Top 11 Product Owner Certifications

Certifications are important for a product owner in the job market because they demonstrate specialized knowledge, expertise, and experience in a particular area. A certification can help set a product owner apart from other job candidates by showing that they have taken the time to learn and master a particular skill or subject. Certifications also provide potential employers with an objective measure of the candidate’s knowledge and abilities. Having a certification also shows that the product owner is committed to their work and has invested in continuing education to stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices. In short, certifications can be an important factor in getting noticed by employers and setting yourself apart from other applicants.

The purpose of this article is to review some of the leading certifications for Product Owners and explain how they can help to advance a product owner's career.

What are Product Owner Certifications?

Product Owner certification is a professional credential for individuals working in the field of product management. It is designed to demonstrate an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and principles of product ownership, including the ability to define user stories, prioritize backlogs, and manage stakeholders. The certification can help individuals demonstrate their value to potential employers by showing that they have a thorough understanding of product management best practices. Additionally, it may make them more attractive to employers looking for qualified applicants with experience in this field. For those already working as product owners, certification can also help them stand out from their peers and be seen as more credible when providing guidance on products or services. Ultimately, Product Owner certification provides an industry-recognized benchmark that validates an individual’s expertise in the area of product management and helps them become better equipped to effectively lead projects and initiatives.

Pro Tip: Utilize the Agile Alliance's Product Owner Certification Program to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in product ownership. The program consists of a series of modules that cover topics such as product management, user experience design, agile development methodology, and more. Completing the certification program will give you the knowledge and tools needed to become an effective product owner.

Related: What does a Product Owner do?

Top 11 Product Owner Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Product Owners today.

1. Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) is a certification program designed to help product owners and other stakeholders understand the Scrum framework and how to effectively use it to deliver successful products. The CSPO certification is offered by the Scrum Alliance, an organization dedicated to promoting and teaching the principles of Scrum.

The CSPO certification requires a two-day course, which covers topics such as the Scrum framework, product backlogs, sprint planning, user stories, and product releases. After completing the course, participants must take a multiple-choice exam in order to receive their CSPO certificate.

To get certified as a CSPO, you must first register for a two-day course with an approved provider. These courses are typically held in person or online and cost between $500-$1,500 depending on the provider. Once you have completed the course and passed the exam, you will receive your CSPO certificate from the Scrum Alliance.

The cost of becoming a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) is around $500-$1,500 depending on the provider offering the course. This fee covers both the two-day course and exam needed for certification.

2. Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO)

Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) is a certification offered by Scrum.org, a company that provides training and resources to help organizations adopt the Scrum framework. The PSPO certification is designed to validate an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of product ownership.

The PSPO certification consists of two parts: an online assessment and a two-day classroom course. The online assessment takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, and requires a minimum score of 85% in order to pass. The classroom course is typically conducted over two days and covers topics such as product vision, user stories, backlog refinement, release planning, and stakeholder management.

The cost for the PSPO certification varies depending on the location of the class, but typically ranges from $1,000 - $2,000 USD. This fee includes access to the online assessment as well as the two-day classroom course. Once you have successfully completed both components of the PSPO certification process, you will receive your official certificate from Scrum.org.

3. Certified Agile Product Owner (CAPO)

Certified Agile Product Owner (CAPO) is a certification program offered by the Scrum Alliance. It is designed to help product owners and other stakeholders understand the principles of agile product development, including how to effectively manage product backlogs, prioritize features, and deliver value to customers.

The CAPO certification consists of two parts: a written exam and an online course. The written exam tests your knowledge of agile product management concepts and techniques. The online course provides additional information on topics such as customer discovery, product roadmap creation, stakeholder engagement, and agile metrics.

The CAPO certification takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete, depending on your background in agile product management. You can take the written exam at any time and the online course can be completed at your own pace.

The cost for the CAPO certification is $495 USD for members of the Scrum Alliance and $595 USD for non-members.

4. ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Product Ownership (ICP-APO)

The ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Product Ownership (ICP-APO) is a certification program designed to provide professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively manage product ownership in an Agile environment. It is a comprehensive program that covers topics such as understanding the role of the Product Owner, developing product vision and strategy, managing stakeholders, identifying customer needs, creating user stories, prioritizing backlogs, and more.

To obtain the ICP-APO certification, individuals must complete an approved training course and pass an online exam. The training course typically takes two days to complete. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, individuals will be awarded the ICP-APO certification.

The cost for obtaining this certification varies depending on the provider offering it. Generally speaking, it can range from $1,000-$2,000 USD for both the training course and exam fee combined.

5. Certified SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager (SAFe PO/PM)

Certified SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager (SAFe PO/PM) is a certification program offered by Scaled Agile, Inc. It is designed to help product owners and product managers understand the principles of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), how to apply them in their own organizations, and how to lead successful agile product development initiatives. The certification is based on the SAFe 4.0 framework, which provides guidance on how to scale agile practices across an organization.

The SAFe PO/PM certification consists of two parts: a two-day course and an exam. The course covers topics such as agile values and principles, Lean-Agile leadership, portfolio management, program increment planning, PI objectives and outcomes, team performance metrics, value stream mapping, release planning and more. After completing the course successfully, participants can take the exam online at their own convenience.

The cost of the SAFe PO/PM certification depends on where you take it; prices range from $1,195 USD for self-study courses to $2,295 USD for instructor-led courses. The exam fee is included in the cost of the course. It typically takes around 2 days to complete the course and pass the exam.

6. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) is a certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) that recognizes an individual's knowledge and experience of agile principles, practices, tools, and techniques. It is designed for project managers, business analysts, product owners, scrum masters, and other professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in agile methodologies.

The PMI-ACP certification requires applicants to have at least 2,000 hours of general project experience within the last five years as well as 1,500 hours of agile project experience within the last three years. Additionally, applicants must complete 21 contact hours of formal education in agile topics.

To obtain the PMI-ACP certification, applicants must pass a multiple choice exam consisting of 120 questions. The exam tests knowledge on nine different domains: Agile Principles and Mindset; Value-driven Delivery; Stakeholder Engagement; Team Performance; Adaptive Planning; Problem Detection and Resolution; Continuous Improvement (Product, Process & People); and Professionalism & Leadership.

The exam takes 3 hours to complete and costs $435 for PMI members or $495 for non-members.

7. DSDM Atern Foundation Certificate

DSDM Atern Foundation Certificate is a certification program developed by the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) Consortium. It is designed to provide individuals with an understanding of the principles, practices, and techniques of DSDM Atern. The certificate provides a foundation for further learning and development in Agile project management.

The DSDM Atern Foundation Certificate course typically takes two days to complete and includes topics such as Agile project management principles, DSDM Atern lifecycle stages, roles and responsibilities, team dynamics, and tools & techniques. Participants will also learn how to apply DSDM Atern in their own projects and organizations.

To get the DSDM Atern Foundation Certificate, you must attend an accredited training course run by an approved provider. You will then be required to pass an exam at the end of the course in order to receive your certificate.

The cost of the DSDM Atern Foundation Certificate course varies depending on the provider but typically ranges from £500 - £1000 per person.

8. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification is a professional certification for individuals who have achieved a level of mastery in the Lean Six Sigma methodology. It signifies that the individual has been trained and can demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and tools associated with Lean Six Sigma.

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification is typically obtained over the course of several months, depending on the program. Generally, it consists of classroom training, online courses, and practical application of Lean Six Sigma principles. The length of time to complete the certification varies by program, but most require at least 40 hours of instruction.

In order to become certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, you must complete an accredited program and pass an exam. Courses are offered through universities, colleges, or specialized training companies. The cost for these courses vary depending on the provider and type of course taken. Generally speaking, completing a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification will cost between $2,000 - $4,000 USD.

Once you have completed your training and passed your exam, you will receive your official certification from the organization that provided your coursework. This certificate will be valid for three years and may be renewed by taking additional training or passing another exam at the end of those three years.

9. International Project Management Association’s IPMA Level C certification

The International Project Management Association (IPMA) Level C certification is an internationally recognized certification that demonstrates a professional’s ability to manage projects and deliver successful outcomes. It is designed to help project managers demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of project management.

The IPMA Level C certification requires passing a written assessment and completing a minimum of 40 hours of project management training. The written assessment consists of multiple-choice questions relating to the principles and techniques of project management. The training includes topics such as planning, scheduling, controlling, monitoring, reporting, risk management, communication, and conflict resolution.

In order to obtain the IPMA Level C certification, applicants must first complete the required training coursework and pass the written assessment with a score of at least 70%. After passing the exam, applicants must submit an application for review by an IPMA-accredited certifying body. Once approved, applicants will receive their official certificate from the certifying body.

The cost for obtaining the IPMA Level C certification varies depending on which certifying body you choose to use. Generally speaking, it costs around $1,000 - $2,000 USD for all associated fees including the exam fee and any additional training courses or materials that may be required.

It typically takes between 6 months - 1 year to obtain the IPMA Level C certification depending on how quickly you can complete all necessary requirements.

10. Project Management Institute’s PMP certification

The Project Management Institute’s PMP certification is a globally recognized professional credential that demonstrates an individual's expertise in project management. It is the most sought-after certification for project managers and is highly valued by employers.

The PMP certification process involves completing an application, demonstrating your experience and education, passing an exam, and maintaining your certification through continuing education. The entire process typically takes 3 to 6 months to complete, depending on how quickly you can gather the necessary documents and study for the exam.

To be eligible for the PMP exam, you must have either a secondary degree (high school diploma or equivalent) plus 7,500 hours of leading and directing projects (35 hours of project management education); OR a four-year degree plus 4,500 hours of leading and directing projects (35 hours of project management education).

The cost of the PMP certification varies depending on whether or not you are a member of the Project Management Institute. For non-members, it costs $555 to register for the exam; for members it costs $405. Additionally, you may need to pay additional fees for course materials or other preparation resources.

11. ITIL Foundation Certification

ITIL Foundation Certification is a globally recognized certification that validates an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL). It is designed to help IT professionals gain an understanding of the best practices for IT service management, as well as how to effectively implement them.

The certification exam typically takes about two hours to complete, and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. To pass the exam, you must score at least 65% or higher. The cost of the exam varies depending on where you take it, but generally ranges from $200-$400 USD.

To prepare for the exam, it is recommended that you take an accredited training course or read up on ITIL best practices. There are many online courses available that can help you prepare for the exam. Additionally, there are several books available that provide comprehensive coverage of all aspects of ITIL Foundation Certification.

Once you have successfully completed your training and passed the exam, you will receive your official ITIL Foundation Certificate from AXELOS (the governing body behind ITIL). This certificate will be valid for three years before needing to be renewed.

Do You Really Need a Product Owner Certificate?

The short answer is no, you do not need a product owner certificate to be successful in the role of a product owner. However, depending on your experience and the organization you work for, having a product owner certificate could be beneficial.

Product owners are responsible for managing the development process of products and services. They ensure that customer needs are met and that stakeholders are kept informed about progress. A product owner certificate can help demonstrate to employers that you have a deep understanding of the skills needed to effectively manage a product from conception through to launch, including customer research and feedback, stakeholder management, budgeting and project management.

Having a product owner certificate can also give you an edge over other applicants when applying for jobs or promotions. It can show employers that you have taken the time to learn about the specific skills needed to be successful in this role. Additionally, having a certification may be required by certain organizations or industries before they will consider hiring someone for the job.

In conclusion, while having a product owner certificate may not always be necessary to succeed in this role, it can give you an advantage over other applicants as well as provide evidence of your knowledge and experience in this field.

Related: Product Owner Resume Examples

FAQs About Product Owner Certifications

Q1: What is a Product Owner Certification?

A1: A Product Owner Certification is a professional certification that validates an individual's knowledge and experience in product ownership. It is designed to assess the skills needed to be successful in the role of a product owner, such as understanding customer needs, managing stakeholders, setting product goals, and making data-driven decisions.

Q2: What are the prerequisites for getting certified?

A2: Generally speaking, there are no formal prerequisites for getting certified as a Product Owner. However, it is recommended that you have a minimum of two years of experience in software development or product management prior to taking the exam.

Q3: How long does the certification last?

A3: The certification is valid for three years from the date of passing the exam. After three years, you will need to take a recertification exam in order to maintain your certification status.

Q4: What type of questions will be on the exam?

A4: The exam consists of multiple-choice questions that measure your knowledge and understanding of key concepts related to product ownership. These include topics such as user stories, agile methodologies, backlogs, stakeholder management, and more.

Q5: Is there any study material available for preparing for the exam?

A5: Yes! There are plenty of resources available online including books, websites, courses and practice exams to help you prepare for your Product Owner Certification Exam.