SAFe Agilist 5 (Leading SAFe) is a Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) enterprise leadership professional who is part of a Lean-Agile transformation. It is a methodology for large-scale Agile project teams to carry out an Agile transformation seamlessly. The framework effortlessly synchronizes the alignment, collaboration, and delivery of multiple agile teams, leading the way to enterprise success. SAFe framework helps Agile to work across the enterprise, it brings in the benefits of faster delivery, better quality products and quicker response to customer queries.
This certification evaluates your capability of leading a Lean-Agile enterprise by leveraging the Scaled Agile Framework, which has underlying principles derived from Lean thinking and Agile development, product development flow, and DevOps.
Requirements for SAFe Agilist 5 (Leading SAFe) Agilist Exam
- The first step toward becoming a SAFe certified professional is to attend the Leading SAFe course. This is a requirement, because attending the course provides access to all the study materials and the exam. Furthermore attending the course does not guarantee passing the exam.
- After successfully completing the course, you will need to pass the SAFe Agilist Exam. To attain a passing score, you must correctly answer 34 of the 45 questions. Therefore complete practice exam multiple times till you score 100%.
Steps for SAFe Agilist 5 (Leading SAFe) Certification
- Step 1: Register in any training partner of Scaled Agile Inc.
- Step 2: Take the 2-day Leading SAFe® 5.0 course instructed by SAFe Program Consultants (SPCs).
- Step 3: Scaled Agile will send you the exam information directly on successful completion of course.
- Step 4: Click on the link received from Scaled Agile and take the 1.5 hour “SAFe Agilist 5 Exam” online test which comprises of 45 MCQs.
- Step 5: Score a minimum of 77% (35 out of 45) to pass the SAFe Agilist test.
- Step 6: Scaled Agile, Inc will update your profile to disclose the certification, after passing the exam.
- Step 7: You will receive 1-year membership with Scaled Agile along with the certification.
- Step 8: You have to renew the certification every year.
Exam details
- Exam format – Multiple choice
- Exam delivery – Web-based (single-browser), closed book, no outside assistance, timed
- Exam access – Candidates can access the exam within the SAFe Community Platform upon completion of the Leading SAFe® course
- Exam duration – Once the exam begins, candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to complete the exam
- Number of questions: 45
- Passing score – SA4 = 34 out of 45 (75%); SA5 = 35 out of 45 (77%)
- Language – English
- Exam cost – First exam attempt is included as part of the course registration fee if the exam is taken within 30 days of course completion. Each retake attempt costs $50.
- Membership renewals fee: $100
- Retake policy – Second attempt on exam (first retake) can be done immediately after first attempt. Third attempt requires a 10-day wait. Fourth attempt requires a 30-day wait.
Exam study materials
The exam is for evaluating knowledge and skill related to the job role. Since this is having high value we recommend candidates use a variety of resources to prepare for this exam including:
- SECTION 1: Thriving in the Digital Age with Business Agility 13%
- SECTION 2: Becoming a Lean-Agile Leader 29%
- SECTION 3: Establishing Team and Technical Agility 9%
- SECTION 4: Building Solutions with Agile Product Delivery 33%
- SECTION 5: Exploring Lean Portfolio Management 11%
- SECTION 6: Leading the Change 4%
- Course materials – The course materials are an essential artifact from the course and can be downloaded from the SAFe Community Platform. These materials can be used to refer back to the content that was presented during the class.
- Study guide – This comprehensive guide details the job role and all resources related to the exam, including a detailed reading list. Access is available through the Learning Plan in the SAFe Community Platform upon course completion.
- Practice test – The practice test is designed to be predictive of success on the certification exam, and it has the same number of questions, level of difficulty, and time duration. It is part of the Learning Plan in the SAFe Community Platform and can be taken an unlimited number of times at no cost. *This is not the actual exam, and passing it does not guarantee success on the certification exam.
- Leading SAFe Important Links – Click Here
SAFe Agilist 5 (Leading SAFe) Reference Books
- Scaling Software Agility: Best Practices for Large Enterprises (Agile Software Development Series)
- SAFe 4.0 DISTILLED- Applying the Scaled Agile Framework for Lean Software and Systems, by Richard Knaster and Dean Leffingwell
- Get SAFe Now
- Tribal Unity: Getting from Teams by Creating a One Team Culture
- SAFe 4.0 Reference Guide- Scaled Agile Framework® for Lean Software and Systems Engineering, by Dean Leffingwell with Alex Yakyma, Richard Knaster, Drew Jemilo, and Inbar Oren.
- Agile Software Requirements: Lean Requirements Practices for Teams, Programs, and the Enterprise
New concepts for SAFe 5.0
SAFe 5.0 – Your Operating System for Business Agility
New SAFe Overview tab – illustrates a simplified view of SAFe’s Seven Core Competencies of the Lean Enterprise. New Principle #10 – Organize Around Value.
OKRs to Measure Business Agility – Describes how to measure the state of business agility and how to accelerate growth to improve overall economic outcomes.
Essential SAFe – No division between Program and Teams at the Essential level. Roles have been combined (and) to recognize that Agile teams include business and technical teams.
Restructured Competencies – DevOps and Release on Demand is now Agile Product delivery. Business Solutions and Leans Systems is now Enterprise Solution Delivery.
New Core Competencies – Continuous Learning Culture competency describes a set of values and practices that encourage individuals—and the enterprise as a whole—to continually increase knowledge, competence, performance, and innovation. The Organizational Agility competency describes how Lean-thinking people and Agile teams optimize their business processes, evolve strategy with clear and decisive new commitments, and quickly adapt the organization as needed to capitalize on new opportunities.
Continuous Delivery in Iterations – More clarity on continuous delivery pipeline flow in iterations which directly supports faster value delivery to customers.
Customer Centricity and Design Thinking – Customer Centricity, and Design Thinking. More focus on the mindset and impact of customer centricity.
Portfolio Version – The Portfolio Vision TOWS analysis has been added. A SWOT analysis is a great way to uncover the current situation of your value stream, product or portfolio, while TOWS is used primarily for identifying strategic options to create a better future state.
Course Curriculum
- Introducing the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
- Becoming a Lean-Agile Leader
- Establishing Team and Technical Agility
- Experiencing Program Increment (PI) Planning
- Releasing on Demand with DevOps
- Building Business Solutions and Lean Systems
- Implementing Lean Portfolio Management
- Leading the transformation
Topics for SAFe Agilist 5 (Leading SAFe) Examination
- Agile Product Delivery
- Customer Centricity and Design Thinking
- Develop on Cadence; Release on Demand
- DevOps and the Continuous Delivery Pipeline
- Continuous Learning Culture
- Learning Organization
- Innovation Culture
- Relentless Improvement
- Enterprise Solution Delivery
- Lean Systems and Solution Engineering
- Coordinating Trains and Suppliers
- Continually Evolve Live Systems
- Lean-Agile Leadership
- Leading by Example – Setting an example is difficult but that is the key to successful leadership.
- Mindset and Principles
- Leading Change
- Lean Portfolio Management
- Strategy and Investment Funding
- Lean Governance
- Agile Portfolio Operations
- Organizational Agilist
- Lean-Thinking People and Agile Teams
- Lean Business Operations
- Strategy Agility
- Team and Technical Agilist
- Agile Teams
- Built-in Quality
Tips for Examination
SAFe® Agilist 5 exam is a little tricky to crack, but not impossible if you do better planning. Here are some powerful tips to pass the exam.
- Study the workbook you receive from your training of the SAFe Agilist 5
- Watch our SAFe videos to understand the concepts.
- Attempt the practice exam through the SAFe Community Platform.
- Analyze the result of your Practice Test by studying each question.
- Visit the Scaled Agile Framework to study topics that are not clear to you.
- Attempt the actual exam through the SAFe Community Platform.
- Clear the exam and become a Certified SAFe 5 Agilist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Is there any pre-requisite for this certification?
Answer: There are no restrictions, however the following prerequisites are highly recommended for those who intend to take the SAFe Agilist certification exam:
- 5+ years’ experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product, or project management
- Experience in Scrum
Question: Is it mandatory to attend training before the exam?
Answer: Yes, it is mandatory to attend the training before the exam to get certified as SAFe® 5 Agilist.
Question: Will i get Professional Development Units (PDUs) and Scrum Education Units (SEUs)
Answer: Attendees eligible to apply for 15 PDUs toward their continuing education requirements with the Project Management Institute® (PMI®) for PMP®, PgMP®, and PMI-ACP® certifications.
Attendees eligible to apply for SEUs under category C, toward earning or renewing their CSP® through Scrum Alliance®. Hence its a win-win situation.
Question: What is the format of the SAFe Agilist 5 exams?
Answer: The SAFe® 5 Agilist certification exam is in the Multiple-Choice Questions format. The exam duration is 90 minutes. The SAFe® 5 exam consists of a total of 45 questions. The passing score will be 35 out of 45 (77% passing score).
Question: Is the certification included in the training?
Answer: YES. In all training courses registration includes the opportunity to take the exam within 30 days after class completion.
Question: What is exam retake process for Certified SAFe Agilist 5?
Answer: First exam attempt is included as part of the course registration fee if the exam is taken within 30 days of course completion. Each retake attempt costs $50. Second attempt on exam (first retake) can be done immediately after first attempt. Third attempt requires a 10-day wait. Fourth attempt requires a 30-day wait.
Question: What is new in SAFe 5.0?
Answer: Scaled Agile announced a new version of the Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe 5.0 at this year’s Global SAFe summit. The new version has a simple model presentation and emphasized on the business agility. It also focuses on customer-centricity and expanding the aspect of portfolio management. Refer New concepts for SAFe 5.0 section for detailed information. Here are some more changes made in the SAFe 5.0:
- Business Agility at the forefront
- New metric in the framework – Business Agility Assessment
- Two new competencies – Organizational Agility and Continuous Learning culture
- New level in SAFe (Essential SAFe) and two competencies have been redefined (Enterprise Solution Delivery and Agile Product Delivery)
- Renewed emphasis on the Lean Portfolio Management’s Core Competency
- New themes – Design thinking and Customer Centricity
- New Principle – Organize around the value
Question: How to upgrade SAFe 4 to SAFe 5 certification?
Answer: There are two categories
- SAFe 5 Certified Member upgrade – This upgrade path is available in January, 2020 to anyone who has a SAFe 4 certification and has a current SAFe Community membership.
- SAFe 5 Program Consultant upgrade – This upgrade path is available in December, 2020 to anyone who is a Certified SAFe 4 Program Consultant and has a current SAFe Community membership.