Introduction:
If you're in the software development or project management sphere, you must have come across the acronym 'SAFe' at least once. I remember the first time I came across it was during my stint with this giant enterprise that was grappling with trying to align a number of agile teams—and someone had recommended a SAFe as a possible answer. I was quite skeptical in the beginning (one more framework to learn?), but after seeing it in action, I became a believer.
In this all-encompassing guide, I will ensure that you are equipped with all the necessary knowledge pertaining to SAFe certification. Ranging from grasping the fundamentals of what SAFe is to analyzing the distinct pathways of certification, the advantages, and the actual steps needed to achieve certification. This article will provide you with insights, whether you are an individual attempting to further your career or a company contemplating the adoption of SAFe.
While there are multiple certifications available, my goal right now is to provide a deep understanding of what SAFe is. The Scaled Agile Framework or SAFe is a combination of methodology and workflow patterns that aims to assist companies in adopting lean and agile practices. Unlike Scrum and other frameworks that concentrate on team-level agility, SAFe has provisions for ensemble-level, multi-team, program level, and enterprise-level agility.
SAFe was created in 2011 by Dean Leffingwell and his team at Scaled Agile, Inc., which has gone through a number of versions since then. Current version while deals with many new changing business worlds to practitioner needs is the feedback-based SAFe 6.0.
SAFe's core is composed of three basic foundational bodies of knowledge:
What differentiates SAFe from other agile frameworks is its breadth. It describes an entire system a business can operate on fully, which ranges from execution at the team level to portfolio strategy and organizational governance. All of these are described in an illustrative framework called the "Big Picture", which shows how all the components interact at various levels in the organization.
These SAFe core values foundations should be understood prior to attempting any SAFe certification, as they underpin all of the practices and principles you will be exposed to.
One factor that bewildered me for a while concerning SAFe was that there are so many, sometimes too numerous, certifications. It's not one certification called "SAFe certification". Instead, there is an entire ecosystem of role based certifications tailored to different levels in the organization.
This is a summary of the most sought-after SAFe certifications list:
| Certification | Level | Target Audience | Prerequisites | Renewal Period |
| Leading SAFe (SA) | Foundation | Anyone interested in SAFe | None | 1 year |
| SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) | Team | Scrum Masters | None | 1 year |
| SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) | Team | Product Owners, Product Managers | None | 1 year |
| SAFe Advanced Scrum Master (SASM) | Program | Experienced Scrum Masters | SSM recommended | 1 year |
| SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) | Program | RTEs, Program Managers | None | 1 year |
| SAFe for Architects (ARCH) | Program | Solution/System Architects | None | 1 year |
| SAFe Agile Product Management (APM) | Portfolio | Product Managers, Portfolio Managers | None | 1 year |
| Implementing SAFe (SPC) | All | Change agents, consultants | 5+ years experience | 1 year |
Attendance of a training session and passing a relevant SAFe certification exam is mandatory for obtaining any SAFe certification. Additionally, the certification must be renewed annually, which can be accomplished by accruing a certain number of continuing education credits and paying a fee.
Such a method for attaining certification makes certain that practitioners have up-to-date knowledge of the current trends and practices associated with the framework, which is essential given the pace of change in approach to Agile frameworks.
The purpose of this section is to focus on various popular options under the SAFe certification umbrella so that you can assess which ones are suitable for you.
For most individuals, this is the foundational step towards SAFe certification. The Leading SAFe course captures all facets of the Framework and caters to everyone who wishes to comprehend the workings of SAFe. Upon completion of this certification, you will be capable of:
I often recommend starting with the SA certification because you'll appreciate the overview first before delving into a specific role.
If you already have some knowledge of Scrum or have been taught it and wish to put it into practice in the context of SAFe, then SSM is the certification for you. This course centers on:
One of my colleagues came from a traditional Scrum Master position into a SAFe organization, and the SSM certification really helped him make sense of the changes and new responsibilities he faced. The SAFe scrum master certification cost typically ranges from $800 to $1,200, depending on the training provider.
In the context of SAFe organizations, both a Product Owner and a Product Manager have significant responsibilities. This certification will enable you to:
The distinction between these roles is critical, as outlined in discussions around SAFe product owner vs product manager, where Product Owners focus on team-level backlog management, while Product Managers align features with strategic objectives.
This role is sometimes referred to as the "Scrum Master of All Scrum Masters", as the RTE manages the execution and processes at the program level. This more advanced certification enables you to:
This is the most comprehensive and distinguished SAFe certification. It is aimed at internal consultants and other change agents who will spearhead SAFe transformations. As an SPC, you are eligible to:
I have witnessed the incredible transformation SPCs bring to organizations. They play a dual role of coach and trainer, enabling organizations to develop internal skills and sustainability.
Is getting SAFe certified as valuable as it sounds? From my conversations with different professionals and from my own learnings, for a lot of people, especially those already in, or trying to get into enterprise business, the answer is yes.
For individuals, getting their SAFe certification can bring about considerable change:
"Professionally, SAFe has completely transformed my career and life. In the space of six months after passing my SAFe certification exam, I was tapped to lead an agile transformation at a Fortune 500 company with a 30% salary increase." — Sarah K., SAFe Program Consultant
The benefits of SAFe go beyond the individual level and look into optimizing efficiency at the corporate level:
After covering the SAFe certification details, let us help you consider whether it is the right choice for you. Check the box next to "yes" if any of the following questions apply:
If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, SAFe certification might be beneficial for you.
Based on your role, here are the suggestions:
As noted in previous sections, bear in mind that the best certification for you will depend on your particular context, objectives, and organizational requirements.
Having one of these certifications can open up a plethora of new career opportunities. The SAFe-certified personnel is very sought after and the trend is predicted to continue growing in areas such as:
Following is a list of positions that either ask for or expect the candidate to have an SAFe certification as part of the pre-requisites based on their relevance to the industry:
Industry wage differences should be taken into consideration; however, it is true that these professionals are generally compensated in excess to their non-certified counterparts. Some examples include:
"For the past two years, SAFe certification has become mandatory for all positions at our company's technology department. The reasoning behind this is that we need to structure positions around such candidates who know how to function in such scaled agile environments." – Fortune 100 company CTO
As for most professionals hoping to climb higher in their career, the ideal route would be:
This sequential approach enables you to continuously advance your SAFe skills and apply your knowledge at each level.
If you wish to implement SAFe in your organization after certification, here is a tried and tested SAFe implementation roadmap:
Guarantee support by enrolling executives and senior leaders in Leading SAFe. This ensures they are onboard and aligned.
Map value streams to gauge work and its pace from conception to monetization.
Train individuals for crucial functions:
Conduct proper PI Planning for the inaugural Program Increment using your first ART.
Conduct Inspect and Adapt workshops to identify improvement opportunities post each PI.
Only after proving success with your initial ART should further expansion to other value streams be attempted.
To support this process, consider leveraging SAFe tools such as Jira Align, Rally, or VersionOne for managing workflows and tracking progress.
Having a SAFe certification is a valuable asset professionally and to an organization trying to understand the complexities attached to scaling agile practices. As covered in this entire guide, the value is more than just another line for people's CVs, rather having the expertise, professional growth, and the spirit of change backed by knowledge people look forward to.
When thinking of safe certification cost, do consider the fact that this framework aims to solve difficult problems in tough situations. If your career, or the field you aim for, operates in such circumstances, this investment on certification will have good returns.
For all the fresh learners, I suggest you approach your learning with an open mind and consider SAFe books such as SAFe 6.0 Distilled by Richard Knaster and Dean Leffingwell to deepen your understanding.
As a first-time learner or someone looking to build on existing knowledge, I hope this SAFe certification guide is impactful for your learning journey. The path to achieving proficiency in agility may be difficult, however, knowledge and certification will undoubtedly aid you in successfully navigating through it.
A Lean/Agile Evangelist, Registered Scrum Trainer, Registered Scrum@Scale Trainer, SAFe Practice Consultant, SAFe Release Train Engineer, ICP-ACC Certified Enterprise Agile Coach, Advanced Scrum Master, and Scrum Professional. Passionate about helping teams excel and enjoy work. Specialties: scaled agile product development, lean engineering, DevOps, scrum and kanban, test-driven software, continuous integration, automated test, embedded software, C, C++, Matlab, Python
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Members of the Agile Transformation from Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Project Managers to Agile Coaches, Development Team Members, and even Executives would find value in the SAFe certification. However, the certification would be of greatest use to employees of big corporations where multi-team engagements require substantial inter-group collaboration.