Board-Certification in Agile Leadership (BCAL)

Lead Adaptively. Deliver with Agility.

About This Certification

The Board-Certification in Agile Leadership (BCAL) equips leaders to thrive in fast-changing environments by embracing iterative strategy, empowered teams, and continuous learning. It goes beyond frameworks — giving you the tools to lead transformation across culture, process, and performance.

Recommended for: Agile Coaches, Product Managers, Scrum Leaders, HR Business Partners, Program Leads, and Change Agents

Evaluate and validate your ability to lead with adaptability, strategic vision, and a value-driven approach. Through scenario-based responses and portfolio submissions, you’ll demonstrate mastery in:

  • Agile Mindset & Culture – Promote Agile values, servant leadership, and psychological safety to foster collaboration and continuous improvement.
  • Strategy & Vision – Align team goals with business strategy, prioritize by value, and communicate a clear vision for Agile adoption and scaling.
  • Team Empowerment – Enable self-organizing teams, remove barriers, and facilitate effective collaboration and conflict resolution.
  • Agile Processes & Practices – Implement and optimize frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe®, track progress with Agile metrics, and drive continuous improvement.
  • Stakeholder Engagement – Lead change initiatives, align stakeholders with Agile goals, and communicate benefits and outcomes effectively.
  • Measuring Success – Define success metrics, evaluate value delivery, and refine practices through data and feedback.

Assessment Framework

You will complete a four-component portfolio based assessment applied leadership assessment, focused on real-world performance:

  • Situational Judgment & Decision Making. Evaluates your response to Agile leadership scenarios, tradeoffs, and ethical decision-making under pressure.
  • Professional Leadership.
    Demonstrates your contributions to Agile transformation, team development, and process improvements.
  • Leadership Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement. Assesses your ability to align stakeholders, resolve resistance, and lead across silos.
  • Performance & Impact Assessment. Measures your ability to apply Agile leadership to real-world challenges through a scenario-based simulation.

Education: Undergraduate Degree

Experience: 2+ years in Agile leadership (Scrum Master, Agile Coach, etc.).

Training: 45 hours of Agile leadership training (frameworks, servant leadership, iterative planning).

Alternative Pathway:

  • Military: E-7+ (or equivalent).
  • Professional: 5+ years leading Agile teams with documentation.

Program Costs & Payment Options

Certification Path

Cost (Full / Member)

  • Core Certification

    $675 / $540

  • Core + Specialization

    $999 / $750

  • Core/Spec/Learning Path

    $1,598 / $1,199

NBLC Members receive 25% off all programs. Join Membership >

Download Candidate Handbook for more information.

Add-On: Specialization Modules

Enhance your certification with a targeted specialization module in one of five domains. Specialization modules are optional but strongly recommended to tailor your learning to your sector.

Specialization

Details

Agile Leadership in Government & Public Sector

Implement Agile governance in regulated environments, foster innovation, and lead regulatory change with transparency and compliance.

Assessed Domains: Agile Governance, Public Sector Innovation, & Regulatory Change Management.

Agile Coaching & Facilitation

Coach Agile teams to high performance, facilitate collaboration, and lead with servant leadership to foster autonomy and continuous improvement.

Assessed Domains: Agile Team Coaching, Facilitation Techniques, & Servant Leadership.

Agile Change Leadership

Implement Agile governance in regulated environments, foster innovation, and lead regulatory change with transparency and compliance.

Assessed Domains: Agile Change Models, Iterative Leadership, & Organizational Agility.

Enterprise Agility & Scaled Agile

Implement Agile at scale, apply SAFe principles, and manage Agile portfolios to align strategy with execution and deliver enterprise-wide value.

Assessed Domains: Scaling Agile, SAFe Frameworks, & Agile Portfolio Management.

Lean Portfolio & Product Management

Develop Lean portfolio strategies, manage product lifecycles, and ensure value-driven execution through data-informed decision-making.

Assessed Domains: Lean Portfolio Strategy, Product Lifecycle Management, & Value-Driven Execution.

Pricing & Options

Memb. Price
Full Price
Core Certification
$507
$675
Specialization Module Add-On
$300
$399
Optional Exam Prep Course
$975
$1,299
NBLC Annual Membership
$179

* Membership includes: certification discounts, 1 free retake/year, quarterly coaching, research access

Join NBLC Membership

What Professionals Are Saying

– Travis H., Senior Program Manager

I thought I understood Agile — until I took this certification. It redefined how I think about adaptability, culture, and stakeholder alignment.

– Aria F., People & Culture Director

This wasn’t just for software teams. I lead HR and L&D, and this gave me exactly what I needed to make our strategy more iterative and human.

Ready to Get Certified?

Make strategic decisions with confidence.
Align vision with measurable execution.
Lead across systems, stakeholders, and crises.