Certified SAFe Agilist (SA) vs Certified SAFe Practitioner (SP)

Enterprise Agility may be outlined as the power to compete and thrive within the digital age by shortly responding to market adjustments and rising alternatives with progressive, digitally enabled enterprise options. As organizations try to attain enterprise agility, they discover they’re shortly outgrowing small-team Agile and want to determine on an strategy to scale to the enterprise. Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) for Lean Enterprises is a information base of confirmed, built-in rules, practices, and competencies for reaching enterprise agility utilizing Lean, Agile, and DevOps. It has a number of ranges to which one can scale from Important to Full SAFe®.

As a result of its scalability and its variety of roles and ceremonies, corporations are more and more anticipating staff members to not solely be educated in SAFe® but in addition change into licensed. Since SAFe® is the most well-liked type of Scaled Agile, it’s smart to contemplate changing into licensed on this framework. 

This article will examine and distinction two certification – Licensed SAFe® Agilist (SA) vs Licensed SAFe® Practitioner (SP). Please word that you simply can not ‘check out’ for both of those certifications however should attend courses.

Licensed SAFe® Agilist

That is the certification that I acquired after I first began venturing into SAFe®. My certificates says “A Licensed SAFe® 5 Agilist (SA) is a SAFe® enterprise management skilled who’s a part of a Lean-Agile transformation. Key areas of competency embrace the appliance of Lean-Agile rules, execution and launch of worth by means of Agile Launch Trains (ARTs) and constructing an Agile portfolio with Lean-Agile budgeting.” 

So, whereas it’s a excellent entry level and covers SAFe® completely, there isn’t a particular prescribed position aside from ‘management’ and being a part of the team, particularly one concerned as a part of a Lean-Agile transformation.

Stipulations

Main SAFe® /SAFe® Agilist Certification Course; 5+ years’ expertise in software program improvement, testing, enterprise evaluation, product, or venture administration; experience in Scrum. 

Main SAFe® is a two-day course. Costs range however they are typically lower than $1,000 USD. Attendees talk about easy methods to set up staff and technical agility and manage and re-organize across the circulate of worth. There are additionally workouts for supporting a key ceremony known as PI Planning. College students additionally start to know easy methods to implement a Lean Portfolio Administration perform of their enterprise

Key areas of competency

• Apply SAFe® to scale Lean and Agile improvement within the enterprise 
• Apply Lean-Agile Mindset and rules 
• Plan and efficiently execute Program Increments 
• Execute and launch worth by means of Agile Launch Trains 
• Construct an Agile portfolio with Lean-Agile budgeting 

Examination particulars

Within the writer’s expertise, the examination is troublesome however not as troublesome as, for instance, the Mission Administration Skilled® exam. Some questions could also be situational however total, they need to guarantee that you simply perceive the framework and its underlying rules.  

The examination may be taken any time after the category is accomplished however ideally ought to be taken inside 30 days. It’s a non-proctored, closed-book, multiple-choice examination which may be accessed on-line throughout the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform.  

Candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to finish the examination. There are 45 questions and passing rating is 77% or 35 appropriate. At the moment the examination is simply offered in English. The first examination try is included as a part of the course registration price if the examination is taken inside 30 days in fact completion. Every retake try prices $50 USD.  

Retake coverage – Second try on examination (first retake) may be performed instantly after the first try. The third try requires a 10-day waiting interval. The fourth try requires a 30-day waiting interval. (It isn’t uncommon for corporations offering such exams to impose longer ready durations for those who fail. They need to provide you with extra time to check.) 

Pattern query

A number of pattern questions are offered on-line by Scaled Agile Framework. It is a typical SA query from their pool: 

What does SAFe® Precept #three, “Assume variability; protect choices,” allow? 

• Specification traceability 
• Higher financial outcomes 
• Stronger Definition of Completed 
• Up entrance design of techniques 

The reply is ‘Higher financial outcomes.’ 

Examination examine supplies

• Course supplies – The course supplies are a necessary artifact from the course and may be downloaded from the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform. 
• Research information – This information particulars the job position and all sources associated to the examination, together with an in depth studying listing. Entry is offered by means of the Studying Plan within the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform upon course completion. 
• Apply check – The follow check is designed to be predictive of success on the certification examination and it has the identical variety of questions, degree of issue, and time period. It’s a part of the Studying Plan within the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform and may be taken a vast variety of instances for gratis. This isn’t the precise examination and passing it doesn’t assure success on the certification examination. 
• Pattern Questions – An online-enabled, flashcard type model of the pattern questions may be discovered on-line and within the examine information

What you get

Certification contains: 

• Licensed SAFe® Agilist PDF certificates. 
• Licensed SAFe® Agilist digital badge to advertise your accomplishment on-line. 
• One-year membership to the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform, which incorporates entry to the SA Neighborhood of Apply. 
• Entry to Meetup teams and occasions that join you with different SAFe® licensed professionals. 
• A wide range of studying sources to assist you throughout your SAFe® journey. 

Licensed SAFe® Practitioner (SP)

The SA certificates is just not designed for any particular role however is extra foundational. The SP certificate gives the abilities wanted to change into a high-performing staff member on an Agile Launch Practice (ART) and collaborate with different groups. As with the SA certification, you should first attend a two-day course. You can not ‘check out.’ Certification expires one yr from the date it is earned.  

Attendees additionally discover ways to write consumer tales, plan and execute Iterations, and expertise a PI Planning occasion. Attendees be taught concerning the Steady Supply Pipeline, the significance of a DevOps tradition, easy methods to successfully combine with different groups on the ART, and what it takes to repeatedly enhance. 

Key areas of competency

• Clarify SAFe® Agile Rules 
• Plan Iterations 
• Plan Program Increments 
• Execute Iterations and exhibit worth 
• Enhance Agile Launch Practice processes 
• Combine and work with different groups on the Agile Launch Practice 
• Carry out as a member of an Agile Crew on an Agile Launch Practice 

Stipulations:

• SAFE® For Groups two-day course; familiarity with Scrum, Kanban, and XP; familiarity with Agile ideas and rules; working information of software program or hardware improvement processes

Examination particulars

The examination may be taken any time after the category is accomplished however ideally ought to be taken inside 30 days. It’s a non-proctored, closed-book, multiple-choice examination. It may be accessed on-line throughout the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform.  

Candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to finish the examination. There are 45 questions and passing rating is 77% or 35 appropriate. At the moment the examination is simply offered in English. The first examination try is included as a part of the course registration price if the examination is taken inside 30 days in fact completion. Every retake try prices $50.  

Retake coverage – The second try on examination (first retake) may be performed instantly after first try. The third try requires a 10-day waiting interval. The fourth try requires a 30-day waiting interval. 

Pattern query

A number of pattern questions are offered on-line by Scaled Agile Framework. It is a typical SA query 

In SAFe®, which two objects belong within the Crew Backlog? (Select two.)   

• Consumer Tales 
• Enabler Options 
• Epics 
• Spikes 
• Duties 

The reply is consumer tales and spikes. A spike’s function is to achieve the information mandatory to cut back the danger of a technical strategy, higher perceive a requirement, or improve the reliability of a narrative estimate.

Examination examine supplies

• Course supplies – The course supplies are a necessary artifact from the course and may be downloaded from the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform. 
• Research information – This information particulars the job position and all sources associated to the examination, together with an in depth studying listing. Entry is offered by means of the Studying Plan within the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform upon course completion. 
• Apply check – The follow check is designed to be predictive of success on the certification examination and it has the identical variety of questions, degree of issue, and time period. It’s a part of the Studying Plan within the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform and may be taken a vast variety of instances for gratis. This isn’t the precise examination and passing it doesn’t assure success on the certification examination. 
• Pattern Questions – An online-enabled, flashcard type model of the pattern questions may be discovered on-line and within the examine information. 
  

What you get

Turning into a Licensed SAFe® Practitioner (SP) is a crucial step in the direction of changing into a part of a SAFe® staff. Certification contains:  

• Licensed SAFe® Practitioner PDF certificates 
• Licensed SAFe® Practitioner digital badge to advertise your accomplishment on-line 
• One-year membership to the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform, which incorporates entry to the SP Neighborhood of Apply 
• Entry to Meetup teams and occasions that join you with different licensed SAFe® professionals 
• A wide range of studying sources to assist you.

Which certification ought to I select?

There isn’t a one ‘proper’ reply to this. Not all college students are the identical. When the time got here to be taught extra about SAFE®, I requested myself the identical query. Since I wasn’t in search of a particular position inside a SAFe® staff however was making an attempt to achieve a broader understanding of the framework, the SA certificates was enough, at the least as an entry level. I discovered it gave me a superb overview of the framework and I might really feel poised to work in a SAFE® setting. 

Nevertheless, in case your purpose is to be an lively a part of a staff, it might seem that the SP certification may be the higher alternative as that’s its main focus.  

Sustaining certification

You possibly can not renew your certification on a person degree. As of January 2021, Scaled Agile has moved to a membership mannequin for the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform. With this transition you’ll now be capable to renew your membership at one among three tiers, two of which can embrace a bundle renewal of all of your SAFe® certifications. Should you don’t want or need to embrace renewal of your certifications, you’ve gotten the choice to easily renew your membership to proceed entry to all of the belongings, instruments, and sources that will help you develop as a SAFe® skilled.  

The three Membership tiers are:

• SAFe® Program Guide Membership ($895/yr) – For members who presently maintain SPC or SPCT certifications. Renews all certifications, gives entry to all SAFe® content material, and allows SPCs/SPCTs to coach others to guide a Lean-Agile transformation. 
• Licensed SAFe® Membership ($295/yr) – For members who presently maintain a number of certifications, and who could profit from a bundled pricing strategy. Renews all certifications besides SPC and/or SPCT, gives entry to primary and a few superior content material and continued entry to course learnings and belongings. 
• Particular person SAFe® Membership ($195/yr) – For individuals who don’t search certification however nonetheless profit from the precious content material on the SAFe® Neighborhood Platform. No certification renewals included. 

Comparability desk

Conclusion

The Scaled Agile Framework is by far the main strategy in the direction of scaling Agile. There’s a wide range of roles and certifications out there. Each the SA and SP certificates will put together you to enter the Scaled Agile world. It actually will depend on what you want to accomplish/be taught out of your course and what perspective you might be studying from.

To summarize, SA is a good foundational course in case you are a person new to SAFe® studying. SAFe® for Groups (SP) course is an intermediate degree course that helps staff members and SAFe® groups higher perceive easy methods to work collectively to perform work and venture objectives. 

So, for those who count on to be a member of a staff concerned in Launch Trains and PI Planning, SP often is the logical place to begin in your SAFe® journey.