The 10 Best SAP Certifications in 2023 | Beginner to Pro

As one of the industry standards for ERP (enterprise resource planning) software, SAP is the go-to for many companies that they need to manage logistics, financials, production, inventory, and more.

It’s no wonder that many organizations are looking for candidates that have not only learned to use SAP, but are highly proficient in various aspects of SAP to help streamline business operations, lower costs, and improve efficiency.

One of the best ways to demonstrate your SAP skill and knowledge is by earning an SAP ERP certification. Still, with nearly 150 certifications available for various topic areas and skill levels, it can be hard to choose!

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best SAP certifications you need to consider in 2023, including various topic areas and skill levels. Let’s get started!

Looking for a fresh role using SAP in 2023? Check out these SAP Jobs

The Best Associate Level SAP Certifications in 2023

1. SAP Certified Application Associate - Reporting, Modeling, and Data Acquisition with SAP BW/4HANA 2.x

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Why We Chose This Certification

Our findings show that this SAP certification for beginners is ideal for validating your knowledge and skills with SAP BW/4HANA software, which is widely used in many organizations worldwide.

Another benefit of this certification is that prepping for the exam can help deepen your understanding of data modeling, reporting, and data acquisition, which are essential skills for many roles in data analytics and business intelligence.

With these skills, you can become more effective in your current role and position yourself for future career opportunities in those fields. Plus, with this credential on your resume, you can improve your job prospects by demonstrating your proficiency in these areas

2. SAP Certified Development Associate - ABAP with SAP NetWeaver 7.50

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Why We Chose This Certification

With this entry-level SAP certification, you can showcase your ability to develop and personalize ABAP applications on the SAP NetWeaver platform. This is also an excellent way to demonstrate your ability to work as a team member under the supervision of an expert (i.e., your team leader).

By obtaining this certification, you can also enhance your career opportunities by validating your expertise and credibility in ABAP development. Based on our observations, this is also an excellent way to remain current with the latest practices and advancements in ABAP.

3. SAP Certified Associate - SAP Activate Project Manager

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Why We Chose This Certification

Many businesses are on the lookout for project managers who can lead the implementation of SAP software solutions. Our research indicates that this certification can help you stand out in a crowded job market as it shows employers you have the expertise to manage projects using SAP Activate.

While this SAP certification is for beginners at the associate level, it will require you to have previous project management skills and experience to build upon.

To prepare for the exam, you’ll need to cover a wide range of project management topics, like project planning, risk management, and quality assurance. By enhancing your knowledge in these areas, you’ll not only be ready for the exam, but you’ll also become a more efficient and effective project manager.

4. SAP Certified Associate - Design Thinking

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Why We Chose This Certification

Design thinking has become increasingly important in today's business world as companies seek to innovate and create customer-centric solutions, making this certification highly relevant to a wide range of industries and sectors. 

Our findings show that earning this credential is an excellent way to validate your skill and knowledge in design thinking methodologies with an emphasis on solving real-world business problems.

This SAP cert is also excellent for demonstrating your ability to apply design thinking principles to improve business outcomes, which may enhance your career prospects and open up the possibility for promotions or new job opportunities.

The Best Specialist Level SAP Certifications in 2023

5. SAP Certified Product Support Specialist - SAP Commerce

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Why We Chose This Certification

This SAP certification is great for validating your knowledge and skills with SAP Commerce, which is perfect for demonstrating you have the necessary expertise to work in a relevant support role.

Our research also indicates that this certification can enhance your career opportunities in SAP Commerce support positions, making you more marketable to employers and potentially boosting your salary prospects. 

As this is a specialist-level certification, you’ll need to meet a handful of prerequisites if you want to take this assessment. It also helps to be familiar with the SAP Commerce Cloud suite, as shown by recommended learning provided by SAP on the certification page.

6. SAP Certified Application Specialist – SAP BW/4HANA 2.0 Delta

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Why We Chose This Certification

This SAP certification has an exam that’s on the shorter end of the spectrum, clocking in at only 90 minutes rather than 180, meaning you’ll only need to answer 40 questions.

We’d characterize this exam as a great way to stay current with SAP BW/4HANA while also growing your reputation as a specialist.

As another specialist-level cert, this builds on what you’ve learned from earning your SAP BW/4HANA certification and any practical experience you may have earned while working as a member of an SAP BW team.

Based on our observations, you should definitely consider this certification if you want to demonstrate that you’re proficient with the most recent updates and skills needed to use SAP BW/4HANA.

7. SAP Certified Application Specialist - SAP BW 7.5 powered by SAP HANA

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Why We Chose This Certification

This SAP certification is an excellent way to validate that you have the knowledge and experience to implement and model SAP BW powered by SAP HANA.

Our research indicates that it’s an excellent choice if you want to show potential employers that you have what it takes to be an SAP BW application consultant. 

As the last of our specialist certs, this also requires you to meet a number of prerequisites to be eligible for the exam, and there’s also a recommended learning journey that focuses on ABAP development with SAP HANA.

The Best Professional Level SAP Certifications in 2023

8. SAP Certified Application Professional - Financials in SAP S/4HANA for SAP ERP Finance Experts

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Why We Chose This Certification

This professional-level SAP finance certification is aimed at professionals that want to validate their ability to prep, set up, and lead implementation projects of financials in SAP S/4HANA.

Our analysis of this certification revealed that you need to have practical skills and experience working with this software, alongside 5+ years of experience in financial accounting. Now we’re dealing with advanced certs, expect the requirements to be tougher.

And being an advanced certification, you should be prepared for an even more challenging assessment that matches up with the aforementioned prerequisites. You should also consider following the SAP learning journey for upskilling in SAP S/4HANA Finance.

9. SAP Certified Technology Professional - System Security Architect

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Why We Chose This Certification

Our findings show that this professional-level certification requires you to have undergone rigorous training to have acquired the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use SAP System Security and Authorization, along with an advanced understanding of system security acquired from a relevant role.

By passing this assessment, you can show a potential employer that you have what it takes to provide guidance and handle SAP project implementations while working as an SAP Security Architect.

You can also demonstrate your ability to review and evaluate system architecture security levels, whether those systems are on-premise, on the cloud, or hybrid.

10. SAP Certified Development Professional - SAP Commerce Cloud Developer

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Why We Chose This Certification

Our analysis of this certification revealed it to be an excellent way to validate you have the required knowledge and skills to work effectively and efficiently with SAP Commerce Cloud Suite.

WIth this accreditation, you can show potential employers you have the technical skills and understanding needed to be a member of a project team.

As a pro-level cert, there are a range of prerequisites you must meet to take the exam, including at least 3 years of practical experience with the software. SAP also recommends taking the Commerce Cloud learning journey to help prepare for the exam.

If you can meet these requirements, this SAP certification can boost your earning potential and improve your career prospects overall.

What Is SAP Certification?

SAP certification is an industry and globally-recognized certification that demonstrates a person's expertise in implementing, configuring, and using SAP solutions using SAP software. 

To become SAP certified, candidates must meet certain prerequisites and pass an assessment exam. Prerequisites may include training courses, work experience, and specific education requirements.

SAP certifications provide two options to sit the exam:

• CER001 - one exam attempt
• CER006 - six exam attempts (you must use these attempts within one year)

Exams are available 24/7 and are proctored online. Once you pass, you’ll need to keep an eye on the SAP website to know when you need to take steps to stay current and keep your certification valid.

In general, the more advanced the cert, the more frequently you’ll need to update your status by retaking an exam.

SAP Certification Program Levels

Each certification belongs to one of the three levels: associate, specialist, and professional.

Associate: Certifies a candidate has the necessary foundational skills and knowledge to start offering their services as a professional or as a consultant.

Specialist: These focus on a specific (job) role or integration component, and SAP-certified specialists are hired by organizations for mid to high-level roles.

Professional: These are the most advanced SAP certs, and they ensure a candidate has advanced knowledge in their respective field. Candidates typically have years of proven real-world project exposure, business process knowledge, and an in-depth understanding of specific SAP tools.

What Is the SAP Certification Exam Structure and Approach?

SAP certification assessments are available 24/7 and can be taken from anywhere, as they are proctored online; there are no on-site assessment exams.

Each certification assesses specific knowledge domains named Topic Areas, and in most cases, SAP lists a specific knowledge base or learning journey to study before taking the exam.

Assessments are either 90 or 180 minutes long, with 90-minute assessments having 40 questions and 180-minute assessments having 80. The passing score varies from assessment to assessment. 

If you’re asking the question, “What is SAP Training?” The answer depends on the specific program. However, for each certification, SAP recommends mixing preferred education courses with practical experience. 

Why Get SAP Certified?

Being a certified SAP expert speaks to an individual’s knowledge, level of experience, and competency in a particular topic area. Earning an SAP certification generally garners respect while also showing potential employers that you are a verified expert in SAP for that specific skill set.

Let’s take a look at some other benefits of being SAP certified:

• Strengthen Your SAP-Related Skills: To pass your SAP assessment, you will need to prepare by studying and gaining more experience, strengthening your skills.

• SAP Global Certification: SAP certs are some of the most popular in tech with global recognition, offering options to work abroad.

• Achieve Mastery in Specific Areas: Some SAP certifications offer associate, specialist, and professional levels, with each level placing you on the path to mastering the specific area. 

• Improve Your Resume & Employability: Job recruiters can quickly identify your qualifications and expertise, setting you apart from other applicants without an SAP cert.

• Stay Up-to-Date: SAP certifications are regularly updated, which encourages you to stay current to maintain your certification status.

The Importance of SAP Certification in the Enterprise Software Market

SAP Certification is highly valued in the enterprise software market as it provides assurance to employers that an individual possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to work with SAP software effectively.

SAP certs are globally recognized and can help an individual stand out in a highly competitive job market. Employers may prefer individuals with SAP Certification for roles like consultants, project managers, developers, and administrators.

By being SAP certified, you can demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the SAP system and its functionalities and can use the software effectively in solving business problems.

Conclusion

Obtaining SAP certification can be highly beneficial to you and your career. Being such a massive ERP software suite, there are a lot of choices when it comes to SAP certifications, with nearly 150 to choose from!

To help you narrow it down, this article has found 10 of the best SAP certifications available in 2023, with various options for associate, specialist, and professional levels. So whether you want to focus on project management, development, or finance, there’s something for you on our list.

Looking for ways to learn SAP? Check out

The 10 Best SAP Books in 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Much Does SAP Certification Cost?

The cost of getting SAP certified will vary depending on the number of attempts you need to pass a given exam. SAP allows you to purchase CER001, a single exam attempt, for $212 (excl. tax). CER006, which allows six attempts you can use within twelve months, will cost you $531 (excl. tax). If you can pass your certification with one attempt, the cost will be around $212.

2. Is the SAP Exam Difficult?

SAP exams vary in difficulty level, with the Associate level typically being less challenging than the Professional level. It’s also important to note that some certifications may have more requirements than others. To increase your chances of passing, do the training SAP recommends for your specific assessment.

3. How Long Does it Take to Get SAP Certified?

You will have either 90 minutes for 40 questions or 180 minutes for 80 questions to finish the exam for your SAP qualification. Unfortunately, this does not account for how long it may take you to prepare. The best way to know how long your online SAP certification will take to earn overall is to check the requirements and recommended SAP course training so you can make a more accurate estimation.

4. Does SAP Require Coding?

This depends on the product within the SAP ERP suite that you need to use. In business-facing roles, you’ll likely be using UIs to handle all of your SAP activities, but for more technical users, SAP products can be controlled with Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP), a proprietary programming language for SAP.

5. How Long Is SAP Certification Valid?

SAP certifications 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.

6. Which Certification is Best in SAP?

Because there are so many options for SAP software certification, it’s impossible to point out just one as the best. Additionally, the best certification for you will depend on your specific skill set and career goals. However, we have listed ten of the best options in our list of recommendations above.

7. What Is the Most Valuable SAP Certification?

The most valuable certification will vary depending on your needs, career goals, and skillset. A certification that may be highly beneficial to someone’s career may not benefit you at all, and vice versa. To know which would benefit you most, consider your specific situation. You can also consider one of our recommended certifications above.

8. Which Is the Most Demanding SAP Course?

SAP certifications vary in difficulty and will have different prerequisites. Some may require you to have passed other SAP certifications first or to have certain levels of education or experience. Generally, Professional level certifications will be more demanding and challenging to earn than Specialist or Associate certifications.

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