How to Prepare for a Certification Exam in 5 Simple Steps

[Former Member]

Over the last couple of months many of you have raised questions like “How can I prepare for my certification exam?” or “What kind of questions will be asked during an exam?” and “Which training should I attend in order to get ready for a specific certification?” .

Drawing on insights and experiences gained as a member of SAP Education’s global certification team, I would like to share with you here a brief guide I put together which I hope will help you find all the relevant information you need to successfully prepare for an exam.

The first thing you should do before you bury your head in your books is to have a look at our training and certification shop. Once you have chosen the exam you would like to take, the web shop gives you such helpful information as the number of exam questions, duration of the exam, which areas you will be tested on, and recommended course work and content you can reference.

Here are five simple steps that will help you to gather all relevant information you need for your exam preparation:

1. Find the right level of certification

You can either take an associate or professional certification exam. Associate certifications are for those who are new to SAP solutions. Professional certifications require proven project experience and a more detailed understanding of SAP solutions. Descriptions of each level are available here.

2. Find the right exam

Here are some useful tips for easy navigation in the web shop:

Start your search directly in the certification web shop.

You can browse through our catalogue and search for specific exams by solution.

If you know the exact exam code for a specific exam, you can also use the search field.

Select your country and language to get all relevant information for your location.

3. Consider training

Are you new to your chosen field? Training courses can help you to pass associate level exams, and SAP Education provides various training options. You can choose between classroom training (live or virtual), e-learning courses, and many more. Here you can find an overview of the different training options.

Not sure if you have taken all relevant training courses? For each exam, you can find the related training courses on the exam site.

Please note, if you prepare for a professional level exam the indicated exam-related training classes serve as refresher or foundations courses, but they are not sufficient for exam preparation. Candidates must also acquire ample practical experience in order to increase their chances of passing the certification exam.

Do you already have hands-on experience with a particular solution, or do you want to upgrade your certification to the latest release? SAP Education’s Learning Hub might be an option to help you to prepare for your certification exam at your own pace. As a subscriber to the SAP Learning Hub you have access to all relevant training materials and you can benefit from the Learning Rooms for your exam preparation. Learning rooms are virtual learning spaces that guide you through all the training related to the specific certification exam. They also offer supplementary materials. Learning Rooms are led by SAP's top instructors who help you with your learning and preparation and provide answers to your questions.

4. Locate the syllabus

In order to get an idea about which topics are important for your certification, you should review the syllabus. You can find an overview of the related topics on the certification site. Prepare for the exam based on the weighted value for each topic in the exam Topic Areas. 

5. Sample questions

For most exams, SAP Education provides sample questions; these are actual questions asked during past exams, so they are representative of the questions asked during a live exam. You can find the sample exam questions under the Certification Details for each exam.

I hope that these five steps will help you to get started with your exam preparation. So you’ve heard a lot from me here, but all of us in the global certification team are also interested in your opinion on this topic. What are your experiences with taking certification exams? What do you think is the best way to prepare for one?

It would be great to hear about your personal experience, plus any tips and tricks you would like to share with the community. If you need a bit of inspiration, have a look at the blog written recently by independent consultant and SAP Mentor Tom Cenens, in which he shared with us his experience preparing for the SAP HANA certification.

Feel free to share your thoughts with the community – we look forward to hearing from you!

Useful Links

• SAP Certifications - Where Do I Start?
• Preparing for HANA: How to Achieve SAP Certified Technology Associate Certification
• Just in Case or Just in Time? Taking Out an “Enablement Insurance Policy

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin

Thank you for your excellent blog. I would like to get certified in SAP HANA, I am currently SAP certified in 8.8 and would like to know which certification to do regarding HANA?

I will appreciate any form guidance.

Regards

Raj

[Former Member]

Hi,

Thanks a Lot for this article.

It will be more helpful for me next month when I am going to give a certification exam.

Thanks Again

[Former Member]

Thanks for this entry, it's very helpful. I'm willing to do an ABAP certification exam and this is the best explanation I founded on all the internet.

[Former Member]

Thanks Kartin it gave me answers of my many queries.

[former_member187234]

Hi Katrin,

Thanks for sharing information, a very simple yet very useful.

Really intresting useful for the ones who are trying for their first certification

Thanks,

Bimal

[pavan_kumar18]

Nice article

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

Thank You for posting this article, it indeed is very helpful.

I obtained Engineering degree in Information Science just this month and I am interested in taking up a relevant SAP course here in India. Could you please suggest some good SAP courses?

[Former Member]

Nice Article.. very helpful for everyone.

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin, this article is very helpful for me.

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

I am trying to look for SAP certification for Customer Service and Plant Maintenance but these certifications no longer exist. Could you please advice what certification is the most suitable for a SAP Functional Consultant who has more than ten years of project implementations experience in CS and PM domain?

Thanks in advance.

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

Thanks for all the information on this blog!

I am a BI consultant working on BI 7.3 & BO 4.0 tools and have 3 + years experience in this area. I have enrolled for C_TBI30_73 certification exam.

I have been studying through the course materials but I could not get hold of mock tests or test questions except the 10 Sample PDF Link questions.

Could you please suggest or help me with more test questions. I m not looking out for training class but want to take mock test and evaluate myself before the exam.

Highly appreciate your help on this!!!

Thanks,

Daniel

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

Thanks for your valuable posting in this blog. Its very useful to learn SAP.

Praveen

:smile:

[Former Member]

HI Katrin ,

Nice document on certification :smile: I have one question; can you please tell me
minimum how many year of experience i need to get the professional certification?

Thank you,

Regards,

Neha.

[former_member182098]

Hi Neha,

You are expected to have 8+ years of experience, though it is not mandatory, however, expected.

Again, you need to go through evaluation process of your country. Please contact your local SAP Education Team.

Kind Regards,

Ravi

[debabrata_dash]

Hi Ravi Sir ,

I am trying to create my profile in in SAP India career portal but its showing that your certification id doesn't exist.( Passed my certification on 25th July 14).

My certification id- 10718207

Kindly help me out.

Regards

Debabrata Dash

[Former Member]

Great article, thank you!

[#18]

Hello Katrin,

Nice work :smile:

It is very helpful for me :smile:

Nice evening,

Gabriel

[rameshkumar_narasimhaiah]

Hi Katrin,

Awesome article:)

Cheers-RK

[Former Member]

Hi,

Very useful information for those who very new SAP technology like me. Thank you very much for this article.

[dvankempen]

For those interested in the SAP Certified Technology certification for SAP HANA, I posted two how-to blogs to SCN

SAP Certified Technology Associate - SAP HANA

SAP Certified Technology Specialist: SAP HANA Installation - by the SAP HANA Academy

Regards,

Denys van Kempen

SAP HANA Academy

[former_member199232]

Hi Debabrata,

You can drop a mail to support.india@sap.com.

Thanks,

Puran

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

Thanks for this nice article !  I am taking C_AUDSEC_731 SAP security exam soon.  Do you know if there is a comprehensive Q & A study guide available ?  I have already taken ADM940, ADM950 and AD960 courses by SAP.

Pl. kindly advise.

Thanks, Franco

[Former Member]

If anyone has this info for me, pl. feel free to share.  Thanks in advance !!

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

Very useful information .Im also preparing for certification.Thanks.

[Former Member]

Very well documented. Thanks for the excellent blog

[Former Member]

hi,

This is really simple and good artical to start with SAP HANA certification
process. Thanks for this information

[Former Member]

Hi Kartin,

Please let me know about the details of SAP Successfactors certifications in India.

Thanks,

Diya

[Former Member]

Hi everyone

i am currently doing self study for the SAP Business Process Monitoring course SM300 and would like to write the exam  C_SM300_713

i cannot find any samples questions

CAN some please help me ?

thank you

[Former Member]

Dear All,

it is very useful discussion.

Thanks,

Akhilesh

[Former Member]

Good information.

Thanks

Giri

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

Nice Blog. It is very useful to me.

Trhanks & Regards,

S.Varathanarayanan.

[Former Member]

Hi Akhilesh Kumar Jain,

  Before going taking live exams prepare yourself through moc exams online. There are many sites which are providing this facility or if you would like to get guidance from the professionals you can visit this site http://techjobs.sulekha.com/sap-hana-training.

[Former Member]

I want to become a SAP FICO consultant but am clueless about the training fee and the examination registration fee. kindly educate me.

[Former Member]

Hi Katrin,

I would like to shift my career to SAP, I have 3 years experience in Knowledge Management and I am a BE (Telecommunication) graduate and have a brief idea on QM and Testing. Could you please suggest me, what module would be the right choice. And which SAP certification will help me to pursue career in SAP.

Thank you.

[anita_patil3]

Good information

[former_member198892]

Hi,

I would like to write exam in SAP eWM module, Could you help me out regarding the exam and sap Books?

Rgs,

Dhanush.

[Former Member]

Hi,

I am taking SAP security certification C_AUDSEC_731 exam.   Does anyone know where I can get sample exam questions to better prepare besides taking SAP courses ?  I already took ADM940, 950 and 960  Is this enough to pass the exam or do I need to read anything else ?  Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

Franco

[Former Member]

Great article and very helpful, thanks.

[bhagyesh_ravange]

Very nice article and helpful too...

[former_member199079]

Hi,
Can any body tell the certification code for SAP-MM ?

[former_member183501]

Certification code for SAP MM > C_TSCM52_62. For more information click on below link.

http://training.sap.com/shop/certification/c_tscm52_66-sap-certified-application-associate---procure...

Still any query feel free to contact.

Kind Regards.

Kamlesh

[Former Member]

He Katrin,

I will take my certification exam QM, but i have these boks:

PLM400

PLM405

PLM410

PLM415

so, i don't no if these books are valid for 2015?,

Thanks and regards!

[THSpitters]

This is an excellent review of proven methods. 

[former_member198942]

Hello Joey

I have recently come across that PLM certification C_TPLM30_05 has been retired. I hold a certification in this . Does this mean that I am no more SAP certified in PM ?

Should I re-write my PM certification in SAP i.e. C_TPLM30_65 and C_TPLM30_66?

Can i no longer call my self as a SAP certified in PM module although I hold a certification in C_TPLM30_05 (now retired) and my hard copy certificate no where mentions about an expiry date of the ceritficate.

BR

[former_member198942]

Hello Ravi

I have recently come across that PLM certification C_TPLM30_05 has been retired. I hold a certification in this . Does this mean that I am no more SAP certified in PM ?

Should I re-write my PM certification in SAP i.e. C_TPLM30_65 and C_TPLM30_66?

Can i no longer call my self as a SAP certified in PM module although I hold a certification in C_TPLM30_05 (now retired) and my hard copy certificate no where mentions about an expiry date of the ceritficate.

BR

[former_member182098]

Hi Murad,

You are a Certified Consultant for life time. Nobody can deny that.

It happens SAP would come up with new versions. It is up to you if you want to update your knowledge and get it certified in the delta certifications. There is no expiry date for your SAP Certification.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Ravi

[Former Member]

Thank you Katrin and everyone for an excellent thread of informations

Though you must have answered the questions I have but I would appreciate some help on few initial queries

I am new to HCM and would like to know few things on training and certification:

1) Can I hope to pass the certification by studying on my own?

2) If yes, do I need the sap certified course material to study on to?

3) Where can I find SAP books - THR10 and THR12 latets version without enrolling into SAP certified training institute?

4) Can I appear for examination without certified training?

Waiting in anticipation

Regards

Ritu

[former_member182098]

Hello Ritu,

The following blog would be handy and answer most of your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding SAP Certification & Career Opportunities

However, briefly, I would like to answer your questions.

1) SAP Certification courses are instructor led courses, unless otherwise, you worked on the product, it would be difficult to understand the fundamental concepts. Therefore, if you are a fresher, you should get training from an experienced instructor.

2) SAP Certification material is must read, the Certification exam questions are based on these materials.

3) Please note these materials are copyrighted and any free distribution is forbidden. If you need these materials, you are advised to take a up SAP Course with SAP / Authorised Training Partners (ATP)

4) It depends on the country you are residing. If you are in India, the training with SAP / ATP is a must, as you are a fresher. If you are US, UK or Australia etc. then, please contact your local SAP Education, they would help you. In those countries, you can appear the exam without attending any official training from SAP.

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards,

Ravi

[Former Member]

Hello Ravi,

Thank you for a prompt reply

Your reply is very helpful and I would like to answer the doubts to have a better understanding of my position:

1) I've gone through HR module twice from an unauthorised institute and now I am working on HCM module from 2 months

2) Is there any other way to get the SAP course material apart from to contact people who have already been through

3) I am in India and I've heard that if you company sponsors you, you can appear for an examination without going through the sap certified training

Best Regards

Ritu

[former_member182098]

Hello Ritu,

1) For evaluation criteria, please contact SAP Education India. Usually, they would expect you to be working with SAP Partner and have 2 years of implementation experience. If you qualify this then, you can write exam without any further training.

2) I am afraid I may not be able to help you much on this. They are copyrighted materials, which are not meant for free distribution.

3) You must qualify the evaluation process set by SAP Education India. Otherwise, even the sponsorship would not help you to appear the exam directly.

Best Regards,

Ravi