Is SAFe® 4.5 Certification Worth The Price?

In this decade where traditional methods for Project Development are on the verge of being obsolete, organizations are in dire need of Agile. Call for Agile experts has expanded in the IT business and is spreading to multiple areas of businesses also. This request triggers the requirement for certifications which enlisting organizations can manage an account.

These certifications range from the entry-level to the advanced levels and are benefiting software professionals in more ways than one. In recent times, there has also been a need to upgrade Agile practices in organizations, and this, exactly, has given rise to the demand for scaled Agile. This has spurred software professionals to take up Leading SAFe® certifications to enhance their careers.

Agile principles, lean product development, and systems thought are the foundations of SAFe. This leads to the question: Is SAFe certification worth it? SAFe certification is valuable for anyone who wants to enhance their knowledge and abilities. A Scaled Agile Certification is the only way to understand SAFe completely. So let's look at its importance, benefits, SAFe Agile certification Validity, and more to understand it better.  

What is SAFe? 

SAFe is a structure for development teams that uses agile methods. The most important thing is that SAFE is built on three symbolic pillars: the Team, the Program, and the Portfolio. Also, SAFe gives a product team the ability to change.  

It also helps larger groups deal with some of the problems they face when using Agile. SAFe comprises a wide range of best practices that have been tried and tested. In the same way, product teams use SAFe to make software goods that do well. The SAFe Agilist certification validity period is typically one year. 

Why is SAFe Certification Required? 

SAFe Certification is one of the most popular and renowned certifications. The SAFe certification helps you advance your career by teaching you how to study and master every facet of scaling agile at the corporate level. The need for a SAFe certification is described below.  

• An expert in SAFe can significantly enhance the product development process, leading to improved organizational performance. 
• SAFe Certified professionals have an excellent opportunity to increase their compensation, benefiting their current and future career prospects. 
• The certification also improves the candidate's employment opportunities.  
• With SAFe Certification, individuals can apply for jobs requiring field certification. Additionally, it allows you to include a digital badge on your resume to prove your achievement. 

Is SAFe Certification Worth It? 

In recent years, the SAFe system has become increasingly popular. Many groups worldwide are using this framework because of its special features. You can decide if SAFe certification is worth it by looking at your needs. The main reason why this framework is popular is that many companies are switching to Agile methods. 

1. Globally Recognized 

SAFe Agilist is one of the well-known titles. The SAFe Agilist Certification is recognized and respected globally. So, if you have SAFe Agilist Certification, you can work anywhere in the world because you have the right credentials, skills, and knowledge. This certification validates your expertise and supports your career aspirations. 

2. Increased Compensation 

Scaling Agile is a valuable skill that is in high demand. Scaled Agilists are well-compensated for their expertise. If you have a SAFe qualification, it could lead to a promotion to a new job or during your next performance evaluation. Additionally, the certification enhances your reputation and prepares you for the job market. 

3. Networking and Community 

With a SAFe certification, you can join a group of workers interested in Agile practices. This community can provide chances to meet new people, share information, and keep learning. Engaging with other trained practitioners can teach you real-world methods, best practices, and emerging trends. 

4. Easy To Learn and Assimilate 

The certification program is easy to learn if you work in software development, testing, or product development. Nothing will be too much for you to handle. The certification program goes into much detail, but people new to this field will find it easy to understand because it focuses on the basics. 

Top Benefits of SAFe Certification  

• SAFe training helps people and business teams use Lean portfolio management and finance to make maintenance and execution easier and improve decision-making based on economics and estimates.  
• Getting SAFe® agile certification gives you the right skills and tools to grow agile successfully across the company to improve time to market, increase employee engagement, and improve quality. 
• At the end of the sprint, a product can be moved to an Agile Release Train with the help of the SAFe Principles. This small tool adds a lot of value. In short, SAFe® Certification and SAFe® Training make it easier to release customer-value-adding features quickly.  
• Training to become a SAFe® Agilist certifies that you have the skills to implement a consistent, agile method across the company. 

Top 6 SAFe® Certifications

1. Leading SAFe® 6.0 training (SAFe® Agilist)

SAFe® Agilist(SA) certification will help you to empower your organization’s success. SA certification will allow you not only to execute and deliver value through Agile Release Trains but also to lead a Lean-Agile transformation in scaled organizations. This certification will also let you build a continuous delivery pipeline, even in a DevOps culture. Scaled Agile Certified SAFe® Agilist (SA) professionals make an average of $57,125 annually. Also, the course exhibits the power of coordinating with the larger solutions and promoting a Lean portfolio culture within the enterprise.

Learning Objectives:

As a SAFe® Agilist (SA), you should be able to-

• Exhibit how the combination of Lean, Agile, and Product Development shapes the SAFe® foundation.

• Apply SAFe® principles to scale Lean and Agile development in the organization

• Find out and apply a Lean-Agile Mindset and principles accordingly

• Consistently discover, incorporate, deploy, and deliver value

• Engage with a Lean portfolio

• Harmonizing for the development of the larger solutions

• Improve Lean-Agile leadership skills

• Bolster a Lean-Agile transfiguration in the enterprise

• Finish the SA training and lead to the certification exam 

What will attendees get?

•  2-Day Instructor-Led Classroom Training

• 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs

• Courseware authored by Scaled Agile, Inc 

• One-year membership with Scaled Agile

• Free downloadable reference materials from Scaled Agile Framework

The course is for:

• Executives and Leaders, Managers, Directors, CIOs, and VPs

• Development, QA, and Infrastructure Management

• Program and Project Managers

• Product and Product Line Management

• Portfolio Managers, PMOs, and Process Leads

• Enterprise, System, and Solution Architects

Prerequisites:

The course is free for the desired attendees. But, the following prerequisites are needed to attend the SAFe® Agilist (SA) exam-

• 5+ years’ experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product or project management

• Experience in Scrum

Exam Details:

• Time span: Candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours), the commencement of the exam

• Number of Questions: 45

• Passing Score: 34 out of 45 (76% passing score)

Certification:

On clearing the certification exam, the candidates will receive-

• SAFe® Agilist certificate

• 1-year membership with the SAFe® Community Platform, which includes access to the SA Community of Practice

• A variety of learning resources to support you during your SAFe® journey

2. SAFe for teams (SP)

Today, SAFe® certified practitioners are in huge demand for their ability to scale the Agile methodology within the enterprise. This course makes the team aware of the Scrum principles, Lean thinking tools, roles, and processes. New teams or Scrum teams seeking Agile adoption and scaling within the organization will find this course much helpful. 

Learning Objectives:

As a SAFe® Practitioner (SP), you should be able to-

• Demonstrate SAFe® Agile principles to the team

• Manage Agile teams on Agile Release Train

• Plan sprint iterations

• Implement iterations and deliver value

• Develop your team

• Coordinate with other teams on the train

What will attendees get?

• 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs

• Freely downloadable e-book

• 100 Days’ Free Access to Agile and Scrum e-training 

The course is for:

• Team members who want to apply Lean and Agile principles

• All team members of an Agile Release Train (ART) preparing for the launch

Prerequisites:

The course is free for all attendees. But, the following prerequisites are needed to attend the SAFe® Practitioner (SP) exam-

• Familiar with Agile principles

• Aware of Scrum, Kanban, and XP

• Experience in software and hardware development processes

Exam Details:

• Time span: Candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) once the exam has commenced

• Number of Questions: 45

• Passing Score: 35 out of 45 (78% passing score)

Certification:

On clearing the certification exam, the candidates will receive-

• SAFe® Practitioner (SP) certificate

3. SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM)

The SAFe® POPM certification is intended to make Product Owners/Product Managers aware of the SAFe® principles, Lean-Agile tools, Agile development practices and SAFe® framework. The SAFe PM/PO qualification course length depends on where you take it. Immersive training lessons usually last two to four days. The certification helps you improve your collaboration skills by teaching you to communicate well, handle stakeholders, and work with teams from different departments. The average pay range for an Agile Project Manager is $113,222.

Learning Objectives:

As a SAFe® (POPM), you should be able to-

• Implement SAFe® practices in the Lean enterprise

• Attach SAFe® Lean-Agile principles and values to the PO/PM roles

• Combine with Lean Portfolio Management

• Implement the Program Increment and deliver continuous value

• Create a PM/PM’s role action plan

What will attendees get? 

• Training from a certified industry expert

• Downloadable courseware

• 16 PDUs from PMI ® (PMI-ACP® / PMP® recertification)

• 15 SEUs for CSP

• Attendee workbook

• Make you ready to attend the SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) exam

• One-year membership to the SAFe® Community Platform

• Course completion certificate

The course is for:

• Product Managers, Product Line Managers, Product Owners, Business Owners, and Business Analysts

• Solution Managers, Portfolio Managers, Program Managers, PMO personnel, and Process Leads

• Enterprise, Solution, and System Architects

Prerequisites:

The course is free to the desired attendees. But, the following prerequisites are needed to attend the SAFe® POPM exam.

• Leading SAFe® course attendees

• Working experience in the SAFe® environment

• Experience with Lean, Agile, or other relevant methods

Exam Details:

• Time span: Candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) once the exam has commenced

• Number of Questions: 45

• Passing Score: 35 out of 45 (78% passing score)

Certification:

On clearing the certification exam, the candidates will receive-

• SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) certificate

4. SAFe® 6.0 Advanced Scrum Master (SASM) Course

The SAFe® Advanced Scrum Master (SASM) certification equips the candidates with the skills that can be applied to lead high-performance Agile teams. Also, candidates will learn to apply DevOps practices and Kanban techniques and manage the interactions between the teams, stakeholders, and Product Managers. The cost of SAFe Advanced Scrum Master certification training can change depending on the training provider, region, and how the training is given. Safe Scrum Masters earn an average of $118,456.

Learning Objectives: 

As a SASM-certified professional, you should be able to:

• Apply SAFe® principles in a multi-team environment

• Build a high-performing team and enable continuous improvement

• Understand Agile and Scrum anti-patterns

• Facilitate program planning, implementation, and value delivery

• Support learning through participation in Communities of Practice and innovation cycles

What will attendees get? 

• 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs

• Freely downloadable e-book

• Course completion certificate

• Attendee workbook

• One-year membership to the SAFe® Community Platform

The course is for:

• Existing Scrum Masters

• Team leaders, project managers, and an Agile Team facilitator in a SAFe®

• Agile coaches

• Engineering and development managers executing Agile

• Agile Program Managers

• Prospective SAFe® Release Train Engineers

Prerequisites:

The course is free for the attendees. But, having at least one or more of the following certifications is recommended to attend the SAFe® 6.0 ASM exam-

• SAFe® 6 Scrum Master (SSM) certification

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification

• Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification

Exam Details:

• Time span: Candidates have 120 minutes once the exam has commenced

• Number of Questions: 60

• Passing Score: 42 out of 60 (70% passing score)

Certification:

On clearing the certification exam, the candidates will receive:

• SAFe® 6 Advanced Scrum Master (SASM) certificate

5. SAFe® 6 Scrum Master with SSM certification training

SAFe® Scrum Master(SSM) certification will make you well-versed with the main components of the Scaled Agile Framework and allow you to lead high-performing Agile teams. This course will help you to improve the quality of the products reducing time-to-market. The average Safe Scrum Master salary is $119,317. There are promising career prospects associated with this certification.

Learning Objectives:

As a SAFe® 6 Scrum Master with SSM certification training, you should be able to-

• Discuss Scrum practices in a SAFe® implementing enterprise

• Facilitate Scrum events

• Facilitate effective Iteration execution

• Assist DevOps implementation

• Support effective Program Increment execution

• Support continuous improvement

• Train Agile teams to maximize business results

• Assist DevOps implementation

What will attendees get?

• Prepare and support to clear the exam

• 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs (under the category C)

• Course completion certificate

The course is for:

• New Scrum Masters

• Present Scrum Masters who wish to assume new roles in the SAFe® enterprise

• Team Leads who want to understand the Scrum Master role

• SAFe® Release Train Engineers (RTEs) who want to coach for the role of the Scrum Masters

Prerequisites:

The course is free for the attendees. But, the following prerequisites are a must to take the SAFe® 6 SSM exam:

• Familiarity with Agile principles

• Should be aware of Scrum, Kanban, and eXtreme Programming (XP)

• Work experience in software and hardware development processes

Exam Details:

• Time span: Candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) once the exam has commenced

• Number of Questions: 45

• Passing Score: 33 out of 45 (73% passing score)

Certification:

On clearing the certification exam, the candidates will receive-

• SAFe® 6 Scrum Master (SSM) certificate

6. SAFe® 6 Release Train Engineer (RTE) certification course

A Release Train Engineer (RTE) leader promotes continuous development, monitors risks, and escalates barriers while serving as a full-time SAFe chief scrum master. SAFe® RTE course will educate you on building high-performing ART and understanding the role of the RTE in a Lean-Agile transformation. Also, the attendees will learn to mentor the Agile leaders, teams and the Scrum Masters and how to prepare, plan and execute a Program Increment (PI). The average salary a release train engineer earns is $140,457.

Learning Objectives: 

As a SAFe® 6 Scrum Master with SSM certification training, you should be able to-

• Apply Lean-Agile principles and tools to execute and deliver value

• Fostering continuous improvement

• Construct a high-performing ART as a servant leader and coach

• Preparing an action plan to continue the learning journey

What will attendees get? 

• Preparation and support for the SAFe® 6 Release Train Engineer (RTE) exam

• Course completion certificate

• One-year membership to the SAFe® Community Platform

The course is for:

• RTEs and Solution Train Engineers (STEs)

• Program and project managers

• Scrum Masters

• Leaders and managers

• Agile coaches

• SAFe® Program Consultants (SPCs)

Prerequisites:

The following are the prerequisites required to attend the exam-

• Should have at least one current SAFe® certification

• Have launched or participated in at least one ART and one PI

Exam Details:

• Time span: Candidates have 120 minutes to complete the exam

• Number of Questions: 60

• Passing Score: 40 out of 45 (67% passing score)

• Each retake attempt costs $250

Certification:

On clearing the certification exam, the candidates will receive-

• SAFe® 6 RTE certificate

How Can I Get SAFe Certified?  

SAFe is a comprehensive and deep strategy to handle and execute dependencies. To get a SAFe certification that meets your professional demands, follow these simple steps: 

• Meet requirements

M SAFe certification rarely requires education or experience. Certifications focus on one framework, while some certificates need years of software programming. Thus, graduating and learning software programming is the first step. 

• Select your certification

KnowledgeHut's SAFe-related certificates can boost your career. Some certification courses focus on engineering tools and tasks, while others target executives and stakeholders—network with agile professionals to find the perfect certification for your career. 

• Prepare for the test

Certified professionals provide certification workshops. These classes will prepare you for your certification exam. Although certifications need similar content, exam portions may vary. 

• Write your test

When you're ready, book the certification test. Online multiple-choice examinations are common. Certification scores vary. Passing Safe Certification earns you an online certificate. 

Our online PRINCE2 Practitioner course covers the entire PRINCE2 practitioner syllabus and provides you with the knowledge and skills to excel in project management. Enroll today to advance your career!

Conclusion

SAFe certifications may be useful in some situations, but their value depends on the person's goals and the needs of their business or field. Getting a SAFe certification can help people add value to companies that want to use agile methods to reach their business goals. 

KnowledgeHut offers a variety of role-based certifications and courses to inspire people to pursue personal improvement. KnowledgeHut applicants can even make their own Lean-Agile job path to avoid following the pre-set professional streams. There are many SAFe Agile certification alternatives available for you to choose from. So do visit the website to know more and build your future. 

The competitors that are searching for a more prominent vocation ahead can go for the Leading SAFe® 5.1 certifications, as many employers seek candidates with credentials that convey their capability to work inside a SAFe® environment (verified through a SAFe® certification).