Today, if you have a Scrum accreditation, you have better career chances. But because there are so many Scrum accreditations available, you may have a hard time determining a path. To narrow this down, consider Scrum certifications and what you may need in 2026. For example, the most recognized options are the Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) and Professional Scrum Master (PSM). This guide will analyze the differences, use cases, and selection tools so you can align your best choice with your professional goals.
PSPO: Professional Scrum Product Owner
This credential is for Product Owners in Scrum teams. Their responsibilities and focus include maximizing the value of the product, product backlog maintenance, vision articulation, feature prioritization, and stakeholder alignment.
Receiving the PSPO certification demonstrates recognition of a sufficient level of understanding regarding Scrum principles on the value of a product, backlog, release planning, stakeholder management, and value deliverance by a team in all iterations.
PSPO has three tiers (PSPO I, II, and III) and each one corresponds to a different level of knowledge and mastery of product ownership in a Scrum framework.
PSM stands for Professional Scrum Master.
The PSML certification aims to those who want to be or are aspiring Scrum Masters. Scrum Masters are responsible for ensuring that the whole team is effectively practicing Scrum, clearing obstacles, and fostering teamwork for greater efficiency..
PSM expects to achieve mastery of the framework of Scrum, and all associated theories, roles, events, and artifacts, and mastery of how to guide teams in delivering value seamlessly, and while maintaining the boundaries set by Scrum.
PSM has attainment levels (PSM I, II, III, etc.) so that you can demonstrate even greater levels of mastery and skill in guiding and leading a team.
Contrasting PSPO and PSM
These two different certifications can be compared in various aspects.
Role and Focus
Regarding guiding and coaching of Scrum teams, PSM being the process owner, his area of primary interest is in the team management, and ensuring that Scrum is being executed as intended.
StarAgile
PSPO targets people who want to succeed with the product and mainly focuses on product backlog prioritization, stakeholder engagement, optimizing product value, and aligning with the business strategy.
StarAgile
In short, PSM is a Scrum Master with a focus on process and team, and PSPO is a product owner with a focus on business and product value.
Testing and Certifications
PSM I:
This is the most basic exam, and it tests understanding of the basics of the Scrum framework, and it can be passed with self-study and sufficient experience with the subject.
PSPO I:
There is some overlap with PSM I (Scrum fundamentals), but the focus is significantly more on the mindset of the product owner, which is backlog management, delivery of value, stakeholder engagement, etc.
From the perspective of those who have done both:
“PSM I first… PSPO I… PSM I is really a test of the Scrum guide. PSPO I is really a test of the Scrum guide + some product management.”
There is a belief that PSPO I is harder than PSM I, mainly because it entails more product management.
Flexibility in Career Path and Depth
PSM (Professional Scrum Master) lets you dive into becoming a Scrum team facilitator & coach, especially if you are interested in team dynamics, process streamlining, and Agile leadership.
PSPO (Professional Scrum Product Owner) steers you towards product strategy and value delivery, and backlog prioritization if you are interested in building a product that fulfills a market need and achieves business goals.
As nice as it sounds, it refers to your logical certification path, where you take PSM I and then take PSPO I, if you want to have a generalized view of Scrum fundamentals and product ownership.
However, if you are confident about your path between a Scrum Master and a Product Owner, you could very well just take the certification for the more relevant path.
Industry Recognition and Demand (As of 2026)
As per the latest information for the Indian job market, both the qualifications are still in demand. You will see more job openings for PSM while PSPO follows next in demand.
Organizational support for certifications is universal. However, Scrum Practitioners who possess one or both certifications will have an edge in the job market, depending on the position they are applying for.
Which Certification to Choose Based on Career Goals.
Your choice between P-SPO Certification or PSM Certification is determined by the path you want to take in your career. Here is a simple framework to help you decide:
Choose PSM if:
- You want to become a Scrum Master/Agile Coach.
- You enjoy facilitating teams, improving processes, removing obstacles, and enabling teams to achieve optimal performance.
- You want to learn the basics of the Scrum framework before taking on a Product Owner role or before you attempt to make a meaningful contribution in one or more roles of an agile team.
Choose PSPO if:
- You are aiming to take on the responsibilities of a Product Owner or a Product Manager.
- You are passionate about product strategy, backlog priorities, stakeholder engagement, and maximizing product value.
- You want to take on roles that combine business skills with agile product delivery, rather than pure team facilitation.
Consider Both if:
You wish to be a complete professional who can fill the position of a Scrum Master or a Product Owner depending on the requirements of the company. This is the pathway a lot of professionals take. They start with PSM I and then move to PSPO I to diversify their competencies.
If you anticipate a position change in the future (for example, from Scrum Master to Product Owner or vice versa), having both allows you the required adaptability and demonstrates proficiency in the area.
Tips You Can Act On – 2026 Aspirants
You should base your decision on the position you require the most. Do not choose a certification due to its trends, but rather its connection to your professional aspirations.
If you are not familiar with Scrum at all, I recommend you start with the basics of Scrum theory first. PSM I is the one most people opt for first.
Consider the certification as one isolated piece of value. Real world experience is more valuable to employers, so apply your certification to a Scrum project.
Having both PSPO and PSM provides greater flexibility when you do not have a concrete goal. Having both shows you have a rounded understanding of Scrum regarding a team’s and a product’s value.
Things do not remain the same in Scrum. Stay informed and up-to-date. Practices in Scrum change. The need in the market changes. Read the updates and get involved with a Scrum team when relevant job openings for the year 2026 become available.
In 2026 PSPO and PSM and their certification will continue to have value in the space of Agile and Scrum. The value of each certification will depend on the goal you are trying to achieve.
If you are looking to support a team and coach them, PSM will be your certification goal if you are looking to facilitate and mentor the team on Scrum adoption.
If you are looking to focus on visioning, backlog valuing, stakeholder engagement, and delivering value, you should take the PSPO certification.
If you want to add to your skillset and have increased options you should do both. To achieve a balanced approach to Scrum, do PSM first and then do PSPO I.
Pressure needs to clinically halt and to see them as the means to an end. How and where the knowledge acquired, the achievements, and the professional tools are used to generate value is the true context of value.
