PSM & PSPO: Scrum Master & Product Owner Certification

PSM stands for Professional Scrum Master, the scrum certification from Scrum.org. PSPO stands for Professional Scrum Product Owner.

These 2 certifications are meant for all agile practitioners who wish to demonstrate their proficiency as a Scrum Master or a Product Owner. The certifications are valued across the world.

Here are a few key points about PSM and PSPO for your initial understanding. Details can be read via additional links provided in the Useful Links tab below

•  The PSM certification exam costs $150 and the PSPO costs $200. They are valid for lifetime (no expiry). Against the payment made, you get a password to use for the exam. This is in addition to the training fee, but it needs to be paid later, once you are ready for the exam. There is no Application form required to appear for the certification

•  The PSM and PSPO certification exams have 80 questions to be answered in 1 hour. All questions are objective (Multiple Answer and True/False). There are no negative marks.

•  You need to get 85% to pass the exam. So far, all our participants have passed, but they did this after studying for the exam, doing mock tests and following the tips given. Generally 50-70 hours is needed for the preparation after the training, but can vary based on your experience and grasping speed

•  The training is common for both certifications, and we cover the entire syllabus for both, plus some more that will help you in real life situations. This gives you the understanding of both the roles, while getting certified for one of them. As compared to a basic entry level certification like CSM, this training covers more scope and the exam is relatively tougher (and hence better recognition and value). Refer the Course Outline below for details. What you learn here is much more than most of your CSM peers could know about, giving you the advantage in your workplace. Further, you learn the practical aspects of doing agile, through hands-on learning simulations

•  The 2 day training (9-6) covers all topics you need to know from an exam perspective and to perform the role in your organization. Enough material will be given for preparation, as well as guidance on how to study.

•  There is no expiry date of the training - you can give the exam immediately or years later, but the earlier you do the better for you. Similarly, there is no expiry for the password purchased by you for the exam (once you pay the exam fee)

•  Being certified increases career growth opportunities taking you upward as a Scrum Master or Product Owner. It also helps you do your agile projects better, more confidently and enhance project success

•  If you dont have experience in agile, you can still go for the training and appear for the certification of PSM or PSPO. You will get all the material required for preparing for the certification. Call us for more details.

Why GetCoached.in - 7 Differentiators

GetCoached.in's program is probably the only one that simulates the entire Agile journey, to help you get a practical dimension in your understanding.

7 Key Reasons why GetCoached.in is one of the best Scrum training institutes:

• 27 years Industry experienced trainer discusses examples in your domain and suggests solutions to your project situations

• Provides recording of the live classroom training to help you revise better

• Comprehensive course = lesser additional material to read. Increase confidence on your exam prep<

• Experiential (hands-on) learning through a variety of simulated games/activities for nearly 50% of the training

• Training content not only includes the PSPO, PSM scope but also that for ASM and CSM - get the best of all scrum certifications in one Workshop!

• Pre & Post training support by the same trainer - not by a call center

• All this at an affordable fee (one of the lowest you can find) + EMI option

Training Package Includes:

•  2 full days of online and classroom training delivered by a Certified Trainer having ~29 years experience.

•  Training Completion Certificate for 15 PDUs / 14 SEUs

•  *Hard copy(by courier) and soft copy of all the training presentations

•  Recordings of the training, for later reference while studying

•  3 mock tests with answers (soft copy)

•  10 additional free mock exams (via links provided)

•  A collection of tips for cracking the PSM/PSPO exam

•  Upto 10 post program interactions over email or phone, within 6 months of the training

•  A collection of of Agile training videos, presentations and additional documentation that help you learn more on the subject

•  A copy of the Scrum Guide which is the main reference for your exam study

•  Smart Agile Templates & Checklists for making your agile implementation more efficient and effective

Note: Items marked with * above will be available only for participants attending in person. For other participants, the hard copy (item #3) can be couriered on request later.

Training Agenda:

Note: The Course will include learning games, hands-on activities, scenario based discussions and quizzes.

Introduction

• Agenda for the Workshop

• About the Exam Format

Agile Basics

• Agile Overview

• Agile vs Waterfall

• Agile Manifesto - Values and Principles

• Variations in Agile methods and approaches

• Agile Tools

Scrum Basics

• Scrum Overview

• Scrum Framework

• Understanding Empericism

• Scrum Values

• Scrum Roles

• Scrum Ceremonies/Events

• Scrum Artifacts

Agile Requirements Analysis and Design

• Product Vision and roadmap

• Progressive elaboration

• Product Roadmaps

• Wireframes

• Agile Personas and Proxies

• Product Backlog

• Product Backlog Characteristics (DEEP)

• Product Backlog Refinement

• User stories

• INVEST Criteria for User stories

Value-based prioritization of the backlog items

• 100 point method

• Kano Model

• MoSCoW Technique

• Customer-valued prioritization

• Minimally marketable feature (MMF)

• Monopoly Money

Agile Estimation

• Relative sizing/story points

• Wide band Delphi

• Planning poker

• Affinity estimating

• Ideal time

• Probe technique

Sprint Planning, Monitoring and Adapting

• Release & Sprint planning

• Release & Sprint Backlog

• Task and Kanban boards

• Daily stand-ups

• Burn down/up charts

• Forecasting in Agile

• Sprint Review

• Sprint Retrospectives

Product Quality

• Conditions of Satisfaction / Acceptance Tests

• Definition of Done

• Technical Debt

• Refactoring

Agile Metrics

• Velocity

• Lead Time & Cycle time

• Escaped defects

• Estimation Accuracy

Soft Skills in Agile Scrum

• Facilitation

• Leadership Styles

• Agile Coaching and Mentoring

• Servant Leadership

• Working with People & Teams

• Self Organized Teams

Additional Knowledge Areas

• Scaling Agile

• Evidence Based Management

• Managing Risks

• Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery

• Stakeholder Management

What should I go for PSM or PSPO?

With so many Agile and Scrum Certifications, you would be wondering which one to take. Here is a quick guide for you to decide which certification you may want to take. The choice is yours!

• If you are already performing a role of a Scrum Master or Product Owner, the choice is clear. The PSM will help you gain proficiency as a Scrum Master whereas the PSPO will help you gain proficiency as a Product Owner.

• If you feel that you are already proficient and experienced in one of these, you may want to explore a career progression by seeking a change of role. If you are already doing well say as a Scrum Master and need a change in role, the Product Owner role can be a natural progression and extension. In that event, a PSPO Certification can be relatively easy to go after, as you have already learned the ropes as a Scrum Master. The same is true for the move from being a Product Owner to a Scrum Master.

• If you have performed the role of a developer, it is possible that you may be more comfortable in the role of a Scrum Master (and hence the PSM certification). On the other hand, if you have been a Business Analyst or have performed a domain expert / SME role till now, you may be inclined more towards the Product Owner role (and hence PSPO Certification).

• If facilitation and helping others comes naturally to you, it is likely that you can excel in the role of a Scrum Master (and hence PSM). If you are good at explaining a functionality or documenting how the software works or defining the process flowcharts, you may have the potential to be a Product Owner(and hence PO).

• If you are new in IT or have a team role and simply get a credential in Scrum, PSM is suitable for you. On the other hand, if you are performing the role of a customer and want to align with agile, the PSPO certification is the closest fit for you to participate as a key stakeholder in Scrum

• If you already have a CSM Certification from Scrum Alliance, it may be good to complement that with a certfication of PSPO. Similarly, you can do a PSM certification to complement your CSPO Certification.

• If you have over 10 months experience in Agile and in total 3 years of experience in software projects, you may want to explore PMI ACP Certification instead. Select the PMI ACP Training from the Workshops Menu above.