The Service Automation Framework (SAF)

Digital badges allow you to easily showcase your achievements online.

When you pass an exam - you'll instantly have the option to claim a digital badge representing your new certificate.

Your badge can be embedded on an email signature, website, social media or digital CV.

With just one click employers, customers and clients can easily view and verify your credentials and skills.

Please download our digital sharing presentation for more information.

Once you’ve been notified that you’ve passed your exam - you will have the option to create a digital badge in APMG's Candidate Portal.

Visit APMG's Candidate Portal, view your exam results and select 'Create Badge'.

This takes you to the Credly website where the digital badges are hosted. You will be guided through the Credly account creation process.

Once you have created an account with Credly - login into the account and accept your pending badge.

The Service Automation Framework® provides a step-by-step approach that illustrates how organizations can digitize their service offering. SAF Foundation and RPA Foundation  been developed for individuals and teams who wish to demonstrate their proficiency in the Service Automation Framework methodology.

The SAF guidance is aimed at:

• Service Strategists
• Process Consultants
• Business Consultants
• Strategy Consultants
• Service Delivery Managers
• Service Designers
• Enterprise Architects
• Operations Managers
• Service Managers
• Developers
• Business Analysts

SAF is especially suitable for individuals and organisations involved in the Finance, Insurance, Healthcare and Government sectors.

Training for SAF and RPA are available from our network of Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) which are assessed and certified by APMG International. To find an training course please choose a certification level to see the available ATOs.

No, however this is recommended. In addition to receiving accredited training, individuals also have the option of self-study to prepare for the examination by purchasing the core text from APMG Business Books. APMG International administers public exam sessions around the world to accommodate those who self-study. To book a self-study exam click here.

Most, if not all SAF ATOs include the examinations as part of the associated training course. Alternatively, and for individuals that have self-studied, APMG administers public exam sessions around the world. Sessions are run at certain APMG International offices. There are four dedicated centre’s in the UK for public examinations, and in the United States we utilize the public library network to facilitate sessions. To book a self-study exam click here or contact your local APMG Office to see if there is an available classroom near you. 

If you are sitting the examinations through an accredited training organization, the costs of the exams are generally included in the course fee. APMG International uses a global pricing structure, so for those sitting exams at a public exam centre, the cost is dependent on where the exams are being sat. To find out the cost in your region, please contact the APMG International Service Desk on +44 (0)1494 452450 or at: servicedesk@apmg-international.com.

There are no pre-requisites for taking the SAF and RPA foundation examinations.

Both SAF and RPA have one main publication supporting the certification schemes, called Service Automation Framework, for the design and delivery of automated services.

This can be purchased from APMG Business Books.

If training with a SAF/RPA ATO please check if a copy of the guidance is included as part of the course fee.

Foundation examinations are currently available in English only. Further translations will be considered subject to market demand.

The SAF and RPA guidance is currently only available in English.

For individuals self-studying it is almost impossible to say. As all candidates have different experiences and amount of time available for study, it varies from person to person. We suggest you buy the guidance and have a look through for yourself before deciding how long you need to spend learning.

For those studying with an accredited training organization, foundation courses are generally delivered over 3 days. It is well worth investigating with individual providers, as many will offer tailored and blended learning solutions.

The SAF and RPA foundation examinations consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, with 26 marks (65%) required to pass. It is a closed-book examination to be completed in 60 minutes.

The pass mark for both the SAF and RPA examinations is:

Foundation: You will need to score 26/40 (65%) to pass the foundation exam.

SAF foundation and RPA foundation examinations can be marked on location after the exam, but this is down to the discretion of the invigilator at the time. Please note this will only be a provisional result.

Your formal result will be sent to your ATO approximately 7-10 days after your exam date. Your ATO should notify you of your results so please contact them for further details.

If you did not take your exam through an ATO, your result will be sent directly to you via the relevant APMG International office approximately 7-10 days after the date of your exam.

Candidates will be able to claim their digital badge and electronic certificate from their APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of their exam result being issued.

The certifications are not valid for a defined period of time and will not expire.

To be eligible to apply to become a SAF and/or an RPA trainer, individuals must achieve a score of 75% (30/40) in the foundation exam.

To find out if you scored enough to be eligible as a trainer, please email servicedesk@apmg-international.com noting your interest. A representative of the Customer Interaction Team will be able to advise you.

Only organizations licensed to do so are allowed to use the SAF logo. Such organizations include SAF ATOs and registered partners accredited by APMG International.

The SAF Logo is a Registered Trade Mark of the Service Automation Framework Alliance.

All SAF and RPA trainers must be "sponsored" by a SAF/RPA accredited training organization (ATO). Contact a SAF/RPA ATO by choosing one from the Accredited Organizations search engine.

A trainer application must be submitted by the sponsoring ATO to their relevant APMG International office.

An organization wishing to become a SAF and/or an RPA ATO should make an Accreditation Query or contact its local APMG International office. The organization will then be subject to APMG International's ATO assessment process.

You can always access all your electronic certificates and badges via the APMG Candidate Portal. Once you have logged on to the Candidate Portal, click on the ‘Badges and Certificates’ option from the menu bar at the top of screen. From here you should click on the ‘Create Badge/Certificate’ button. This will take you to the Credly platform to create and account and download your badge and certificate.

Step-by-step guidance is available to download from the ‘Badges and Certificates’ area in your Candidate Portal.

Electronic certificates are environmentally friendly, but you can print the certificate yourself at home or work, if required.

If you have any problems with accessing your digital certificate, please contact our Customer Interaction Team - servicedesk@apmg-international.com