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The Best Product Owner Certifications and Courses

Author: Liam James Published on: Saturday Jul 31, 2021
The Best Product Owner Certifications and Courses

The Best Product Owner Certifications and Courses are the ones that give you not only a diploma but also meaningful experience.

That's why we put the BVOP program at the top of our list. In addition, the cost of the certification exam is low and any Agile enthusiast can take advantage of the offer quickly.

Create an account in BVOP.org today to receive a promo code for an additional price discount.

The BVOP Certified Product Owner title is obtained after successfully passing a computerized exam without the presence of a supervisor.

Senior Product Owner Certification

The title is Senior because it includes both project management and product management topics. This is another reason to start our exam with BVOP.org.

Get a Promo Code

The best product owner certificates and courses will be the ones that teach you how to become a more effective leader, coach, and collaborator.

It is time for us as an industry to move away from strict project management templates like PMP or PRINCE2; which are often too rigid for agile contexts.

Instead of focusing on certifications only, we need to focus on seeking out mentors who can help us take our skillset off the paper and into practice.

In this article, I list my top four favorite resources: The BVOP Certified Product Owner by BVOP.org, The Agile Leadership Skills Course; Product Ownership 101: Practical Lessons in Scrum Methodology & Practices with John Peltier; The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Product Owner by Craig Larman Ph.D.

Agile Leadership Skills course

The Agile Leadership Skills course will teach you all the skills you need to be a great Product Owner and how to lead your team.

Product Ownership 101: Practical Lessons in Scrum Methodology & Practices with John Peltier is an excellent course that teaches you more precisely what it's like to be a product owner, including things not taught elsewhere such as how to create good users stories or manage stakeholders effectively.

Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Product Owner

The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Product Owner by Craig Larman Ph.D. helps newcomers adjust their thinking from being developers who can write code into becoming business owners of products they are building. It takes people through the process of building winning products one day at a time--from gathering requirements, doing market research, assembling teams, and negotiating with customers.

Which is the best Product Owner certification?

Product Owner certification is an important credential that can help you advance your career. There are many different kinds of certifications, but who offers the most sought-after one?

There are many different kinds of certifications, but who offers the most sought-after one?

We will start the article with the BVOP Certified Product Owner certification (BVOP.org). This credential has become extremely popular in Agile circles as it includes advanced practices.

I will explain in detail later why you should pay attention to this certificate. But before that, we will move forward.

The Scrum Alliance is an organization that provides a wide range of training and certification programs. Their well-regarded Certified Professional Product Owner (Scrum) or CPPO program includes two levels: entry-level and expert.

The entry-level option requires no prerequisites while the expert level requires experience in agile methodology as a prerequisite for admission.

Either way, their coursework covers topics such as product discovery; prioritizing features for release; writing user stories to capture requirements; working with cross-functional teams on sprint planning meetings; using roadmaps to plan future development tasks, and generating reports from data captured during previous iterations.

Scaling Agile to Large Organizations

Additionally, they offer courses like "Scaling Agile to Large Organizations."

The Scrum Alliance is an organization that provides a wide range of training and certification programs. Their well-regarded Certified Professional Product Owner (Scrum) or CPPO program includes two levels: entry-level and expert.

The entry-level option requires no prerequisites while the expert level requires experience in agile methodology as a prerequisite for admission.

Either way, their coursework covers topics such as product discovery; prioritizing features for release; writing user stories to capture requirements; working with cross-functional teams on sprint planning meetings; using roadmaps to plan future development tasks, and generating reports from data captured during previous iterations.

Additionally, they offer courses like "Scaling Agile to Large Organizations."

What is a Product Owner Certification?

Product Owner Certifications are a new way to measure the ability of product owners. Product owner certifications provide training and certification for you, as an individual, to be qualified to take on these increasingly complex roles. The process is broken down into three phases:

Phase One: Preparation – Understanding your company’s processes, tools, and templates that will enable you to move through this program with confidence.

This phase also provides information about what it means to lead change within your organization or team so that when you complete Phase One successfully, you can confidently step up as a leader of change at any level within your organization/team during Phase Two and Three.

We'll cover topics such as organizational readiness assessments; how senior management should set the tone for change; tools and templates to get started with a product backlog or release planning process.

The practical part of the course

Phase Two: Practicum – This is where we put your knowledge into practice by assigning you a project to work on in partnership with an organization, team, or individual that’s ready for change.

You will document what changes have been made, as well as provide feedback on how these changes went from the beginning to the end of the project to get an idea of whether it was successful or not.

And finally, this phase includes collecting data related to influencing organizational readiness assessments, including metrics such as time spent per day working on various projects, many days out-of-office due to illness, or vacation taken at any given point during Phase One or Two, and more.

What happens after I complete my Product Owner Certifications? 

After completing your product owner certifications, we will review the data collected during Phase Two to provide feedback about your readiness for certification.

Studium's trainers will then work with you on a personal development plan that can be used by any organization/team leader looking to move their company beyond resistance and into action so that it may successfully transform using methods such as those taught in Phases One & Two.

The culmination of which is becoming officially certified!

After completing my Product Owner Certifications, I'm ready to... 

After completion of product owner certifications, there are two possible outcomes: If the project turns out successful (meaning that an individual or team was able to implement changes recommended from Phases One and Two), they should complete Phase Three: Certification.

This phase includes a final assessment of readiness for certification. If the project does not turn out successful, then either a re-assessment of Phase One or Two is needed (if you have already completed one but don't feel ready to complete Phase Three) OR, if an individual has only just started their Product Owner Certifications and they are unready to move on from Phases One and Two as well, Studium's team will work with them to revise their plan to ensure success during future phases. 

BVOP Certified Product Owner

BVOP Certified Product Owner is a senior title combining not only Scrum elements but also many project management techniques and tools.

BVOP has established its Product Owner certification as candidates take an online exam. They answer not only questions related to Scrum, but also Product Management and Project Management.

BVOP Certified Product Owner is a credential combining 3 positions. That is why BVOP certificates are considered to be for advanced professionals.

BVOP exams are online and computerized. There is no human presence during your exam.

Hurry up to register on the website to get a promo code, which significantly reduces the cost of the online exam.

Certified Product Owner by Product Manager HQ

The Product Manager HQ Certified Product Owner course is a comprehensive overview of the skills and knowledge necessary for product owners.

The course covers topics such as agile development, project management process, business analysis, high-level market research, how to create great products, and more. 

The course is self-paced and can be taken at your own pace. The lessons provide both written instructions as well as videos to help you learn the skills necessary for product management.

It takes approximately ten hours to complete the course with a passing grade (80% or higher). This includes watching all video lessons and reading content from each lesson.

Upon completing the class, students will receive an "A" certificate upon completion with their name on it so they have something tangible to show off! It also provides them access to future courses offered by Product Manager HQ such as Scrum Master Certification Training and Agile Product Owner Certification Training.

Product Manager HQ

Product Manager HQ has been teaching this course since 2011, and it's built on years of experience in developing best practices that are relevant today. 

The Course is Self-Paced: It takes approximately ten hours to complete the course with a passing grade (80% or higher).

This includes watching all video lessons and reading content from each lesson. Upon completing the class, students will receive an "A" certificate upon completion with their name on it so they have something tangible to show off! It also provides them access to future courses offered by Product Manager HQ such as Scrum Master Certification Training and Agile Product Owner Certification Training.

How Long Does The Course Take?

Ten hours total, including watching all video lessons and reading content from each lesson.

How Do You Get Certified Product Manager? HQ has been teaching this course since 2011, and it's built on years of experience in developing best practices that are relevant today.

What's the cost of the Certified Product Owner by Product Manager HQ?

The Cost for a single course is $249.00 or EUR 224.20 per student and includes: 

A copy of "Product Leadership" book, created in partnership with Google Ventures 

Lifetime access to online video content as well as all accompanying workbooks (a total value of approx. $200)

"Certified Professional Product Owner" certificate issued directly from our partner institution ISM University Malaysia which costs an additional fee paid directly to them separately ($250).

The Certificate achieves international recognition through a global network that spans 58 countries across five continents where it is studied at over 125 universities worldwide including Stanford University in California USA; London Business School in the UK; and ESADE BUSINESS SCHOOL in Barcelona, Spain.

One year access to live online webinars (a value of $200) as well as one year access to our weekly newsletter ($100) which includes: the latest industry trends from around the world; articles on product management strategy & best practices for achieving success with your products; and exclusive offers for valuable resources including books, eBooks, software licenses.

The newsletters will be delivered directly into your inbox every week without any email or spamming charges!

The Cost for a corporate course is based on an agreement between you and Product Manager HQ depending upon length, type of training program needed, etc.

Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO)

The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) is a demanding role that requires the ability to be both agile and strategic.

The PSPO must have deep knowledge of Agile best practices, an understanding of product development and management principles, as well as comprehensive skills in organizing people for success.

They are responsible for creating a clear vision of what needs to be accomplished by delivering frequent updates about progress towards goals using rich visual information such as dashboards.

While executing these responsibilities, they contribute to establishing project requirements while actively participating in backlog refinement sessions with stakeholders so that sprint plans reflect business priorities and promote collaboration throughout the organization.

This person also manages organizational change; conflict resolution/team dynamics; team workloads; performance optimization; stakeholder management; and more.

Professional Scrum Product Owners (PSPO) are the people who set up sprint goals

PSPOs are the people who set up sprint goals, create releases with corresponding release plans for stakeholders to review, work on backlog refinement sessions with stakeholder representatives during planning meetings, manage project requirements/backlog items, serve as an Agile coach or ScrumMaster to facilitate team productivity using various management methods such as retrospectives and coaching conversations with teams.

They also collaborate closely with product managers to ensure that both agile principles (such as continuous delivery) and organizational objectives are being met by their efforts.

The PSPO must be able to understand different points of view around a problem so they can build consensus among stakeholders while solving problems efficiently through active listening skills rather than emotional responses.

The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) is responsible for the following:

Setting up sprint goals, creating releases with corresponding release plans, and working on backlog refinement sessions with stakeholder representatives during planning meetings. 

Managing project requirements/backlog items to ensure that both agile principles are being met by their efforts as well as organizational objectives. For example, this person may have a responsibility where they collaborate closely with product managers to meet organizational objectives such as ensuring continuous delivery of products at high velocity while maintaining quality standards even when faced with changing market dynamics. 

Serve as an Agile coach or ScrumMaster so that team productivity can be facilitated using various management methods such as retrospectives and coaching conversations conducted between members of an agile team. 

What's the cost of the Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) certification?

The cost for the PSPO® certification exam is $200. There are no other costs associated with this professional credential, including training or a Scrum Master Certification class.

The PSPO® exam is administered by a PearsonVue testing center in your area or at any of the centers around the world.

Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) certification exam cost: $200

The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) credential requires an individual to pass one comprehensive, open-book, and proctored multiple-choice examination that covers all aspects of product ownership with no time limit.

The Exam consists of 50 questions and must be completed within 120 minutes. There are six possible answers for each question but only one correct response per question.

Ten points are awarded for every correct answer out of fifty total points, so 500 will always be the minimum passing score while 550+ may allow for up to one missed question.

Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II (PSPO II)

The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II (PSPO II) course will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to successfully evolve your role as a product owner.

This two-day, hands-on workshop has been designed for skilled professionals who are keen to learn new ways of thinking about their work, or who have already completed PSPO I but want more advanced training in this area.

The PSPO II course is focused on how we can make our products better — it’s not just an opportunity to meet other scrum practitioners and share experiences. It will focus on giving us the tools that enable us to continually improve things; making them leaner, faster, cheaper…all while improving quality too! We’ll cover topics like Product Vision, Minimum Viable Products, and Splitting Features.

How to use Scrum with large teams

The course will also cover how to use Scrum with large teams; scaling product ownership at the enterprise level. We’ll learn about agile project management beyond just scrum — including a Project Management Framework that includes information from all phases of product development.

You'll also have an opportunity to share your own experiences as well as receive feedback on yours in open forums throughout the event!

After PSPO II you should be able to:

  • Work more effectively with other stakeholders (customers/executives) 
  • Create better products by understanding what customers need and want, analyzing data, evaluating options for future features or improvements using lean principles, and prioritizing your work.
  • Take a more holistic view of product development, enabling you to make decisions that will have an impact on the entire lifecycle of a project or initiative.
  • Realize opportunities for process improvement in your area of responsibility by understanding how all parts relate to each other during different phases (conceptualization, planning, execution).

PSPO II is designed for people who are already skilled professionals working with scrum teams as Product Owners. If you're not yet at this level but want to be, please consider attending our Professional Scrum Product Owner™ I course first before signing up for PSPO II.

Even more: Professional Scrum Product Owner™ III (PSPO III)

The Scrum Product Owner is the person in a Scrum team who defines what should be built as part of the product and ensures that it’s delivered on time.

They are responsible for maximizing value from work by ensuring progress through transparency, taking an active stake in decisions, and maintaining a backlog valued list with regular reviews to forecast future releases.

What you will learn: The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ III (PSPO III) course provides participants with all they need to understand how agile software development works at an enterprise scale.

It also enables them to leverage their new knowledge into enhancing their skillset so they can become more effective professional developers or Agile coaches/mentors within organizations.

This program has been designed specifically for developers, programmers, and architects who want to understand the principles of agile development.

Course duration

Duration: The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ III (PSPO III) course is a four-day in-person seminar or one month online learning experience for up to 30 participants per class taught by Certified Scrum Trainers with years of real-world enterprise software product management experience.

Taught By: Have you been tasked with delivering on your organization’s next great idea?

This program will equip you with all the necessary tools that professional developers need to build high-quality products quickly.

Participants will be trained on how best practices work at an enterprise level so they can enhance their skillset into becoming more effective professionals while also developing new strategies for achieving organizational success.

Cost: Professional Scrum Product Owner™ III (PSPO III) is $37,500 per participant for the in-person meeting or one month of the online learning experience with 30 participants maximum per class taught by Certified Scrum Trainers with years of real-world business product management background.

Last master level: Professional Scrum Product Owner™ IV (SPOIV): Course Content and Goals

The goal of this program is to provide advanced knowledge about agile software development with Scrum for practitioners who are prepared to work in an enterprise setting.

Participants will learn how agile developers can apply the principles of scrum and the elements of Lean Thinking while managing a large, complex product over several releases.

Learn all about: 

  • The fundamentals of Agile software development as they relate to Scrum methodology; 
  • How products should be managed when developing them at scale using methods such as Kanban or DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method); 
  • Understanding how organizations operate through understanding their underlying organizational culture;
  • Techniques on becoming an Enterprise Professional Product Owner™ and scaling Agility within your organization.

So you're ready? So what's next? You'll need to first make sure you have enough time to take this in-person course.

This is a four-day seminar that will be held once a month, with up to 30 people per class taught by Certified Scrum Trainers who are experts in enterprise software product management experience and real-world Agile coaching/mentoring.

Cost: 

The cost of Professional Scrum Product Owner™ IV (SPOIV) is $37,500 for the in-person seminar or one month of the online training experience with a maximum of 30 students per class taught by Certified Scrum Trainers who are experts in business software product management background and real-world Agile practice.

Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO)

The Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) designation is the only industry-recognized certification created by a team of experts in agile product management, including Jeff Sutherland—the father of scrum. CSPOs are crucial to success in today’s economic environment where agility requires a large degree of independence and autonomy for both executives and managers across all industries.

Organizations that develop their employees into certified professionals see significant benefits such as faster time-to-market, higher levels of customer satisfaction, more accurate forecasting, and lower costs.

Who is the Certified Scrum Product Owner®?

A Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) is a person who manages, plans, develops, estimates tasks for, and has the authority to commit to product features or functionality in an agile environment.

They are pivotal decision-makers as they work with customers on what should be built next from their backlog of prioritized requirements.

The CPO maintains a focus on business value while striving to achieve sprint goals that culminate into well-defined releases regularly delivered at a sustainable pace determined by market demand.

The Certified Scrum Product Owner certification exam includes both questions about the material learned during this course as well as real-life scenarios—both individual and group—to determine whether you have mastered all essential topics required of a professional practicing Scrum.

For those who are new to Scrum and want to learn more about the fundamental principles, we recommend taking a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) course from Ken Schwaber or Jeff Sutherland first before attempting this exam.

The CSPO training is an in-depth five-day program that provides practical information on how to be successful as a product owner working within the Scrum framework.

Pricing: $795* | Duration: 60 minutes *includes breakfast, lunch, snacks & refreshments throughout the class duration

Course materials

The registration includes access to all materials for either self-study preparation or classroom sessions led by Ken Schwaber himself! In addition, each student will get a copy of “Agile Project Management with Scrum” by Ken Schwaber.

Official description: A five-day, in-depth class that provides practical knowledge on how to be successful as a product owner working within the Scrum framework.

It is an industry-recognized certification from Jeff Sutherland--the father of scrum and the world's leading authority on agile development (CSPO).

CPOs are crucial for success today where agility requires independence and autonomy for both executives and managers across all industries; organizations see significant benefits such as faster time-to-market, higher levels of customer satisfaction, better forecasting accuracy, and lower costs when developing their employees into certified professionals.

Attendees will learn how to do everything they need to take advantage of this emerging trend and drive their organizations into the future.

What's the price of the Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO)?

CSPOs typically charge a per-diem fee, which is usually between $250-$500. For some CSPO's this may be all-inclusive and include travel time as well. Some will only provide the service of coaching with no other services included at an additional cost to you.

What are the requirements for the Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) certification?

The Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) certification is a strong indicator of knowledge and competency in the role.

The CSPO certification does not involve any coding tests but instead focuses on product backlog management, sprint planning meetings, estimation techniques, a prioritization strategy for the product backlog, and more. Learn what it takes to become certified as an agile project manager with this blog post!

Requirements: 

There are no code tests for the CSPO certification. Instead, it focuses on product backlog management, sprint planning meetings, estimation techniques, and more.

To become certified as a Certified Scrum Product Owner®, you will need to take three exams:

The Official Guide (Agile) - This is an intensive training text that includes practical exercises related to agile practices in software development.

It covers everything from basic concepts of Agile to day-to-day interactions with stakeholders and team members in an agile environment.

You'll also be introduced to common pitfalls encountered by those new to the world of agility as well as how they can overcome them successfully!

To pass this exam, students must answer 70% or higher on the multiple-choice questions.

Certified Product Owner Exam: In addition to taking these two exams, you will need to complete our Certification Prep Course which prepares for both tests while teaching product backlog management techniques and how to be a successful Product Owner in an Agile environment.

How to prepare for and pass the Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) exam on 1st attempt?

The Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) exam is a challenging one. The passing score on the PSPO I Exam is 80%. So, you have to study and prepare well for this certification test so that you can pass it confidently.

The first step in preparing for the CSPO examination is understanding what each of the three domains is.

The second step is to learn about the key concepts of Scrum, Agile and Lean in detail. You can refer to books by Ken Schwaber or Jeff Sutherland for more insights into these subjects.

Next, understand all four roles involved in a product development process: Product Owner, Development Team Member, Scrum Master, and Stakeholder.

After this, you have to practice the test-taking strategies for CSPO Exam like understanding what's being asked, identifying keywords in each question, and using logic where there is no clear answer or multiple choices given.

These are just some of the many tips that can help you prepare well for a career as a Product Owner.

Tools that you will use in your work as a Product Owner

The third step involves learning about the various tools that you will use in your work as a product owner like JIRA, Slack, and Trello.

You can also explore free trials of these products before purchasing them so that you have an idea of what they offer.

It is best to take mock exams from the moment you decide to take the CSPO Exam.

This will help you in familiarizing yourself with the exam format and how questions are going to be asked so that it doesn't come as a shock when you finally sit for the Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO) examination.

A good study plan would include each of these steps. You can also consider joining hands with a study group so that you can learn from the experience of your classmates and share in their knowledge as well.

What happens if I fail the CSPO exam?

What are the consequences of failing the CSPO exam? If you fail, it will result in a certain number of professional certification credits awarded.

The amount is dependent upon your level and how many times you have taken the examination. You can retake the test as many consecutive times as needed to pass with no penalty other than time lost while taking the exam.

More information on this subject can be found in Section Title: Certification Credits for Failed Exams at CSPO Exam Information and Requirements.

How to prepare for and pass the PSPO I exam on 1st attempt?

The first and most crucial step is to prepare adequately, which for the PSPO I exam involves:

Studying from an appropriate source. The best sources are those written by accredited authors who have taken the exams themselves.

Ensure these writers have a background in adult education or training delivery with at least five years of experience delivering courses on the topic.

Studying in a focused and disciplined manner, set out with the goal of understanding the content rather than just memorizing it for exams.

This is not an exam on how well you can study or remember content but instead one about testing your ability to apply what you've learned to different scenarios.

Practicing by applying what you learn to different scenarios. This is the key step in developing your problem-solving and decision-making skills for PSPO I exam questions.

The second crucial point is that, if you do this, it's very likely that you will pass on your first attempt! Statistics show more than 97% of students who follow these methods pass the exam on their first attempt.

What happens if I fail the PSPO exam?

As a PSPO candidate, I’ve been studying the material for weeks. But what happens if I fail the exam? The truth is that there are many reasons why people may not pass the test, and you should be prepared in case one of these scenarios applies to you.

Maybe your life has changed dramatically since then, and you’ve experienced a family death or illness. Perhaps your job has changed, so certain topics are no longer relevant to you.

Or maybe the material is too difficult for you right now. Don’t worry; this is not unusual at all!

If any of these reasons apply to you, then there are some steps you can take to help you pass. First, don’t give up!

Second, find someone who did well on the test and ask them for advice on how they studied or what knowledge areas were their strongest.

Third, get in touch with a PSPO tutor so that s/he can teach you some of the topics which are currently difficult for you.

Fourth, find a study partner who will work with you on the material and keep each other accountable.

Finally, if any topics have always been difficult for you or that were challenging in the PSPO exam to date, then consider seeking additional help from an expert tutor to get up-to-speed.

SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager

Are the Product Owner and Product Manager different roles in SAFe? The Product Owner drives the product strategy, roadmap, features, and stories for Release Planning.

They do not own any code, yet they need to be able to communicate with technical teams regularly. The Product Manager manages market requirements, customer needs, and company goals across releases.

Are these two duties too disparate or can one person fill both positions efficiently? In other words…can we have our cake and eat it too?

A recent study found that "the majority of respondents will tell you there are significant differences between being a good product manager versus being a great product owner."

But as Mike Burrows points out "the real question is what are the differences, not whether they exist."

The first difference is that Product Management's focus on customers and market trends allows them to have a more strategic outlook.

"Product Managers need to worry about product strategy, roadmap planning, competitive analysis, etc., while Product Owners only really think about features for their sprints," says Burrows.

Product Owner communication with stakeholders and users

And it is true--while both roles communicate with stakeholders and users often, the breadth of responsibilities in other areas for Product Managers can lead their understanding or concern (or caring) to be broader than those of the Product Owner who has less time allocated to these activities outside of managing individual projects at any given moment in time. 

So why do we see so many companies trying out the one-person Product Owner/Product Manager role?

Is it because of the success stories like Spotify and Atlassian who have had successful experiences with this model or is there something else at play?

We don't know. But we do see that these companies are "bigger" in size than most other startups, which may be a factor--not to mention their adherence to Lean management principles.

Product Management's focus on customers and market trends allows them to have a more strategic outlook." 

The breadth of responsibilities in other areas for the Product Manager can lead their understanding or concern (or caring) to be broader than those of the Product Owner who has less time allocated to these activities outside of managing individual projects at any given moment in time.

Summary: The SAFe product owner/product manager is someone responsible for driving strategy, roadmap planning, features, and stories at the release level—and also communicating with technical teams on

What's the price of the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager course?

A common question we get in the SAFe Community is "What's the price of a Product Owner/Product Manager?"

It can be difficult to answer because there are many possible interpretations. One might ask, "How much does it cost for three days of training on Scaled Agile topics?

What about an on-site consulting engagement with your team?". So let me try to clarify this question and what I mean by answering it.

The lowest-priced option available from us at BVOP is a single-day Strategic Workshop that starts at $395 per person (excluding travel).

This workshop will help you define where you want to go as an organization, establish KPIs, develop goals and objectives that have an impact on long-term success, and identify your big rocks or strategic initiatives.

The highest-priced option available from us at BVOP is a three-day "Scaled Agile Leader" Program that starts at $1995 per person (excluding travel).

What will this workshop teach you?

This workshop will teach you and up to five other people how to be an effective Product Owner, ScrumMaster, Coaching Partner, Project Manager, and/or Team Member on any agile team.

It includes the entire system of SAFe so you can become proficient in everything needed for scaling agile within your organization.

You'll also get hands-on experience with touchpoints across the enterprise including Operational Leadership teams who might need coaching as well as IT Development teams who are implementing iterative delivery practices such as Kanban, DevOps, continuous integration, and DevOps.

The price you pay will depend on what you need and want to do for your organization.

For example, the person who needs to understand how SAFe can be applied across their enterprise in a scalable way from top-to-bottom might opt for something more like our Scaled Agile Leader program while someone else might just need coaching or training at either an individual level or small group level (i.e., less than five people).

Regardless of which option they choose, we want everyone's investment in themselves as well as SAFe topics such as leadership development/coaching to include actionable opportunities for participants to engage with others online when not attending live workshops so that even those who cannot attend workshops have access to ongoing learning and professional development.

What are the requirements for the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager certification?

To be eligible for the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager certification, you must:

  • have a minimum of 15 months of experience as an enterprise product owner or have three years’ total work experience in software development and agile process implementation. No exceptions will be granted to this requirement. 
  • successfully complete an online exam consisting of 60 questions that are graded on a scale from one (lowest score) to five (highest score). You can take up to two hours per attempt at the examination. 

If you do not meet these requirements but would like more information about learning how to become an effective Enterprise Product Owner or Product Manager, please contact us! We also offer workshops to help you succeed in your role!

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®

This certification exam is the first of its kind and has been developed by PMI to meet a need for an agile project management certification credential.

The PMI-ACP® Certification Exam assesses whether the candidate possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide independent assessment or advisory services based on their experience with implementing agile methodologies on projects. It does not equate to being certified as an Agile Coach or Scrum Master.

This certification is not for everyone and has been developed as an avenue towards an independent assessment or advisory services based on their experience with implementing agile methodologies in projects, rather than being certified as a Scrum Master or Agile Coach.

To become accredited you are required to pass one exam consisting of 90 multiple choice questions created using adaptive testing technology that matches your ability level from easy (fewer than six out of ten correct) up to hard (six or more out of ten correct).

You have four hours to complete the exam which can be taken online.

What's the cost of the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification?

It is $399 to take the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification exam. You can also save money by registering for a bundle that includes preparation tools and the courseware with downloadable videos, slides, tutorials, best practices references, and live Q&A support from an agile coach.

The practice exams are priced at: £199 for four months of access upfront or £49 per month thereafter; €299 for two years upfront or €79 per year thereafter; US$99 for lifetime access in English only.

The purchase of these materials does not include any coaching sessions but they will provide you with links to sites where coaches offer individual services on an hourly basis if desired.

What are the requirements for the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification?

There are five prerequisites. The first is the individual must meet PMI's education requirement, which includes:

  • Completion of a minimum of one project management professional (PMP)® or CAPM® certification from a recognized provider in addition to 12 hours of project management education; and 
  • Successful completion of an online introductory course in agile methods for at least three credit hours delivered by a certified trainer through an accredited institution with non-open enrollment.
  • The second prerequisite is that they have completed 60 PDUs within the last two years before submitting their application, including 15 earned PDUs on agile practices. 
  • The third prerequisite is having managed four projects using Agile methodology as evidenced by providing statements from each team member who has been a direct report to the applicant. 
  • The fourth prerequisite is having served as project manager or team lead on at least two agile projects, where each project had between six and 20 people in the Scrum of Scrums.
  • The fifth pre-requisite is that they have not been disciplined by PMI® for breaching ethics and professional standards within three years before submitting their application.

Your Scrum Product Owner Accredited Certification™

The Scrum Product Owner Accredited Certification™ (SPOC) signifies that you have achieved mastery of your knowledge and skills as a successful product owner.

The SPOC validates your domain expertise, encourages best practices, strengthens organizational agility through Agile principles and teamwork, and demonstrates your commitment to customer success.

What are the benefits of earning a Scrum Product Owner Accredited Certification™?

The SPOC is designed for you as an individual, whether or not you hold another management position in your organization.

The certification can be rewarding and inspiring since it confirms that all knowledge and skills have been mastered and that you have the skills and knowledge to successfully lead your product team in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

What will I learn by earning my Scrum Product Owner Accredited Certification™?

The SPOC covers all of the necessary foundations for being an effective product owner. It will teach you how to produce high-quality product backlog items, work with the development team to ensure they are building your product correctly and quickly, keep stakeholders informed of progress, deal with conflict when it arises as a result of customer feedback or other interactions, how best to use sprints for organizational improvement.

How long does it take?

The Scrum Product Owner Accredited Certification™ is a 60-hour online program. Once you have completed the course, there will be an exam and once that has been successfully passed (score of 70% or higher), your SPOC Certificate™ can be downloaded from our website.

The Scrum Product Owner Accredited Certification™ allows teams to achieve better customer success through increased agility in the product development process.

EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner

There are many certifications for Agile Product Owners. One of the most popular is EXIN's Agile Scrum Product Owner certification which offers a course that covers all the necessary topics interactively and engagingly, including:

  • Understanding product management from both strategic and agile perspectives; 
  • Applying user stories to understand and prioritize customer’s needs;
  • Working with stakeholders to prioritize requirements and align expectations 
  • Achieving the balance between agility, simplicity, flexibility, and quality.

The EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner certification is for experienced professionals who are interested in enhancing their careers through knowledge of agile product ownership.

The course will provide the necessary skills and knowledge to become an agile product owner.

Learn from practitioners who have successfully implemented agile product ownership; 

Practical, real-world examples of how to apply agile techniques in a highly interactive course format with plenty of time for discussion and questions; 

Theory, exercises, and discussions cover all important topics needed to succeed in agile product ownership.

What does the EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner certification give you?

The EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner certification prepares you for a new role as an agile product owner, with all the skills and knowledge needed to excel. It also provides validation of your competence by giving you recognition from one of the world’s leading accredited training providers - which will help when applying for new positions.

The EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner course is delivered by accredited trainers who are active in the field of agile software development and product ownership, with extensive experience across a range of industries.

They will be able to share their knowledge through interactive sessions that get you actively involved in real-world problems and discussions about how they were solved.

The EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner certification will provide you with all the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this new role; 

It also provides validation of your competence by giving you recognition from one of the world’s leading accredited training providers - which will help when applying for new positions;  

The course is delivered by accredited trainers who are active in the field of agile software development and product ownership, with extensive experience across a range of industries.

They will be able to share their knowledge through interactive sessions that get you actively involved in real-world problems and discussions about how they were solved; 

To become an agile product owner, it is necessary to be able to work with stakeholders and align expectations as well as make agile changes quickly and deliver a high-quality product.

What's the cost of the "EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner" course?

The price for the EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner course is €950.00 (excl VAT). You can also select a payment plan with no upfront fees and payments of €150 per month over 24 months.

If you have any more questions then please contact them at [email protected] and they'll be happy to answer them for you!

What is Business Value-Oriented Principles Ltd?

BVOP is a management certification organization that helps individuals and businesses with the resources they need to grow.

They have a team of experts in finance, marketing, and management who are dedicated to their clients' success – individually tailored for each business's needs from start-up phases through growth stages.

BVOP has created tools and strategies to help companies manage risk while maximizing growth.

Through a series of workshops, BVOP helps organizations create and implement sustainable business solutions with measurable results.

They work to give their clients an advantage over the competition by designing customized strategic plans for all phases of business development – from conceptualization to expansion.

BVOP believes that "the best success is built on honesty, openness, and integrity."

The team at BVOP is dedicated to providing the highest level of service for all of its clients. They work with each client, individually tailoring solutions that will not only grow a company's revenue but also make it more efficient in general. 

BVOP is committed to helping organizations overcome obstacles on their path to success.

What is Scrum Alliance?

The Scrum Alliance is an organization that promotes the use of agile techniques in other organizations.

They offer a variety of certifications, training, and events to help anyone interested learn more about these methods and tools.

Scrum Alliance offers certification for both project managers (PMI) as well as software developers (CSD). The organization also offers training for organizations looking to adopt agile techniques.

The Scrum Alliance hosts events that focus on a variety of topics, from software development and integration to testing and architecture.

The most popular event in the United States is the Agile Open Northwest conference which draws more than 900 participants each year.

In 2003, the organization launched the Scrum Guide to provide a concise reference for all things related to scrum.

In 2015, The Scrum Alliance released its first version of "The Professional Scrum Developer" certification which is at three levels: Foundation (entry-level), Practitioner, and Advanced.

This exam contains 150 questions on topics including test-driven development, refactoring, and database design.

The organization has about 18,000 members in more than 90 countries and is a nonprofit. The Scrum Alliance headquarters are in Austin Texas with offices around the globe as well as being online-only membership for those not close to any physical office on the map.

What is PMI?

PMI is a leading international certifying body for project management professionals.

It gives an internationally recognized credential to experienced practitioners and offers them the opportunity to continue their professional growth.

PMI's certification programs are recognized worldwide, with more than 272,000 members located in 180 countries enjoying benefits such as: 

Increased Income Potential

Personal Development 

Networking Opportunities and more!

To become a PMI-certified Project Management Professional, you must first take the exam. This process can be done in one of two ways: by taking an approved course or through self-study.

If someone is interested in becoming certified as a PMI-certified Project Manager Professional, he or she should first take an approved course to make sure they have met the requirements.

History of PMI

PMI was founded in 1969 by the Project Management Institute, Inc. (PMI) is a nonprofit organization for project management professionals and companies who want to adopt or adapt best practices of project management in their profession. 

The PMBOK Guide® serves as the definitive reference for standards that define what it means to be an experienced professional in the field of project management.

It is a comprehensive, integrated guide to standard practices that have been developed through years of collective experience by practitioners and knowledge professionals from around the world.

The Guide has served as an essential resource for countless project managers who are seeking guidance on how to succeed with projects and meet their stakeholders' needs.

PMI's certifications are used by organizations of all sizes in numerous industries, including construction and utilities.

What's the salary of the Certified Product Owner?

The Certified Product Owner's salary is usually in the range of $100,000 - $200,000 per year. The exact amount varies depending on company size and geographical location.

Only a few companies offer this type of compensation for their product managers. Most firms have lower salaries than these but they will often also provide other types of perks like bonuses, equity incentives, and higher salary increments.

Where can I work as a Certified Product Owner?

I wanted to work in a company that had an open-minded culture and where I could make a real impact.

This is why I chose Proctor & Gamble, one of the largest consumer goods companies on Earth with about $75B in yearly revenue (2015).

We have over 20 brands including Pantene, Covergirl, Olay and so many more, and we are in over 180 countries.

I was drawn to the company because of its huge success through research-driven innovation. P&G has an "Open Innovation" program that encouraged me to think about how I could contribute as a Product Owner by bringing my experience with open source software development back into the corporate world.

I spent a year working in P&G's global home care division. I was part of the team that introduced Febreze to Canada and China, among other locales.

The more time I spent with my group, the more it became clear that they were making decisions without much input from customers or end-users (the people who actually buy the products).

Training on how to use feedback

I had to train them on how to use customer and user feedback as a part of their process.

This was my first real exposure to agile development, and it made me want more.

More insights into product management from people who were doing great work in that field. Working with other CPOs at P&G helped me understand the nuances of product management, like how to make strategic decisions and balance customer needs with business goals.

I want more people in my profession, which is why I'm so passionate about teaching agile development.

The Certified Product Owner course that I taught at P&G was very popular among junior marketing managers who wanted a better understanding of what Product Management is.

One of my students from that course has now moved on to a Product Management role at P&G, and I'm so proud of her for making the jump!

My advice for anyone interested in becoming CPOs?

Find an organization with great people who will mentor you. Stay open-minded about your career path because you never know what opportunities might be out there.

I hope to work at a start-up one day, and maybe even run my own company someday!

Comments to "The Best Product Owner Certifications and Courses"

  1. Lucas Bernard
    Sorry to bother you a lot. I have written comments in many of your posts. I just need an online course because I have disabilities and I'm not easily mobile. I have a lot of professional skills but I have temporary difficulties. However, I do not want to wait, but to enroll in a course as soon as possible. I understand English very well, so this is not a limitation for me. thanks
  2. PM.MBA
    No problem. Do not worry. We understand your situation and problem and sympathize with you. In fact, most certification organizations already offer online courses. But to be absolutely sure, still check out their websites. In previous comments, you asked if the BVOP exams are online. There we told you that the exams are online. Exactly. So you can take advantage of their diplomas. The training materials are in English as well as the exams themselves. But for you, as you say, this is not a problem.
  3. Amyntas
    Unfortunately, my BVOP certificate reduction code doesn't work. What would you advise me? Have the discounts expired?
  4. PM.MBA
    You can check the Redeem a Promo Code section in your dashboard. There you will find a current promo code. If you still have difficulties, you can write directly to the BVOP team.
  5. Grayson Brown
    I would like to know if I understand things correctly. The BVOP website says that the Product Owner certification exam includes Scrum and Product Management. Can I have some clarity?
  6. PM.MBA
    Dear Grayson Brown, BVOP certification is generally different from all others. BVOP created its Agile Guide in 2018. Its content is much more formal than the Scrum Guide. Also, to successfully pass your Scrum Master exam, for example, you need to know the BVOP Ultimate Guide in detail as well. And specifically the project manager topics. The same is true for the PO exam. Besides the entire BVOP Agile Guide, you should also know product management topics well.
  7. TJ
    Can you direct me to a practical course. Somewhere I can attend a physical group. I want to learn with people and practice together. In my opinion, this is the best method of learning.
  8. PM.MBA
    In order to recommend a physical group in your location, could you please share which township you live in?
  9. Jack Johnson
    Are there specific companies, branches and activities in which I can find a job with a BVOP diploma? Their teaching seems quite software-oriented.
  10. PM.MBA
    Indeed, BVOP is more oriented towards software and technology companies. It is likely that most BVOP certified Product Owner professionals have no ambition to work in the construction or food industry for example.
  11. Anna Wagner
    If I have a project manager degree, can I work as a PO? I can draw sketches, I have basic programming skills and I think I write very good user stories.
  12. PM.MBA
    Applying to job postings with your current degrees and knowledge is probably the easiest way to find out if you can work as a PO now. However, most employers will probably want a Product Owner certificate. We encourage you to create an account on the BVOP.org website and for just $10 check whether your current knowledge could get you a PO document.
  13. Stoyan Kirilov
    Can anyone share a reason to get Product Owner certification instead of Scrum Master? There are far more job postings for SM than PO.
  14. PM.MBA
    According to unconfirmed data, the salary of the product owner is higher than that of the scrum master. But keep in mind that these professions are very different and you should not compare them.
  15. Lucas Bergeron
    I am interested in the Scaled Scrum Certified Product Owner course or certification program. Unfortunately, I don't find many such suggestions. Can you suggest me something?
  16. Liam Cooper
    As the role of Product Owner continues to be vital in the agile development process, it becomes increasingly important for professionals to stay up to date with the latest industry standards and best practices. With various certification and training courses available in the market, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best fit for your career goals.

    Considering the wide range of options, some questions that might come to mind when exploring Product Owner certifications and courses are:

    What are the most recognized and respected Product Owner certifications available in the industry? What are the different levels of Product Owner certifications, and how do they differ from one another? What are the prerequisites for obtaining a Product Owner certification, and what are the exam formats and requirements? What are some of the most popular training courses available for Product Owners, and how do they align with different certification programs? How do you evaluate which certification or course is the best fit for your career goals and current skill set? What are the costs associated with obtaining a Product Owner certification or enrolling in a training course, and are there any options for financial assistance or scholarships available?

    By considering these questions and conducting thorough research, professionals can make informed decisions when choosing the best Product Owner certifications and courses to enhance their skill set and advance their careers.
  17. PM.MBA
    Dear Stoyan,

    Certainly! While there may be more job postings for Scrum Masters compared to Product Owners, there are still valid reasons to pursue a Product Owner (PO) certification instead of a Scrum Master (SM) certification. Here are a few reasons to consider:

    Different Roles and Responsibilities: The roles of a Product Owner and a Scrum Master are distinct within the Scrum framework. The Product Owner focuses on maximizing the value of the product and represents the stakeholders, while the Scrum Master is responsible for facilitating the Scrum process and supporting the team. If you have a strong interest in product management, requirements gathering, and stakeholder engagement, pursuing a PO certification aligns better with those responsibilities.

    Career Focus: By obtaining a Product Owner certification, you can demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the product management aspect of Agile methodologies. This specialization can open doors to opportunities specifically tailored to product ownership and enable you to make a significant impact on product development and strategy.

    Enhanced Decision-making Authority: As a Product Owner, you are empowered to make important decisions about the product backlog, prioritize features, and steer the direction of the product. This level of decision-making authority allows you to have a direct impact on the product's success and align it with business goals.

    Broader Skill Set: While Scrum Masters primarily focus on facilitating the Scrum process, Product Owners have a broader skill set that includes stakeholder management, product visioning, market analysis, and prioritization. By pursuing a Product Owner certification, you can gain valuable skills in these areas, making you a well-rounded professional in product development and management.

    Future Opportunities: While there may be more job postings for Scrum Masters currently, the demand for skilled Product Owners is also growing rapidly. As organizations continue to embrace Agile practices, the need for effective product management becomes crucial. By obtaining a Product Owner certification, you position yourself for future opportunities in organizations that recognize the importance of product ownership and the value it brings to the development process.

    Ultimately, the decision between pursuing a Product Owner or Scrum Master certification depends on your interests, career goals, and skill set. It's important to evaluate your strengths and passions to determine which role aligns best with your aspirations. Additionally, keep in mind that the job market is dynamic, and the demand for different roles can vary over time.

    I hope this provides you with a rationale for considering a Product Owner certification. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

    Best regards
  18. Alberto
    Finally something new and different. Do you know when I've been looking for new certification programs! Thank you
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