With the increasing growth of organizations, SAFe is used by most organizations of all sizes and kinds. SAFe is the most effective and beneficial instrument for revamping modern organizations. SAFe has proven to be a reliable, easily adjustable, and sustainable framework, making it the most secure for organizations.

Nowadays, most businesses strive for business agility in the competitive commerce sector. Because of the productive benefits they derive from the Agile Approach, organizations are considering scaling Agile to all teams to achieve company-wide agility. To grow, organizations want their employees to be certified in addition to receiving SAFe® training.

Key Components of SAFe

The critical components of SAFe are as follows: 

  • Agile Release Train
  • Development Value Streams
  • Cadence and Synchronization
  • Inspect and Adapt
  • Lean-Agile Leadership
  • IP Iteration
  • Customer Centricity
  • Release on Demand
  • Lean-Agile Principles

What Is SAFe Agilist?

A SAFe Agilist can constructively apply Product Development Flow, Agile, and Lean principles. These professionals know how to implement the Scaled Agile Framework and reap its benefits within a company, enabling the team or organization to accomplish its objectives. They enhance time to market, quality, employee satisfaction, productivity, and employee satisfaction.

What Are the Prerequisites for Becoming a SAFe Agilist?

To become a successful SAFe agilist, you must have a preset skill set. Before you get started with a certification course to become a certified SAFe agilist, you should have the following prerequisites: 

  • At least five years of professional experience in project or product management, business analysis, testing, or software development is recommended. 
  • Candidates should know Scrum roles, instances, objects, and best practices. Candidates who previously worked alongside or in Scrum teams can relate to and improve on their previous Agile expertise while learning SAFe. 
  • Completing the SAFe Agilist (SA) certification course is usually a two-day training event led by a SAFe Program Consultant (SPC). This training covers the SAFe concepts and procedures. 
  • Successfully clearing the SAFe Agilist exam. This exam is often taken online, and a passing score is required for certification.

Roles and Responsibilities of SAFe Agilist

As a SAFe agilist, you must fulfill specific roles and responsibilities daily. Here are some of the responsibilities of a SAFe agilist. 

  • To help implement and constantly enhance the framework throughout the organization. 
  • To encourage the use of engineering best principles to improve the delivery and quality of products. 
  • To teach Lean-Agile techniques and concepts to teams and Agile Release Trains (ARTs). 
  • To leverage the Continuous Delivery Pipeline to back DevOps and Release on Demand.
  • To lead the company through the change management procedure and the SAFe transformation.
  • To promote coordination and cooperation between Agile Release Trains and teams.
  • To guide teams and managers on SAFe responsibilities, practices, and concepts to create a sustainable agile organization.
  • To lead team planning sessions for program increments (PIs) and bring everyone together towards a common goal.
  • To help monitor execution and progression using a range of tools and KPIs.
  • To recognize, deal with, and closely collaborate with teams to eliminate roadblocks that hamper Agile progress.
  • To guide fellow Agile professionals, help them develop their Agile skills, and build an evolving culture.
  • To conduct various SAFe events, including workshops on inspecting and adapting systems and system demos.

How to Get a SAFe Agilist Certification?

What is SAFe agilist certification and how to get a SAFe agilist certification are the most asked questions. SAFe Agilist certification helps agile professionals enhance their skills and job roles. To get a SAFe Agilist certification, one must know the following requirements:

Years of Experience

Most courses advise users to have a few years of expertise with software development or agile frameworks because the certificates focus on mastering a particular framework. Thus, the first step is to finish college and acquire expertise in software development, specifically in creating enterprise solutions using agile frameworks.

Choosing a Certification 

Selecting the best certification will help you advance your career prospects. Many platforms provide a broad selection of certificates that emphasize various SAFe topics. You may want to network with other agile professionals in your sector to find the best certification for your intended career path. 

Exam Preparation

Certification examinations often take place with lectures or workshops offered by an established professional on a recognized platform. Depending on the certification course, you may take a course offline or online over a period of days or weeks. These courses help you in gaining the knowledge and abilities required to complete your certification exam successfully. 

Appear for the Certification Exam

Each certification platform has different policies regarding test retakes and whether the tests will be taken online or in person. For some, you might have to pay a fee for the test retake. You can obtain your certification upon passing your exam. Your certification may need to be renewed annually or every few years, based on the platform you join. 

How Does SAFe Certification Benefit an Individual's Career?

With the help of a well-designed and accredited SAFe certification, individuals can get the following benefits in their careers:

  • Reduced obstacles, failures, and latency during SAFe deployment.
  • Make adjustments to shifting organizational paradigms.
  • Discover the new responsibilities within the agile organization.
  • A recognized certification enables you to work globally with valid credentials.
  • Improved decision-making at the managerial level.
  • Facilitates the application of lean finance and lean portfolio management to streamline implementation and maintenance.
  • SAFe Agilist certification sets you apart from the competition and certifies your knowledge of the SAFe approach.

The Future of SAFe

SAFe is a diligent framework for managing projects and developing software, but for it to function well, significant amounts of data, code, details, etc., must be maintained. In the coming years, the future use of SAFe will appear bright and progressive, with new technologies like cloud computing, automation, network management, and more. 

With the growing number of SAFe applications, organizations are looking for highly trained SAFe agilists. To grow as a SAFe agilist, one should sign up for SAFe® 6 Scrum Master (SSM) Certification Training and earn that foundational knowledge to grow professionally. If you want a 2-day extensive preparation for the SAFe Agile certification, register for SAFe Certification: Leading SAFe® 6 Training with SAFe Agile Certification. 

FAQs

1. What is the difference between a SAFe Agilist and a Scrum Master?

A SAFe Agilist promotes Agile principles, concepts, and practices at the corporate level. Conversely, a Scrum Master is a position inside the Scrum framework. The Scrum Master's primary responsibility is to ensure the effectiveness of one Scrum team. 

2. How difficult is the SAFe Agilist exam?

The SAFe Agilist test is generally quite challenging to pass. You must have hands-on expertise with agile frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, and Lean and apply your theoretical understanding to real-world challenges.

3. Who can do SAFe Agilist certification?

Students must have a high school diploma or an undergraduate degree. Additionally, it is suggested that you have a minimum of five years of expertise in business analysis, project management, software development, or testing.

4. Can I take the SAFe exam without training?

Acquiring certification requires more than just self-study. To become a certified SAFe Agilist, you must complete an accredited training program and pass the certification exam. 

5. Can a Scrum Master be a SAFe Agilist?

Yes, a Scrum Master can be a SAFe agilist with a proper SAFe Agilist certification course and examination. 

Recommended Reads