Request for Reconsideration of Yearly Certification Renewal Policy – SAP ABAP on HANA (C_TAW12_750)

[jay_dalwadi]

Greetings!

I am writing to express a concern shared by many senior SAP consultants, including myself, who specialize in ABAP on HANA and are planning for certification.

About Me:

• SAP ABAP Consultant with over 9 years of hands-on project experience.
• Proficient in Core ABAP, ABAP on HANA, ODATA, Adobe Forms, and SAP Script.
• Currently preparing for the SAP Certified Development Associate - ABAP for SAP HANA 2.0 (Exam Code: C_TAW12_750).

Learning Path Completed:

• TAW10e — ABAP Fundamentals
• TAW12e — Advanced ABAP on HANA
• HA100 — SAP HANA Introduction
• HA400 — ABAP Programming for SAP HANA

My career goal is to continue working in ABAP & HANA for the next decade without shifting to other technologies like Fiori, RAP, or Cloud-only models.

Key Concern: Given my commitment to working in the same technology for the foreseeable future, I question the necessity of paying substantial fees annually for certification renewal or mandatory Learning Hub subscriptions.

Challenges Faced by Consultants:

• Lack of reimbursement from most employers.
• No salary increase or bonus tied to certification.
• Absence of financial support from employers.

Arguments Against Yearly Renewal:

1. ABAP is a mature and stable language.
2. Core ABAP & ABAP on HANA do not undergo yearly changes like Cloud products.
3. Why should we pay annually if we are working on the same release and technology?
4. Renewal should be based on need, not time.
5. The current renewal policy appears to be more of a revenue-generation model than a knowledge validation process.
6. Consultants working in support or maintenance projects may not use new features.
7. SAP does not offer any special benefits for paying yearly renewal fees.

Suggestions for SAP:

• Introduce Lifetime Certification for stable SAP modules like ABAP.
• Require renewal only when a major version change occurs (e.g., S/4HANA Cloud RAP mandatory knowledge).
• Reduce Learning Hub costs for individual consultants.
• Offer special Learning Hub pricing for self-learners or freelancers.
• Recognize long-term consultants with experience-based recognition badges.

Final Question: Why should consultants pay yearly fees to validate their knowledge in a technology where no new learning or project exposure is required?