Which course is right for you?
The SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) and SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) courses are both designed to teach you the skills and knowledge needed to effectively implement and support the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) in your organization, but they’re focused on different roles and so, therefore, will not be relevant for everybody. In this article, we will outline the two certifications so you know what’s more applicable to you.
Release Train Engineer (RTE)
The SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) course is designed for professionals who are responsible for leading and managing Agile Release Trains (ARTs) in a Scaled Agile environment. An ART is a team of Agile teams that work together to deliver value to the organization.
RTEs are responsible for ensuring that the ART is aligned with the overall business strategy, and for facilitating the smooth flow of value from idea to deployment. RTEs also work closely with other key stakeholders, such as Product Managers and Solution Managers, to ensure that the ART is delivering value to the organization. The course also explores how to prepare, plan, and execute a Program Increment (PI) planning event – the primary enabler of alignment throughout all levels of a Scaled Agile organization.
The RTE course answers the questions:
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How do I plan for and execute a PI?
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How do I create an environment of relentless improvement?
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How do I lead and serve my ART?
There are also a couple of highly-recommended pre-requisites to attend the course:
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Hold at least one current SAFe certification
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Have launched or participated in at least one ART and one PI
SAFe® Scrum Master
SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) training is intended for people responsible for leading and facilitating Agile teams in a SAFe environment.
Scrum Masters are responsible for ensuring that their teams are following the Scrum framework and practices, and for helping teams to continuously improve their processes and outcomes. SSMs also work closely with other key stakeholders, such as Product Owners and Release Train Engineers, to ensure that their teams are delivering value to the organization.
The SSM course answers the questions:
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How do Scrum Masters facilitate the planning and execution of work during a PI?
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How do you coach and lead Agile teams inside a SAFe enterprise?
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How do you become a servant leader to build a high-performing team?
The only pre-requisite for the SSM course is some lean-agile experience. So, it’s more beginner-friendly compared to the RTE course.
Conclusion
In summary, both courses cater to different roles and different levels of scope within the organization. So, it really depends on your area of focus and interest!
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us here. You can also see our other SAFe-certified courses here.
