Implementing SAFe with SPC Certification

You can expect the following key areas of competencies to be covered during the course:

Leading SAFe® (first half of course)
Introducing the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Becoming a Lean-Agile Leader
Creating High-Performing Teams and Programs
Experiencing Program Increment (PI) Planning
Releasing on Demand with DevOps
Building Business Solutions and Lean Systems
Implementing Lean Portfolio Management

Implementing SAFe® (second half of course)
Reaching the SAFe Tipping Point
Designing the Implementation
Launching an ART
Coaching ART Execution
Extending to the Portfolio
Sustaining and Improving
Becoming a SAFe Program Consultant (SPC)

What will you receive?

• Attendee workbook
• Preparation and eligibility to take the SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) exam
• Class attendance certificate upon request
• Attendees must attend every day of the course in order to qualify for the exam
• 5 days of high quality instruction from two of the industry’s leading subject-matter experts on the Scaled Agile Framework®

Upon passing the SAFe® Agilist exam post course you will also receive, as part of your certification:

• Certified SAFe® Program Consultant PDF certificate
• Certified SAFe® Program Consultant digital badge to promote your accomplishment online
• One-year membership to the SAFe Community Platform, which includes access to the SPC Community of Practice
• Access to Meetup groups and events that connect you with other SAFe certified professionals
• A variety of learning resources to support you during your SAFe journey

Professional Development Units (SEUs / PDUs)

• Attendees may be eligible to apply for 30 PDUs toward continuing education requirements with the Project Management Institute (PMI) for PMP or PMI-ACP certifications.
• Attendees may be eligible to apply SEUs under category C, toward earning or renewing their CSP through Scrum Alliance

Who is this course suitable for?

The course is intended for those who will be materially and directly involved in a SAFe adoption. This includes enterprise leaders, practitioners, change agents, and consultants responsible for implementing Agile programs and portfolios as part of an enterprise Lean-Agile change initiative.

Attendees typically include:

• Professional Services Consultants
• Business and Technology Executives and Leaders, Managers, Directors
• Portfolio Managers and Fiduciaries, Project/Program Management Office (PMO) personnel
• Development, QA and IT management
• Program and Project Managers
• Product and Product Line Managers
• Process Leads and Lifecycle Governance Personnel
• Enterprise, System and Solution Architects
• Internal Change Agents, Lean-Agile Centre for Excellence, Agile Working Group

How should you prepare for this course?

Background reading prior to the course is essential, including review of the SAFe – Scaled Agile Framework™. A full reading list is provided to delegates upon registration. A reminder and additional recommendations will also be provided.

What about certification?

Exam Requirements
The first step toward becoming a certified SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) is to attend the Implementing SAFe course. This is a requirement, because attending the course provides access to all the study materials and the exam. Note that attending the course does not guarantee passing the exam.

Please note that attendees must complete the online exam after the completion of the course. The exam is not administered during training sessions.

Exam Details

• Exam name – SAFe® 5 Program Consultant Exam
• 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 Implementing SAFe® course
• Exam duration – Once the exam begins, candidates have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete the exam
• Number of questions – 60
• Passing score – 45 out of 60 (75%)
• 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 $250.
• 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

• 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.
• Sample Questions – A web-enabled, flashcard style version of the sample questions can be found online and in the study guide.

Certification / Membership Renewal
Scaled Agile have recently updated their certification renewal and membership model. This is intended to simplify the annual renewal process and align the associated pricing with the value of the SAFe Community Platform and the re-certification of SAFe professionals.

As Scaled Agile have moved to a membership model for the SAFe Community Platform – individuals are now be able to renew their membership at one of three tiers. If you don’t need, or want, to include renewal of your certifications, there is also the option to only renew your membership. This will not renew your certification, but will allow you to continue to access the assets, tools, and resources to help you grow as a SAFe professional (for this option please see Individual SAFe Membership below).

The relevant Membership options for this course are included below. Please note that the first year of your certification and membership is included within the cost of this course – therefore, the following renewal fees will only apply when renewing your membership:

SAFe Program Consultant Membership ($895/year) – For members who currently hold SPC or SPCT certifications. Renews all certifications, provides access to all SAFe content and enables SPCs/SPCTs to train others to lead a Lean-Agile transformation.

Individual SAFe Membership ($195/year) – For those who don’t seek certification but would still like to benefit from the valuable content on the SAFe Community Platform. No certification renewals included.