Is the CSPO Worth It?

Reviewed by Michael Vizdos

It's a very competitive job market out there right now, so most people looking for new positions are also searching for ways to stand out from other candidates. Whether you want to work as a product owner or in a product development/management role, obtaining the right certifications can give your resume a boost.

A lot of people wonder if the Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO®) is worth pursuing. Let's explore more about the certification so you can judge for yourself.

What's a Product Owner?

A product owner is the scrum team member who is accountable for ensuring that the product the team is creating provides as much value as possible. They care about providing customers with the very best products, services, and solutions so that those customers can solve their problems or reach their goals.

The product owner works with key stakeholders to understand the long-term product goals and how they tie into business objectives. This role also works day-to-day with the scrum team, ensuring that the product backlog is in priority order and that the team is clear on the desired outcomes and timeline for delivering product increments, otherwise known as small pieces of the product that can be reviewed for feedback and possibly released to customers.

CSPO skills are widely applicable

If you are involved in any kind of product development or project management, the CSPO is a widely recognized certification in the industry that differentiates your expertise. If you have the designation of CSPO on your resume and social profiles, it shows that you have key knowledge about scrum and agile practices and principles, and that you can apply product ownership concepts to any role and industry. 

3 Ways the CSPO Can Help Your Career

There are a lot of career benefits that come with obtaining your CSPO designation, but let's focus on three that we know you'll love.

#1) The CSPO Makes You a Valuable Team Member

If you're already working as a scrum team member (which scrum calls a "developer"—the people developing any product or service), earning your CSPO rounds out your skills and supports your ability to solve business problems. A product owner has a really busy job, so if you understand some of those responsibilities, you make yourself more valuable when you can pitch in and help write user stories, refine the backlog, or help other team members understand the goals of the product.

The agile skills possessed by an experienced product owner are in demand. The "Skills in the New World of Work" report found that employers want candidates who have strong agile experience and knowledge along with other professional skills.

#2) The CSPO Can Increase Your Salary

Let's face it, most of us work because we want to earn a good living for ourselves or our families. And while there are so many career paths to choose from, product development and management are well-paid paths. 

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a Certified Scrum Product Owner is $142,512 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $112,049 per year. If this is more than you're making today, it may give you that extra pay raise you've been wanting.

Additionally, the popular job search site Indeed ranked the CSPO as one of the top in-demand professional scrum master certifications.

"Skills in the New World of Work" found that 55% of organizations surveyed would pay more for people with relevant certifications.

#3) CSPOs are More Likely to Get Hired 

You can get a job as a product owner if you have a lot of experience in product management and you're already at a company that's using scrum. However, if you're new to the industry or are applying for a job outside of your company, the certification can set you apart from other candidates.

According to the job search site Dice, "Hiring managers and recruiters like to see certifications on a resume and application materials because it's ostensibly a guarantee that the candidate has the necessary skills for the job. Having certifications can help you stand out in a crowded hiring market."

Only 23% of hiring managers surveyed in "Skills in the New World of Work" said that certifications were not important; most say certifications are important. 

CSPO Certification Requirements and Costs

You don't have to take any prerequisite courses to earn the CSPO, so this is a great entry-level way to get started in a product-oriented or business career, or if you want to work as a product owner. Most often, product owners in scrum come from related career fields, such as product management or project management. In fields like marketing, this role often comes from a strategy manager or marketing manager role. 

Having said that, you can take the CSPO course with any professional background, or even as a recent graduate with limited experience. It's a great way to learn more about working in an agile way, managing the delivery of excellent products, and bridging the gap between customers, stakeholders, and the people building the product.

You can get this certification either at an in-person workshop or in an interactive remote setting. While traditionally this certification took two full business days to complete, many instructors today offer weekend or other flexible options.

There isn't an exam for this certification, but it's important to show up for the entire class and be highly engaged. Most classes are taught in small groups with a lot of activity-based learning.

The cost of obtaining a CSPO is set by the individual trainer offering the course. You can search for the right class at the right price for you using our database of class listings.

Take the CSPO Course In Person or Online

So now that you're armed with more information, it's time to answer the question, "is the CSPO worth it?" 

• If you want to stand out as a professional with in-demand agile skills, then yes
• If you're working on an agile team already and want to be more valuable, then yes
• If you want an opportunity to increase your salary, then yes
• If you're wanting to switch careers and find a new job as a product owner, then yes

If you're ready to take the leap and become CSPO certified, find the right dates, location, and instructor for you through Scrum Alliance. Online and in-person classes are available in areas across the globe.

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