Top 10 SAP Certifications to Help You Get Ahead

Anyone interested in Big Data must know Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing, or SAP for short. While the immensely utilitarian SAP ERP is the most well-known of all products, SAP features a range of products and services to handle Big Data. These include SAP CRM (Customer Relationship Management), SAP PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), SAP S/4HANA, SAP SCM (Supply Chain Management), and SAP SRM (Supplier Relationship Management).

SAP offers over 135 certification programs for professionals working in different fields of information technology. Given the vast number of options, it can be difficult to know which one to pick for your first certification.

We’ve compiled a list of the ten best SAP certifications for you to consider, arranged by their level — associate, specialist, and professional. For your reference, we’ve summarized the certifications into a table, with detailed information in the form of an SAP certification list following.

SAP Certifications Summarized

Fees	Passing Score	Duration	Total questions	Question type	Languages
SAP Activate Project Manager	$592	65%	180 minutes	80	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.2	$592	66%	180 minutes	80	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English, German, and Japanese
Reporting, Modeling, and Data Acquisition with SAP BW/4HANA 2.x	$592	65%	180 minutes	80	Multiple-choice	English
Data Integration with SAP Data Services 4.2	$592	68%	180 minutes	80	Multiple-choice	English
SAP BW/4HANA 2.0 Delta	Learning Hub yearly subscription fee	63%	90 minutes	40	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English
SAP Certified Product Support Specialist - SAP Commerce	$592	55%	90 minutes	40	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English
SAP BW powered by SAP HANA	$592	60%	90 minutes	40	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English, French
Financials in SAP S/4HANA for SAP ERP Finance Experts (SAP S/4HANA 1909)	N/A	61%	180 minutes	80	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English, German
SAP Commerce Cloud 1905 Developer	$592	61%	180 minutes	80	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English
System Security Architect	$592	63%	180 minutes	80	Multiple-option, multiple-choice	English

What is the SAP Certification?

An SAP certification course is a recognition of your ability to interact with products and platforms developed by SAP. These include products related to financial planning, supply chain management, customer experiences, and human resources. There are three different levels of SAP certifications: associate, specialist, and professional.

SAP Certification Program Levels

Each certification belongs to one of the three levels: associate, specialist, and professional. Before diving deep into the top SAP certifications, let’s briefly understand these SAP proficiency levels.

Associate

The associate level certifies the candidate as having all the necessary foundational skills and knowledge to start offering their services professionally. Those with associate-level certification(s) are ready to move on to the next level in learning, i.e., offering services professionally in a job or as a consultant.

Specialist

The specialist-level certifications focus on a specific (job) role or integration component. SAP-certified specialists are hired by organizations for middle to high-level roles.

Professional

Professional-level sap certification courses are the most advanced. This type of certification ensures that the candidate has advanced knowledge in their respective field of accreditation.

These candidates also typically have years of proven real-world project exposure, business process knowledge, and an in-depth understanding of certification-specific SAP tools.

Top 10 SAP Certification Programs

The availability of an SAP online certification vary from country to country. For this list, we will limit our discussion to the top 10 SAP certifications offered in the United States.

Associate Level

1. SAP Activate Project Manager

Exam Details

• Total questions: 80
• Type of questions: Multiple-option, multiple-choice
• Minimum passing score: 65%
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian

One of the most popular associate-level certifications is the SAP Activate Project Manager. The SAP certification builds on fundamental consultant skills and experience gained through multiple projects. The SAP Activate Project Manager certification tests a candidate for:

• Basic knowledge of SAP project management and change management
• Advanced business skills
• An ability to apply the SAP Activate Methodology
• Management of internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to apply and implement different methodologies and tools

An SAP-certified project manager is capable of developing roadmaps for project execution, monitoring everything from sales to realization, and ensuring proper testing and quality management.

Topics Covered:

• Agile Delivery Approach
• Agile Project Planning
• SAP Activate:
• Elements
• Overview
• Transition Path:
• “New Implementation SAP S/4HANA”
• “New Implementation SAP S/4HANA Cloud”
• “New Implementation SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Single Tenant Edition”
• “Selective Data Transition”
• “System Conversion”
• Workstreams Overview

2. SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.2

Exam Details

• Total questions: 80
• Type of questions: Multiple-option, multiple-choice
• Minimum passing score: 66%
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English, German, and Japanese

The SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.2 certification tests that the candidate has all the necessary skills and knowledge to design, deploy, and operate the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform.

Candidates with the associate-level SAP BusinessObjects certification have the skills to configure and manage servers in an SAP Business Intelligence platform deployment. They are experienced with tasks required for supporting users and groups of the SAP Business Intelligence platform.

Topics Covered

• Architecture and Administration
• Authentication, Authorization, and Security
• Content Management
• Design and Deployment
• Information Flow
• Installation and Backup
• Monitoring and Auditing
• Platform Configuration
• Platform Functionality
• Troubleshooting

3. Reporting, Modeling, and Data Acquisition with SAP BW/4HANA 2.x

Exam Details

• Total questions: 80
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice
• Minimum passing score: 65%
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English

The SAP Certified Application Associate - Reporting, Modeling, and Data Acquisition with SAP BW/4HANA 2.x certification demonstrates a candidate’s ability, knowledge, and experience, in data acquisition, modeling, and query design using SAP BW/4HANA.

With this certification, a candidate’s in-depth knowledge and technical skills for bagging a mentoring role on an SAP project team are checked. The Reporting, Modeling, and Data Acquisition with SAP BW/4HANA 2.x certification exam serves as an entry-level qualification.

Topics Covered

• Data Acquisition into:
• SAP BW/4HANA
• SAP HANA
• Fundamentals (of SAP HANA)
• InfoObjects and InfoProviders
• Native SAP HANA Modeling
• SAP Analytics Tools
• SAP BW/4HANA:
• Data Flow
• Modeling
• Project and the Modeling Process
• SAP BW Query Design

4. Data Integration with SAP Data Services 4.2

Exam Details

• Total questions: 80
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice
• Minimum passing score: 68%
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English

With the SAP Certified Application Associate - Data Integration with SAP Data Services 4.2 certification, a candidate is assured for possessing skills and knowledge required to:

• Implement ETL projects, and
• Administer and manage projects using SAP Data Services.

The associate-level Data Integration with SAP Data Services 4.2 certification gauges a candidate’s ability and knowledge of SAP DataServices.

This starts with data integration concepts then goes through applying performance tuning and sizing methods. This is followed by implementing complex design methodology to perform data transformation, troubleshooting, and recovery.

Topics Covered

• Advanced-Data Transformation
• Basic Data Transformation
• Change Data Capture
• Complex Design Methodology
• Data Integration Concepts
• Data Management
• Performance Optimized Design
• Recovery and Troubleshooting

Specialist

5. SAP BW/4HANA 2.0 Delta

Exam Details

• Total questions: 40
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice, multi-option
• Minimum passing score: 63%
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Fees: Learning Hub yearly subscription fee
• Language(s): English

The specialist-level SAP BW/4HANA 2.0 Delta certification is meant for those aspiring to offer their services as an SAP BW Application Consultant. Passing the certification requires both knowledge of SAP BW/4HANA and experience using the same as a member of an SAP BW team.

The primary focus of this SAP training certification is to check if a candidate has the knowledge and skills required for implementing and modeling using SAP BW/4HANA 2.0.

Although not necessarily required, clearing one of these 3 certification examinations is highly recommended before going for the SAP Certified Application Specialist - SAP BW/4HANA 2.0 Delta certification examination:

• C_TBW55_73 (SAP Certified Application Associate - Modeling and Data Management with SAP BW 7.3 & SAP BI 4.0)
• C_TBW60_74 (SAP Certified Application Associate - Modeling and Data Management with SAP BW 7.4)
• C_TBW50H_75 (SAP Certified Application Associate - Modeling and Data Acquisition with SAP BW 7.5 powered by SAP HANA)

Topics Covered

• Core Modeling Artifacts in SAP BW/4HANA
• Data Provisioning into SAP HANA and SAP BW/4HANA
• Getting Started (with SAP HANA)
• Hybrid Modeling in Mixed Scenarios
• Paths to SAP BW/4HANA
• The relevance of SAP S/4HANA to SAP BW
• Running the SAP BW/4HANA Data Warehouse
• SAP BW/4HANA Data Lifecycle Management
• SAP HANA Modeling

6. SAP Certified Product Support Specialist - SAP Commerce

Exam Details

• Total questions: 40
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice, multi-option
• Minimum passing score: 55%
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Fees: $592
• Language(s): English

The SAP Certified Product Support Specialist - SAP Commerce certification allows candidates to assume the role of an SAP Commerce Product Support Specialist.

To take the examination for this certification, candidates must have completed the SAP Certified Development Professional - SAP Commerce Cloud 1811 Developer (P_C4HCD_1811) certification.

Successfully clearing the specialist-level SAP Commerce certification examination requires a combination of good knowledge of the SAP Commerce platform and several years of hands-on practical experience with the same.

Topics Covered

• Configuration (of the SAP Commerce Suite)
• General Support (for the SAP Commerce Suite)
• Integration (of SAP Commerce Cloud with other SAP products)
• Performance (of the implemented system(s))
• Product Support Processes
• Troubleshooting (the SAP Commerce Suite)

7. SAP BW powered by SAP HANA

Exam Details

• Total questions: 40
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice, multiple-option
• Minimum passing score: 60%
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English, French

The SAP Certified Application Specialist - SAP BW powered by HANA SPS12 (Edition 2016) certification is meant for SAP BW Application Consultant aspirants. Successfully clearing the examination requires comprehensive knowledge and practical experience of BW-on-HANA.

Taking the SAP Certified Application Specialist - SAP BW powered by HANA SPS12 (Edition 2016) certification examination is easier if you have any of these certifications:

• C_TBW45_70 (SAP Certified Application Associate - Business Intelligence with SAP NetWeaver 7.0)
• C_TBW55_73 (SAP Certified Application Associate - Modeling and Data Management with SAP BW 7.3 & SAP BI 4.0)
• C_TBW60_74 (SAP Certified Application Associate - Modeling and Data Management with SAP BW 7.4)
• C_TBW65_73 (SAP Certified Application Associate - Administration and Operations with SAP BW 7.3 and SAP BI 4.0)
• P_BIE_70 (SAP Certified Application Professional - Enterprise Data Warehousing with SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse BW 7.0)
• P_BIE_73 (SAP Certified Application Professional - Modeling and Data Management with SAP BW 7.3 & SAP BI 4.0)

Topics Covered

• Data Provisioning into SAP HANA as well as SAP BW
• Getting Started with SAP BW and SAP HANA
• Hybrid Modeling in Mixed Scenarios
• Migration to SAP BW on SAP HANA
• Modeling with SAP’s Reference Architecture LSA++
• Optimization Areas in SAP BW on SAP HANA
• SAP BW on SAP HANA Data Management

Professional

8. Financials in SAP S/4HANA for SAP ERP Finance Experts (SAP S/4HANA 1909)

Exam Details

• Total questions: 80
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice, multiple-option
• Minimum passing score: 61%
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English and German

A professional with the SAP Certified Application Professional - Financials in SAP S/4HANA for SAP ERP Finance Experts (SAP S/4HANA 1809) certification can prepare, set up, and lead the implementation of the Financials in SAP S/4HANA in an SAP project.

Interested candidates must have at least 5 years of experience in SAP ERP (financial accounting or management accounting). The professional-level SAP certification assesses a candidate’s understanding of architectural and functional differences between SAP ERP Financials and SAP S/4HANA Finance.

Candidates with the Financials in SAP S/4HANA for SAP ERP Finance Experts (SAP S/4HANA 1809) certification have all the knowledge and skills to assume the role of an application consultant or supervisor in a team responsible for implementing Financials in SAP S/4HANA.

Topics Covered

• Architecture Overview of Financials in SAP S/4HANA and the Central Finance Solution
• Asset Accounting Configuration in SAP Accounting Powered by SAP HANA
• Basics of Cash Management Powered by SAP HANA and SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA
• Basics of SAP HANA, SAP S/4HANA, and SAP Fiori
• Conversion and Post-conversion Activities for Financials in SAP S/4HANA
• Financial Accounting Configuration in SAP Accounting Powered by SAP HANA
• Management Accounting Configuration in SAP Accounting Powered by SAP HANA
• System Preparation and Configuration for Conversion of Financials in SAP S/4HANA

9. SAP Commerce Cloud 1905 Developer

Exam Details

• Total questions: 80
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice, multiple-option
• Minimum passing score: 61%
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English

The SAP Certified Developer Professional - SAP Commerce Cloud 1905 Developer certification ensures that a candidate has professional-level knowledge and experience working with the SAP Commerce Cloud Suite 1905 platform.

Other than going through the topic areas mentioned to prepare for the professional-level SAP certification exam, candidates must also study the SAP Commerce Cloud Suite documentation available at help.hybris.com.

Hands-on experience of at least 3 years with the SAP Commerce Cloud is a prerequisite for taking the SAP Commerce Cloud 1905 Developer certification.

Topics Covered

• Back office and Back office Cockpits Modifications
• Commerce and Accelerator
• Commerce Cloud and Cloud Portal Basics
• Customer Experience
• Data Modeling
• Orders
• PCM Basics and Price Modeling
• Platform Basics
• Platform Features
• Search and Navigation
• User Management

10. System Security Architect

Exam Details

• Total questions: 80
• Type of questions: Multiple-choice, multiple-option
• Minimum passing score: 63%
• Duration: 180 minutes
• Fees:$592
• Language(s): English

The SAP Certified Technology Professional - System Security Architect certification ensures that the candidate has in-depth knowledge and multi-year experience with SAP System Security and Authorization.

A professional with the System Security Architect certification can assume the role of an SAP Security Architect who has a good understanding of the technology consultation and can use the same to guide or direct the implementation of a particular SAP project.

This SAP security certification verifies that the System Security Architect can evaluate and review the security of the complex cloud, hybrid system, and on-premise architectures.

Topics Covered

• Authorization, Security, and Scenarios in SAP HANA
• Authorization Concept for SAP Business Suite
• Authorization Concept for SAP S/4HANA
• SAP Netweaver Application Server Security
• SAP System Security Fundamentals
• Secure SAP System Management
• Security in SAP Gateway and SAP Fiori System Landscape

SAP Certification Exam Structure and Approach

Each certification allows candidates to have 6 attempts at passing the certification examination. It is possible to pick test dates as per your liking. For each certification, SAP recommends mixing preferred education courses with practical experience.

In addition to the online mode, candidates can also choose to have an on-site examination at an SAP training center. Each certification examination has its distinct knowledge domains dubbed Topic Areas. Moreover, each exam has different time durations, the total number of questions, and the minimum passing percentage.

The approach of preparing for an SAP certification also depends on the proficiency level i.e., whether it's associate-level, specialist-level, or professional-level.

Most associate-level certifications are entry-level programs i.e.; they don’t necessitate working experience. Many of the specialist-level certifications demand a few years of industry experience. Professional-level programs require many years of job experience.

Certain certification exams might contain unscored items. These are primarily tested for future releases of the concerned examination. These are called unscored because they aren’t added to the final score. Moreover, these items are distributed arbitrarily across the topics.

SAP ABAP Programming For Beginners - Online Training

Why Get SAP Certified?

There are several benefits of gaining an SAP certification. One of them is that it is one of the industry-leading certifications. Moreover, SAP certifies its products and services, so the certification has a high level of value.

Other major benefits of gaining an SAP certification are:

• Boost in knowledge for carrying out various SAP-based tasks
• Better chances of a promotion
• Increase in salary prospects

All certifications are offered by the SAP Education and the Certification & Enablement Influence Council.

Get Your SAP Certification Today

That sums up our pick of the best SAP certification programs, plus their perks and the approach to the certification examination. Hopefully, now it will be easier for you to pick the most suitable certification or at least get to know about SAP certifications a little better. If you want to learn about the SAP ABAP runtime environment and the ABAP programming language, check out the best SAP ABAP tutorials.

What certification did you decide to go for from the list? Did you choose some other SAP certification? Which certification(s) do you think is (are) the best? Let us know in the comments.

FAQs

How Much Does SAP Certification Cost?

The SAP certification cost varies from course to course and from country to country. In the US, the cost of SAP certification starts from $500. In India, it starts from ₹40000. Prices generally remain around this figure for other countries as well.

Is the SAP Exam Difficult?

This will depend on the individual taking the exam, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that the SAP certifications are easier than its other IT certification counterparts. Bear in mind that it will also depend on the specific course. In any case, you’re going to have to prepare for it, so don‘t stress too much about the difficulty so much as having solid study material.

How Long Does it Take to Get SAP Certified?

This also varies, with the general time frame being anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The specific certification will be the biggest factor here, with some certifications taking longer to complete. It will also depend on how quickly you can bring yourself to be prepared. Fortunately, they are SAP global certifications, meaning they are valid everywhere.

Does SAP Require Coding?

Even the top SAP certification courses generally do not require a great deal of coding acknowledgment, though it does involve Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP), a proprietary programming language. Some certifications will not need coding using ABAP, while others will. In any case, the coding here isn’t particularly difficult, at least compared to other programming languages.

How Long is SAP Certification Valid?

SAP certifications don’t exactly expire and are valid until they become outdated. They become outdated when new solutions and accompanying certifications are released, requiring you to take “delta or stay current assessments” to keep that certification. You only have to take the associate-level SAP certification once.

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