If you aim to become a Certified Product Owner (PO), you’re on the right track! This blog breaks down our top 5 Product Owner Certification that you can do in 2025.
Introduction
The market has a 75% higher demand for product owners in 2025. There is a considerable shortage when it comes to a genuinely new product. Businesses are looking to hire competent product owners, but how can they tell who is qualified and who isn’t? We think there are many criteria for this, some will demonstrate their relevant work experience in the field, some will establish their qualifications and still not get the job. If you are a product owner or want to make your career in the industry, you can stop worrying because we will answer all your questions in this blog.
Certification significantly increases your credibility while providing the necessary skills to represent yourself competitively. Choosing the proper certification is very important, but how do you know which ones are in demand? What do recruiters want?
By 2025, the top certifications for Product Owners will include SAFe® POPM (Product Owner/Product Manager) and Scrum.org’s PSPO (Professional Scrum Product Owner). These credentials are broadly accepted in different regions of the world, and having them will help you achieve career growth.
The following are the top 5 certifications as a Product Owner that you need to consider in 2025 when applying for a position in the industry and relate it to. Add a comment in the section below.
Note: Prices mentioned in this blog are always subject to change. We must stay current with market trends, demand fluctuations, and other factors. You must check these prices from the providers to stay updated.
1. SAFe POPM (Product Owner/Product Manager)
Why it’s the best: The SAFe® POPM certification uniquely caters to professionals working in large enterprises using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) for daily operations. This is becoming increasingly apparent as organizations grow and require a more comprehensive approach to delivering agile practices across different teams, and luckily, this is where SAFe® comes into play. This course will equip you with product backlog management, effective strategic planning, and planning tactics that relate to the product in the broader context of the organization.
What you’ll learn: SAFe® POPM instructs you to function as a Product Owner and Product Manager in an Agile setting. Gaining knowledge on how to deal with backlogs, liaison with stakeholders, and range delivery throughout multiple teams will be much to your advantage. The course has been tailored towards individuals seeking to broaden their scope and get better roles within large-scale Agile setups.
Key Topics Covered:
- The essence of SAFe® and its principles
- Creating a maintainable product backlog
- Coordinating with Agile sprints
- Bridging the gap between the business and the development teams
- Conducting the PI (Program Increment) planning session
- The role of leading in product iterations toward value deliverance
Pricing: The SAFe® POPM certification, in addition to the training and the exam, is usually offered by providers at a fee of $ 600 – $1,200. The price covers the cost of the certification exam and live virtual or in-person training sessions.
Companies that accept this certification: Global corporations like Cisco, Chevron, and Walmart rightly advocate the SAFe® Product Owner certification because it equips specialists with the competencies needed to scale agile frameworks across large companies.
2. Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO)
Why it’s the best: Scrum is among the most used agile frameworks. While PSPO certification is very well recognized for Product Owners, this certification can be acquired via scrum.org. This certification is for those individuals who are looking forward to working on Scrum teams where managing the product backlog and assigning its features is a difficult task, learning about Scrum frameworks makes the job much easier.
What you’ll learn: PSPO certification emphasizes the role of the Product Owner in a Scrum organization and their responsibilities. Besides, you will learn how to manage the product backlog effectively and deliver high-value product increments to stakeholders within the Defined Scrum time-boxes.
Key Topics Covered:
- Scrum framework and values
- Managing and prioritizing the product backlog
- Working with Scrum Masters and Developers
- Defining and reaching product objectives
- Value creation through implementing Scrum techniques
Pricing: PSPO certification costs around $400 – 500. Scrum.org provides various optional training courses costing about USD 1,000 – 1,500 for exam preparation. That said, taking the certification exam without any preset training is possible, but it isn’t recommended. ValueX2 can offer you PSPO certification at a very affordable price with live training sessions.
Companies that accept this certification: Technology leaders, including Google, Spotify, and Microsoft, seek applicants with the Professional Product Owner certification because of its emphasis on the Scrum framework and backlog management.
3. Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Why it is the top choice: CSPO is the top certification for anybody looking to begin a career in Scrum-based Product Ownership. It is certified by Scrum Alliance and has the advantage for newbies by giving a sound understanding of Scrum practices.
What you’ll learn: In the CSPO course, you’ll learn how to manage product backlogs, prioritize features, and work with your team to deliver valuable products. This certification is perfect for those focusing on the Scrum framework.
Key Topics Covered:
- Scrum principles and roles
- Creating and managing the product backlog
- Understanding stakeholder needs
- Participating in Scrum events
- Collaborating effectively with Scrum teams
Pricing: Typically, CSPO costs range between $1,000 and $1,500. One can only sit for the exam, only after they have had training. The training sessions typically involve case studies and activities.
Companies that accept this certification: Startups and mid-tier corporations such as Atlassian, Salesforce, and HubSpot select individuals with the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) credential for their expertise in refining product backlogs and setting priorities.
4. ICAgile Agile Product Owner Certification
Why it’s unique: ICAgile Product Owner Certification trains in Agile product management, thus ideal for those wishing to take a holistic approach to product ownership. ICAgile offers flexible Agile-based training with a wide-ranging scope of areas of product ownership beyond Scrum.
What you’ll learn: In this certification, you’ll learn how to work with Agile teams, prioritize customer needs, and manage the product backlog. ICAgile emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and delivering customer value in a fast-paced environment.
Key Topics Covered:
- Agile mindset and values
- Creating product roadmaps
- Product backlog management
- Collaborating with stakeholders
- Agile planning and execution
- Maximizing customer value
Pricing: The average ICAgile Product Owner certification will cost between $1,000 and $1,500. The cost will depend on the provider and the form, such as virtual or in-person training.
Companies that accept this certification: Agile-focused corporations like Airbnb, IBM, and Thought Works hire people with Agile Professional Product Owner Certification because they are known for their deep knowledge of agile frameworks and product roadmaps.
5. Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) AIPMM
Why it’s unique: The Association of International Product Marketing and Management CPO certification covers the whole range of product management. It is not strictly Agile-specific but delves deeper into the product’s lifecycle, thus more suitable for people looking at an all-around strategic approach to owning a product.
What you’ll learn: The CPO certification offers in-depth knowledge on managing a product’s entire lifecycle, from ideation to market launch and beyond. You’ll learn about market research, strategic planning, and how to measure a product’s success.
Key Topics Covered:
- Product lifecycle management
- Market analysis and research
- Strategic planning
- Financial and risk analysis
- Product marketing strategies
Pricing: The cost of the CPO certification will depend on the course and material. It will range between $1,200 and $2,500. Such training is for both technical and strategic product management.
Companies that accept this certification: Industry leaders such as Tesla, Amazon, and Unilever consider the Certified Product Owner certification a strategic approach to product lifecycle management and advertising techniques.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Certification
Now we know getting the proper product owner certification means getting much better job prospects in your career. You can exhibit your skills in your resume or your LinkedIn profile and jump on many opportunities that are available in the market. Our top picks for you are SAFe POPM and PSPO. These courses would be best if you want to scale Agile processes and manage a product in a large organization or even in small agencies. The scope of these courses is broad enough to help your career in product management because we all want to grow, and we should take the next best step toward doing it.
Given that you are fully trained with SAFe POPM along with the PSPO certification in ValueX2, you’re well equipped with all the skills and knowledge that’ll make you shine as a product owner. Our trainers are certified and highly experienced in their respective fields, and we are sure you can get valuable insights about your career. If you want to improve your career trajectory, we suggest you enroll in our courses and understand the essence of applying agility in your work life.
Ready to take the next step in your Product Owner career? ValueX2 offers top-tier training for SAFe® POPM and PSPO certifications. Sign up today and start your journey toward becoming a certified Product Owner!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between SAFe® POPM and PSPO?
SAFe POPM® is an excellent certification for scaling Agile practices, especially for a larger organization. PSPO focuses on the requirements of a worker who operates from within the scrum team and is considered valuable and suitable for many circumstances.
2. Do I have to have a working experience?
Experience in working with product management or Agile-related methodologies can undoubtedly be beneficial; however, these certifications are equally helpful for novice professionals and well-experienced workers in the same streams.
3. How long does it take to become certified?
Training for SAFe® POPM and PSPO usually takes 2 to 3 days, and exams are conducted after training. Certification could be completed within a week after training.
4. How valid is ValueX2 for SAFe® POPM and PSPO certification?
ValueX2 is your source for all the SAFe-certified training you require. The courses you undertake will be guided by a trained instructor who ensures practical insight comes from real-life, relevant case studies.
5. Is there any discount or deal available to learn from ValueX2?
ValueX2 brings special discounts or promotional offers to certification courses now and then. Just check the website or contact our team to get the most up-to-date offers!
Bhavna is an Agile Coach and Consultant with over a decade of experience in advisory, corporate finance, IT assurance, and operations at Big 4 and within the industry in the UK and India. She has recently been the CEO of a start-up where she implemented agile practices within HR, Marketing, and Product teams.
She is also a SAFe® Practice Consultant (SPC) and authorized instructor for ICAgile Agility in HR (ICP-AHR), Agility in Marketing (ICP-MKG), and Business Agility Foundations (ICP – BAF) training courses. She provides training for agile transformation to corporate, public, and private batches, as well as consulting for enterprise agile transformation.