SAFe offers two product-focused certifications: Agile Product Management (APM) and Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM). Understanding their differences helps you choose the right certification for your product management career.
Certification Overview
SAFe Agile Product Management (APM)
APM is a 3-day advanced certification focusing on strategic product management, customer-centricity, design thinking, and innovation. It prepares you for senior product management roles and strategic product leadership.
SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM)
POPM is a 2-day certification focusing on tactical product ownership, backlog management, and value delivery within Agile Release Trains. It prepares you for Product Owner and Product Manager roles at the program level.
Key Differences
| Aspect | APM | POPM | |--------|-----|------| | Focus | Strategic product management, innovation | Tactical product ownership, backlog management | | Duration | 3 days (24 hours) | 2 days (16 hours) | | Level | Advanced | Intermediate | | Target Audience | Senior Product Managers, Product Leaders | Product Owners, Product Managers | | Salary Range | $120,000-$180,000 | $97,000-$155,000 | | Career Path | Product Director, VP Product, CPO | Product Manager, Senior Product Manager |
Which Certification Should You Choose?
Choose APM if: - You're a senior Product Manager or Product Leader - You want to focus on strategic product management - You're interested in innovation and design thinking - You want to lead product strategy at the portfolio level - You have 5+ years of product management experience
Choose POPM if: - You're a Product Owner or Product Manager - You want to focus on tactical product ownership - You work with Agile Release Trains - You want to master backlog management and prioritization - You're building foundational product management skills
Career Progression
Many professionals start with POPM to build tactical product skills, then progress to APM for strategic product leadership. However, APM can also be pursued directly if you have sufficient product management experience.
Training Options
Agile36 offers both APM and POPM certifications with expert instruction and comprehensive exam preparation. Our courses prepare you for success in either product management path.
Ready to advance your product management career? Explore our [SAFe APM](/safe-apm) and [SAFe POPM](/safe-popm) courses to find the right certification for your goals.