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Scrum.org · Project Management & Agile · Associate

Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills exam guide

Exam PSPBM Skills

PSPBM Skills validates practical techniques for capturing customer needs, refining the Product Backlog and managing stakeholder expectations. Backlog quality is where many Scrum teams struggle in practice, so in 2026 this is a useful targeted credential for Product Owners, business analysts and Scrum Masters who coach them.

Questions20
Time limit30 minutes
Passing score85%
Exam fee$200 USD
Valid forSee official page
DeliveryOnline via Scrum.org assessment portal

Format: Multiple choice, online, unproctored. Fee note: One-time fee per attempt password; password does not expire.

Who it's for

Product Owners, product managers, business analysts and Scrum Masters who work hands-on with a Product Backlog and want to show they can refine and order it well.

What the exam covers

Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework: Product Backlog—
Managing Products with Agility: Product Backlog Management—
Managing Products with Agility: Stakeholders—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None. PSM I or PSPO I is described as advantageous, and the skills course is recommended but not required.

Recommended: Experience writing and refining backlog items, plus the one-day Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills course.

Keeping it active

None. Lifetime certification with no renewal fee.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Capturing customer needs as Product Backlog items
  • Running effective Product Backlog refinement
  • Splitting large items into valuable, testable slices
  • Ordering the backlog by value, risk and dependencies
  • Managing stakeholder expectations and transparency
  • Applying empiricism to backlog decisions
  • Writing clear acceptance criteria

Job roles

Product OwnerProduct ManagerBusiness AnalystScrum MasterAgile Business AnalystProduct Specialist

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Re-read the Product Backlog, Product Goal and refinement sections of the Scrum Guide and note who is accountable for what.
  2. Week 1: Take the PSPBM Skills course or study Scrum.org articles on refinement, splitting and user story mapping.
  3. Week 2: Practise splitting three real epics using different patterns (workflow steps, business rules, data variations).
  4. Week 2: Review stakeholder management material from the Managing Products with Agility focus area.
  5. Week 3: Take the assessment after you can explain refinement trade-offs without notes.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Remember the Product Owner is accountable for the Product Backlog but Developers size items and can do refinement work.
  • There is no required backlog item format in Scrum; reject answers that mandate user stories or specific templates.
  • Refinement is an ongoing activity, not a Scrum event; options calling it an event are wrong.
  • Pick answers that keep the backlog transparent to stakeholders rather than hidden or managed in side lists.
  • At 85% you can miss only three questions, so read every 'best answer' option before choosing.

Key terms for this exam

All 11 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much is PSPBM Skills?

$200 USD per attempt.

Does it expire?

No, it is a lifetime certification.

Is PSPBM Skills worth it?

It is a low-cost way to show backlog management depth on top of PSPO I, useful for Product Owner and BA roles.

How many questions are on PSPBM?

20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes with an 85% pass mark.

PSPBM Skills vs PSPO I?

PSPO I covers the whole Product Owner accountability; PSPBM Skills goes deeper on refinement and stakeholder techniques. Most take PSPO I first.

Official page: www.scrum.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.