←⚖️ Compare certifications
⛶ Focus view⚖️ Compare
19 different·6 in common
🧭 Overview
Certifying body≠ differs
Scaled Agile (SAFe)
Scrum Alliance
Focus≠ differs
Leading SAFe — scaling Lean-Agile across the enterprise.
Scrum Alliance's foundational ScrumMaster certification.
Best suited for≠ differs
Managers / leads in SAFe orgs
Beginners to Scrum / agile
Pass mark≠ differs
77%
74%
Difficulty= same
2 / 5
2 / 5
Open book= same
No
No
🚀 Career & roles
Career prospects≠ differs
Entry to the Scaled Agile Framework for leaders driving agile at enterprise scale. In demand wherever big orgs adopt SAFe.
The most widely recognised entry Scrum Master cert; course-based with an easy exam. A great door-opener, but needs renewal every 2 years.
Post-certification roles≠ differs
Release Train Engineer · Agile Coach · Program Manager · Scrum Master (scaled)
Scrum Master · Agile Coordinator · Team Facilitator
Demand trend≠ differs
Growing — enterprise agile adoption
Hot — very common in job ads
Typical salary≠ differs
Good in large enterprises running SAFe
Comparable to PSM; entry into agile roles
🌍 Recognition & market
Recognition≠ differs
Scaled Agile Inc. · global · renew yearly (small fee)
Scrum Alliance · global · renew every 2 yrs (SEUs + fee)
Popular in≠ differs
USA, Europe, India
USA, India, Europe, global
Companies hiring≠ differs
Large enterprises, banks, telecom, GCCs
IT services, product, consulting, enterprises
Industry verticals≠ differs
BFSI, telecom, IT/software, insurance
IT/software, finance, telecom
Tech horizontals≠ differs
Enterprise software delivery, DevOps at scale
Software delivery, product
📝 Exam format
Questions≠ differs
45 questions
50 questions
Duration≠ differs
90 min · 1h 30m
60 min · 1h
🎓 Eligibility & process
Eligibility / prerequisites≠ differs
None required; the 2-day Leading SAFe course is recommended
Attend a 2-day certified course (mandatory)
Application process≠ differs
Attend Leading SAFe course → online exam → certify (annual renewal)
Take a CSM course from a CST → pass the online test → certify
💸 Cost & effort
Training cost (approx)≠ differs
USD 700–1,500
USD 400–1,200
Exam / application fee= same
USD 0
USD 0
Prep time= same
~2 weeks
~2 weeks
Study hours= same
~16 hours
~16 hours
📈 ROI
ROI score= same
3 / 5
3 / 5
Worth it?≠ differs
Strong if your org runs SAFe; the course cost + annual renewal are the catch.
Good entry — easy and recognised, but the mandatory course + renewals lower net ROI vs PSM.
📊 Syllabus — domain weighting
🚆SAFe Agilist
- Business Agility in the Digital Age20%
- Lean-Agile Principles & Mindset15%
- The Agile Release Train20%
- PI Planning15%
- Executing & Releasing Value15%
- Leading the Lean-Agile Transformation15%
🌀CSM
- Lean, Agile & Scrum Foundations15%
- Scrum Master Role & Servant Leadership25%
- Product Owner & Product Backlog15%
- Developers & Self-Management15%
- Scrum Events20%
- Artifacts & Transparency10%
Career, cost, effort and ROI figures are indicative — they vary by region, employer and experience.