Product Owner Certification - Your options

The most important facts at a glance

• A Product Owner certification improves the ability to develop better products, promotes collaboration with stakeholders and leads to better job opportunities in a growing agile environment.
• There are various certification options such as the Product Masterclass, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) through the Agile Alliance and Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) through Scrum.org, each with a different focus.
• The content of the training courses includes the Scrum framework, agile requirements management and stakeholder management. They prepare participants for the certification exams and their future role as Product Owner.

Advantages of a Product Owner certification

A Product Owner certification offers numerous benefits that go far beyond mere recognition. First of all, it strengthens the ability to develop better products and work effectively with all stakeholders. This leads to improved collaboration and a better understanding of customer and market needs.

In addition, a Product Owner certification leads to improved job opportunities. At a time when agile methods are becoming increasingly important in companies worldwide, such certification is highly regarded and can significantly improve career opportunities. A recognized certificate attests to expertise in the field of product management and makes applicants particularly attractive to potential employers.

Last but not least, certification reinforces the agile mindset and teaches important skills in understanding and prioritizing customer needs as well as in optimizing collaboration with development teams and stakeholders. All of this helps product managers to fulfill their role more effectively and be successful in the long term.

Certification options for Product Owners

There are various certification options for prospective product owners, each with a different focus and offering different benefits. The best known include:

• Product Masterclass Certification
• Certification as Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) by the Agile Alliance
• Certification as Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) by Scrum.org.

Each of these certifications has its own special features and is aimed at different needs. These options are presented in detail below to help you make an informed decision.

Certification by the Product Masterclass

The Product Masterclass is an intensive 8-week program that aims to strengthen the skills and mindset of product owners and product managers. The program runs through the entire product development life cycle and imparts practical knowledge that can be applied directly in day-to-day work.

The weekly time commitment is around three hours and includes video content, practical tasks and live coaching calls. The topics range from customer centricity and stakeholder management to product discovery and prototyping. Each participant receives a digital certificate at the end, which can be included in their LinkedIn profile or on their CV.

By combining video content, practical applications and live coaching, the Product Masterclass offers a unique learning experience that not only strengthens participants' knowledge but also their self-confidence.

Certification via the Agile Alliance as Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

The Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certification is provided by the Agile Alliance and includes a two-day course. This course focuses on the Scrum framework and the role of the Product Owner within the Scrum team. A special feature of this certification is that no exam is required and the certificate is valid for two years.

Participants in the CSPO course should have the following prerequisites in order to gain the maximum benefit from the training:

• Basic knowledge of Scrum theory and roles
• The course is led by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST)
• Teaching practical skills
• Deep understanding of the Scrum principles

After successful participation, participants gain access to a professional network and benefit from a two-year membership of the Scrum Alliance. This enables exchange with other experts and access to valuable resources for further development.

Certification via Scrum.org as Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO)

The Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) certification from Scrum.org is one of the most demanding and respected certifications in the Scrum field. The PSPO I exam consists of 80 questions that must be answered within 60 minutes and the certification is valid for life.

PSPO I certification offers the following advantages:

• Validation of knowledge about the Scrum framework
• Ability to support and enable value creation and delivery
• Practice-oriented training
• Free trial for the globally recognized PSPO I certification exam.

Participants who do not pass the exam on the first attempt have the opportunity to take a second attempt free of charge within 14 days, provided they have achieved at least 85% of the points. The PSPO certification is proof of a deep understanding of Scrum principles and the ability to apply them in real projects.

Contents of the Product Owner training

The content of a Scrum Product Owner training course has different focuses depending on the provider. In general, they are varied and cover all the central tasks and tools that a product owner needs. This includes the Scrum framework, agile requirements management and collaboration with various teams such as marketing, sales and customer service. Product Owner training offers the opportunity to learn and deepen these skills, with Product Owner training playing an important role.

If you are looking for further training, you will have to decide whether you are looking for certification or training in software delivery and Scrum, or whether you want to improve holistically as a product manager. Topics such as stakeholder management, defining the product strategy, the long-term vision of the product and design thinking, roadmap as a communication and alignment tool, lateral leadership skills, product discovery and product vision are important here.

Scrum focused trainings CSPO and PSPO

Scrum-focused training courses such as CSPO and PSPO usually start with an introduction to the role of the Product Owner and their tasks within a Scrum team. Participants learn how to work effectively in a Scrum team:

• How to define product requirements
• How you prioritize work tasks
• How to work closely with the Scrum Master and the development team.

The second day of training usually focuses on advanced topics such as project and release management and optimizing results for the customer. These training courses offer a comprehensive insight into the tasks and responsibilities of a product owner and prepare participants for their future challenges.

Practical and product mindset-focused training through the Product Masterclass

The Product Masterclass offers hands-on training supported by case studies from well-known digital companies such as Deepl, Check24 and Mozilla Firefox. Each week, participants are required to apply the topics and content of the training to their working environment and receive weekly feedback from experts in the fields of product, design, business and engineering.

This practice-oriented approach enables participants to network with each other and gain insights into the working methods of other companies. At the end of the course, which can also be described as training, each participant receives a digital certificate that can be included in their LinkedIn profile or on their CV.

Training formats: Online vs. presence

The choice between online and face-to-face training depends on the individual needs and preferences of the participants. Online training offers organizational flexibility and does not require travel costs. The Product Masterclass uses the online format so that you as a participant can work together with 4 coaches from different companies and areas.

Face-to-face training, on the other hand, is more suitable when interaction and direct communication are important for the success of the training.

Preparation for the training

No specific prior knowledge is required to participate in a Product Owner training course. However, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the principles and values of agile project management. Basic knowledge of agility and the corresponding terminology is helpful in order to get the maximum benefit from the training.

Beginners and managers should prepare for the training step by step by studying basic agile concepts and the Scrum framework. This makes it easier to understand the training content and actively participate in the discussions and exercises.

Certification exam

Scurm.org: PSPO exam preparation

The Professional Scrum Product Owner 1 (PSPO 1) is the official exam for Product Owners from on Scrum.org. This exam consists of 80 questions that must be answered within 60 minutes and requires thorough preparation.

To prepare, we recommend that you read the Scrum Guide and the EBM Guide carefully. We have created a guide from the Product Masterclass to help you prepare. You can find it here: To the free PSPO exam preparation.

CSPO exam preparation

No exam is taken for the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) of the Agile Alliance.

Product Masterclass

No examination is taken in the Product Masterclass. This is awarded after the 8-week training course without an examination.

Costs and discounts

The costs for a Product Owner certification from Scrum.org and the Agile Alliance vary depending on the program and duration. The regular price for two-day trainings is 1390€ net, while three-day trainings cost 2000€ net. The Scrum.org exam can be taken online for 200 USD. We recommend this from the Product Masterclass.

The Product Masterclass costs € 1990 net for 8 weeks.

Summary & Recommendation

A Product Owner certification offers countless benefits, ranging from improved job opportunities to an increased ability to develop valuable products. In this blog post, we have looked at the different certification options such as the Product Masterclass, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), and Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO), each of which offer different focuses and benefits.

We recommend the following procedure:

Knowing how Scrum works and how good software delivery works is basic knowledge for anyone working in digital product management. It is therefore definitely advisable to obtain Scrum certification.

However, we recommend that you do this in a low-cost self learning mode, and do the certification at Scrum.org for 200 USD.

The affordable Scrum certification leaves you with enough budget to learn all the topics that are not covered by Scrum in the Product Masterclass. In the Product Masterclass, you will learn how to develop digital products effectively as a product manager today. This certification will make you a noticeably better PM.

With this approach, at the end of the day you will have 2 certificates in your pocket that prove your competence and make you a better PM/PO personally.

Frequently asked questions

What are the advantages of Product Owner certification?

A Product Owner certification offers the opportunity to strengthen the ability to develop better products, improve collaboration with stakeholders and increase job opportunities through a recognized certificate. It is therefore a worthwhile investment.

What certification options are available for Product Owners?

There are various certification options for product owners, such as the Product Masterclass, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) from the Agile Alliance and Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) from Scrum.org. You can therefore choose between different options.

What does the Product Owner training course cover?

The Product Owner training covers the central tasks and tools of a Product Owner, including the Scrum framework and agile requirements management. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the role of the Product Owner.

How do I prepare for the Product Owner training?

You do not need any specific prior knowledge, but it is recommended that you have a basic knowledge of agility and Scrum. Good luck with your training preparation!

What does a Product Owner certification cost?

The costs for a Product Owner certification vary depending on the program and start at 1390€ net for two-day training courses, whereby early bookers and groups can receive discounts.

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