thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

Scaled Agile · Project Management & Agile · Associate

SAFe Agilist (SA) exam guide

Exam SA (AI-Empowered SAFe Agilist)

The SAFe Agilist (SA) certification, earned through the AI-empowered Leading SAFe course, shows you understand how to apply the Scaled Agile Framework across teams, Agile Release Trains and the portfolio. It is widely requested by enterprises running SAFe and is often the first SAFe credential for managers and change leaders.

Questions45
Time limit90 minutes
Passing score80%
Exam feeSee official page
Valid for1 years
DeliveryWeb-based, closed book, taken on the SAFe Community Platform

Format: Multiple choice, single answer. Fee note: Exam included with the Leading SAFe course (two attempts within 60 days); retakes USD 50 unproctored or USD 495 proctored.

Who it's for

Managers, executives, change agents and team members in organizations adopting SAFe who need a big-picture view of scaled agile.

What the exam covers

Adapt and Thrive with SAFe8%
Build a Foundation with Mindset, Value, and Principles22%
Establish Team and Technical Agility11%
Product Development Flow26%
Explore Lean Portfolio Management22%
Lead the Change8%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: Attend the Leading SAFe course delivered by a certified SAFe instructor.

Recommended: Scaled Agile suggests 5+ years in software development, testing, business analysis, product or project management, and some Scrum experience.

Keeping it active

Renew annually: pay the USD 100 renewal fee and complete 10 PDUs per year through the SAFe Community Platform.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Applying SAFe Lean-Agile principles
  • Organizing Agile Release Trains around value streams
  • PI Planning and execution
  • Lean Portfolio Management and epics
  • Measuring flow and outcomes
  • Leading a SAFe transformation

Job roles

Agile Program ManagerRelease Train EngineerAgile CoachEngineering ManagerTransformation LeadPortfolio Manager

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Days 1-2: Attend the Leading SAFe course actively and complete in-class exercises.
  2. Days 3-5: Review the course workbook and the SAFe Big Picture; read each article for principles 1-10.
  3. Days 6-8: Focus on Product Development Flow and Lean Portfolio Management (about 48% combined).
  4. Days 9-10: Take the practice test on the SAFe Community Platform until consistently above 85%, then sit the exam.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • The pass mark is 80%: you can miss at most 9 of 45 questions.
  • Answers follow official SAFe terminology; use the SAFe website articles, not general agile knowledge.
  • Know the 10 SAFe principles by number and meaning.
  • Unanswered questions count as wrong, so answer everything before time runs out.
  • Take the exam within 60 days of the course to use the two included attempts.

Key terms for this exam

All 50 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much does the SAFe Agilist exam cost?

The exam is included with the Leading SAFe course fee (two attempts within 60 days). Retakes cost USD 50 unproctored or USD 495 proctored.

What is the SAFe Agilist passing score?

80%, which means 36 of 45 questions correct.

Is SAFe Agilist hard?

Most course attendees pass on the first attempt if they review the workbook and take the practice test.

How do I renew SAFe Agilist?

Pay USD 100 annually and record 10 PDUs per year.

SAFe Agilist vs CSM?

CSM covers Scrum for a single team; SAFe Agilist covers scaling agile across many teams and the portfolio.

Official page: scaledagile.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.