Introduction

When does education truly stop? Is it after you finish school? Or after you get out of college? Or after you get a hang of the job that you have decided to pursue as a career? The truth is all these are mere milestones in our pursuit of knowledge.

Education cannot and should not ever stop as we carry on with our lives. The schooling system was designed to keep us abreast of the knowledge required to sustain ourselves in the world at any given time. This was ideal in a world where advancements were slow and few and far in between.

However, this system of learning is outdated in the present world where technological advancements are made every other day. One would be deemed ancient for falling out of the grid for a mere period of two to five years.

Such has been the rampant growth of technology ever since the advent of the computer further fueled by the coming of the internet. In this day and age, there is a constant need to be updated about the latest processes and tools available to run and keep up with the growing demands of the world.

This has led to the creation of a series of certifications available to working professionals to keep updated.

Professionals looking to get better job prospects are simply better adequate at handling their responsibilities and partake in them to keep up with these changes that are taking place. Certifications such as SPC certification, SSM certification, and, PMP certification, for example, have gained a lot of popularity over the years.

The systems by which organizations run are constantly being innovated to make them more and more efficient. One such system is scaled Agile. This system has been curated for software development processes and being adept at this is vital to keep up with the ever-evolving world of technology.

The use of this framework has been wide spread right from the onset. One of the reasons for this the fact that the base software employed for this is open-source. This has been widely adopted by organizations who curate it to their specific needs and hence is become a norm in the market right now.

What is SAFe?

SAFe is nothing but a form of Scaled Agile framework intended to guide scaling lean and agile practices. This is a set of patterns and instructions that help guide the process. It is like LeSS, DAD, and Nexus.

It is aimed at avoiding any problems that may arise when scaling is performed by multiple teams as opposed to one team. It is intended to ensure efficiency when multiple teams collaborate on a single project and ensure that alignment is maintained and delivery is not affected.

The system itself is developed by collaborating on three existing systems: agile software development, lean product development, and systems thinking. The framework is made available free of charge by Scaled Agile, Inc.

This was developed because agile approaches generally work for small groups; however, most organizations operate with multiple teams amongst whom the work is distributed. However, such a large-scale transition into a highly efficient system leads to vulnerabilities.

This was pointed out in the supply chain crisis that happened during the COVID pandemic, with many common products facing a huge surge in demand due to the break-in of a model of high efficiency.

This is why the SAFe framework is required to ensure such a transition happens smoothly. Therefore, we can say that SAFe serves the purpose of increasing efficiency. ServSAFe can help optimize the systems within an organization.

Why Get SAFe Certifications?

SAFe framework offers organizations a robust action plan to implement Agile transition with ease. This is because the framework provides project managers with the ability to coordinate and communicate on projects and ensure smooth execution across multiple teams. It is especially beneficial to newer organizations that are looking to introduce lightweight methods into their systems.

This framework can enable a professional to have a broader perspective and help them boost their decision-making skills, which can, in turn, help them clear inefficiencies faster.

These reasons have made a trained professional in this arena invaluable to an organization. Recruiters are constantly on the lookout for a well-trained individual in this arena. Clearing SAFe certification requirements can help prove one’s competence in operating in this sphere. It can help demonstrate the fact that one is well versed in the operation and implementation of this framework.

Getting SAFe certifications can therefore boost your career prospects to a good extent. This makes it an ideal upskilling certification for professionals operating in Agile systems. If a professional working in Agile has the required skills, such as leadership and communication, and the ability to multitask and coordinate with others, then a SAFe certification is the right step forward.

This can make the professional highly sought-after by recruiters and also ensure that they are compensated for the skills that they inherently possess. Furthermore, this can make one highly valuable to their team and their organization, which can aid both job satisfaction and job security.

Therefore, if you are a professional operating in Agile and feel that you possess the relevant skills, then SAFe certifications are the right way forward for you.

Getting a good SAFe Agile certification can rejuvenate your career and help expand your horizons. SAFe certifications have therefore become the gateway to a better career for professionals involved in the process of software development.

Top SAFe Certifications in 2024

While it is very hard to determine if one certification is better than another, it can be accepted that some certifications are more sought-after than others. This can be due to factors like compensation offered and demand from recruiters, as well as general market trends and demands. Based on those factors, this list has been put together.

However, the level of dedication and skills of the individual professional will always outweigh these factors, and therefore, while this is a guide, it is up to the professional to make the best use of the certifications. Here are some of the top SAFe certifications available. These SAFe certifications are the most popular and in-demand certifications available to professionals right now.

• Leading SAFe Agilist 5.0

This is the ideal choice for professionals who believe that they possess the ability to incorporate Agile practices successfully. It helps you gain a clear understanding of the fundamentals of SAFe as well as the prudence behind its practices. This can help you contribute to your organization in matters of efficient processes.

This will enable you to formulate a plan of action to keep ahead of market competition. It also helps you optimize the approaches taken towards commodities and portfolios for higher efficiency. It will leave you well versed in the world of Agile quality management methods.

This SAFe 5 certification is very popular and, hence, one of the most easily recognized SAFe certifications. It will provide you with the necessary SAFe agile training to facilitate jumping into this arena.

• CSM certification for Scrum master

This is a two-day program aimed at ensuring that the professional learns clearly the roles and responsibilities of a Scrum master in an ideally managed organization. The CSM, or Certified Scrum Master, certification is for those looking to push further in the field of agile systems.

It helps examine the practical role performed by Scrum masters in a business environment. This certification will help you understand scrum from a well-organized organizational perspective. It will help you learn how to implement an iteration schedule. This, in turn, leads to the accomplishment of effective iteration.

This can further help promote scrum activities. This will also help support unabated change as well as the successful operation of software increments. This is a good introduction to DevOps as well. This will leave the individual in good standing to mentor their teams in order to achieve full market performance.

The SAFe scrum master certification can help you become a quality Scrum master that aids your organization. It is one of the best SAFe certifications available to professionals today.

• SAFe for DevOps certification

This is a more complex course and is not recommended for beginners. This can help develop the management of responsibility in areas requiring continuous exploration, deployment, and integration. This is achieved with the rate of flow of values and the operational solution.

This will help one develop a work process, backed by a thought process, curated to build system flows that are capable of providing continuous security, continuous testing, and release on demand. This is achieved with improvements in functionality as well as quality. This will further enable the professional to gain a vision that helps them understand how to create a culture of shared responsibility across streams.

This is achieved by an approach based on collaboration aimed at achieving DevOps transformation within any given firm. This complex level of knowledge imparted does not make it ideal for anyone pursuing it as an add-on certification.

It is more suited for professionals aspiring to become Scrum leads, release train engineers, scrum masters, business analysts, consultants, architects, Developers, Agile coaches, and directors. It is therefore recommended that those pursuing this certification have some experience working in agile environments. It is one of the tougher SAFe certifications to get into, but it can leave you with a clearer understanding of the framework. 

• SAFe for product owners

This is the SAFe POPM or POPM certification. This is aimed at aiding the successful implementation of software. It helps foster the company-side handling of the product. It is aimed at accredited SAFe product owners and managers.

It can train you to be able to offer expertise in alignment with the product vision and, in the process, help refine backlogs. It helps you adopt the right agile direction in order to accomplish agile tasks swiftly. It helps you formulate a strategy for the organization aimed at helping you stay ahead of the market.

Helps shortlist approaches required for gaining crucial information on SAFe and scrum. Helps get involved with end-user objectives and stockholder principles. It helps to get completely familiar with the right approaches in business to be able to occupy the seat of product owners and managers.

• SAFe advanced scrum master certification

This is aimed at professionals who have good experience in SAFe system basics and scaled agile Scrum systems and have on-hand experience as a scrum master specialist. This enables you to become familiar with events that enable a highly engaging development process. This is for professionals looking to handle more responsibilities.

It will empower you to remain ahead of the competition by establishing joint plans for teams. You will be able to optimize methods that will lead to crucial information about SAFe and Scrum. You will be able to engage in quality development by coming up with agile strategies.

This will put you in good stead with the company, as you will be able to extend the growth rates for end consumers as well as partners. This certification will provide you with the opportunity to study some of the best techniques and methods employed in the industry for the successful implementation of professional scrum master duties.

Other SAFe certifications to consider-

• SAFe for government
• SAFe for teams
• Implementing SAFe
• SAFe release train engineer

Choosing the Right SAFe Certification

It is important to remember that one cannot decide on the basis of comparing certifications next to each other. What might be a great certification for you might not be so for another individual.

It is therefore important to understand that the best SAFe certification for you is not necessarily the best SAFe certification available.

One must ensure that one understands their position and roles within an organization as well as the skills one possesses while choosing a certification. The right course for you must align with the current function you are employed for as well as the future goals that you have set for yourself.

Therefore, the first step is to assess yourself and clearly understand what each of the different courses available has to offer.

For fresh beginners who do not have any prior SAFe experience, there are six certifications available that do not require such prior experience. These are, SAFe for government, Leading SAFe, SAFe for Teams, SAFe DevOps, Implementing SAFe, and SAFe Scrum Master. Among these choices, the best one for you will depend on your preferences and the skills you are curated towards.

Leading SAFe is the most popular course and is one of the most widely recognized certifications in this sphere. This is especially recommended for those with leadership experience. This is ideal for those looking to learn SAFe thoroughly.

SAFe Scrum Master Class is the right certification for aspiring and existing scrum masters. This is intended to further develop your skills in the arena and make you adept at handling more.

SAFe for teams is designed in a way that can help any new individuals to the process initiate their journey into the world of Agile development, as this may seem alien to anyone accustomed to other systems of development.

SAFe DevOps while available to beginners, is more complex than the other courses. For professionals with no prior experience, the learning required for this certification would be higher.

However, for professionals who are seriously considering immersing themselves in SAFe agile as well as for those looking to build a business case for SAFe, SAFe DevOps is a solid starting ground.

Conclusion

Upskilling is a growing phenomenon amongst working professionals in an effort to keep abreast of advancements, remain relevant in the evolving world of technology, and remain sought after by recruiters.

The SAFe framework is a guideline with wide applications and is therefore in demand in a large number of organizations that operate in scaled agile. It would be prudent for any professional working in scaled agile and looking to grow their career to consider getting one of the many available SAFe certifications.

This is because a quality-trained professional in this arena is highly sought after by recruiters. This can help expand your horizons as well as open a plethora of options in terms of compensation and the workplace. Any professional who believes they have the relevant skills must therefore consider these certifications mindfully.

Clearing these certification requirements is no easy task, though. To ensure the competence of professionals in clearing the requirements, the governing body ensures that the certification cannot be cleared without a clear understanding of the concepts involved.

Therefore, it is highly advised to seek the help of a training body in pursuit of these certifications. Sprintzeal, a leading training provider for professionals, would be an ideal destination for anyone considering clearing these certifications.

With well-experienced faculty and a well-thought-out course plan as well as course materials, Sprintzeal can be the right partner to accompany you on this journey of getting certified. Don’t wait anymore and join Sprintzeal now and get your SAFe agile certification today!

Here are some interesting articles to learn more about –

SCRUM VS SAFE – DIFFERENCES EXPLAINED

AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPLAINED

Here are some courses for you to check out –

Leading SAFe® Agilist 5.0 Certification Training

CSM Certification - Scrum Master Certification Training