What Is SAFe Certification?

Numerous certificates have shown to be very beneficial to the Project Management and IT sector. These certifications range from entry-level to intermediate, executive, and advanced levels. The demand for ScaledAgile Frameworks increased as a result of recent observations showing that firms are required to update their Agile training. 

A company's ability to adapt quickly depends on its employees' ability to lead change. You could wish to look for new employment options outside of your current employer or advance in your existing role. You will be able to contribute significantly to company change by gaining a SAFe certification, which will broaden your skill set.

What Is SAFe? Uncovering The Fundamentals For Agile

Scale Agile. Inc. has created this SAFe certification. With more than a third of businesses utilizing SAFe best practices in some amount for better results in projects, it is currently the most frequently utilized framework available.

Businesses that use SAFe adhere to workflow patterns that are based on lean and agile principles. Companies require a direct method to scale agile across their organization to accomplish project and strategic goals. This idea came from the field of software development, but it is now applied to many different divisions in both government and commercial organizations.

Instead of attempting to manage a project randomly, firms look to SAFe as a well-established, tried-and-true framework. 

The Path To SAFe Certification

Gaining a SAFe certification that meets your needs as a professional can be done in the following ways:

1. Fulfill The Requirements

Most of the SAFe certification levels do not require professional or academic experience. It is recommended by most courses, that users having several years of expertise with software programming or agile frameworks is enough, as the certificates concentrate on understanding a particular framework. 

Further specialized certificates, such as those for Scrum masters or developers, may also have different requirements for expertise. Firstly, finish your education and get experience in software development, especially utilizing agile frameworks to create enterprise solutions, if obtaining one of these certificates is your objective.

2. Decide On A Certification

Many certificates that concentrate on various SAFe components are available from Scaled Agile, Inc. and outside organizations, selecting the best certification will advance your professional abilities. A more comprehensive approach for executives and other stakeholders may be taken by some certification programs, while others may concentrate on particular jobs and tools for engineers. 

You may want to investigate networking with other agile professionals in your sector to find out what credentials they found helpful in their jobs to help you decide which certification is best for your intended career path. If your professional objectives change, you might obtain a new certification in a different field because you can hold numerous qualifications simultaneously.

3. Prepare For The Exams

Certification tests are frequently given in addition to seminars or classes taught by qualified professionals. You may take a course over a few days or weeks, in person or online, depending on the certifying association. You can acquire the knowledge and abilities required to pass your certification exam with the aid of these programs. 

4. Take your test

SAFe certification exams are multiple-choice and time-bound, your experience may vary depending on the organization giving the test. Exams may be taken online or in person, and different organizations have different policies on exam retakes. Some only let you repeat exams several times or for a price. You can obtain your certification upon passing your exam. You may need to renew your certification every year or every few years, depending on the organization you enroll in.

Click here to learn more about SAFe Certification Path.

The Levels Of SAFe Certifications

1. Team Level 

Among the several team roles SAFe covers are Product Owner, Agile Team (developers, testers), and Scrum Master. The foundation layer for the entire framework is this level. Delivering value at the team level is the goal of this level. At this level, teams usually use frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, Scrumban, or XP that guarantee a better product after each sprint. 

2. Program Level

The Program Level is the layer that sits above the team level and has the ART idea. At this stage, the system team works with the release train engineers, BA, DevOps, and system architects. The two leading teams are the System and DevOps teams. Working toward the objective of conducting a development environment while constructing a development infrastructure is the responsibility of the system team. In addition, the team facilitates test automation and is in charge of staging the system sprint demo.

3. Portfolio Level

Portfolio level raises the bar once more regarding delivering on the enterprise's key strengths. Program portfolio management, enterprise architecture, and epic owners are among the jobs that make up this level. Although these jobs are involved at this level, no strict rules apply. 

4. Value Stream Layer

The scaled agile framework has three levels listed above; however, SAFe version 4.0 adds an extra class. To guarantee that clients receive high-quality products, it is the level where ARTs and program teams collaborate. A company's ability to compete effectively depends mainly on its value stream level. 

Why is Earning A SAFe Certification Important?

For any professional looking to help their firm succeed in the digital age, and for self-improvement, obtaining a SAFe certification training is a crucial step. Obtaining a SAFe certification is important for several reasons:

• Participating In Professional Development 

As part of your professional growth at your current job, you can enroll in classes and obtain SAFe certifications. Because professional development for engineers and developers can boost workplace satisfaction and improve outcomes, several team leads and managers in the software business place a strong emphasis on it. Gaining an understanding of the structure within which your corporate solutions are built can aid with tool optimization and boost productivity.

• Presenting A Revised Framework

It may be advantageous for your company to become SAFe certified if it switches from another agile framework. Building on your current framework knowledge and applying your talents to SAFe can be facilitated by enrolling in a certification program for programmers or managers. Your certifying organization may provide you with training resources upon course completion, either temporarily or permanently, to aid your team in the transition to the new framework.

• Taking Up A New Position

You can enroll in more SAFe courses to gain knowledge and abilities that you can use in your new role if you are moving within a software team or department. For instance, if you are a project manager and you have already obtained a SAFe certification for project engineers, you may need to complete additional training to obtain another certification. Your job progression may be aided by the variety of certificates that you can obtain new ones as you move through the ranks.

• Applying For Jobs

SAFe certifications can help you stand out as a candidate at many firms because SAFe is a widely utilized agile framework. Obtaining one or more certifications helps demonstrate to hiring managers your ability to make the most of SAFe's tools and develop unique solutions for their company. Additionally, it can show hiring managers that you're dedicated to lifelong learning, which is a valuable quality. Frequently, certification organizations offer a badge that you can add to your email signature. You might be added to a directory of certified professionals, which recruiters may use to identify suitable candidates for open positions, depending on the certifying body.

How does SAFe update Your Skill Set?

Different questions come to your mind while looking for a SAFe certification, like Why is SAFe the most unique Agile certification of all? Why has it evolved into the preferred scalable agile framework that major corporations use to spearhead change? In what way will it enhance your current skill set? There are answers to each of these inquiries. Let's explore each point in detail:

1. Agile Adoption Goes More Smoothly In Larger Companies

Agile is well-suited for smaller businesses, therefore, putting it into practice in smaller companies is relatively easy. Although leading Agile transformations is a great undertaking, it becomes comparatively simple when you use SAFe. You can acquire the knowledge and abilities required to support the seamless implementation of SAFe in sizable enterprises by leading SAFe certification.

2. Detailed Knowledge Of The New Responsibilities In Agile Environments 

As your organization adopts SAFe agile, you must establish and adjust new roles. It will be challenging if people need to learn how to develop new roles. With the SAFe agile certification, you'll learn about new jobs as well as ones that require modification.

3. Cut Down On Obstacles, Delays, And Failures

This is a typical sight in larger companies where numerous teams implement Agile internally. Nevertheless, they need to improve when they band together and function as a cohesive team. There are innumerable delays, obstacles, and failures resulting from this. Before things get out of hand, a steady, elegant strategy is required to prevent such an accident. Becoming a SAFe Agilist will equip you to handle any obstacles or issues.

Have more questions? Explore additional FAQs about Leading SAFe for further insight

Become A SAFe Certified Professional- A Key To Your Agile Framework Career 

Becoming a SAFe Agilist is made easier with the Simpliaxis Leading SAFe 6.0 certification and training. Scaling organizations require the application of the Scaled Agile framework, which is the responsibility of a SAFe agile specialist. Companies with cross-functional teams and extensive infrastructure now employ Agile techniques instead of small teams. A person's knowledge is enhanced by the Leading SAFe certification. With the Scale Agile framework, you may discover many approaches that can improve employee satisfaction, increase productivity, improve product quality, and shorten time-to-market.

Also, Check:All About SAFe Agilist® Certification 

The Bottom Line

The quickest and least expensive method for implementing Agile techniques at scale throughout your company is to use the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). The framework is a collection of guidelines that provide organized advice on duties and responsibilities, job planning and management, and values to be upheld. Earning the SAFe Certification can boost your value in a competitive job market, improve your chances of landing a top job, and lead to career advancement. Completing this SAFe certification program can lead to many more advantages.