What Exactly is a CSPO Certification?

As Agile teams move up to address changing industry conditions, robust business involvement is essential to achieve product success. Many Agile teams believe that obtaining engagement and commitment from business managers and stakeholders is difficult, especially in the face of quickly changing project needs. This is when the job of a Product Owner becomes clear.

The Product Owner's job is vital to the success of any Scrum team. LinkedIn has classified this function as an emerging employment in 2020, with a 24% annual growth rate in the United States, and demand is only likely to increase over the next decade.  

The Product Owner is the leader who is accountable for the value of the products developed, managing every stage of project development and serving as a liaison between the team and stakeholders.

The PO takes into account evolving needs instead of following a prescriptive textbook approach to tasks.   The role of the PO is a powerful and versatile one that is easily accessible to those working on an Agile team, who find themselves interested in business analysis, project management or the marketing aspect of a product.  

Many professionals find themselves drawn to the CSPO role, as the appeal of being able to make transformative decisions that could result in innovative products is very stimulating.

What is CSPO Certification?

The Certified Scrum Product Owner®(CSPO®) from Scrum Alliance® is a validation of the holder’s expertise in the business side of Scrum projects. A CSPO certification on your resume will show potential employers that you are committed to maximizing the value of your team’s work and to creating products that delight the customer.  

With the CSPO, you can undertake the role of a Product Owner, and:

• Get an in-depth understanding of Scrum values, principles and roles
• Learn what the responsibilities of a Product Owner entail
• Engage with the global community of Scrum Alliance practitioners dedicated to continuous Scrum practice and improvement, and
• Create products that meet customer needs and industry requirements, by leading and implementing Scrum in the team.
• Get a higher CSPO salary associated with the credential.

Who can undertake the CSPO?

An aspiring CSPO could be someone who is interested in learning more about Scrum, or who has an interest in the business side of the organization and wishes to focus on the PO role.  

A good CSPO candidate could be a project manager transitioning from traditional to Agile projects, or a developer, software development manager or architect, product manager, team member, and anyone interested in understanding Agile principles and the Scrum framework.  

Prerequisites for CSPO Certification

At present, there is no certification exam associated with the CSPO. Undertaking the 2 day (16 hours) training led by a Certified Scrum Trainer® is sufficient to gain the credential from Scrum Alliance.   There are no prerequisites to attend the training, but reading the Scrum Guide and Agile Manifesto before the class will help you to quickly absorb the concepts.   Once you have attained the certification, you can add it to your resume so that potential employers are aware of your new knowledge.

Cost of CSPO Certification

The CSPO certification cost is included in the training offered by a Certified Scrum Trainer. On completing the course, the CST will update your details on the Scrum Alliance website, and you can login to download the CSPO certificate.

The PSPO certification from Scrum.org is also a sought-after credential for Product Owners, but is considered to be far more challenging than the CSPO certification, as candidates have to pass a rigorous exam before getting certified as a PSPO.

Advantages of CSPO Certification

The CSPO certification on your resume is a powerful validation of your knowledge and competencies in the world of Scrum. You can demonstrate to potential employers that you have what it takes to create the product vision and ensure that the team does not stray from it. You will be able to put the Product Backlog in order, and make sure the product is all that the customer could ask for.

With the CSPO certification comes a two-year membership with Scrum Alliance. This membership offers a sought-after platform where you can network with like-minded professionals from across the world, sharing experiences, learning new things and nurturing progress in your Scrum journey.  

You can get a robust community experience, which includes membership of user groups, forums, discounts, and webinars that help you earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs). Members also discuss job openings with the group, and by furthering your active connections in the Scrum world, you can get ahead in your career.

Renewing your CSPO Certification

The CSPO is by no means the end of the road. Scrum is a journey of continued learning, and getting the certification was just the first step!   To keep your certification alive, you need to log in 20 Scrum Educational Units (SEUs) and pay the renewal fee of $100 every two-year cycle.  

SEUs can be obtained in any of several ways: by participating in events, furthering your learning or volunteering in events to give back to the community.   This ensures that you hold your membership in good standing, and will have continued access to the exclusive, free tools that are available only to Scrum Alliance members.

The CSPO certification value is very significant, so do ensure that you keep your credential updated at all times.

CSM vs CSPO

Transitioning to Scrum can be challenging, and many professionals find it hard to decide between the two most popular certifications from Scrum Alliance, the CSM and the CSPO.

The Scrum Product Owner is responsible for maintaining the product vision and ensuring that goals are achieved, while the Scrum Master ensures that Scrum theories, practices and mandates are followed.  

If you are more interested in the business aspects of the project, then the PO role is for you!

Conclusion

The Product Owner can be considered the evangelist of product value, who determines the deliverables that are important to each stakeholder and sets priorities to deliver clear value.  

The CSPO certification is a globally acclaimed credential that certifies that the holder can make a positive impact on a Scrum team, opening the doors to many rewarding Agile opportunities. It is also a stepping stone to advanced level courses such as the A-CSPO and the CSP-PO that can widen and deepen your knowledge and expertise in the PO role.

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