“Should I take CSM or CSPO?” is one of the most common questions I hear. The answer depends on what problems you want to solve and what role you play (or aspire to play) on a Scrum team.

CSM or CSPO: How to Choose

The short version: CSM is about helping a team work more effectively. CSPO is about building the right product.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

CSM training focuses primarily on the team and the ScrumMaster role. You’ll learn the “how” and “why” of Scrum, not just the “what.” The training covers:

• How Scrum works and why it works that way.
• How to design Retrospectives that help teams tackle real challenges.
• Coaching techniques for guiding your team through obstacles.
• How to coach your Product Owner (yes, the ScrumMaster coaches the PO too).

CSM gives you some insight into Product Ownership, but the focus is on the team side.

Who benefits from CSM training: Individual contributors (developers, testers, business analysts), ScrumMasters, Product Owners who want to understand the other side, traditional project managers looking to evolve, and mid-level executives who want to understand what their teams are doing.

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

CSPO training focuses specifically on Product Ownership: the art and science of building the right thing. You’ll learn:

• How to create an effective product vision and strategy.
• How to collaborate effectively with your development team.
• Why the Product Owner shouldn’t be the sole author of User Stories (this surprises many people).
• How to break large User Stories into manageable pieces that can be delivered within a Sprint.
• How to ensure usable product is delivered each Sprint.

Who benefits from CSPO training: Product Owners, ScrumMasters who want to understand the PO perspective, business analysts, product managers, project managers, business stakeholders, and program managers.

So Which One?

If your primary concern is “how do I help my team work better together,” start with CSM. If your primary concern is “how do I make sure we’re building the right product,” start with CSPO. Many people eventually take both, because the two roles are deeply interconnected.

CSPO vs PSPO: Scrum Alliance vs Scrum.org

If you’ve decided you want Product Owner certification, you’ll encounter two main options: the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) from the Scrum Alliance and the Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) from Scrum.org.

The Scrum Alliance is the original Scrum certifying body, a non-profit organization founded in 2001. CSPO certification requires at least 14 hours of training by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST). Qualifying to be a CST is a rigorous, multi-year process. Certification requires active participation in the training and demonstrated comprehension of the material. The CSPO is the most recognized Product Owner certification.

Scrum.org is a for-profit organization founded in 2010, nine years later. PSPO certification is an online exam with no formal training requirement. The exam tests your ability to read and memorize Scrum theory.

The key differences:

• Training: CSPO requires hands-on training with a qualified trainer. PSPO I is exam-only.
• What’s tested: CSPO tests your ability to participate, engage, and demonstrate understanding in a live learning environment. PSPO tests your ability to answer questions about Scrum theory.
• Renewal: CSPO requires ongoing learning (Scrum Education Units) and renewal every two years. PSPO is valid for life, with no continuing education requirement.
• Recognition: CSPO is the most recognized Product Owner certification. PSPO is second.

Both focus on the Product Owner role, but they differ significantly in what they require and what they demonstrate. The choice depends on whether you value interactive training with practical application or prefer self-study and an exam.

What Makes a Good Product Owner Course?

Not all courses deliver the same value. Here’s what to look for and what to avoid.

Look for:

• An experienced instructor with real-world practice, not just certification credentials. Ask about their background. How long have they been practicing Scrum? Have they actually been a Product Owner or worked closely with Product Owners?
• Interactive format with exercises, simulations, group discussions, and case studies. Not PowerPoint slides read aloud.
• Post-workshop support. What happens after the two days? Do you get ongoing access to a community, coaching, or resources? Or are you on your own?
• Reviews and testimonials from previous participants. If a course has none, that tells you something.

Avoid:

• Training mills that offer the lowest price but no ongoing support. Discount training gets you discount results.
• Courses that rely on static content without interactive elements or practical exercises.
• Instructors without relevant expertise. If the instructor’s primary qualification is passing an exam rather than years of practice, you’re paying for a certification badge, not real learning.
• Overemphasis on theory without practical application. The best courses give you strategies you can use on Monday morning, not just concepts you can recite.

Beyond Certification: Continuing Your Product Owner Learning

No single two-day course can make you a complete Product Owner. The CSPO gives you a strong foundation, but effective Product Ownership draws on multiple disciplines:

• Product strategy and leadership: Aligning product vision with business strategy and communicating it effectively.
• Product analytics: Knowing what data to look at (and what to ignore), setting meaningful measurable goals, and using data to inform decisions rather than guess.
• User experience: Understanding customer needs well enough to build products that people actually want to use.
• Lean Startup thinking: Validating assumptions through minimum viable products and rapid experimentation before committing to a large build.
• Emotional intelligence: Communication, empathy, and relationship-building skills that help you navigate the human dynamics of product development.

Our CSPO course gives you the breadth of this material with specific tools to start your journey. After the workshop, you’ll have access to our Three Percent Better community (shared with two other Certified Scrum Trainers), which is dedicated to helping you wrestle with real-life Product Ownership questions.

Related Reading

• The Complete Guide to CSPO Certification covers everything about the CSPO certification process, requirements, and benefits.
• The Complete Guide to CSM Certification covers the ScrumMaster certification path for comparison.
• Product Owner Isn’t a Business Analyst on Steroids clarifies a common misconception about the PO role.