What is the difference between Leading SAFe vs SAFe Agilist?

Should I join the Leading SAFe class or SAFe Agilist class? I have heard this is one of the most popular SAFe certifications. Will I get a Leading SAFe certificate or SAFe Agilist certificate after attending the class?

What exam do I need to pass?

These questions might sound silly to some but trust me we often get these kinds of questions from people. Let us demystify.

What and Why Leading SAFe?

Leading SAFe is the name of the training or class which one must attend to get the certification of SAFe Agilist.

This is a two-day class intended to train Leaders, Executives and Managers who would be leading the SAFe implementation in the organization.

Participants in the class gain insights into mastering Business Agility to thrive in the competitive market. We discuss how to establish team and technical agility and organize and re-organize around the flow of value. They also learn and practice the skills for supporting and executing PI Planning events and coordinating multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs).

Participants in the class explore the importance of adopting a customer-centric mindset and design thinking approach to agile product delivery. Learners also develop an understanding for implementing a Lean Portfolio Management function in their enterprise. Attending the class prepares individuals to take the exam and become a certified SAFe® Agilist (SA).

Learning Goals of Leading SAFe Course:

• 1Understand 5 core competencies of the Lean Enterprise
• 2Learn and apply Lean-Agile Mindset values and principles
• 3Become a Lean-thinking manager-teacher
• 4Create high-performance teams applying SAFe
• 5Able to apply SAFe’s Lean and Agile principles to existing and new SAFe roles
• 6Create high-performing teams by establishing mission and purpose
• 7Coordinate multiple Agile Release Trains and suppliers with a Solution Train
• 8Support PI Planning and the events associated with successful Program execution
• 9Drive Release on Demand making use of Continuous Delivery Pipeline
• 10Establish alignment and execution with Strategic Themes and Lean Portfolio Management
• 11Use transformational leadership to drive change, develop people, and encourage innovation
• 12Become transformation leader to deliver SAFe Implementation Roadmap

Prerequisites

All are welcome to attend the course, regardless of experience. However, the following prerequisites are highly recommended for those who intend to take the SAFe® 5.1 Agilist (SA) certification exam:

• 5+ years’ experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product, or project management
• Experience in Scrum

What and Why SAFe^® Agilist?

The name of the certificate which one obtains after attending the Leading SAFe class and passing the certification exam on the community site of scaled agile framework is “SAFe Agilist”. Also, someone who has obtained this certificate is known as a SAFe Agilist.

A SAFe Agilist has the insights into what is required to transform your current agile product development. He/she also knows how to change agile portfolio management into an efficient organization that delivers continuous flow of value to your stakeholders and customers with shortest sustainable time to market.

A SAFe Agilist validates their knowledge in applying the Scaled Agile Framework, lean thinking, and product development flow principles in an enterprise context so they can lead the adoption of the Scaled Agile Framework.

Responsibilities of a SAFe Agilist

• 1Be a guide- Guiding success, adoption, and continuous developments of SAFe in an enterprise.
• 2Respond to the need for innovation - Helping to define the perceptions and goals of a company in order to communicate strategic agreements successfully. SAs respond to the need for innovation of stakeholders and teams.
• 3Motivate - Help employees establish their expertise and careers by motivating them in a way that boosts their capacities and develops their obligation to the perceptions and goals of the company. To become a SAFe Agilist one must complete the 2-day Leading SAFe class and then pass the certification exam.

SAFe Agilist Certification Kit

Attendees who pass the certification exam will receive:

• SAFe Agilist certificate
• A SAFe 5 Agilist digital badge to promote your accomplishment online
• A one-year certified membership as a SAFe Agilist, which includes access to the SA Community of Practice
• A SAFe Agilist certification usage guide with SA certification marks
• Access to a variety of learning resources to support certified professionals during their SAFe journey