Over the past years, Agile organizations have dominated the market and created more jobs in the software industry. The job opportunities in the Agile Methodology implemented companies have become some of the most earning positions in the market. As companies transform to Agile from traditional methodologies, jobs such as Scrum developers, Product Owners, and Lean-Agile Professionals have also increased in the industry. Hence, career opportunities in Agile organizations have flourished, with Product Owner careers being one of the most sought-after jobs in software organizations.

Product Owners are one of the highest-earning professionals with base salaries up to $85k/year., according to LinkedIn. Product Owners play an essential role in any Agile organization. They are the professionals concerned with the business side of the products and are solely responsible for managing the Product Backlog. They define the user stories after discussing it with the customers and are the individuals who become a connecting link between the customer and the Development Team. Product owners envision the product before it is fully developed and give the team an idea about the work that has to be developed. The Product Owners also have a significant role in maximizing the product value and increasing the organization’s return on investment. 

Becoming a Product Owner: Certifications and Journey Guide

They look over the relevance of the developed product features and prioritize the user stories based on the market’s opportunity cost. The Product Owner also has to make sure that the Development Team has complied with the definition of a user story and the developed product increment gains maximum business value and has minimum impediments. For most enterprises moving to Agile, the Product Owner has a critical role as they have most of the work while a company transforms into Agile. They have significant roles and responsibilities outside the local team. It includes working with Product Management, Business Owners, and customers, and other stakeholders. Becoming a Product Owner is a journey where the individual learns along the way from their certifications and experience working in their organization. 

How should an individual begin their journey of becoming a Product Owner? What are the various certifications one can take to start their journey as a Product Owner, and what are the eligibility criteria and all available certificates? Read on to know more about the available certifications for an individual who desires to become a Product Owner. 

Learn More About:Product Owner Roles and Responsibilities

What are the top certifications that a person could take to become a Product Owner?

Some of the top Product Owner certifications that give candidates excellent exposure to the business side of product development and enhance their roles in the industry are:

• Certified Scrum Product Owner^® (CSPO^®) Certificatio
• Professional Scrum Product Owner Certification (PSPO)
• SAFe Product Owner/ Product Manager

Note: All of these certifications do not have any prerequisites, and any individual interested in these certifications can enroll themselves and learn more about Agile Product Owner skills and responsibilities. 

Let us look at each certification individually and know more about the certificate.

Certified Scrum Product Owner^® (CSPO^®) Certification

The Certified Scrum Product Owner^® (CSPO^®) Certification is a course for individuals interested in product development's business side. These professionals create a product vision, manage the product backlog, and help the Scrum team develop a product that will satisfy the customer. The CSPO^® Certification helps individuals gain more in-depth knowledge about Scrum values, principles, skills, and learning. It educates the participants about all the relevant skills required for the role of the Scrum Product Owner.

Essential Points to Note about CSPO

Accreditation Body:

Scrum Alliance, a globally acclaimed organization, is the accreditation body of the CSPO^® Certification.

Certification Process:

• Candidates must register for the CSPO^® Certification training from a Registered Education provider of Scrum Alliance.
• Afterward, they must attend a 16-hour face-to-face course conducted by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) or 25 hours of private coaching from a Certified Agile Coach (CAC).
• The candidates can also attend 14-hour online training taught by the CST.
• After completing the training, the candidates must accept the license agreement and complete the Scrum Alliance profile. 
• There is no exam required to get the CSPO^® Certification. Candidates are also required to renew their CSPO^® Certification every two years.

Benefits of CSPO^® Certification:   

The participants can widen the scope of their careers with the knowledge of popular Agile Practices.

• CSPO-certified individuals are more likely to be selected for job recruitment as organizations seek certified individuals to increase their business value.
• Individuals with CSPO can earn an average salary of $104k/year and, depending on their skills and experience, can also earn a higher salary.
• The CSPO^® Certification gives individuals more opportunities in Agile practices as more career opportunities are available.
• CSPO Professionals can increase their network in Agile practices and gain more connections in the Agile industry.

Also, Check:Certified Scrum Product Owner^®(CSPO) Roles & Responsibilities

Professional Scrum Product Owner Certification

A Professional Scrum Product Owner certification is for individuals ready to take up the challenge of marketing the product and bringing an excellent return of investment. This certification not only helps individuals learn about the Product Owner’s responsibilities, such as writing Product Backlogs or envisioning the product. It teaches more about dealing with business and marketing of the work and how it can maximize the organization’s business value. It also teaches essential skills to interact with customers, such as excellent product design and customer delight. 

In addition to the certifications mentioned earlier, individuals aspiring to become Product Owners can also explore the Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) Certification. This certification is designed for those ready to take on the challenge of marketing a product and ensuring a high return on investment.

The A-CSPO^® Certification goes beyond the basics of Product Owner responsibilities, such as writing Product Backlogs or envisioning the product. It delves into the realm of business and marketing, focusing on maximizing the organization's business value. Furthermore, it equips individuals with essential skills to interact with customers effectively, ensuring excellent product design and customer satisfaction.

Also, Check:Role and Responsibilities of PSPO

Essential Points about PSPO certification

Accreditation Body:

The globally renowned Scrum.org accredits the PSPO certification. 

Training/ Certification Process:

The candidates must enroll for the PSPO certification course at a Registered Education Provider of Scrum.org.

They have to attend a two-day PSPO course conducted by a Professional Scrum Trainer.

After attending the training, the candidates have to take an exam consisting of 80 MCQs, MAQs, and true-or-false questions. The time given is 1 hour. To pass the test, the candidate must get a minimum of 85% (68 out of 80).

After passing the test, Scrum.org gives the PSPO certification with a PSPO I logo.

Benefits of PSPO certification:   

• PSPO certification can secure better jobs and stable careers for candidates in top Scrum organizations.
• Candidates with PSPO certification have a wide range of career opportunities, including becoming product managers, Agile project managers, etc.
• Candidates get higher salary offers from their non-certified peers, along with incentives.
• Professionals get recognized and become reputed experts in their organizations as the PSPO certification is highly reputed.

SAFe PO/PM

The SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager certification is a course for individuals who want to join organizations that use the Scaled Agile framework. Many top companies use SAFe to tackle a wide range of issues from enterprise, architecture, integration, funding, and governance roles. The SAFe PO/PM certification trains individuals about the Product Owners’ roles and responsibilities in Agile practices. The participants are also trained about increasing the return of investment and maximizing the business value. They understand how Agile practices function at a deeper level and learn to tackle problems efficiently and effectively contribute to the organization.

Also, Check:Role and Responsibilities of PSPO

Essential Points about the SAFe PO/PM

Accreditation Body:

Scaled Agile, Inc. is the accreditation body for the SAFe PO/PM certification.

Training/ Certification Process:

The candidates must enroll in the SAFe PO/PM certification training provided by Scaled Agile, Inc.'s registered education provider.

They have to attend a two-day workshop conducted by a highly trained and certified professional of the SAFe framework and later appear for the exam.

The exam is multiple choice questions where the candidates get a total of 45 questions to answer. They get a total of 90 minutes, and to pass the exam; the candidates should get at least 35 questions correct out of 45.

After passing the exam, the candidates are certified as SAFe Product Owner/Product Managers. The certificate has to be renewed every year.

Benefits of SAFe PO/PM:  

• The SAFe PO/PM certification gives individuals more profound knowledge about most of the Agile practices, where the participants can learn more about Agile methodologies and different frameworks.
• SAFe professionals can be recruited by top companies that use Scaled Agile as their framework. Hence, they have a higher chance of landing a job than their non-certified peers.
• SAFe professionals can work in various sectors, including architecture, government, and others, in addition to the IT sector.
• SAFe professionals earn higher than their non-certified peers as companies using SAFe are multinational corporations, and employees get incentives and a higher salary package.

Conclusion:
The Product Owner certification is excellent for any professional to enhance their career. It opens new opportunities in the software industry and gains a higher salary and incentives. Answering the question of which Product Owner certification is best, it has to be where the candidate is most interested. It depends on the type of company they work for and which Agile framework they want to be associated with. By understanding the roles of Product Owners deeply by taking up different certifications, and also by having discussions with experienced professionals who have taken each of the certificates, the individual can analyze the job requirements and choose which certificate is best for them and what job they would enjoy the most and give their best in it. Simpliaxis provides comprehensive support and guidance to individuals seeking to obtain their Product Owner certification, ensuring they make informed decisions and excel in their chosen career path.