Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO): Complete Certification Guide 2026

Facts last checked: September 2026 against Scrum Alliance's published information. Requirements can change, so always confirm the current rules with Scrum Alliance or your trainer before you enrol.

The Certified Scrum Product Owner, usually shortened to CSPO, is one of the best-known entry-level certifications for Product Owners. It is issued by Scrum Alliance. Unlike many certifications, the CSPO has no test: it is earned by completing a 16-hour course with an approved trainer. This guide explains how the CSPO works in 2026, what the course covers, what it costs, how to renew it, and how it fits into a Product Owner career.

Key takeaways

• There is currently no test for the CSPO; you earn it by completing the course.
• The course is 16 hours, taught live online or in person by a Certified Scrum Trainer.
• After the course, you accept the Scrum Alliance license agreement and can download your certificate and share a digital badge.
• The certification must be renewed every two years with continuing education and a renewal fee.
• The course price is set by the trainer or training provider and varies by country and format.

CSPO at a glance

What is the CSPO certification?

The CSPO confirms that you have completed approved training in the Product Owner accountability in Scrum. It is aimed at people who are, or want to become, Product Owners, and at anyone who works on the business side of product development.

In Scrum, the Product Owner is accountable for maximising the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. According to the Scrum Guide, this includes developing and communicating the Product Goal, creating and clearly communicating Product Backlog items, ordering the Product Backlog, and making sure it is transparent, visible and understood. The Product Owner is one person, not a committee, and for them to succeed, the whole organisation must respect their decisions.

For more on how the Product Backlog and Product Goal work, see Scrum artifacts explained.

How to earn the CSPO, step by step

1. Choose a CSPO course. Courses are taught by Certified Scrum Trainers, live online or in person. Compare dates, format, the trainer's background and price.
2. Complete the 16-hour course. Take part fully in the sessions and activities.
3. Accept the license agreement. After the course, you receive a welcome email from Scrum Alliance asking you to accept the CSPO license agreement.
4. Download and share. Once accepted, you can download your certificate and share a digital badge that verifies your credential.

There is no test to schedule or pass at present, which is one of the main differences from the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM). Our CSM guide explains how that certification works.

What the CSPO course covers

Course content and teaching style vary by trainer, but CSPO courses generally focus on:

• The Product Owner accountability: what the role is responsible for within the Scrum Team.
• Product vision and the Product Goal: defining where the product is heading and why.
• Customers and stakeholders: understanding needs and working with stakeholders to make good decisions.
• The Product Backlog: creating, refining and ordering items so the team works on the most valuable things first.
• Working with the Scrum Team: collaborating with the Developers and the Scrum Master, especially in Sprint Planning and the Sprint Review. See the five Scrum events explained.
• Delivering value: making decisions based on evidence and adapting as the team and customers learn.

Most courses combine short explanations with exercises, discussions and practical scenarios.

How much does the CSPO cost?

The CSPO price is set by the trainer or training provider and normally covers the 16-hour course. Prices vary depending on the country, the provider, whether the course is online or in person, and what extras are included. When comparing options, check the total training hours, the schedule, the trainer's experience and what support is offered after the course.

Who should take the CSPO?

• New and aspiring Product Owners
• Product managers working with Scrum Teams
• Business analysts who want to move towards product ownership
• Project managers moving into Agile product roles
• Stakeholders and managers who want to understand how Product Owners work

Renewing your CSPO

The CSPO is valid for two years. To keep it active, you earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs) through learning and Scrum-related activities and pay a renewal fee through your Scrum Alliance dashboard. The number of SEUs and the fee depend on your certification level, so check Scrum Alliance's renewal page for the current requirements.

The CSPO and your career

The CSPO can help you show employers that you have completed structured training in product ownership. Because there is no test, employers and hiring managers tend to look closely at practical experience as well: how you have managed a backlog, worked with stakeholders and made product decisions. Building that experience alongside your certification is the most reliable way to progress.

After the CSPO, Scrum Alliance offers advanced and professional-level Product Owner certifications for experienced practitioners. Many Product Owners also develop related skills such as working with data, using AI tools in product work, or understanding flow-based methods like Kanban.

Product Owner certification with Scrum Intelligence

Scrum Intelligence offers its own online Product Owner certification, Product Owner Plus (Associate), which focuses on product vision, backlog management and stakeholder alignment. It can be taken on its own or combined with a partner certification in the same enrolment. The exam is taken online on ExamVault by CertExpert, with three attempts included, and the certificate and digital badge are valid for two years. See the certification page for the current learning paths and prices.

For experienced Product Owners, Product Owner Plus (Professional) focuses on product strategy and outcome-driven prioritisation, and Product Owner AI Plus covers using AI in product work.