scrum.
Listen to the practitioners and learn directly about implementing Scrum principles in real projects.
Grab the opportunity to access the latest Scrum resources including tutorials, case studies, and more prepared by the industry experts.
Keep up with the latest industry updates through continuous support in the form of monthly webinars, e-books, and conferences.
Step1: Get trained by Certified Scrum Trainers (CSTs) in a two-day program
Step 2: Create your Scrum Alliance profile
Step 3: Accept the license agreement and become a Certified Scrum Product Owner
Understand Scrum fundamentals and master techniques to improve ROI and maximize business value.
Understand the role of Product Owner in high-performing teams and how to deliver value within time and budget.
Communicate the business requirements clearly to the team members by working with them as a PO
Get in-depth requirements from the stakeholders to write user stories for the product backlog
Maintain a strong relationship with the stakeholders to maximize value delivery at the end
Learn tips and tricks to sort the product backlog items based on the priorities set by a stakeholder
Learn ways and methods to reduce risks, improve estimation skills, planning, and scheduling in Scrum.
Estimating the final delivery date of the project (product delivery) by calculating team velocities
Professionals familiar with Scrum basics can take up the Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) training though there are no prerequisites as such. A basic knowledge of Scrum fundamentals will prove effective in understanding the role of a Product Owner at a project and organizational level. If you are already a Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM), then a CSPO training and subsequent certification should be the next goal in your Agile journey.
Zeolearn, with its zealous nature, is always eager to be the Learning Partner to Corporates, and collaborate to create value for organizations to build up Talent for Tomorrow. We aim at helping our clients build self-organizing and high-performing teams through various workshops, while at the same time build in-house leadership, talent, culture, and sustainable multiple practices and capabilities with the help of our Training, Coaching and Consulting engagements.
The Product Owner is a key member of the Scrum Team and shoulders the responsibility of leading the project strategically, collaborating with customers and team on a daily basis, and managing the business value. Though Product Owners need not be an expert in the process, they must have sufficient understanding of the Agile Manifesto and enough knowledge to assist the ScrumMaster if the need arises.
Zeolearn Institute’s course will help you gain the CSPO credential from Scrum Alliance, on successful course completion. This course is all about empowering participants with real-time, practical skills that will help them land lucrative jobs. You will gain hands-on expertise through the numerous examples, exercises and project work conducted through the course of the workshop.
On completing the course, you will get:
Zeolearn brings you mentor driven courses that not only helps professionals gain theoretical expertise but also the practical experience in a wide variety of courses including those on Agile Management such as CSM and Agile and Scrum that are very popular.The fact that our workshops are mentor driven gives us an edge over other training institutes since you can learn from industry experts about the application and challenges of upcoming technologies. We have so far trained thousands of professionals with the skills needed to land lucrative jobs and you could be next!
No, there is no online/virtual course for CSPO. Scrum Alliance believes that understanding Scrum requires a greater level of personal interaction that cannot be delivered in a virtual environment.
Following successful completion of this course, you will receive a Certificate from Scrum Alliance designating you as Certified Scrum Product Owner. The certification includes a two-years membership in Scrum Alliance.
Yes, we offer PDU certificate to candidates after successfully completing the course. You can earn 14 to 16 hours of PDU certificate after attending the training.
We offer classes in classroom and online format. While classroom sessions are held in specific venues in your city, for online sessions all you need is a Windows computer with good internet connection and you can access the class anywhere, at anytime. A headset with microphone is also recommended. You may also attend these classes from your smart phone or tablet.
CSPO stands for Certified Scrum Product Owner, a credential given by the Scrum Alliance® to validate your Scrum expertise. Scrum is an agile framework that facilitates collaboration between cross-functional teams, helping them carry out projects in incremental portions.
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) is ideal for aspiring managers, product owners, and individuals who are comfortable handling the business aspect of projects. Attending the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) equips you with the required skillset to enhance product value by accelerating the delivery of product features, efficiently lead scrum teams, effectively communicate your product ideas, and generate maximum ROI.
Follow the steps below to become a CSPO:
Absolutely! Today, companies are taking the product owner role much more seriously. Companies are aware of how crucial product owners are for boosting businesses and realizing phenomenal growth. Product owners help enterprises deliver products of value, driving customer satisfaction and generating higher ROIs.
Here are few reasons why becoming a CSPO worth it:
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certifications are both beneficial to an Agile enterprise. They each come with a unique blend of advantages and features that can aid individuals as well as businesses in achieving specific goals.
Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) certification covers the fundamentals of the Scrum framework. It provides you with an in-depth understanding of how Scrum can be used to efficiently resolve any impediments.
Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO®) certification is for the Product Owner, in the Scrum process, who works closely with the business side of an enterprise understanding the needs of stakeholders and the vision for the finished product.
Both CSM and PSPO serve different individuals, roles, and purposes; therefore, the certification decision should be made based on your present and future career goals.
A Product Owner (PO) is a leader as well as a manager who owns every aspect of a product, from design to delivery. A PO is accountable for the product and makes decisions based on his or her vision of what needs to be developed. A PO works closely with the team towards maximizing the product value provided by the client and achieve the business goal.
The roles and responsibilities of a CSPO are endless, but here are a few key ones:
CSPO certification offers the following benefits:
CSPO® and PSPO™ are two of the leading and globally accepted accreditations that validate the holder's Scrum expertise as a product owner. Though both are product-ownership-related they differ in several aspects; here are a few key ones:
Criteria | CSPO | PSPO |
Abbreviation | Certified Scrum Product Owner | Professional Scrum Product Owner |
Accreditation Body | Scrum Alliance | Scrum.org |
Exam Prerequisite | Complete 2-day training | None |
Validity | 2 years | Lifelong |
Certification Renewal | Every 2 years | Not required |
CSPO Certification is a career-defining credential for any Product Owner. It is an intensive two-day workshop taught by Certified Scrum Trainers (CSTs) from Scrum Alliance. The Certification aims to equip Product Owners with the latest Scrum expertise and empower them to carry out the role efficiently.
CSPO certification aims to equip you with the latest Scrum expertise required to carry out the PO role efficiently. The certification helps you develop an Agile mindset, empowering you to deliver products faster, execute projects without compromising on quality, lead a product along with Scrum teams, order the product backlog to ensure timely product delivery, and maximizing the value of products.
Absolutely! The highly dedicated team of CSTs deliver high-quality training via live interactive sessions that include fun exercises, real-world case studies, etc., to help you grasp Scrum concepts easily and effortlessly.
In addition, to live interactive sessions with CSTs, our Hands-on Immersive Learning approach focuses on building your practical expertise and making CSPO certification easier and more effortless.
Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO®) certification is provided by Scrum Alliance for those aspiring to play the role of a Product Owner in the Scrum team.
There are several ways to add CSPO certification:
No, you can't get CSPO Certification without attending the training. Scrum Alliance believes that true learning requires training and hands-on experience with a CEC or CST. Only those who complete the two-day certification training with certified trainers/coaches will be eligible to receive the CSPO certification.
The demand for CSPO experts continues to grow. Having a CSPO certification will enhance your career graph and take it to a whole new level, here's how:
After successfully completing the two-day CSPO® training under a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®), you will receive a License Agreement along with a link to complete your Scrum Alliance profile. Once you complete your Scrum Alliance profile and accept the License Agreement, you will be able to download your CSPO certificate instantly.
The CSPO certification is valid for 2 years, after which you will have to renew it.
The Scrum framework continues to evolve because of the engagement and contributions of those who share their ideas and practical experiences in the workplace. Scrum Alliance emphasizes on the learning journey and requires you to take the necessary measures to keep yourself abreast with the latest best Scrum trends.
Renewal of your Certification validates your Scrum proficiency and demonstrates your interest in the growth and evolution of Scrum.
You must renew your CSPO® Certification every two years. You will have to pay a renewal fee of $100 to extend the credential further for 2 years, starting from your current expiration date.
To renew your Certified Scrum Product Owner® certification, you will have to log in to the Scrum Alliance website, access your dashboard, and select the 'Renew Certification' option available under 'Actions'.
In addition to the renewal fee, CSPOs must earn 20 Scrum Educational Units (SEUs) within the past two years. You can earn the required SEUs by completing educational training.
For more details on the renewal process, please refer to Certification Renewal for Scrum Alliance CSM, CSPO and CSD.
Becoming a Certified Scrum Product Owner® does come with a fixed cost. However, spending the money on getting CSPO® certified is worth it as it empowers you with the necessary Scrum expertise to lead Scrum teams, improve product value, speed up the delivery of product features.
The cost to take CSPO® certification varies from country to country. The table below shows the CSPO certification cost in different countries.
Country | Currency | Cost |
USA | USD | 1,000-2,000 |
India | INR | 20,000-30,0000 |
Canada | CAD | 1,000-1,500 |
Australia | AUD | 1,000-1,200 |
United Kingdom | GBP | 800-1,000 |
Break Up of the CSPO® Cost Head
Cost Head | Actual Cost |
Classroom training cost | Based on location as mentioned above |
Renewal fee | $100 and 20 SEUs, every two years |
The renewal cost of CSPO certification is $100.
Work experience is not mandatory for CSPO certification; anyone can attend the course.
Individuals pursuing the following roles can attend the CSPO certification:
There are no prerequisites to attend the CSPO® training.
Having a basic knowledge of Scrum in a real-world context would be very helpful, though not mandatory. The one-day Agile and Scrum Foundation training serves as a good primer.
As of now, there is no formal examination to get CSPO certified.
Professional Development Units (PDUs) and Scrum Education Units (SEUs) are credits awarded by the Project Management Institute and the Scrum Alliance. In recognition of your dedication to the Agile professional, PDUs and SEUs are awarded for the educational efforts you make throughout your Agile career.
You will earn 16 SEUs and 16 PDUs by attending the CSPO course.
Follow the steps below to claim PDUs for your CSPO course:
Step 1: Log in to PMI.org using your credentials.
Step 2: On the top right corner, click on myPMI – Dashboard.
Step 3: Under Certification Status, click on View more on your dashboard.
Step 4: Under PDUs, click on Report PDUs.
Step 5: Under Education, click on Course or Training.
Step 6: Enter PremierAgile in Provider field.
Step 7: Enter Product Owner for Course and select Certified Scrum Product Owner.
Step 8: Enter your workshop dates.
Step 9: Enter other details as below.
Step 10: Enter PDUs claimed for PMP and/or PMI-ACP as below.
Step 11: Check I agree this claim is accurate and click Submit.
Please note that approval of PDUs may take few minutes to few days.
Though work experience is relevant, becoming a Product Owner has more to do with one's level of expertise. The role of a Product Owner involves handling the business functions and aspects of projects such as requirement gathering, owning the product, mapping the work items per release goals and cadence, handholding the development team, managing shareholders, to name a few. To efficiently carry out the various PO roles and responsibilities, one should possess a certain level of knowledge and skills such as working knowledge in Agile, Scrum, design thinking, prototyping, to name a few.
Attending the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) equips you with the skillset necessary to enhance product value by accelerating the delivery of product features, efficiently lead scrum teams, effectively communicate your product ideas, and generate maximum ROI.
A fresher can become a Product Owner provided he/she is equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out the PO roles and responsibilities. If becoming a Product Owner is what you aspire, begin your PO journey by attending the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) course and gaining the necessary expertise.
A Product Owner (PO) is a leader as well as a manager who owns every aspect of a product, from design to delivery. The Product Owner works closely on the business side of an enterprise and is accountable for the product, effective Product Backlog management, maximizing the product value provided by the client, achieving the business goal, understanding the needs of stakeholders, having a vision of the finished product, and more.
As per the 14th Annual State of Agile report, Product Owner is the most sought-after role in Product Development with a significant 49% increase in product road mapping. As identified by the World Economic Forum (Jobs of Tomorrow Report 2020), Product Owner is the number one emerging job in product development globally. It ranks third among the top 5 professions of the future (LinkedIn).
The Product Owner and the Scrum master work on different areas of the project and, therefore, have different responsibilities.
Scrum Master acts as a mediator between the Product Owner (PO) and the Development Team. A Scrum Master focuses on the project success, assisting the product owner and the team in creating a successful target using the right process and establishing the Agile principles.
On the other hand, a Product Owner's focuses on product success, creating a product of value that meets business requirements as well as satisfies customers. A Product Owner interacts with the target customers, stakeholders, development team, and Scrum Master.
The product manager is responsible for prioritizing what product to build next, has a highly strategic role, and is accountable for the whole product lifecycle.
On the other hand, the product owner is responsible for maximizing the product's value and, therefore, works closely with the production team to ensure that the development processes align with the product roadmap.
Yes, you can get a job after CSPO certification with your own merit, based on how prepared you are to take over the PO roles and responsibilities.
Top companies hiring CSPO certified professionals are Honeywell, Intel, EY, Target, GE Healthcare, Siemens, to name a few.
After mastering the CSPO course, level up your expertise with the Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPOSM) and the Certified Scrum Professional®-Product Owner (CSP®-PO) certifications.
As a CSPO, equipped with the dual capability of foresight and decision-making, you have the luxury as well as the desired expertise to pursue other great roles like Project Manager, Business Analyst, Product Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The average salary of a Certified Scrum Product Owner is $105,721 p.a.
Salary of a CSPO Professional in: