Best Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Certifications

SAFe or Scaled Agile Framework is a framework and not a methodology.  

Following are the different SAFe certifications available to candidates who want to learn and implement the Scaled Agile Framework at their enterprise. SAFe training and certification are required for professionals to drive a successful SAFe transformation.

• Leading SAFe® 
• Implementing SAFe® 
• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager 
• SAFe® Scrum Master 
• Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) 
• SAFe® for Teams 
• SAFe® Release Train Engineer 
• SAFe® Advanced Scrum Master 
• SAFe® DevOps 
• SAFe® for Architects 
• Agile Product Management 
• SAFe® for Government 
• Agile Software Engineering 

Scaled Agile Framework prescribes various roles concerning SAFe implementation in an enterprise. Depending on the position you intend to play in your organization, you can choose a certification program that meets the SAFe requirements. A SAFe overview (Scaled Agile Framework overview) helps understand SAFe certification requirements better. 

Yes, SAFe certifications are extremely valuable to organizations implementing or thinking of implementing a Scaled Agile Framework.  

SAFe examinations are designed to thoroughly test the knowledge and abilities of a professional in understanding Agile concepts and practicing the SAFe approach.  

Scaled Agile has a SAFe implementation roadmap for organizations wanting to adopt SAFe, a step-by-step guide to implementing SAFe successfully across an organization. 

Yes, organizations across industries are turning to Agile to build competence and improve performance. SAFe has proved to be the leading framework for scaling Agile. Hence, a SAFe certification makes you an asset to any organization.  

You cannot take SAFe exams without Scaled Agile Framework training (SAFe training). The SAFe training online must be led by SAFe Program Consultants (SPCs); only after completing the qualifying course can you take any of the SAFe exams.  

The best SAFe certification online will depend on your role, your level of experience, and your interests concerning a SAFe organization. Leading SAFe is an appropriate certification for someone new to using Scaled Agile. Implementing SAFe (SPC certification) is an advanced certification for professionals with SAFe experience. The best SAFe training will be provided by training providers that are accredited to Scaled Agile.   

SAFe certification is suitable for any professional wanting to work in an organization that has implemented or is planning to implement SAFe.  

SAFe certifications include a training period and an exam that must be cleared. The training sessions usually last for 2 to 3 days of SAFe classes. The exam could take one to two hours. The time it takes to prepare for the exam would depend on the candidate’s level of understanding. You can find several SAFe courses online and select one that fits your role.   

Once you complete your training led by an SPC, you will need to prepare for the exam by understanding the fundamentals through which you will learn how to describe the scaled agile framework and how it applies to your role. You will need to clear the exam to get a scaled agile framework certification online. So, taking a few mock exams will also help you.   

No, SAFe exams are closed-book exams; you will not be able to refer to any material during the exam.  

The passing score can vary for several types of SAFe exams. It is usually around 72% to 75%. 

Scaled Agile Framework Certifications (SAFe certifications) are valid for a year; you need to renew them yearly to hold the certificate.  

The renewal fee for SAFe certification can range anywhere from $100 to $895, depending on the certificate level. Scaled Agile Framework certification cost (SAFe certification cost) can also vary depending on which course you choose to pursue.  

Organizations implementing SAFe have noticed the following Scaled Agile Framework benefits (SAFe benefits).  

• Faster time to market  
  
• Improvement in quality  
  
• Increase in productivity  
  
• More engaged employees   
  
• Other benefits  
  

A range of certifications caters to distinct roles spread across a SAFe enterprise. These roles may not be required for every organization; this is a collection of all the SAFe certification courses (Scaled Agile Framework courses) for separate roles a SAFe enterprise may need.  

Leading SAFe (SAFe Agilist), SAFe for Government, Implementing SAFe (SPC), Lean Portfolio Management, SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager, SAFe Scrum Master, SAFe for Architects, SAFe for Teams, Agile Product Management, SAFe DevOps, Agile Software Engineering, SAFe Release Train Engineer, and SAFe Advanced Scrum Master. 

A SAFe Agilist can make $109,000 annually on average. A high salary is one of the key SAFe certification benefits for a professional.  

Team, program, and portfolio are an enterprise's three SAFe certification levels.  

The 10 Scaled Agile Framework principles (SAFe principles) are listed as follows by Scaled Agile, Inc:  

• Take an economic view  
  
• Apply systems thinking  
  
• Assume variability; preserve options  
  
• Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles  
  
• Base milestones on an objective evaluation of working systems  
  
• Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths  
  
• Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning  
  
• Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers  
  
• Decentralize decision-making  
  
• Organize around value  
  

The seven core competencies of the SAFe community are as follows:  

• Team and Technical Agility  
  
• Agile Product Delivery  
  
• Enterprise Solution Delivery  
  
• Lean Portfolio Management  
  
• Organizational Agility  
  
• Continuous Learning Culture  
  
• Lean–Agile Leadership  
  

Scrum is an Agile framework. It is the most used Agile framework. It is meant for small teams of up to ten members. You will need a scaling framework to apply Agile or Scrum to larger teams and organizations. SAFe is the most successful scaling framework used to scale Agile.  

Dean Leffingwell is the creator of the Scaled Agile Framework or SAFe.  

There are over a million SAFe-certified professionals around the world who have taken a Scaled Agile Framework program  

More than 20,000 organizations worldwide are using SAFe. This includes seventy percent of the Fortune 100 companies. You can find more statistics and SAFe resources on the Scaled Agile page.