What Is CSPO Certification and How Do I Get It?

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certification 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. Read on to discover what’s involved in the CSPO certification process, learn the basics of Scrum, and explore how you can start your own CSPO training.

What is CSPO certification?

A CSPO certification from Scrum Alliance shows you have expert product development knowledge and skills within the Scrum framework. This credential validates your expertise in Scrum project management and shows your focus on continued learning in the field. 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 road map and create a product backlog to help prioritize items. You’ll keep everyone accountable and aligned while overseeing dependencies that impact product development sequencing. 

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. 

Who should get CSPO certification?

Anyone who works as a primary liaison in product development that 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 all 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 understanding of project management and communication with varied stakeholders.

How do you get CSPO certification?

You can get CSPO certification after attending a two-day training course. You can take CSPO credential training at any institution accredited by Scrum Alliance, known as Registered Education Providers (REPs), either in person or online. Your instructor should be a Certified Scrum trainer. 

There are no prerequisites for a CSPO training, so anyone can attend. That said, certain skills can help, including a basic knowledge of Scrum. The Scrum Alliance also recommends certification seekers review its Scrum Guide and eLearning Series. 

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

With a CSPO certification, you demonstrate an understanding of how to deliver a product iteratively using Scrum, and you validate your expertise in the Agile framework. The certification helps you learn to manage stakeholder expectations as well as how to communicate across cross-functional teams.

CSPO certification is widely respected and recognized around the world. This credential can help you stand out among candidates since product management is a complex and challenging field. With a CSPO certification, you demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a product development approach that can be applied across industries. CSPO certification can also bring salary benefits, as the average base salary for CSPO certification holders in the United States is $129,809, according to Glassdoor [2]. 

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 have 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. 

Continue learning project management with Coursera

By earning a CSPO certification, you can gain skills in product and service development, including product management, that can be applied across a range of professions. Plus, with this certification, you can demonstrate your industry knowledge to employers and stand out during your job search.

Start your CSPO credentialing journey with an overall introduction to the concepts. IBM’s Product Owner Professional Certificate on Coursera covers adaptive planning and iterative development to help you work in an Agile way. You can also consider the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate, which covers project execution, planning, and Agile. Upon completion, gain a shareable Professional Certificate to include in your resume, CV, or LinkedIn profile.