Agile methodologies have revolutionized the way we work with software development and Scrum plays a prominent role in all of this. That’s because it optimizes deliveries, improves processes, and organizes demands; making it one of the most famous agile frameworks in the world.
With such popularity, Scrum also promotes more transparency and creates an environment of collective responsibility. This ensures that everything produced in a project is the direct result of the actions of all team members, and not just the work of one or two individuals.
With all this, you can understand why Scrum certifications emerge as a great differential, since they are capable of upgrading your career and allowing you to stand out in the market. The advantages that Scrum certifications offer you is exactly what we’re going to talk about in today’s article.
What are the Benefits?
Having one or more Scrum certifications ensures that professionals will have:
- Deep knowledge of agile methodologies
- Ability to create solutions that deliver value to customers
- Knowledge of how to apply process improvements
- Experiences certified in agility.
One of the most reputable organizations today is Scrum.org. It was founded in 2009 by Ken Schwaber, one of the original creators of Scrum. Within this agile methodology, there are different functions, with each one having its own certification. These are paid and in English.
In this post, we will point out the most suitable certifications for Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developer positions, which are important roles within the squad. Let’s take a look at each one.
- Scrum Master
The Scrum Master’s role is to help the development team with techniques and practices to get the best out of projects, and to give guidance to the Product Owner.
For this professional role, the certification is the Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM), which has three levels that evaluates their methodology knowledge and their ability to apply it.
Level I demonstrates a fundamental level of Scrum mastery;
Level II proves that you have an understanding of Scrum’s basic principles and can apply them in complex day-to-day situations;
Level III brings a deeper understanding of the practices and applications of the methodology.
- Product Owner
The Product Owner brings the vision and context needed for the business to succeed. They also assist the development team. The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) certification is also comprised of three levels. According to Scrum.org:
Level I is ideal for demonstrating a fundamental understanding of Scrum and how to apply it in order to increase the value delivered with a product. It offers the least requirements that any professional in this position should be able to do;
Level II requires the professional to have a more advanced degree of understanding of Scrum, as well as topics such as backlog management, product vision, and business strategy.
Level III goes a little further and shows how to deliver valuable products and engage with stakeholders.
- Developer
Having a certification is also a differential for the developer. In this case, the indication is the Professional Scrum Developer™ (PSD) certification, which guarantees, as described by Scrum.org, the professional’s knowledge of the practices and techniques that support the construction of complex software as a member of a Scrum team. Professional Scrum™ with Kanban and Professional Scrum™ with User Experience are also interesting options.
Data about Certifications
As of August 1, 2022, according to the latest Scrum.org update, these are the worldwide numbers of professionals who hold certifications at each given level:
Professional Scrum Master
- PSM I – 499,227
- PSM II – 21,493
- PSM III – 1,052
Professional Scrum Product Owner
- PSPO I – 143,001
- PSPO II – 5,440
- PSPO III – 413
Professional Scrum Developer
- PSD I – 15,962
Professional Scrum™ with Kanban
- PSK – 4,495
Professional Scrum™ with User Experience
- PSU – 2,270
When comparing Level I certifications with others, we see that the numbers for Levels II and III are lower. So, for those who work in this area and want to stand out in the market, getting certified at this level can be a good option to accelerate your career and develop professionally. You can start at the lowest level and, if you feel the need, advance through the steps from there.
It Does Not Stop There
Professionals can also earn certifications from the ScrumAlliance, founded in 2001. As a Scrum Master, your knowledge will help you use Scrum more effectively, increase your career opportunities, improve leadership skills, and develop professionally.
As a Product Owner, certificates will expand your career opportunities and help maximize the value of your team’s work and products, while still encouraging you to learn the full scope of the P.O. position and the basis of Scrum. Developers can engage with Scrum experts and delve deeper into these methodologies.
In general, the objective of these certifications is always the same: to prepare professionals to think in an agile way, deal with day-to-day issues, and work as a team. When choosing your targeted certification, keep in mind the importance prioritizing the certifications that best optimize your talents and further your progress along your professional path, while also being aligned with your career level.
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This content was originally posted in Portuguese and translated.
