Top SAFe Agile Certifications in 2025

In the last ten years, the software development and development management world has changed. Rigid, inflexible waterfall models are no longer appropriate for organisations who need to be agile, responsive and efficient. We’re living in the era of Agile as the new normal. But as companies scale Agile practices beyond those small teams, they often require frameworks to help multiple teams work together toward common ends.

In this article, we will hold your hand and take you through:

• What is SAFe Agile and why should you care?
• Most relevant Agile Certifications in 2025
• Best SAFe Agile Certifications to consider
• The ideal candidates for these certificates
• Why leading SAFe is Useful for you and Your Company
• How to prepare and get certified

So, let’s get immersed, and see how the SAFe Agile certification can shape your career.

What Is SAFe Agile?

SAFe, or Scaled Agile Framework, is a collection of workflow patterns intended to guide enterprises in scaling Lean-Agile and DevOps principles to the work of more teams. While basic agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban are excellent for single teams, SAFe is specifically tailored for enterprises with several agile teams and is designed for coordinating those teams together.

SAFe combines:

• Lean product development
• Agile software development
• DevOps practices
• Systems thinking

It is the framework of control and alignment of people, processes, and products on all hierarchical levels, team to program to portfolio.

As enterprise-level software systems become more complex in 2025, a safe agile certification can set you as a distinguished professional in product management, software engineering and agile coaching.

The Importance of SAFe Agile Certifications you Need to have in 2025

With Digital Transformation on the fast track, organisations are rapidly embracing SAFe for enterprise scale Agile implementation. Here’s why:

Global reach: SAFe is being use by 70% of Fortune 100 companies to scale Agile.

Your cross-functional roles: As you would expect, SAFe covers many domains—engineering, testing, architecture, DevOps, and business strategy.

Career benefit: If you are certified as a SAFe Agile in 2025, you have shown that you can lead Agile at scale, not just at the team level.

Whether you’ve recently found yourself in the role or are a practiced project manager, there are industry recognized Agile Certifications that can get you on your way to leadership and strategic influence.

Who Should Opt for SAFe Agile Certification?

• Scrum Masters
• Product Owners
• Agile Coaches
• Program Managers
• Release Train Engineers
• Portfolio Managers
• Developers and Testers
• Enterprise Architects

Certainly there’s something to learn for top executives like CIOs, and CTOs about SAFe principles and strategic alignment.

Top SAFe Agile Certifications in 2025

In this post, let me provide you with a breakdown of some of the popular in-demand SAFe Agile Certifications in 2025: suitable for different roles and experiences.

SAFe Agilist (Leading SAFe® 6.0 Certification)

Best for: Leaders, Managers, Change Agents, Consultants

It’s the most popular SAFe certification and a perfect entry point to the Scaled Agile Framework. It provides practitioners with:

Leading a Lean-Agile Transformation

Building integrated business teams

Launching Agile Release Trains (ARTs)

Receiving the SAFe Agilist certification proves you have the knowledge required to assist in the adoption of Agile at an enterprise scale.

SAFe Scrum Master (SSM®)

Ideal for: Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches on a team level.

This certification exam will talk about the Scrum Master’s role in an SAFe enterprise. It teaches:

• All-team collaboration enabler
• Program Increment (PI) Planning
• Iteration Plan and cycle execution

Building on traditional Scrum Master training such as that provided by a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course, SSM teaches the ways of working in SAFe’s multi-team environment.

SAFe® Advanced Scrum Master (SASM)

Best suited for: Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters with experience, this book may help offer a different perspective on how others interpret Agile.

If you’ve already attained your SSM, this higher level designation zeros in on:

• Agile and Scrum anti-patterns
• The art of facilitation ((‘level 2’) rape counselling and facilitating.groups)
• Agile metrics and coaching

The value of the SASM certification remains vital for professionals, who aspire to enhance their leadership abilities in ARTs.

SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM)

Ideal for: Product Owners, Product Managers, Business Analysts

With SAFe POPM, you will be able to:

• Provide as a Value Stream using ARTs
• Manage backlogs efficiently
• Apply Lean-Agile in product development

This is an important Agile Certification for anyone looking to support value streams as a Product Owner.

SAFe DevOps Practitioner (SDP)®

Best for: DevOps Engineers, System Admins, Developers

This training and certification teaches professionals the entire DevOps lifecycle and how to work in it and incorporate Continuous Delivery Pipeline with SAFe.

Topics include:

• Life cycle: explore, integrate, and deploy in an ongoing way.
• Release on demand
• Decisions are based on data

SAFe Architect (ARCH®)

The ARCH certification creates possibilities for architects to:

• Lead architecture efforts in Agile methodologies
• Work closely with Agile teams and business partners
• Support with solution innovation and delivering

In 2025, this role becomes especially critical as organizations grow in a hybrid cloud, microservices and AI-connected world.

2025 Honourable Mentions for Other Agile Certifications

SAFe: This certification is best suited for enterprises

PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner) – Feels like its world wide around hybrids project envos (Jade, Elizabeth Martin please correct me if i’m wrong in here :))

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Good for starters and for team-level Agile work

ICAgile Certifications – Provides courses for Agile coaching, delivery, and DevOps

Does anyone have any advice in using PMI’s Disciplined Agile® guidance for complex, customized Agile solutions?

But for executives who want to work in or lead Agile transformations at scale, SAFe still is the gold standard.

Advantages of SAFe Agile Certification for Professionals

Having a Scaled Agile Certification has the following benefits in 2025:

Better Pay: Certified professionals on average earn 20–30% more than their non-certified counterparts.

International Recognition: SAFe certifications are recognized in 100s of countries.

Better Job Roles: Some roles such as Release Train Engineer or Agile Program Manager demand limited formal education.

An Organizational Impact: You will directly impact the digital transformation efforts across the enterprise.

In other words, investing in SAFe is investing in long-term, scalable career growth.

How to certify: a step-by-step guide

Step 1: Pick Your Certification

The appropriate SAFe certification (SA, SSM, POPM) will be determined based on your current or future role.

Step 2: Register for an Accredited Program

Only registered Scaled Agile, Inc.-authorized training organizations are allowed to deliver training that prepares you to take an exam.

Step 3: Complete the Training

Many SAFe courses are two days long and are offered online and in person. They consist of lectures, group dynamics and real life case stories.

Step 4: Take the Exam

A digital exam link will be provided after your training. Exams are:

• Multiple choice
• Timed (90-120 minutes usually)
• Closed book
• Need 70%–80% to pass, depending on the certification

Step 5: Get Certified

Once you pass, you’ll get a digital badge, become a member of the SAFe community and get access to resources for keeping your credentials current.

Keeping Your SAFe Certification Current

They are one-year certifications and you need: Portrait of London Agile Framework SAFe Portfolio Product Manager ($30,000K-90,000K) to renew them.

• A renewal fee
• Units of continuous learning (CUs)
• Active community engagement

You might also want to consider looking at further certifications or strengthening your contributions to SAFe implementations within your company.

Final Verdict: Is SAFe Worth It?

If a long-term Agile career is what you have in mind (especially in enterprise environments), then an Agile SAFe certification is well worth it. It lends credibility to your profile, throws open the doors to new career opportunities and attests your prowess to spearhead large-scale Agile initiatives.