Which of the 3 SAFe Certifications is Right For You?

So you’ve decided to explore official certification in Scaled Agile Framework for Enterprise (SAFe). That’s awesome! You won’t regret it.

But, we’re going to be perfectly honest with you. This is an investment in more ways than one, and it’s going to take time and effort on your part to get the most out of it. So before you jump in with both feet, it makes sense to review your options and determine which Agile certification is right for you and your organization’s goals.

1. SAFe Practitioner (SP) Certification

Preparing and training for the SP certification will offer a well-rounded, thorough foundation in all things Agile for team members, managers, or anyone else directly involved in leading or carrying out Agile development. It also serves as an excellent basis for accelerated training as part of a strategic career path within an Agile environment, as SP certification (or an equivalent) is often a recommended prerequisite to higher-level certifications for management, training and coaching positions.

According to Scaled Agile Academy , the SAFe Practitioner certification program validates knowledge in applying SAFe ScrumXP (Scrum, Lean, and XP inspired practices) in an enterprise context to prepare for the adoption of the Scaled Agile Framework at the team and program levels.

cPrime offers the SAFe ScrumXP for Teams course as preparatory training for the SP certification.

2. SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) Certification

The SPC certification illustrates an Agile practitioner’s qualifications to launch Agile release trains and train those who want to become SAFe Practitioners and Agilists. It’s recommended that a candidate for SPC certification already be certified as an SP or equivalent, and have at least three years’ experience in an Agile development environment.

According to Scaled Agile Academy, the SAFe Program Consultant Training and Certification course is for internal Agile change agents and external consultants. It provides the tools to implement Agile programs to launch Agile Release Trains as part of an enterprise Lean|Agile change initiative.

cPrime provides the full SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) Training and Certification Course in preparation for SPC certification.

3. SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner (PM/PO) Certification

The training preceding the PM/PO certification exam is designed specifically with Agile management in mind as it focuses on leading the SAFe charge in the enterprise from a product manager or product owner role. It focuses primarily on enterprise backlog management, delivering features in the enterprise, and stakeholder management as it relates to a scaling Agile. It’s highly recommended that students seeking out the PM/PO certification already hold SPC certification.

According to Scaled Agile Academy, the Product Owner/ Product Manager Certification program consists of an overview of the Scaled Agile Framework ™, training for Product Managers and Product Owners, and an optional PM/PO Certification exam.

cPrime offers the SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner course along with the optional certification exam.

If you’re still not sure which Agile certification you want to – or should – pursue, give us a call and we’ll be delighted to help you decide.