SAFe® 5 Release Train Engineer (RTE) Certification

An RTE in SAFe Agile (Release Train Engineer) is a servant leader and mentor for the Agile Release Train (ART). RTE’s are committed are to facilitate the ART events and processes and guide the teams in delivering value in success. 

The SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer course has been thoughtfully designed to help you prepare for the Certified SAFe Release Train Engineer exam.  

In this three-day, hands-on SAFe RTE course containing engaging real-world simulations and activities, you will get equipped with the skills needed to facilitate and flawlessly execute ART processes; and learn to coach leaders, Scrum Masters and teams in the Agile culture and mindset.

By the end of the course, you will be well versed with the role and responsibilities of a Release Train Engineer and will understand how to drive value across the enterprise. You’ll be able to: 

• Apply Lean-Agile knowledge and tools to organize and release value 
• Lead a program and large solution execution 
• Drive and nurture relentless improvement 
• Create a high-performing ART by becoming a servant leader and coach 
• Continue your learning journey with an action plan 

Our Certified SAFe Release Train Engineer training aims to equip you with all the skills to be an effective SAFe Release Train Engineer in a Lean enterprise. In this engaging and interactive three-day program, you will develop the practical skills employers look for in a Release Train Engineer, namely: 

• Leading and actioning change 
• Facilitating ART processes  
• Creating and driving momentum  
• Simplifying complex scenarios 
• Soft skills for stakeholder management 
• Planning PI events and SAFe rituals 
• Enabling alignment across levels  
• Relentless improvement of ARTs 
• Coaching leaders and stakeholders 

The SAFe Release Train Engineer Certification is designed to equip you with all the skills you need to be an efficient and impactful leader in a SAFe enterprise.

Successful completion of this training course satisfies the requirement for the SAFe Release Train Engineer certification and prepares you to pass the exam the very first time.

As a SAFe certified Release Train Engineer, you’ll help organizations to execute and release value at scale. You’ll be able to assist with program and large solution execution, and build a high performing ART as a servant leader and coach.  The certification will give you an edge over your peers, and open up lucrative and satisfying career paths.

Not at all. Professionals in IT industries or non-IT industries who want to work in a SAFe environment can take up this course. This includes:  

• SPCs 
• Scrum Masters 
• Solution Train Engineers 
• Agile coaches 
• Program Managers 
• Project Managers 
• Product Managers 
• Aspiring SAFe Professionals 

All professionals keen on working in a SAFe environment are welcome to attend this course. To fully benefit from the course Scaled Agile, Inc. highly recommends an understanding of Agile principles, a prior SAFe certification, and experience as a product manager, a product owner, or a business owner. 

Once you’ve completed the SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer certification, you can take on senior roles adding value across teams and at the program level, accelerating the benefits of value delivery for the SAFe enterprise.  

To further enhance your SAFe skills, you can consider pursuing the following certifications:   

• SAFe Program Consultant  

You could further gain experience and become a SAFe Program Consultant Trainer (SPCT), train SPCs and lead large-scale SAFe transformations.  

You can also choose to be a part of the SAFe Expert program and contribute thought leadership to evolve the Scaled Agile Framework RTE, as a SAFe Fellow. 

You can get 24 PDUs and 24 SEUs by participating in our 24-hour training program.

You will need 10 continuing education or outreach hours (PDUs) every year to maintain your SAFe Release Train Engineer certification.

PDUs are Professional Development Units issued by the Project Management Institute®. They can be earned by completing educational training or learning opportunities, which serve to validate your participation and continued proficiency in the principles and practices of project management. 

PDUs are the measuring unit used to quantify your project management professional development as part of the PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program. 1 PDU = 1 hour of learning/activity.  

A Scrum Education Unit® (SEU®) is a credit issued by Scrum Alliance®, validating your participation and continued proficiency in the fundamental principles of Scrum. SEUs demonstrate that you are furthering your proficiency as a Scrum practitioner. SEUs follow a 1:1 ratio, where one hour of participation or preparation towards increasing your proficiency in Scrum is equal to one SEU.

You can earn PDUs by attending training programs offered by PMI R.E.P.s or by organizations or universities. Whenever you attend a PMI congress, webinar, conference or any other event or indulge in self-directed learning, you can earn PDUs.

You can find out more about PDUs in PMI’s FAQs. 

Our blog will help you learn more about how to earn an SEU from Scrum Alliance. Get all the information you need to take advantage of SEUs for your professional growth, namely:  

• What are SEUs and why you need them  
• How to earn SEUs  
• Types of continuing education opportunities that qualify for SEUs   
• How to calculate the value of an SEU for Scrum Alliance certifications  
• How to log SEUs for Scrum Alliance certifications  
• How recent SEUs need to be  
• How to determine whether a previously accumulated SEU can be used for Scrum Alliance certifications  
• List of SEU resources put together by Scrum Alliance   
• Where you can utilize SEUs you have accumulated

For further information about SEUs and PDUs, please reach us at support@knowledgehut.com.  

The SAFe RTE certification enables you with an in-depth understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Release Train Engineer in a SAFe enterprise. You will learn how to smoothen the way and deliver value through ARTs and value streams. 

Scaled Agile, Inc. is the provider of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), the most popular method for scaling agile at the enterprise level. SAFe was initially released in 2011 by Dean Leffingwell as a knowledgebase for enterprises to adopt Agile. The SAFe 5 RTE certification is given to those who have successfully undertaken the SAFe Release Train Engineer Exam.  

No, you cannot get certified without taking the course. Scaled Agile, Inc. believes in true learning which can only be gained through in-person training and hands-on experience given by a SAFe Program Consultant (SPC). So, if you want to get certified as a SAFe Release Train Engineer, you need to attend the 24-hours of SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer training.  

The SAFe Release Train Engineer certification includes the following: 

• Certified SAFe Release Train Engineer Certificate (PDF format) 
• Certified SAFe Release Train Engineer Digital Badge 
• One-year membership to the SAFe Community Platform 
• Access to SAFe events and Meetup groups   
• Various SAFe learning resources  

Here are the steps to get SAFe Release Train Engineer certification: 

1. Get trained by an authorized training partner of Scaled Agile, Inc. Attend the three-day training delivered by a SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) who’s also an expert practitioner.   
2. On successful completion of the two-day training, you will receive information on the exam along with your log in credentials, directly from Scaled Agile. 
3. Log in using your credentials and take the two-hour, 60-MCQ online closed-book exam. 
4. Clear the exam and get 45 out of 60 questions right to pass the SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer exam.
5. On passing the exam, you become a Certified SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer. You will receive your SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer PDF Certificate and Digital Badge within 5-7 working days.  

Yes, on completing the course, you will receive a course completion certificate from KnowledgeHut.   

To get certified you will have to attend three days of training by a SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) followed by an exam to demonstrate your SAFe knowledge. Once you pass the exam you’ll be certified as a SAFe Release Train Engineer.   

This is an advanced level course and assumes a basic knowledge of SAFe.   

• To become a Certified SAFe Release Train Engineer, you may first attend a training course with KnowledgeHut, a Scaled Agile, Inc. Gold SPCT Partner where you will gather an understanding of the role and understand how to design and execute a PI. 
• Once you are done with the course, you will be invited to join the SAFe Community Platform, which will give you access to the SAFe RTE exam and related preparation materials, including a practice exam. 
• The platform gives you access to SAFe toolkits and templates to help you execute SAFe events and online SAFe assessments to help analyse your portfolios’ progress. 

No, your certificate will not mention the mode in which you have attended the course. It will look the same as the in-person certificates.  

The Scaled Agile framework RTE is evolving, all thanks to the engagements and contributions of those who share their ideas as well as practical experiences in the workplace. Renewal of your certification validates your interest in keeping up with the latest best practices in SAFe and your commitment to professional excellence.   

The SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer certification needs to be renewed every year. The following must be fulfilled each year, prior to renewal:

PDUs: A minimum of 10 continuing education/outreach hours (PDUs) need to be added each year.

Certification Renewal Cost: You will need to purchase the bundled product which includes Membership and Certification and comes at a price of $295 ($100 for renewal and $195 for membership). If you possess more than one certification from Scaled Agile, you can renew all of them together at this cost. For example, if you have a Leading SAFe certification expiring on 6 April 2021 and a Certified SAFe 5 RTE certification expiring on 10 October 2021, when you pay $295, both certifications will get renewed and will have the same expiry of 10 October 2021, whichever is the later date.

Here are the steps to renew your certification:

• Log in to the SAFe Community platform using your credentials.
• Click on the "Renew" button next to your certification (located at the top of the homepage)
• You will then be presented with the payment Screen (Shopping Cart), allowing you to complete the renewal process. 

You’ve worked hard at building in-demand SAFe RTE skills and adding the relevant certifications to your profile. As you advance your career, the benefits of these efforts are sure to compound. Maintaining your certifications is a small step towards this end.

In the eventuality that you do not wish to renew the certification though, you’ll only need to pay $195 and continue to benefit from all the valuable content and interactions at the SAFe Community Platform.  

Follow the steps below to become a SAFe RTE 

• Enrol yourself with Scaled Agile authorized training partner and see to the 24-hour training delivered by a SAFe Program Consultant. 
• After completing the training, you will receive information on the exam along with your login credentials, straight from Scaled Agile. 
• Sign in using your credentials and take the 2-hour, 60-MCQ and multi-select web-based, closed-book exam. Pass the exam and get at least 45 out of 60 questions right to pass the SAFe Release Train Engineer exam.
• Congratulations! You're now a Certified SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer! 

You will receive your SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer PDF Certificate and Digital Badge in 7 working days.  

SPCs (SAFe Program Consultants) interested to train SAFe Release Train Engineer course must have the following trainer qualifications:

• Must have attended an RTE course and cleared the RTE exam 
• Must have launched and sustained an Agile Release Train (ART) for three or more consecutive Program Increments (PIs) by adhering to the PI Implementation Toolkit guidelines
• Must have taught 5 or more SAFe courses with an average feedback score of 4.0 or more 

A SAFe RTE training will have you skilled in the following areas:

• Planning PI events and SAFe rituals 
• Soft skills for stakeholder management
• Consistent improvement of ARTs
• Enabling alignment across levels
• Coaching leaders and stakeholders 

A Scrum Master and a Release Train Engineer are quite similar. In fact, in SAFe, it might be referred to as a Chief Scrum Master who leads the Scrum of Scrums. The Agile Release Train's agile teams will each have their own Scrum Master. The Scrum of Scrums, led by the Release Train Engineer, includes these scrum masters. The Release Train Engineer reports to the Product Owner during retrospective meetings. The RTE usually reports to the Agile Program Management office, which is part of the Lean Portfolio Management in SAFe (LPM). 

The average salary of a SAFe RTE in the United States of America is $122,816. 

A digital badge is an online image of your SAFe Certification that enables you to verify, share, post, and manage your SAFe expertise real-time, via any platform. The Digital Badge, issued by Acclaim, the exclusive certifying entity for Scaled Agile, Inc. Your digital badge authenticates your certification and demonstrates your expertise in SAFe and commitment to professional excellence.   

To receive the Digital Badge go to the Privacy Preference Settings within the SAFe Community Platform and opt for it. Availing a Digital Badge is completely your decision; it is not mandatory.

You will receive an e-mail from no-reply@youracclaim.com with the instructions to claim your badge. The mail will also have information on setting-up your account for certification management and sharing. To know more, please visit http://support.youracclaim.com.   

A Digital Badge comes with the following benefits:  

• You can share your expertise in a simple, secure, and easily verifiable format.  
• Employers have a better insight about your experience-level and capabilities.  
• You can search as well as apply for job opportunities via the Acclaim platform.  

You can share your Digital Badge directly from the Acclaim Platform:  

• To social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn  
• Over email  
• Website embedded  
• In email signature  

No. Digital Badge is included as part of your SAFe Community subscription benefits. The Badge will remain valid as long as you are a member of SAFe Community Platform. In case your membership expires, or you don’t renew it, the badge page will display the message “Expired”.   

Though badges are simply digital image files, they are linked to unique verified data, making them more secure and reliable than any other form of certificate. Therefore, it eliminates the possibility of anyone copying your certification as well as your associated identity.  

Visit http://support.youracclaim.com/ for issues related to:   

• Acclaim platform/account   
• Badge sharing/display  

Write to support@scaledagile.com if you haven’t received any badge notifications even after earning a SAFe certification or if you want to retrieve a badge that you rejected or deleted in Acclaim.   

• The SAFe Release Train Engineer certification exam is a closed-book test taken online.   
• The test comes with 60 multiple-choice questions which you are required to answer within 120 minutes.

You need to get 45 out of 60 questions right to pass the SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer exam.   

The SAFe Release Train Engineer exam is a closed-book exam and is not difficult to pass, provided you have a firm hold on all the concepts and tools you’re introduced during the RTE class. Our intensive coaching and exam preparation activities are all geared towards helping you pass the exam on the first attempt.  

Once you complete your three-day course, you will receive a welcome email from Scaled Agile, Inc. This email will contain the link that will redirect you to the exam page.   

No, you will have a time limit of 120 minutes and will not be able to pause the test. In case you accidentally close the window, you will be able to reopen it immediately. If you lose the internet connection or access to the test for an extended period, you will have to reach out to support@scaledagile.com.   

There is no re-evaluation for the exam. However, if you fail you can retake the exam.   

Yes, the first exam attempt is included as a part of the course registration fee if, the exam is taken within 30 days of SAFe RTE class completion.   

• Each subsequent retake attempt costs $50.   
• The second exam attempt (first retake) can be done immediately after the first attempt.   
• The third attempt requires a 10-day waiting period and the fourth attempt requires a 30-day waiting period. 

 For more details read Exam Retake Policy.

No, you are not allowed to retake the exam if you have already passed the test and scored poorly. Your test score is only available to you. Nobody else will be able to see your score of the test.   

You will get your results immediately after you attempt the exam and click on the submit button.   

There are no limits to the number of times you can attempt the exam, if you pay for it. The Scaled Agile, Inc. allows you to take the first attempt at no cost, within 30 days of the course completion. Thereafter, each retake attempt costs $50.   

The SAFe Release Train Engineer workshop at KnowledgeHut is delivered through our immersive learning experience platform, via live and interactive instructor-led training sessions. 

Get your all doubts cleared from the SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), who is an experienced practitioner.  

The conventional in-person SAFe 5 Release Train Engineer training from Scaled Agile, Inc. (SAI) is typically delivered over three days. The online course is divided into several classes of shorter hours, unlike the in-person class that consists of 3 classes with 7 to 8 hours-long sessions. The size of the class is capped at 30 so that students gain a better learning experience. The participants and our trainers will be able to virtually collaborate with one another with the help of webcam tool. 

Our SAFe Program Consultants (SPCs) are:   

• Professionals licensed by Scaled Agile, Inc. to teach the official curriculum   
• Masters in SAFe who have immense experience in leading, applying, coaching, and implementing the SAFe  
• Skilled in SAFe framework and Agile software development   
• Subject matter experts and experienced practitioners who are active in software development and local Agile communities, along with the broader global SAFe and Agile movements.

Our SAFe Release Train Engineer course focuses on engaging interactions. Most of the class time is dedicated to fun exercises, lively discussions, and team collaboration, all facilitated by the SAFe trainer who is an experienced Scrum practitioner. The workshop focuses on practical solutions to real-world challenges drawn from decades of experience as SAFe Release Train Engineer, Agile coaches, and Product Owners in Agile environments.

Software Requirements   

• Internet browser   
• MS Word or Notepad   

System Requirements   

• Windows or equivalent environment with Internet browser and high-speed Internet connectivity

Yes, your course material will be provided in advance. You will receive an email with a link to set your password a few days in advance of the scheduled course. Once you log in, you will have access to the study plan and all the course material.

The course material comprises of the course schedule or study plan, workbooks, relevant assignments, assessments, and case studies.

No, live sessions must not be recorded as there are strict guidelines from Scaled Agile, Inc. Neither trainers nor students are permitted to record the live sessions.

No, you will not yet be able to join the training through phone or tab. Please be prepared to join the training on your laptop or desktop.

If you get disconnected during the training, you will have the option re-joining within half-an-hour, subject to accreditation body guidelines and the instructor’s preference.

Our workshops are currently held online. Anyone with a stable internet, from anywhere across the world, can access the SAFe workshop and benefit from it.   

You can check out upcoming schedules here.

KnowledgeHut will send a registration link to you via e-mail. You will have to set your password, log in to our platform, and start your learning journey.

If you miss a class, you can access the class recordings at any time. At the beginning of every session, there will also be a 10-12-minute recapitulation of the previous class.

This is a live instructor-led training where you will be coached by SAFe Program Consultants.

We currently use the Zoom platform for video conferencing and will soon be adding more integrations soon.

Yes, there are other participants who actively participate in the class. They remotely attend the online sessions from office, home, or any place of their choosing.

In case of any queries, our support team is available to you 24/7 via the Help and Support section. You can also reach out to your workshop manager via the workshop group messenger.

If you have any more questions, please email us at support@knowledgehut.com and we will be happy to get back to you.

The SAFe RTE Certification cost will vary depending on your location. To know about how much, it would cost at your location, please visit our schedules page.

The certification fee for the SAFe Release Train Engineer certification exam is not charged separately. Once you enrol for the SAFe certification training with KnowledgeHut, the exam fee is included in the course fee.  

Yes, the exam fee is included in the course fee.   

Yes, you can switch your start date with a prior notice of at least 24 hrs and subject to availability in the desired batch.   

Yes, group discounts are available and apply to groups as small as three (3) participants. The more the number of participants attending a training course, greater the discount. By registering in groups, you can typically save up 20% to 30% on the course fee.

For more details, please check out upcoming schedules.

Yes, instalment options are available for payment of course fees. To avail the instalment option, please get in touch with us at support@knowledgehut.com. The team will explain how the instalments work and provide timelines for your case.  

Usually, the number of instalments vary from 2 to 3, but the full amount must be paid before you complete the course. 

You can cancel your enrolment and receive refunds in line with our Cancellations and Refunds policy.

Yes, we have scholarships available for students and veterans with grants that can vary up to 50% of the course fees.*

To avail of the scholarships, please contact us at support@knowledgehut.com. You will receive the forms and instructions from the team. Based on the responses and answers that we receive, our panel of experts decides on the Grant. Please note that the entire process could take about 7 to 15 days.

Note: *Not applicable for Singapore region