Professional Scrum Product Owner course
RecommendedScrum.org strongly recommends its PSPO course. The live class and the self-paced course each include an attempt at PSPO I.
Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I)
Validates foundational knowledge of Scrum, Product Owner accountabilities, and managing product value and the Product Backlog.
Summary
PSPO I is Scrum.org's entry-level Product Owner certification, for people who want to show they can own the product in a Scrum Team. It tests Product Owner knowledge through an 80-question online test with an 85% pass score.
Good fit if
- You want to prove Product Owner knowledge without a mandatory course
- You want a low-cost credential that never expires
- You work with a Scrum Team and want to validate it
Salary & jobs
Prerequisites
Cost
What holders say
Low cost and low risk, but rarely opens doors alone
Long-time PSPO I holders say interviewers seldom ask about it, and nobody thinks it hurts. On its own, level I will not change hiring outcomes without Product Owner experience.
Most useful as a resume filter or as validation of existing work
One interviewer on r/ProductOwner looks at the person and experience, not certifications. Others say it can clear resume screens at large companies, and Product Owners use it to formalize what they know.
Against CSPO: harder to earn, cheaper to keep
In CSPO versus PSPO threads, people value PSPO for its real test and no renewal. CSPO offers a guided class and wider recognition. Several say neither is a golden ticket.
Renewal
Alternatives
CSPO$399 required · Entry
Scrum Alliance's course-based Product Owner credential, for employers that ask for a live class or the Scrum Alliance brand.
PSM I$200 required · Entry
Scrum.org's Scrum Master certification, with the same price and format.
POPM$495 required · Entry
The Product Owner and Product Manager credential for organizations that run SAFe.
PMI-ACP$525 required · Intermediate
A broader agile credential covering Scrum, Kanban and other approaches.
FAQ
Do I need a course to get PSPO I?
No. Buy a password on scrum.org and take the test when you are ready. A Scrum.org PSPO class or the $279 self-paced PSPO course includes one attempt.
Is the PSPO I test open book?
You may use printed reference material. You must stay in the test window, work alone and not use AI tools. With 80 questions in 60 minutes there is little time to look things up.
How is PSPO I different from CSPO?
PSPO I is a test you can take without a class, and it does not expire. CSPO requires a Scrum Alliance course, has no test and renews every two years.
Does PSPO I expire?
No. It is a lifetime certification with no renewal fee.
Last updated October 2026