Implementing SAFe® with SPC Certification (4.0)

Becoming a Certified SAFe® 4 Program Consultant and Become the Lean-Agile Change Agent That Leads the SAFe Transformation in the Enterprise

This four-day course will prepare you to lead an enterprise Agile transformation by leveraging the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®). You will learn how to effectively apply the principles and practices of SAFe, including training with SAFe courseware, and coaching teams, launching Agile Release Trains, and building and managing an Agile portfolio. The first two days of the course—Leading SAFe®—will provide you with the basis to teach SAFe to others, and if certified you’ll be eligible to teach the Leading SAFe® course. The next two days focus exclusively on implementing SAFe.

Certification is optional to attendees. Those who achieve SPC certification are authorized to license SAFe training materials.

Attending the class prepares you to take the exam and become a Certified SAFe® 4 Program Consultant (SPC)

Learning Goals

After this course, you should be able to:

  • Lead an enterprise Lean-Agile transformation
  • Implement the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
  • Implement and manage a Lean-Agile portfolio
  • Align the organization to a common language and way of working
  • Perform value stream analysis and identify value streams
  • Launch and support Agile Release Trains and coordinate value streams
  • Build and execute the implementation rollout strategy
  • Configure the Framework for a specific enterprise context
  • Train managers and executives in Leading SAFe® and act as a SAFe® 4 Agilist (SA) certifying agent (SPCs only)
  • Train teams in SAFe® for Teams (S4T) and act as a SAFe® 4 Practitioner (SP) certifying agent (SPCs only)

What You Get

The class registration includes:
  • Attendee workbooks
  • Access to the SAFe® 4 Program Consultant Exam – requires course attendance
  • One-year membership to Scaled Agile
  • Class attendance certificate upon request
  • Attendees may be eligible to apply for 30 PDUs toward continuing education requirements with the ProjectManagement 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

Topics Covered

Leading SAFe® – Days 1 and 2

  • Introducing the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
  • Embracing a Lean-Agile Mindset
  • Understanding SAFe Principles
  • Experiencing Program Increment (PI) Planning
  • Exploring, Executing, and Releasing Value
  • Leading a Lean-Agile Enterprise
  • Empowering a Lean Portfolio
  • Building Large Solutions

Implementing SAFe® – Days 3 and 4

  • Reaching the SAFe Tipping Point
  • Designing the Implementation
  • Launching an ART
  • Coaching ART Execution
  • Extending to the Portfolio
  • Sustaining and Improving
  • Becoming a Certified SAFe® 4 Program Consultant (SPC)

Who Will Benefit

This course is intended for those who will be materially and directly involved in a SAFe adoption. This includes 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, Leaders, Managers, and 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 Center for Excellence (LACE), Agile Working Group

Prerequisites

All stakeholders in a Lean-Agile transformation are welcome to attend the course, regardless of experience. However, the following prerequisites are highly recommended for those who intend to take the SAFe® 4 Program Consultant exam and practice as a Certified SAFe® 4 Program Consultant (SPC):

  • 5+ years of experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product, or project management
  • 3+ years of experience in Agile
  • One or more relevant Agile certifications

Upon Achieving SPC Certification

As a Certified SAFe® 4 Program Consultant (SPC), you can continue your learning journey by achieving validation to license and teach SAFe courses.

Courses available for validation are:

  • Leading SAFe®
  • SAFe® for Teams
  • SAFe® Product Owner/Product Manager
  • SAFe® Scrum Master
  • Advanced SAFe® Scrum Master
  • SAFe® Release Train Engineer
  • You will receive access to no-cost license materials, videos, and artifacts that support launching Agile Release Trains
  • Inclusion in the SPC directory listing (optional)
  • Access to the private SPC Community

Annual Renewal

Renewals are good for one full year from the date of certification and will require:

  • 160 hours of SPC consulting
  • Renewal fee: $895
  • 40 continuing education/outreach hours

Exam Prerequisite Skills or Knowledge

These skills and knowledge are highly recommended to successfully pass the exam:

  • Facilitation skills
  • Classroom management and time management
  • Agile experience: ability to teach an Agile class for beginners
  • Ability to communicate with all levels of an organization
  • Possess experiences or stories, and ability to connect business and IT
  • Experience and ability to connect across business contexts and speak the language
  • Technical fluency to effectively work with processes and workflows
  • Emotional intelligence—at a minimum, understand impact of decisions on people, workflows, and business

 

Exam Details

  • Exam Name: SAFe® 4 Program Consultant Exam
  • Exam Format: Multiple Choice, True/False
  • Exam Delivery: Web-based; closed book; no outside assistance
  • Exam Access: First attempt free within 30 days from course completion date
  • Exam Duration: Once the exam begins candidates have 120 minutes to complete the exam
  • Number of Questions: 119
  • Passing Score: 88 (74%)

Professional Development Units (PDUs) and Scrum Education Units (SEUs)

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