POPM Certification: Levels, Prerequisites, Exam Format, Tips

In an Agile-based enterprise, a product manager or a product owner plays a vital role. These experts ensure successful products from inception till delivery and are answerable for any flaws or quality issues. Hence, it is essential that these professionals have specialized skills using which they can deliver value to each Agile-based project. That is where the POPM training helps. It trains professionals to explore business agility and implement it in present company operations. This training program also teaches them to work collaboratively with the teams to increase productivity. 

Due to the skill advancement that the POPM training provides, every organization prefers hiring a POPM-certified expert. Once you gain this certification, there are immense opportunities waiting for you. Rest assured that as a POPM-certified expert, you get promising salaries and a secure professional career. Now, you might wonder what POPM certification is, how you can get certified, and its impact on your professional career. In this article, we will clear all of these queries for you. 

What is POPM Certification? 

POPM stands for Product Owner Product Manager, and the POPM certification is basically a learning program for these professionals. In this training program, the product owners or managers learn the skills that enable them to deliver value to each project. You can look for a recognized course provider to complete this training and get mentored by industry experts. They share insights of efficient project management with Agile methodologies and push you towards success in your career. Another question that often arises is what is SAFe POPM certification? So, it is similar to the POPM certification; the only difference is that it is a designation offered by Scaled Agile. 

POPM Certification Levels and Specializations

No matter which certification course you opt for, it is impossible to learn the advanced topics directly. One has to follow a step-by-step process and start from a basic understanding to reach the advanced level. Similarly, in the SAFe POPM certification exam, there are levels that one has to clear to study the master level. Let us discuss these levels in detail. 

• Level 1: POPM Associate: It is the fundamental level of the POPM certification where the professionals learn the basics of agile and scaled agile methodologies. It is fair to say that it is an introductory program to gain familiarity with the domain. 
• Level 2: POPM Professional: As you level up, there is a professional level in which enthusiasts learn about advanced agile technologies. It is apt for product owners or product managers who wish to apply the agile framework in their current work environment. 
• Level 3: POPM Expert: The next level is the POPM expert. It is for those professionals who wish to switch their current company framework to scaling Agile. They will study case studies and much more to learn about the potential troubles and apt solutions for them. 
• Level 4: POPM Master: The last level is the master POPM. It is the most advanced level of POPM certification preferred by experts in higher management. After the master level, the experts can implement agile in their organization and mentor other teams to do the same.

Benefits and Importance of POPM Certification

By now, you know what is SAFe POPM; it is time we discussed the benefits with you. You can experience the benefits of clearing the POPM exam at the individual and organizational levels. While organizations experience efficient project deliveries, individuals get better career opportunities. Listed below are the advantages of this certification course.

• Certified professionals know how to implement a customer-centric approach in their business. This way, they can deliver the product according to the customer's needs and earn an excellent market reputation. 
• POPM-certified experts oversee the entire project delivery process to ensure quality gets met. They also keep addressing the issues as the project scales and deliver premium quality products according to the deadline.
• When everyone gets an agile framework-based work environment, there are negligible chances of an issue cropping up abruptly. Thus, it boosts employee satisfaction and motivates them to work with utmost dedication. 
• These experts also optimize the collaborative activities between different teams that keep the entire organization ahead of the market competition.
• At the individual level, certified professionals get better career opportunities with a handsome salary and secure career. They have a better understanding of the domain compared to the professionals who did not complete any training. It gives them an edge over their competitors. 
• This certification adds to an individual's knowledge base and teaches him the right tools and techniques for successful project delivery. Moreover, through real-life case studies, the individual gets an idea of all the potential issues that might crop up along with their effective solutions. 

Eligibility and Requirements of POPM Certification 

You cannot just decide and enrol on the POPM certification course. There are a few eligibility requirements that the candidate needs to qualify for before they fulfil the criteria and are ready to get certified. 

Educational and Professional Experience Criteria

Some of the basic educational requirements are:

• Candidate must have completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant domain.
• Experience working in an agile environment is a plus as it gives the fundamental domain familiarity.
• It is recommended that the candidate attend the leading SAFe course before applying for POPM certification. 

Once you fulfil this eligibility criteria, you can sit for the POPM certification. For a fair understanding, you can say that the professionals working as product managers, product owners, business analysts and Agile coaches can enrol into this certification program. Basically, any executive working in an agile-based work environment can opt for it.

How to Prepare for the POPM Certification? 

You know what POPM is and got an idea of its fruitful impact on your professional career. It is significant for you to understand how to prepare for this certification and to plan things well. 

The first step to preparing for the POPM certification is enrolling in a training program. There are multiple course providers that offer POPM training. You can pick recognized organizations with proficient coaches to complete your training. Furthermore, you should check the course inclusions of the course before enrolment to ensure you will learn everything that would help you better perform your role. Once you have completed the training, sit for the exam and clear it to get certified. A few things that you should keep in mind during the preparation process are:

• You have a fixed number of training hours to complete and can finish them within the same day. However, you should ensure that you grasp everything well and never take the training for the sake of it.
• If you are a working professional, keep a fixed time slot during the day to complete your training. Manage your time well but do not compromise the effort you put into your preparation. 
• Never start before you know everything about the certification. Dig deeper and know is SAFe POPM certification worth it for you or not. Enroll only when you are sure about completing this course.

POPM Certification Exam Format

The POPM certification exam is a multiple-question-based test in which a candidate will select a single correct answer. There will be 45 POPM exam questions, and the candidates have to answer 36 right questions to get certified. The total exam duration is 90 minutes, and the timer starts when you begin the test. The table below gives a quick view of the significant information related to the exam format.

Total Number of Questions	45
Passing Score	80% or 36 answers
Time Duration	90 minutes
Test Type	Multiple Choice Questions

Registering for the POPM Certification Exam

Enrolling in the training program is the first step towards getting POPM certification. However, you are required to apply for the test before the concerned authority awards you the certification. Let us discuss the registration process.

1. Application Process and Fees

Enrol in the online Agile certification course, and at the end of the training, your course provider will schedule the exam for you. You will get an email with the link to register for the exam or the credentials to log in and attempt the test! The first attempt is possible within 30 days of completing the training and is free of cost. You only have to pay the POPM certification cost. However, if you wish to retake the exam after 30 days, you will pay the additional fee of $50. 

2. Scheduling Your Exam Date

Your course provider will give you the login credentials. You can go to the test window and take the exam using these details. However, you can decide the date when you are ready for the exam. To avail yourself of the free attempt that comes with the cost of training, you have to choose a date within the first 30 days. In case you fail to clear in the first attempt, you can appear for the test again, but only after paying a nominal fee. 

Tips to Prepare for the POPM Certification Exam

The POPM certification exam is not an easy one to crack. However, by following a strategic approach, you can sail through and earn the certification. Here are some tried and tested expert tips for preparation for the POPM certification exam, which you can use to plan your strategy. 

1. Learn the Details

It is significant for you to learn every little detail related to the exam before you attempt it. Not having sufficient information will lead to distractions, and you will lose focus on the training. Learn about the exam format, the type of questions asked in the paper and what you would have to do after getting certified. Furthermore, learn about the job opportunities that you can avail yourself after it. The idea is to know everything about the certification and training program and not leave a query in your mind.

2. Choose a Course Provider

Completing the training is the first step to getting POPM certification. So, it is crucial to choose the best course provider. You can find multiple training institutes offering POPM training. However, you should only pick the ones that have agile recognition. Understand that credibility of the organization matters a lot. So, the vital tip is to find a credible institute and rest assured that you will learn from the best.

3. Gather Study Material

Your course provider will share all the study material, written and visual, to help you learn better. However, if you want to leave no stone unturned in your preparation, gather the best SAFe POPM study material from multiple resources. Learn about the books other experts recommend and read them all before you take the exam. 

4. Take Sample Tests

To gain confidence that you are ready for the exam, you can prefer solving the sample test papers. There are multiple online platforms where you can find the previous year's question papers or sample tests. Attempt them to figure out how prepared you are and sit for the final exam only when you are super sure. 

5. Join Communities

Many professionals plan to take the POPM certification exam while they are in their full-time jobs. Find the communities of these people and join them to exchange ideas and tips with each other. As everybody is sailing in the same boat, you might get ideas to move ahead and become a certified professional.

These simple yet effective tips can help you prepare for your POPM certification exam. Use them to frame a strategy that can help you inch closer to becoming a POPM-certified expert.

Maintaining Your POPM Certification: Continuing Education Requirements

It is not a certification that is valid for a lifetime. So, you cannot sit back and relax once you get certified. SAFe POPM certification validity is only for one year. After that, you have to attempt the exam again. To maintain the POPM certification, you should complete the training again and re-attempt the exam to regain or retain the certification. The idea is to ensure that the professionals stay put with the latest advancements in the agile culture and use them in their organization to add value to their projects. 

Conclusion 

After discussing all the information about the impact, benefits and contribution of POPM certification, it is fair to say that it can help in organizational and individual growth. The candidates should only ensure that the course provider they finalize is an authorized course provider with an excellent market reputation. Furthermore, it is significant to complete the training with utmost dedication because what you learn is what you will implement in your project. So, choose a recognized course provider, complete your training with utmost dedication, and you are ready to implement the agile methodologies and add value to your work. Once you have proved your worth, there is nothing stopping you from enjoying a fruitful professional career.