Having SAP certification can greatly improve your job prospects in several business areas. Whereas having first-hand experience with SAP is a huge benefit, having the qualifications to back up your experience is a real advantage. This is our guide to How to Get SAP Certification, where we’ll also dispel some of the myths surrounding SAP certification.
What SAP certifications are available?
There are over 160 SAP certifications out there for various different SAP products. Generally speaking, SAP products tend to fall into three categories:
- Technology
- Application
- Development
Once you know which area you’re interested in working in, the next step is to look at the specific certifications on offer within that area. You can learn more about all the SAP certifications from the SAP website. Whichever certification you choose, there are no entry barriers to sit an SAP exam, so you don’t need any previous skills, training or experience to become certified. And once you have your certification, you don’t need to renew it in the future. However, that’s not to say that getting SAP certified is easy. You’ll still need to put in the effort and study for the exam.
What SAP levels should you aim for?
There are three levels of SAP certification:
SAP Associate certification
Associate SAP certification tests your basic understanding of a specific module. It aims to improve your fundamental knowledge and is particularly useful for SAP consultancy jobs.
SAP Professional certification
Professional-level SAP Certification is far more extensive and requires greater knowledge and understanding beyond SAP basics. To become professionally certified, you must also have proven SAP experience within a business environment.
SAP Specialist or Master certification
Finally, Specialist certification is available for those who want to focus on a particular SAP product. For example, many SAP Professionals go on to specialise in SAP’s HANNA platform. For more information about SAP certification levels, have a look at our post on Associate vs Professional SAP Certification.
What does an SAP exam involve?
SAP exams vary according to the specific certification you are studying towards. However, all SAP exams require a high level of writing and other assessment-related skills. Your ability to analyse and think logically and your knowledge level and understanding of SAP topics will be tested. All exams are based on real workplace situations, so your ability to complete the exam tasks will indicate your ability to work in an SAP business environment.
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Common myths about SAP Certification
To help SAP candidates pursue a career in SAP, we thought it was important to dispel some of the common myths surrounding SAP certification. Firstly, being accredited is not essential despite the many SAP certifications available. Many people are working in SAP roles who do not have SAP certification. Instead, they have extensive hands-on experience, which their employer greatly values. On this note, we’d like to point out that SAP certification is not an automatic guarantee of a job. Experience still counts for a lot in SAP roles, so you should also consider applying for internships or work experience placements to supplement your certification if you’re starting out. What are your experiences with the SAP certification process? Do you have any advice for SAP candidates looking to become certified?
About the author
Whitehall Resources is the leading specialist SAP recruitment agency in the UK. We have built one of the largest networks of SAP talent, comprised of direct relationships and personal referrals.