What is The Cost of CSPO Certification Cost in 2021

If you’re looking for opportunities in the ever-expanding Agile space, you would have already heard about the CSPO® certification. The CSPO®, an acronym for the Certified Scrum Product Owner®, is a certification from Scrum Alliance® that validates your commitment to the world of Scrum, enhancing your capabilities as a Product Owner on a Scrum team.

With the CSPO, you can shoulder the responsibility of taking on the role of a PO—collaborating with customers, stakeholders and the team, managing the product backlog and proactively maximizing the business value.

Why should you go for a CSPO® certification?

The CSPO Certification value is globally acclaimed, as Agile methodology has been proven to boost productivity across industries. The Product Owner plays a critical role in the success of a Scrum team, and as the face of the product, he or she guides the development toward maximizing product value, ensuring customer delight.

Certifications from Scrum Alliance are highly sought after in Agile environments, and with a CSPO under your belt you will find that your future looks promising indeed!

Increasing Demand for CSPO® Certified Professionals

No longer is Agile confined to the IT industry; today it is gaining acceptance across all industries and domains. The Product Owner on a Scrum team is a key role for project success.  Even if a product is delivered on time and within budget, it is of little value if it’s not what the end user wants! 

As a key member of the Scrum Team, the Product Owner shoulders the responsibility of giving the project strategic direction and adhering to the product vision. The Product Owner is the person who determines the value to be delivered, making sure that the final product is both efficient and effective.

The CSPO credential is one of the most sought after in the Agile space, as it validates the holder’s capability of handling fluctuating markets and responding to the changing dynamics of the industry. Organizations look for individuals with expertise in managing Agile projects, and CSPO holders are highly regarded for their knowledge and prowess.

Benefits of CSPO® Certification 

The CSPO certification value is immense, and by getting certified you can take advantage of the high value that employers place on Scrum Alliance certifications. 

• A CSPO credential will expand your career opportunities across industries that have adopted Agile. 
• With a CSPO credential, you can demonstrate your proficiency not just in the Scrum principles and processes, but also in the role and responsibilities of a successful PO 
• The courseware introduces you to core Scrum knowledge and skills. 
• You will get the confidence and competence to successfully guide agile teams on the product vision 
• You can act as the bridge between the SM, team and stakeholders 
• You will get access to Scrum Alliance groups and local networks and can interact with like-minded professionals to share experiences, widening your perspective and gaining comprehensive Agile knowledge.  
• Certified Scrum Product Owner salaries are likely to be higher than those of non-certified peers.  
• This certification can lead the way to advanced certifications, such as the A-CSPO and the CSP-PO from Scrum Alliance. These higher level certifications can open up a world of opportunities in your career and can drive value for your organization.

Certified Scrum Product Owner Salary

The CSPO certification can lead to very lucrative career growth. Payscale indicates that a Product Owner gets an average salary of INR 17,39,722 annually, while a senior PO can get 30 lakh INR on the average. Companies like Dell, Oracle, HSBC and Amazon, among many others, hire CSPOs with Amazon paying the highest compensation packages, ranging from 20-50 lakh INR a year. In the US, the average CSPO salary is $94,442 / yr

Process to become a CSPO®

So, how do you get CSPO certified? 

Attending a 14-16 hour training that is led by a Certified Scrum Trainer®(CST®) online or in person is mandatory to understanding the CSPO Learning Objectives and get certified. The course curriculum skilfully combines theory and hands-on experiential learning to help you to thoroughly comprehend all the Scrum principles and processes, and get a deep understanding of what the CSPO role and responsibilities entail.

Having successfully completed the course, follow these steps to get your CSPO certificate:   

1. Visit the Scrum Alliance website.  
2. Your login credentials from the "Welcome CSPO" email can be used to create an account.  
3. Answer 'yes' or 'no' to the question on Marketing opt-in   
4. Accept the CSPO License Agreement   
5. Download your certificate from Scrum Alliance:

CSPO® Training Cost

The CSPO training cost depends on the country and also on the institute that you select to undertake your training. You can choose from in-person or virtual training courses, which are available at the same cost. Regardless of the training mode you choose, you will get the advantage of the same robust learning and experiential curriculum as with an in-person course, and can interact with your instructors in real-time.

Rather than looking for the cheapest CSPO certification, do look for a reputed training institute that is a Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance, and delivers comprehensive courses through Certified Scrum Trainers who have industry experience and training expertise.

CSPO® Exam Fee

At present, there is no exam associated with the CSPO credential and attending an in-person two day (16 hour) or live online (14 hour) Certified Scrum Product Owner® course that is delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST) is sufficient to get certified.   

 CSPO® Certification Renewal

Getting the CSPO certification is only the beginning of your Agile journey, and you are expected to grow in your knowledge and skills as long as you are an active Scrum practitioner.

Every two years you are required to renew your certification by paying $100 as a renewal fee, and logging in 20 Scrum Educational Units (SEUs). You can clock your SEUs through educational opportunities, attending events or by volunteering your time or effort in an unpaid capacity and giving back to the global Scrum community.

CSPO® certification cost in different countries

CSPOs are highly sought after across the world, as they are proven to have the knowledge and skills needed to drive successful product delivery.

The table below indicates the approximate costs for CSPO certification in India and other top countries.

Maintaining your credential in good standing is also an important part of the CSPO certification.

The CSPO certification cost, therefore, consists of two components:

Conclusion

The Product Owner’s role is a pivotal one, as the person who aligns the product development processes to map to the end user needs, maximizing product value and boosting work productivity at all stages. Not everyone is qualified to be a good Product Owner. It takes deep insights and an understanding of the Scrum principles and processes to be successful in this field.

Organizations need trained Agile teams, who are aligned to a common vision and offering value-driven solutions to ensure business growth. As a CSPO certified professional, you can gain a valuable foothold in this sought-after career path that leads to rewarding opportunities and high levels of work satisfaction.

The CSPO is only the first step in your journey. As you gain more years of experience and increase your portfolio of certifications, you will get career opportunities that are more challenging, highly satisfying and immensely rewarding.