Excited for SAP Sapphire and ready to elevate your learning journey? The learning zone for SAP Sapphire is now available for you to explore tailored resources, sharpen your expertise, prepare for certification exams, and connect with SAP experts. 

March is officially the month of ABAP. SAP’s most popular certification for back-end developers, the Back-End Developer ABAP Cloud, is getting a major upgrade. At the same time, the SAP Community developer challenge for ABAP is going live, making this the perfect moment to sharpen your skills and validate your expertise.

A Reimagined Certification Experience

The ABAP Cloud certification exam has been redesigned. Moving beyond traditional question-based formats, the new exam introduces a performance-based, open-book experience.

Learners now work directly in authentic SAP systems, navigating AI-supported, real-world scenarios that reflect actual project work. The focus is no longer on memorization; it’s about demonstrating practical skills that matter on the job.

What does it mean for you?

If you’ve been preparing for certification through the SAP Learning site, you’re already familiar with hands-on exercises and scenario-based tasks embedded in the learning journeys. The new exam format simply extends that approach.

From the moment you begin your certification, the experience feels familiar because it mirrors how you’ve been learning all along.

Every practical exam, whether system-based or scenario-driven reflects the reality of SAP projects:

• Timeboxed tasks performed in live SAP systems
• Realistic customer and project scenarios
• AI-supported simulations
• Open-book access to resources such as SAP Help Portal, SAP Learning, SAP Community, and SAP Joule for Consultants (where applicable)
• A clear emphasis on proving your ability to do the work

This shift represents something bigger: trust. Trust in learners who invest in building real skills and trust from employers who rely on SAP-certified professionals to deliver value from day one.

How to get certified as Backend Developer for ABAP Cloud

Earning your certification is a structured journey. Whether you are new to ABAP or looking to formalize years of experience, the following resources will help you build a strong foundation and deepen your expertise.

Recommended Courses to Build and Deepen Your Skills

Start with the fundamentals and progressively expand your knowledge:

• Course: Learning Basic ABAP Programming
• Course: Deepening Your ABAP Programming Knowledge
• Course: Building Data Models with the ABAP Dictionary and ABAP Core Data Services
• Course: Practicing Clean Core Extensibility for SAP S/4HANA Cloud
• SAP Certification: Backend Developer - ABAP Cloud

Together, these courses prepare you not just to pass the exam but to succeed in real-world ABAP Cloud development. Learn more about the exam details in this community blog by @JenniferHauck.

Connect Live with SAP Experts and Strengthen Your Exam Readiness

Learning doesn’t have to be a solo experience. If you’re looking for direct interaction, practical tips, and expert guidance, join the upcoming live sessions available through your SAP Learning Hub subscription:

• Getting Started with ABAP Cloud Development
• Get Certified: SAP Certified – Back-End Developer ABAP Cloud
• Stay Certified: Back-End Developer – ABAP Cloud

These sessions offer the opportunity to clarify questions, reinforce key concepts, and gain confidence before taking the exam.

Join the ABAP Developer Community to Learn, Share, and Grow

Certification is just one milestone in your journey. Continuous learning happens through collaboration.
Visit the ABAP developer forum here on the SAP Community to:

• Read expert blogs
• Ask technical questions
• Share your own insights
• Connect with developers worldwide

Being part of the community ensures you stay current and continue growing long after certification.

Experience Hands-On Learning at SAP CodeJam Events Near You

If you prefer immersive, in-person learning, don’t miss the upcoming SAP CodeJam events. These sessions are designed to provide practical, guided experience with real SAP technologies in a collaborative environment.

Upcoming sessions include:

• April 7: ABAP AI: Capabilities in SAP Joule for Developers CodeJam (São Paulo, Brazil)
• April 8: ABAP AI: Capabilities in SAP Joule for Developers CodeJam (Londrina, Brazil)
• April 23: ABAP Cloud and the RESTful Application Programming Model (Warsaw, Poland)

These events are an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding, expand your network, and gain hands-on practice. Be sure to explore the full event calendar regularly, as new sessions are added on an ongoing basis.

Continue Your Learning with On-Demand Developer Content

Can’t attend live? Explore past Devtoberfest sessions, Tech Bytes, SAP CodeTalks, and more on the official SAP Developers YouTube channel

On-demand content allows you to learn at your own pace while staying connected to the latest innovations in ABAP and SAP development.

March is the perfect time to invest in your ABAP Cloud journey. With a certification experience designed to reflect real project work, you’re not just passing an exam, you’re demonstrating that you’re ready to build, extend, and innovate in the SAP ecosystem.

SAP offers learners a variety of ways for learners to consume content, from free access through to certification. One of the preferred ways to learn is using SAP Learning Class. This premium scheduled, instructor-led SAP training offering is delivered by SAP or SAP Authorized Education Partners and helps learners build practical SAP skills using real-life scenarios. 

Courses follow SAP-defined learning content and best practices, are delivered live by SAP-certified instructors, and are available in-person or virtually, with hands-on, certification-relevant content.

In 2026, SAP is expanding how learners access this instructor-led training by extending the partner-managed delivery model for SAP Learning Class courses, with a growing number of courses being delivered by SAP-certified instructors from partners.

SAP continues to own, author, update, and govern all course content and live training systems, while partners schedule, price, and deliver the courses. This expanded delivery model increases learner choice, flexibility, time-zone and language coverage, and course availability, while maintaining the premium learning experience associated with SAP Learning Class.

Expanding access to premium instructor-led training supports SAP’s pledge to upskill 12 million people with AI-ready skills by 2030.

Learn more about SAP Learning Class and the available courses.  

#SAPLearningClass #SAPLearning #SAPCertification #InstructorLedTraining #AIReadySkills

SAP is transforming certification from memorization to mastery — replacing traditional exams with practical, open-book assessments that reflect how real work (and learning) happens in today’s AI-powered world.

How You Can Get and Stay Certified with SAP Certification