SAFE Agile Software Engineer Certification (ASE)

The field of software engineering has undergone significant changes in recent years with the implementation of Lean-Agile and DevOps methodologies. This has led to the developing of new skills and techniques that enable organizations to deliver software-centric solutions more quickly, predictably, and with improved quality.

The ASE exam course will provide you with an understanding of the fundamental principles and practices that form the Agile Software Engineering discipline.

What is the SAFe ASE certification?

The SAFe Agile Software Engineer (ASE) certification is an intermediate-level certification that verifies individuals have the knowledge to use SAFe to deliver high-quality and value-based software-centric solutions at a faster rate. The certification is best suited for technical members of an Agile team, such as developers and testers. Still, it can also benefit non-technical members, such as product owners, Scrum masters, and managers, to gain knowledge of the development process and effectively handle teams.

The certification covers creating an outline, designing, implementing, analyzing, verifying, and validating stories in a SAFe continuous delivery pipeline, and using automated testing.

You will learn the following:

• Define Agile Software Engineering and the underlying values, principles, and practices.
• Apply the Test First practice to create alignment between tests and requirements.
• Utilize the test infrastructure and create tests with Behavior-Driven Development (BDD).
• Outline models for communication and representation.
• Design from context and collaborate on intentional architecture and emergent design.
• Create an Agile software engineering plan and minimum marketable features (MMF).

Exam details

To obtain the Certified SAFe® Agile Software Engineer certification, the initial step is to enroll in the SAFe® 5 Agile Software Engineering course. This is a requirement as the exam provides all the necessary materials to take the certification exam.

The SAFe Agile Software Engineer (ASE) certification exam is a 120-minute test that includes 60 multiple-choice questions. To pass the ASE exam, a minimum score of 42 out of 60 questions, or 70%, is required.

Exam domains

The SAFe Agile Software Engineer (ASE) covers the following domains:

• Introducing the course (7%)
• Connecting principles and practices to built-in quality (10%)
• Accelerating flow (7%)
• Applying intentional architecture (8%)
• Thinking test-first (12%)
• Discovering story details (7%)
• Creating a shared understanding with behavior-driven development (13%)
• Communicating with models (5%)
• Building systems with code quality (8%)
• Building systems with design quality (13%)
• Implementing with quality (10%)

Exam prerequisites

Individuals seeking expertise in Agile Software can take the SAFe ASE certification exam. However, there are some recommended prerequisites to consider before taking the exam. A foundational understanding of SAFe for Teams is crucial for success on the SAFe ASE certification exam.

Furthermore, a background in engineering, development, development management or quality assurance is highly recommended for those considering taking the ASE exam.

How much does it cost to take the SAFe ASE certification exam?

The first attempt at the ASE certification exam is included as part of the course registration fee as long as it is taken within 30 days of completing the course. Subsequent retake attempts of the exam will cost a fee of $50 per attempt.

Who can take the ASE certification exam?

The SAFe Agile Software Engineer (ASE) certification exam is specifically tailored for the technical members of an Agile Team, such as developers and testers.

However, non-technical members such as Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Managers, and others can also benefit from this course as they will understand the development process, leading to better team collaboration.