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SAFe® Scrum Master Certification - Career Path

Are you a SAFe® Agilist and looking for SAFe® Agilist career opportunities? Check out our complete guide to know the SAFe® Agilist career path.

The Certified SAFe® Agilist is the main driver of an organization’s SAFe transformation journey. On this journey, they can explore more advanced SAFe® certifications to enhance the SAFe® Agilist career path. Get an idea of your SAFe®Agilist career future in this guide!

SAFe® Scrum Master Certification - Career Path

Scaled Agile Inc. Career Path 

The Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) has served over 70% of Fortune 100 enterprises till date and these numbers will only continue to increase. Know what other certifications and job roles are available for the SAFe® Agilists from Scaled Agile Inc.

As a SAFe® Agilist, you can take a step to the next level of the SAFe® Practitioner (SP) role. For this, you need to complete the 2 days, intermediate level of SAFe®  for Teams course which help you earn all the skills required to become a high-performing team member of an ART. This course will also help you to lead an effective collaboration with other SAFe teams.   

You can be an Agile Software Engineer in the SAFe® enterprise. The Certified SAFe® Agile Software Engineer is a 3 days, intermediate course that will help an attendee to understand how software engineering can fit into large, complex solutions. They will also learn how the Agile software engineering discipline is maintained with the fundamental principles and practices, continuous value delivery, XP technical practices, Behavioral-Driven Development (BDD), and Test-Driven Development (TDD).  

A SAFe® Agilist can also play the role of a Scrum Master role in the SAFe organization. They can do this by completing a Certified SAFe® Scrum Master training course. During these 2 days of intermediate level training, you will understand that the role of a Scrum Master is not just limited to the team-level Scrum, but serves the entire enterprise. 

After SSM certification, you can look for another advanced level SAFe® Scrum Master course. SAFe® Advanced Scrum Master (SASM) is a two-day, advanced level course that helps active Scrum Masters in a leadership role in facilitating Agile teams, and bring about program and enterprise success using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®).  

With the Certified SAFe® Product Owner / Product Manager (PO/PM) course, the SAFe® Agilist can achieve the job role of a SAFe® PO/PM. In this 2 day foundational course, an attendee will learn to deliver high value to the customers and can get a grasp on performing the PO/PM role effectively in the ART.  

The SAFe® DevOps Practitioner role is responsible for delivering optimized solutions to businesses. As a SAFe® Agilist, you need to complete the 2 day foundational Certified SAFe® DevOps Practitioner course. This course will help you work in cross-functional teams, eliminate obstacles hindering the development of the product, and prepare an actionable plan to benefit your organization with maximum success. 

You can be a Release Train Engineer (RTE) in the SAFe® enterprise by taking the 3 day advanced level Certified SAFe® Release Train Engineer training course. As an RTE, a SAFe® professional can build a high performing Agile Release Train (ART) and act as a servant leader and coach for the teams.   

You can explore the role of a SAFe® Program Consultant (SPC) in the SAFe® enterprise to lead the Lean-Agile transformation using SAFe® principles and practices and the 7 core competencies of the Lean Enterprise. Implementing SAFe is a 4-day, advanced level certification course that is the first step on the journey to the SAFe® Program Consultant (SPC) credential. This course helps participants launch successful ARTs, coach programs, build a continuous delivery pipeline with DevOps, and support a lean portfolio.

A SAFe® transition can be challenging in the government sector. This 2 day foundational, Certified SAFe® Government Practitioner course will help you overcome issues related to the legacy governance, contracting, and overcoming organizational impediments with the principles and practices of SAFe®. This course will help a candidate in a leadership role to drive successful organizational transformation in government firms.

Meet Your Instructors

Become an Instructor
Kishore

Kishore Nakka SPC

Trainer

Kishore is an Enterprise Lean/Agile & SAFe® Transformation leader with 25+ years of progressive experience in the IT industry — leading people, processes, and technology — to deliver high-value solutions with measurable results. He has a proven track record of successful Lean/Agile, SAFe® transformation of large-scale, complex federal systems and hands-on experience working with Agile/SAFe® coaches and consultants to tailor transformation efforts for lean product and solution delivery in large, complex, and controlled federal govt. settings.

He has mentored and coached teams in SAFe®, Lean/Agile methodologies such as Scrum, XP, and Kanban, and other technical practices such as Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, and Release on Demand, etc. He has also authored books on the Agile Ecosystem, and Customer Experience (CX) Ecosystem, which are available on Amazon. 

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Geethalakshmi

Geethalakshmi Radhakrishnan

Author

Dr. Geethalakshmi, a CSP-SM is a diversified leader with 12 years of rich experience who is known for maintaining a track record of successfully improving the growth of the companies in the Lifesciences and Pharmaceutical industry. Specialized in Client management, Product Management, Business Development, Project Management, and stakeholder management.

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Ankit

Ankit Tandon SPC

Agile

Ankit is a Servant Leader and an organizational change agent with expertise in coaching, mentoring and helping cross-functional teams to higher performance by using Scrum and other Agile/Lean frameworks.
He is an avid learner with a passion to build the community. His mission is to transform 10000 non-Agile minds by 2020 through training and counselling and his well on track. He has successfully helped professionals in top organizations embrace Agility and improve processes.

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Farrah

Farrah Koudsi SPC

SPC, Enterprise Agile Coach

Farrah is a SAFe Program Consultant and global training and organizational development leader with 20+ years of experience in learning and development, organizational and leadership training instruction, and executive coaching.

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Mohammed

Mohammed Rowther SPC

SPC, Scrum@Scale Trainer, Certified Agile Coach

Mohammed Rowther is a Scrum@Scale Trainer, a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), and Certified Agile Leader 1. He comes with over 17 years of experience in the IT industry and currently works as an Agile Consultant or Coach for various clients across the UK, adding immense value to each agile transformation. A man with many feathers to his cap, he is a Facilitator, a Scrum, Kanban, LeSS, and Scrum@Scale practitioner, an expert trainer in Agile and User Story workshops; and promotes Agile Testing approaches using Automation through his multiple efforts.

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FAQs on Leading SAFe Online Course

upGrad KnowledgeHut Support on Your SAFe® Agilist Journey

Here are some reasons to choose upGrad KnowledgeHut as your preferred SAFe® training provider:

  • Provided over 450,000+ professionals with unique learning opportunities
  • Delivers training that meets the exact needs of every individual
  • Training conducted by SAFe® Practice Consultants (SPCs) only 
  • We focus on your training needs so you can focus on your career and business
  • 24/7 technical support
  • Provides world-class training
  • Embeds skills needed to land top-paying jobs
  • Operating/delivering training in 100+ countries
  • Tied up with 20+ global accreditation bodies

Take a quick look at the complete details of SAFe® Agilist certification course before you register


Leading SAFe® CourseDetails
SAFe® Agilist certification costINR 50000 in India, USD 799 in the US, CAD 1095 in Canada
DiscountUp to 20%
Leading SAFe® 6.0 exam1.5hr online test which comprises of 45 MCQs
Leading SAFe® exam fee
Included in the certification cost
SAFe® Agilist certification validity
1 Year
SAFe® Agilist renewal fee
$100
SAFe® Agilist Salary
$ 117,647 per year
Refund Policy
As per Refund, Cancellation and Deferment Policy 

Our energetic and dedicated trainers are your best choice. As highly skilled professionals with vast experience in delivering courses, our instructors invest their time in understanding the various challenges involved in enterprises and know what is required to succeed in the fast-paced and dynamic world.


Our instructors keep themselves up to date on developments and trends in their respective fields. With years of industry experience, they aim at delivering the training in a way that helps you build expertise in your field and get ahead in your career.

The venue will be listed on the upGrad KnowledgeHut website under the selected workshop. If it is not, then you can directly contact our support team.

The class registration includes:

  • Attendee workbook
  • Preparation and eligibility to take the SAFe® 6.0 Agilist exam
  • One year membership to the SAFe® Community Platform
  • Course certificate of completion
  • Attendees must attend both days of the course in order to be eligible for the exam.

Yes, we provide the downloadable copy of the SAFe® course content to the registered candidates.

We do not provide transportation. Yes, refreshments and lunch will be provided by upGrad KnowledgeHut.

Yes, but this needs to be done at least 10 days prior to the training start date.

KnowledgeHut is a Gold Partner of Scaled Agile, Inc. offering good knowledge to corporate organizations and professionals across the globe. It is the fastest growing certification training firm, with footprints in 70+ countries. We frequently conduct Leading SAFe® 6.0 training in all the cities across the globe and here are a few listed for your reference:


Bangalore Hyderabad Mumbai
Delhi Kolkata Gurgaon
Noida Chennai Cochin
Pune New York Chicago
San Francisco Atlanta Washington
Houston Austin Los Angeles
Dallas Boston Seattle
San Jose Singapore Kuala Lumpur

We offer a variety of discounts with the dates and time that fits your requirements. The larger the group*, the larger the overall discount. Our discounts vary depending on various factors such as size of the group, training location, etc.

*Note: Not applicable for Singapore region.

It is simple to enroll for Leading SAFe® 6.0 classroom training. The payment can be made through different options by using a debit/credit card which includes MasterCard, Visa Card, American Express or through PayPal. The acknowledgment will be issued automatically via e-mail to the candidates once payment is done.

At upGrad KnowledgeHut, we strive diligently to make sure that your learning experience with us is second to none and you are assured of the highest standards of quality. However, if for any reason your expectations are not met, we will process refunds in accordance with our Cancellation, Refund, and Deferment Policy.

You can join our Live Chat for instant support or send an e-mail to support@knowledgehut.com, and we will answer any queries you may have!

The latest release of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is version 6.0. upGrad KnowledgeHut's Leading SAFe 6.0 Certification course is aligned with the latest version of SAFe.        

Yes, the new version of SAFe is now SAFe 6. 

With a commitment to supporting and evolving SAFe practices, Scaled Agile, Inc. is on a mission to meet the ever-changing needs of SAFe Enterprises and Partner communities. 

Towards this end, the latest SAFe 6.0 offers the newest and most effective Lean-Agile practices, enabling forward-thinking enterprises to navigate today’s rapidly changing challenges and opportunities.

The latest update 6.0 was rolled out to on March 15, 2023. SAFe 6.0 includes numerous new and advanced practices that support and enable the newest technological and commercial trends. It includes eight key ways to accelerate the flow of value across the enterprise.

The following six release themes highlight the crucial updates and additions:

  1. Build stronger business agility foundation
  2. Clarifying responsibility and empowering teams
  3. Speeding up Value Flow
  4. Improving Business Agility Throughout the Business with SAFe
  5. Using AI, Big Data, and Cloud to build the future
  6. Achieving improved results with measure, growth, and OKRs

More information can be found on Scaled Agile.

Renewal of your Leading SAFe® 6.0 Training will help you with the following:

Contribute to Agile Transformations: With the renewal of your SAFe® 6.0 Training, you can play a vital role in driving Agile transformations within your organization, while being better aligned with Lean-Agile principles.

Demonstrate Professional Growth: The renewal of your SAFe® 6.0 Training is almost demonstrating to employers and peers that you take your role seriously and actively seek to improve your skills.

Adapt to Changing Industry Needs: Renewing your certification helps you adapt to the ever-changing demands of the industry, equipping with the latest tools and knowledge to address emerging challenges effectively.

Access Continuing Education Credits: The renewal program will offer continuing education credits, which can be valuable for maintaining other professional certifications or licenses.


To renew your membership please follow the instructions below:

  • Login to SAFe Studio
  • Click on the ”Renew Now” button on the home page (located at the top of the homepage). If you do not see this button, you can log in and visit this page here: https://community.scaledagile.com/s/membership
  • You will then be presented with the membership renewal options so you can select the membership level that works best for you.

In that case, you will only need to pay $195 and continue to benefit from all the valuable content and interactions at the SAFe Community Platform.

reviews on our popular courses

Review image

Everything was OK. The trainer (Kiran Ravula) also. Very nice digital workbook and slides. Good division into seven parts (Thriving in the digital age with business agility, Becoming a Lean-Agile Leader, Establishing team and technical agility, Building solutions with Agile Product Delivery, Exploring Lean Portfolio Management, Leading the change, Practicing SAFe).

Robert Rachela

Senior Manager of QA
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in June 2022
Review image

The training experience was great, with the focus on both theoretical and practical knowledge. The trainer is well experienced and the overall workshop experience was good.

Praneetha Macharla

Product Manager
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in November 2020
Review image

The training met the requirements. Trainer was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and motivating. I could relate to many case studies and scenarios discussed. Thank you, KnowledgeHut.

Ruchi Tandon

Project Manager
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in November 2020
Review image

Great class. Instructor was very knowledgeable. Overall , a wonderful experience. I was able to take the certification test right after class and pass. KnowledgeHut provided good support.

Samuel Obrien

QA Manager
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in November 2020
Review image

The instructors were amazing and the learning experience was commendable. I would highly recommend taking the SAFe 5.0 SA =Leading SAFe Agile course with KnowledgeHut.

Vijay Chander

SAFe
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in August 2020
Review image

SAFe Agile training was interactive and we had good discussions among group. The instructor patiently answered all questions and also leveraged his rich industry experience to provide examples. Great learning experience with KnowledgeHut.

Satish Kumar Batakala

Digital Consulting Manager
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in July 2020
Review image

The training was provided by an excellent professional, with deep knowledge about SAFe and scrum. He managed to keep the group interested in the contents and with the continuous practice exercises, everybody participated. Thoughtful workshop management by KnowledgeHut.

Douglas Villamizar

Assistant Manage
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in June 2020
Review image

Well-thought and systematic overview of SAFe, I gained a lot of insights into Agile which I can successfully apply on a daily basis. Highly recommend KnowledgeHut.

Gustavo  Borelli

Senior QA Specialist
Attended Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification workshop in June 2020

Leading SAFe® Course Highlights

The Leading SAFe certification has become a standard requirement for Lean-Agile enterprises. It expands your horizons in terms of potential career paths and value within the sector. The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is the most widely adopted enterprise Agile approach according to most survey data, with 53% using it, according to the 16th Annual State of Agile Report.

THE RISING DEMAND FOR LEADING SAFe® CERTIFICATE


While Agile approaches have proven to be easily applicable to small teams, the majority of enterprises today work across collaborative teams, complex systems, and geographies. This requires Agile to work across your enterprise to bring in the benefits of faster delivery, better-quality products, and quick response to your customer queries. However, large-scale agile transformation is prone to failure due to a lack of suitable structure and processes, resulting in agile implementations that do not have the desired impact.

The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is a comprehensive framework for large-scale Agile project teams to easily implement an Agile transformation. The first step toward such a change is to use Lean/Agile principles and practices at all levels of your organization. The SAFe methodology synchronizes the alignment, collaboration, and delivery of numerous Agile teams with ease, paving the road for organizational success. Now, in its latest release (version 6.0), SAFe promises to bring in full business agility with significant advances in strategy, execution, and leadership competencies that will help individuals and enterprises deliver innovative business solutions and outperform the competition in its latest release (version 6.0).

Here's a closer look at what you can expect from this 16-hour live, instructor-led online training experience:

  1. 16-Hour Live Instructor-Led Online Training: Our course is designed to be engaging and interactive, with a seasoned instructor leading you through 16 hours of live, real-time training. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions, participate in discussions, and apply what you learn in a supportive virtual environment.
  2. Earn 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs for Continual Learning: Continuous learning is key to staying at the forefront of Agile practices. By completing this course, you'll earn 16 Professional Development Units (PDUs) and 16 Scrum Education Units (SEUs), recognized by leading industry bodies, to support your professional growth.
  3. Unlock Exam Success with Comprehensive Exam Support: We're here to ensure you're fully prepared to ace the SAFe certification exam. Our course includes comprehensive exam preparation materials, practice tests, and guidance to boost your confidence and success on exam day.
  4. All-Inclusive Learning - Exam Fee Included: Your investment in this course covers not only the training but also the SAFe certification exam fee. This means there are no hidden costs, and you can focus on your learning journey without worrying about additional expenses.
  5. Comprehensive Career Support with Job Boost 360: Accelerate your professional growth with our holistic program. Gain access to job placement assistance, resume workshops, interview preparation, and personalized coaching designed to propel your career forward.
  6. Embrace the SAFe Way with Access to the SAFe Studio: Gain access to the SAFe Studio, a treasure trove of resources that includes a wealth of SAFe content, videos, and tools to deepen your understanding of the framework and its practical applications.
  7. Acquire Free 1-Year SAFe Community Membership: As a course participant, you'll gain access to the vibrant SAFe community. You'll have the opportunity to network with Agile enthusiasts, access valuable resources, and stay updated on the latest developments in the SAFe framework throughout your one-year free membership.
  8. Gateway to the Largest Global Agile Community: Connect, collaborate, and stay updated on industry trends through our exclusive gateway. Access forums, events, and networking opportunities to forge connections and share best practices with fellow practitioners worldwide.
  9. Mentorship by Agile Industry Experts: Tap into the knowledge and experience of Agile leaders. Benefit from personalized guidance, feedback, and insights tailored to your career goals, empowering you to make informed decisions and achieve success in your Agile journey.

With more than 70% of US Fortune 100 companies actively employing SAFe®, it is clear that the demand for Leading SAFe® is on a constant rise. Earning the Leading SAFe® 6.0 certification from Scaled Agile, Inc. - a globally renowned accreditation body, gives you a major lead over your peers and places you at the helm of Agile transformation in enterprises.

We're excited to embark on this SAFe journey with you, equipping you with the skills and knowledge you need to lead Agile transformation initiatives successfully. Let's embrace the SAFe way together and achieve excellence in Agile practices. Welcome to the Leading SAFe course!

A Leading SAFe® certificate will not just merit a salary raise in your present organization but also offers several other benefits as listed below:

  1. Apply SAFe® 6.0 in an enterprise context.
  2. Deliver more value.
  3. Improve communication and collaboration across all projects.
  4. Introduce Agile not just to your IT delivery teams but the whole organization.
  1. Lead transformation in Agile teams.
  2. Become a top-earning Agile professional.
  3. Grab more career opportunities.
  4. Keep up with the swift-changing market trends.

The average salary of a Certified SAFe® Agilist (SA) is $98k per annum. This is chiefly based on skills, experience, organization and a few more factors. As more and more organizations are defaulting to Agile, there is an exponential rise in the number of jobs for Agile professionals who can scale Lean and Agile practices at different levels. In the present industry, therefore, SAFe® certified professionals have a major competitive advantage.

Get the certification that is topmost on recruiters’ list-- SAFe® Agilist

Process to get a Leading SAFe® certification

Steps to become a SAFe® Agilist

  • Step 1: Follow the easy steps to register on KnowledgeHut, a Gold SPCT Partner of Scaled Agile, Inc. (Scaled Agile)

  • Step 2: Take the 2-day Leading SAFe® 6.0 course instructed by SAFe Practice Consultants (SPCs).

  • Step 3: Scaled Agile will send you the exam information directly on successful completion of course.

  • Step 4: Click on the link received from Scaled Agile and take the 1.5 hour “SAFe® 6.0 Agilist Exam” online test which comprises of 45 MCQs. 

  • Step 5: Score a minimum of 80% to pass the SAFe® Agilist test. 

  • Step 6: Scaled Agile will update your profile to disclose the certification, after passing the exam. 

  • Step 7: You will receive 1-year membership with Scaled Agile along with the certification. 

  • Step 8: You have to renew the certification every year. 

Prerequisites for Leading SAFe Certification Course

There are no prerequisites to attend this course. Any interested individual regardless of experience can attend this course. However, it is highly recommended that those who intend to take the SAFe® 6.0 Agilist (SA) certification exam should have:

  • At least 5+ years of experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product or project management
  • Prior working experience in Scrum

Who should attend the Leading SAFe® Course online

  • Executives and Leaders
  • Managers, Directors, CIOs & VPs
  • Development, and QA
  • Infrastructure Management personnel
  • Program & Project Managers
  • Product & Product Line Managers
  • Portfolio Managers, PMO, and Process Leads
  • Enterprise, System, & Solution Architects

upGrad KnowledgeHut Experience

EXPERIENTIAL WORKSHOPS

High-energy workshops with Agile activities, team-based exercises and practical case studies

SAFe PRACTICE CONSULTANT TRAINERS

Get trained by accredited SPCTs with over a decade of experience across industries around the world.

MENTORSHIP BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Acquire real-world tips, proven strategies and practical insights from seasoned industry experts.

JOIN THE LARGEST SAFe NETWORK

1-year free SAFe Community Platform membership - your gateway to the largest Scaled Agile communities.

CONTINUAL LEARNING AND SUPPORT

Webinars, e-books, tutorials, articles, and interview questions - we're right by you in your learning journey!

HANDY RESOURCES

Get access to tutorials, articles, interview Q&A and case studies prepared by the industry experts with latest updates in the Agile industry.

SCALED AGILE GOLD SPCT PARTNER

We're a Global Top 10 Scaled Agile Gold SPCT partner. 12K+ SAFe career transformations facilitated!

ACCESS 5,000+ HIRING PARTNERS

Access our diverse hiring partners for a vast array of career advancement and opportunities.

COMPREHENSIVE JOB SUPPORT

Benefit from complete job support, including LinkedIn assistance, resume refinement and mentorship.

Leading SAFe Curriculum

Learning Objectives:

Get introduced to the fundamental concepts of Business Agility and decipher the major competencies of Business Agility. 

Topics: 

  • Thriving in the Digital Age  
  • SAFe as an operating system for Business Agility  
  • The Seven Core Competencies of Business Agility  

Learning Objectives:

Gain a solid understanding of important SAFe principles and develop a Lean-Agile mindset like successful Agile leaders 

Topics: 

  • The Lean-Agile Mindset  
  • SAFe Core Values
  • SAFe Lean-Agile Principles

Learning Objectives:

Learn how to manage cross-functional Agile teams and deliver ROI-driven results on a consistent basis.  

Topics: 

  • Forming Cross-Functional Agile Teams  
  • Built-In Quality  
  • Organizing Agile Release Trains around Flow of Value  

Learning Objectives:

Gain a solid understanding of important Agile Product Delivery metrics like PI Planning, Customer Centricity, and more. 

Topics: 

  • Customer Centricity and Design Thinking  
  • Prioritizing the Program Backlog  
  • PI Planning  
  • Develop on Cadence; Release on Demand  
  • Building a Continuous Delivery Pipeline with DevOps  

Learning Objectives:

Understand what goes behind a successful SAFe portfolio. Learn to maintain Portfolio vision catering to enterprise goal.  

Topics: 

  • Defining a SAFe Portfolio  
  • Connecting the Portfolio to Enterprise Strategy  
  • Maintaining the Portfolio Vision  
  • Realizing the Portfolio Vision through Epics   
  • Establishing Lean Budgets and Guardrails  
  • Establishing Portfolio Flow  

Learning Objectives:

Build the essential qualities that makes you a successful Agile leader. Lead by an example and be responsible for successful execution. 

Topics:  

  • Leading by Example  
  • Leading the Change  

Learning Objectives:

Get the skills to put your learnings into action. Implement SAFe to solve complex business challenges under the guidance of industry veterans.  

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THE SAFe® AGILIST TRAINING

Scaled Agile, Inc. Career Path

More FAQs on SAFe® Agilist Certification Training

Leading SAFe®

The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) is a complete methodology for large-scale Agile project teams to carry out an Agile transformation seamlessly. It provides a guide to work at the Portfolio, Large Solution, Program, and Team levels. After implementing SAFe®, businesses are yielding benefits that include:

  • 10 – 50% happier, more motivated employees
  • 30 – 75% faster time-to-market
  • 20 – 50% increase in productivity
  • 25 – 75% defect reduction

History of Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®)

Since its inception in 2011, Scaled Agile, Inc. has come up with 5 major updates to its SAFe® framework that reflect the changing industry needs. The latest upgrade is version 6.0, which introduces the ‘Seven Core Competencies’ of the Lean Enterprise. These competencies help SAFe® organizations in building a truly Lean enterprise, which is critical to achieving an advantage over your peers in an increasingly competitive age.

SAFe® consists of different roles at 4 levels of the organization. The responsibilities of the Scaled Agile (SAFe®) roles are as follows.


Team Level:

The roles at this level synchronize and coordinate with the team level events. This helps Agile teams develop and deliver a value in the context of the Agile Release Train (ART). The team level roles include-

  • Agile Team- A cross-functional team which includes Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Dev Team.
  • Development Team- A cross-functional team which includes testers, developers, and other specialists, delivers a vertical slice of functionality.
  • Product Owner- Responsible for prioritizing the blog and defining user stories.
  • Scrum Master- An Agile Team coach and servant leader who helps the team to facilitate team events, removes impediments and fosters an environment for high-performing teams.


Program Level:

The roles at the Program level keep the team aligned to a project goal and support the ARTs with the necessary governance. The roles include-

  • System Engineer- An individual that applies system thinking in the project
  • Product Management- They are responsible for the program backlog and work with the customers and product owners to understand the requirements.
  • Release Train Engineer- A chief Scrum Master and a servant leader who facilitates optimizing the flow of value using different mechanisms.
  • Business Owner- A small group of stakeholders who have the technical responsibility for ROI. 


Large Solution Level:

The roles at the Large solution level coordinate multiple supplier and ARTs and provide the required governance. The roles include-

  • Customer- The buyer of every solution.
  • Solution Architect/Engineering- A small team or an individual that defines a common architectural and technical vision for the solution under development.
  • Solution Management- Work with customers in order to understand their needs.
  • Solution Train Engineer- A coach and servant leader who guides and facilitates the suppliers and ARTs.
  • Supplier- An internal or external organization that builds and delivers the components, services, or subsystems.


Portfolio Level:

The roles at the Portfolio level coordinate at the multiple stream level and provide the highest level of governance and accountability.

  • Lean-Portfolio Management- Represents the individuals with the highest level of decision making and financial accountability.
  • Epic Owners- Coordinate portfolio epics via the portfolio Kanban systems
  • Enterprise Architect- Optimizes portfolio outcomes by providing the strategic technical direction.


Other supporting Roles:

  • System team- Helps in creating and using the Agile development environment.
  • Lean User Experience (Lean UX)- A process, culture, and mindset that embraces Lean-Agile methods.
  • Lean-Agile Leaders- Responsible for the successful adoption of SAFe®.

Scaled Agile is the certifying body for the Scaled Agile Framework or SAFe. It is a professional certification program that assesses the knowledge, skills, and mindset of professionals. Here are the various SAFe Certifications available from Scaled Agile:

  • Certified SAFe Agilist
  • These are SAFe enterprise leadership professionals who are a part of the Lean-Agile transformation. Prerequisites for this certification are:

    • Experience in Scrum
    • At least 5 years of experience in software development, testing, product or project management, and business analysis
    • Should have attended the Leading SAFe course
  • Certified SAFe Practice Consultant
  • These professionals are SAFe change agents leading all organizational levels through the Lean-Agile transformation by coaching, training, mentoring, and facilitation. The certification has the following requirements:

    • Should possess facilitation, time and classroom management skills
    • Sufficient Agile experience to be able to teach it to beginners
    • Technical skills to work with the workflows and processes
    • Should have attended the Implementing SAFe course
  • Certified SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager
  • This SAFe professional works with development organizations and customers to identify and prioritize requirements. The prerequisites for this certification program are:

    • Experience in Agile and Lean
    • Should have attended the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager course
  • Certified SAFe Scrum Master 
  • These are SAFe Scrum Master Professionals who integrate the Scrum practices into an organization. Here are the requirements for this certification program:

    • Hands-on, real-world experience working in an Agile-Lean environment
    • Should have attended the SAFe Scrum Master course
  • Certified SAFe Agile Product Manager

This certification combines the values and principles of Lean-Agile with design thinking for creating viable, sustainable, feasible, and desirable solutions and products. For this certification, you must have the following prerequisites:

    • Familiarity with the principles and practices of Agile
    • Completed at least one SAFe course
    • Background in solution or product management
    • Experience being a business owner, product marketer, product manager, or product owner
    • Certified SAFe Lean Portfolio Manager

    These professionals understand how to establish a strategy and investment fund, apply Lean governance and Agile portfolio operation, and build a plan for the implementation of Lean Portfolio Management. Here are the prerequisites for this certification:

    • An understanding of SAFe, strategy and funding models
    • Knowledge of value stream organization
    • Should have attended the Lean Portfolio Management course
    • Certified SAFe Release Train Engineer 
    • These are coaching professionals and program servant leaders who drive end-to-end delivery of value in a value stream or a single program of a Lean-Agile enterprise. Prerequisites for this program are as follows:

      • Skills for cross-team communication
      • Working knowledge of team dynamics
      • Knows how to use SAFe principles in action and can coach
      • Launch or participate in at least one Program Increment (PI) or ART
      • Minimum 3 months of hands-on, real-world experience as an RTE
      • Attend the SAFe Release Train Engineer Course
      • Certified SAFe Advanced Scrum Master

      These professionals are Scrum Masters who are responsible for improving the results of the team by facilitating relentless improvement and cross-team interactions. Here are the prerequisites for this certification program:

      • Hands-on experience in a Lean-Agile environment
      • Should have attended the SAFe Advanced Scrum Master course
    • Certified SAFe Architect

    These professionals are a change agent and an effective leader who delivers the Agile Architecture for enabling the creation of business value. The prerequisites for this program are:

    • Knowledge of the application of Lean-Agile principles
    • Should have attended the SAFe for Architects course
    • Certified SAFe Agile Software Engineer

    These professionals are responsible for applying test-first principles so that they can create alignment between requirements and test, communicate with Agile modelling, apply Lean-Agile principles, build applications with design and code quality, etc. You must satisfy the following requirements for this program:

    • Understand the SAFe framework
    • Have a background in development, engineering, quality assurance or managing development.
    • Should have attended the SAFe 6.0 Agile Software Engineering course
    • Certified SAFe Government Practitioner

    This program is for the SAFe change agent who uses the principles and practices of SAFe to execute and release value through Agile Release Trainings (ARTs) while leading a Lean-Agile transformation. The prerequisites for this certification are:

    • Foundational understanding of SAFe principles, House of Lean, and Agile Manifesto.
    • Understanding of the lifecycle of government technology programs.
    • Should have attended the SAFe Government course.
    • Certified SAFe DevOps Practitioner

    This is a SAFe professional who improves the flow of value throughout the Continuous Delivery Pipeline - from idea to the operational solution. Here are the prerequisites for this certification program:

    • Experience working in operations or development environment
    • Should have attended the SAFe 6.0 DevOps Practitioner course
    • Certified SAFe Practitioner

    They are SAFe team members responsible to use Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), and Kanban in a SAFe environment. Here are the prerequisites:

    • Familiarity with Scrum, XP, Kanban, concepts, and principles of Agile
    • Working knowledge of hardware and software development process
    • Should have attended the SAFe for Teams course

    Certified SAFe professionals are recognized globally for their knowledge of SAFe. Digital badges. Through these digital badges, they can share their online verifiable certifications online on digital signatures, social media sites, and email signatures. The badges include metadata describing the qualifications of a Certified SAFe professional.


    Scaled Agile is partnered with Acclaim for providing digital versions of SAFe certifications. Once the individual has earned their SAFe certification and set their Community Platform privacy reference for sharing their data with Acclaim, they will receive an email from Acclaim to claim their digital badge. All you have to do for activating the digital badge is click the link present in the email, make an account on the Acclaim, claim the badge, and share it through email or social media.

    There are no eligibility requirements for the Leading SAFe course. However, basic experience is recommended in software development and testing, product or project management, business analysis, and Scrum before you start the course. The course is created for professionals who want to better execute their roles in the SAFe organization. Here is the target audience for the Leading SAFe course:

    • Leaders and Executives (Directors, Managers, VPs, CIOs, etc.)
    • Experienced testers who want to get a better understanding of their roles
    • Project and Program Managers
    • QA, Development, and Infrastructure Management
    • Product Line Management
    • Process leads and PMOs
    • System, Solutions, and Enterprise Architects

    Scaled Agile announced a new version of the Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe 6.0 on the 15th March 2023. The updates in 6.0 are focused on six key areas:

    1. Strengthening the foundation for Business Agility
    2. Empowering teams and clarifying responsibilities
    3. Accelerating value flow
    4. Enhancing Business Agility with SAFe across the business
    5. Building the future with AI, Big Data, and Cloud
    6. Delivering better outcomes with measure and grow and OKRs

    SAFe® 6.0 provides highly efficient Lean-Agile methodologies, empowering enterprises to successfully navigate the constantly evolving challenges in today's business landscape.

    The SAFe Implementation Roadmap provides a strategy and a set of activities that can help in implementing SAFe successfully. Achieving the benefits of Lean/Agile development and business agility at scale takes a lot of effort. Before you can get the rewards of SAFe, your organization needs to embrace the Lean/Agile mindset and implement the Lean/Agile principles. And even though there are no perfect step-by-step instructions for implementation, the following 12 steps can help in getting the best results to the businesses:

    1. Recognize the tipping point
      Organizations must recognize once they have reached their tipping point, a point at which the only reasonable way forward is toward success. The reason for change will get so compelling that resisting it will be unacceptable
    2. Train Lean-Agile Change Agents
      All the Lean-Agile change agents will be trained as the Certified SAFe Practice Consultants who can offer the knowledge and horsepower to the business for implementing the change. 
    3. Train executives, managers, and leaders
      Implementing any change requires strong leadership. In the case of SAFe, some leaders will provide ongoing and direct sponsorship for the change as participants in the LACE (Lean-Agile Center of Excellence). Some others will be involved with implementing SAFe or leading, influencing, and managing the transformation. 
    4. Create a Lean-Agile Center of Excellence
      LACE is a team of people who are dedicated to the implementation of SAFe in the organization. This is among the key differences between companies that are committed to the practices of Lean-Agile and those who are practicing Agile just for the purpose of the name.
    5. Identify Value Streams and ARTs
      This requires an in-depth understanding of the organizational model that will be facilitating the flow of value through functional silos, boundaries, and activities.
    6. Create the Implementation Plan
      The newly trained Lean-Agile leaders will apply their new knowledge for identifying the strategies to implement the framework. This leads to the creation of the implementation plan. 
    7. Prepare for ART Launch
      This includes executing the activities required for the successful ART launch. SAFe Practice Consultants will lead this implementation. 
    8. Train teams and launch the ART
      This includes focusing on the Agile teams who will be creating the system needed by the organization.  
    9. Coach ART Execution
      By now, organizations will have made an investment in training stakeholders and developing SPC change agents in the new working ways. Now the time is for the Lean-Agile leaders to focus on what actually matters. This will start with ART-level and team-level coaching.
    10. Launch more ARTs and Value Streams
      This stage involves moving at an accelerated speed. The enterprise will launch more ARTs and value streams for consolidating gains and producing more change. The organization will be able to realize the complete benefits of SAFe. 
    11. Extend to the Portfolio
      With the success of the ARTs and value streams, the organization will be exposed to traditional and phase-gated processes that impede performance. This will put pressure on the portfolio triggering the need for more changes that can improve strategic flow.
    12. Accelerate
      This is the start of another journey that is based on relentless improvement. The emerging Lean enterprise will now have to start to create a new operating culture and model, one where the practices and principles of Lean and Agile are the norms. 

    Leading SAFe® Training

    The following individuals will benefit from SAFe® Agilist course:

    • Executives and Leaders, Managers, Directors, CIOs, and VPs
    • Development, QA, and Infrastructure Management personnel
    • Program and Project Managers
    • Product and Product Line Managers
    • Portfolio Managers, PMO, and Process Leads
    • Enterprise, System, and Solution Architects

    While there is no eligibility criterion for attending the workshop, participants who wish to take the SAFe® Agilist exam must have at least:

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

    Our SAFe® instructors have the practical understanding of how the framework is implemented within complex organizations as they have hands-on experience working in enterprises that are actively implementing Scaled Agile Framework in their pursuit of business agility. They provide participants with an exceptional training experience by combining leading-edge industry expertise with proven educational training methods. You will hugely benefit from their professional expertise and industrial experience. 

    No, there is no such Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) online training provided. The SAFe® 6 Agilist Certification requires in-depth knowledge of the SAFe® framework which you get from our certified experts who lead the workshop.

    SAFe® Agilist Exam

    The Scaled Agile Framework certification exam is an online test comprising of 45 multiple choice questions. Candidates will have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to complete the exam and must score a minimum of 36 questions right to pass the Leading SAFe® 6.0 exam and obtain your SAFe® Agilist certification.

    The Leading SAFe® 6 exam is really tough and if you lack experience in SAFe® implementation or Scrum then it becomes very difficult to crack the exam. It is highly recommended to practice SAFe® Agilist certification exam sample questions to pass the exam on your first attempt. You can take mock tests for practice purposes that have the same level of difficulty.

    Follow the steps below to access your course exam:

    • You are required to attend a Leading SAFe® 6.0 course after which you will receive an e-mail containing your login credentials to the SAFe® Community Platform
    • Log-in to your Community profile
    • Click the Learning tab in the top navigation menu
    • Go to the In Progress section
    • Select the Learning Plan tile for your course
    • Complete the feedback survey
    • Scroll to the bottom of the plan to locate the exam, then click the blue Launch button

    Candidates who have achieved 80% passing score (36/45) in the certification exam will receive the SAFe® Agilist Certification from Scaled Agile.

    First exam attempt is included as part of the course registration fee if the exam is taken within 30 days of course completion. Each retake attempt costs $50. Second attempt on exam (first retake) can be done immediately after first attempt. Third attempt requires a 10-day wait. Fourth attempt requires a 30-day wait.

    Follow the steps below to obtain your certificate on successful completion of your exam:

    • Login and click on My Profile on the upper-right bar
    • In the box at the right hand of My Profile, go to Manage Profile
    • Scroll down to Content & Features and choose Professional Development
    • Choose and click on the Certifications/Programs tab
    • Click on the certificate icon to the left of "Certification Name"
    • Once you have accessed your certificate, you can download and print it.

    SAFe® Agilist Certification

    A Certified SAFe® Agilist (SA) is a professional who has completed the Leading SAFe® certification and been successful in the Scaled Agile Framework certification test. By acquiring the SAFe® Agilist certification provided by Scaled Agile, Inc, you will be able to address the critical challenges of creating and delivering enterprise-level software and systems in the shortest time. It gives guidance for all levels of organizations that are actively involved in solution development: Portfolio, Program, Team, and Large Solutions. 

    Holding the SAFe® Agilist certification shows your proficiency in implementing lean thinking,  SAFe® Framework, and Product development flow principles in an organizational context. Our two-day Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) training course gives you practical experience of applying Scaled Agile Framework in large enterprises which is delivered by a SAFe® Practice Consultant, authorized by Scaled Agile, Inc.

    While it is easy to apply Lean/Agile principles at the team or department level, replicating these benefits at the enterprise level is often challenging due to the scale of the change. Organizations, therefore, rely on the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) that helps seamlessly carry out large-scale, multi-team transformations. SAFe® 6.0 Agilists are in much demand for their expertise in leading this change through carefully thought of program releases and identifying roles and structures required to scale Agile to the program level.

    Scaled Agile, Inc. is the provider of SAFe® which is one of the best-known frameworks for enterprise agility. SAFe® was initially released in 2011 by Dean Leffingwell as a knowledge base for enterprises to adopt Agile. It is the leading provider of SAFe® courses for implementing Agile practices at enterprise level. The SAFe® Agilist (SA) Certification is given to those who have undertaken the SAFe® 6.0 Agilist Certification Exam and received the passing score.

    The average salary of a Scaled Agile Certified SAFe® Agilist (SA) professional is $ 117,647 per year

    The Scaled Agile Framework certification cost is included in the SAFe® Agilist course fee.

    Step  1: Register for a 2-day course
    Attend 14-16 hours of training delivered by an authorized training partner.    

    Step 2: Get access to the exam

    • On successful completion of 2 days of training, you will be receiving the exam information directly from Scaled Agile.
    • Log in and you are ready to take the exam.

    Step 3: Take the exam

    • 1.5-hour online test
    • 45 MCQs
    • Closed-book exam

    Step 4: Pass the exam

    Score a minimum of 80% (36 out of 45) to pass the SAFe®️ Agilist test.

    Step 5: Get the SAFe®️ 6.0 Agilist Certification

    Scaled Agile, Inc. will dispatch your certificate within 5-7 business days with a 1-year membership after passing the exam.


    Ready to take up the certification? Click here

    SAFe® 6.0 Agilist certification renewal needs to be done every 1 year. You need to pay $100 to extend the credential for a further 1 year from the date of your current expiration.

    PDUs & SEUs

    SEUs are Scrum Educational Units, issued by the Scrum Alliance. 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 Scrum. To maintain your certification from Scrum Alliance, you are required to earn a certain number of SEUs every two years.

    PDUs and SEUs are credits awarded by the Project Management Institute and Scrum Alliance respectively. They recognize your dedication to the Project Management and the Agile world through the award of credits for every educational effort you make throughout your career. Scrum Alliance members who hold a credential from Scrum Alliance need to earn SEUs to get recertified every two years. Every PMI® certification, except the CAPM®, requires you to earn a specific number of PDUs per three-year certification cycle in order to maintain your credentials.

    Yes, you will get 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs toward your continuing education requirements with the Project Management Institute (PMI)® for PMP® and PMI-ACP® certifications.