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What is SAP Certification? And Why Should You Care?

Before we go any further, first thing that needs to be said: Only actual SAP experience is a valid qualification for SAP jobs. You can look at it in terms of graphic artists. People are more impressed by beautiful portfolio than by art degree. Okay, so what is SAP certification and why should you care?

SAP Certification is an exam conducted by SAP AG, the leading provider of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software and it is expensive by anybody’s standards, which usually means that your employer should be one paying for your certification. When that is not possible, it’s time to jolt down those good old pro’s and con’s and decide whether it is right investment to make.

Just like most other IT skills, SAP certification is full of controversy because of the contrast between the importance of certification versus hands-on SAP skills.  If you intend to have a career as SAP consultant the choice is easy. In that case you are required to obtain the certificate from SAP. That makes sense as SAP consultant is expected to stay updated in order to be able to lend expertise to companies and help them build hi-tech services.

If you are hoping to get certified in order to get a job, unless the place training you guarantees job placements, you might as well forget about it. This is very in demand field, and there is always going to be more qualified personnel than jobs.

Primary candidates for SAP certification are people who already work with SAP, but are looking to gain more credibility and open up opportunities for advancement. Yes you might already know everything about SAP better than SAP AG, but if you are up against somebody who has experience and certification, they are more likely to get that job. SAP is one of IT skills that is likely to always be in very high demand, even during periods when economy is doing rather poorly. It is not investment into present, but into the future.

Have we answered the question “What is SAP certification?“? Please let us know in the comments below!

You may also be interested in the following articles: What is SAP?
Cleo Isco: I am a principal SAP consultant at [Confidential] and a founder of ERProof. I run this blog in my spare time to share knowledge and expertise in SAP with the world. I hope that my posts will be helpful and you enjoy reading them!

View Comments (149)

  • I am 2 years certified and went for certification without any SAP knowledge. I am facing a very big challenge as all funds were used in paying SAP and no job @ end of the day

    • Exactly! This is the situation that many newcomers to the SAP world are facing. I believe that people should first try to get some SAP related experience and only then continue with the certification.

      • Hi Cleo, I am a mechanical engineering student (final year) . I want to get certified in material management. Please tell me what is the scope in SAP for mechanical engineer in future.

  • Hey I am planning on doing SAP BI certification I do have Prior SAP ABAP experience fr 2-3 yrs...and have learnt SAP BI aswel so planning to give certification to enhance my Resume..I have moved to US now and with my Exp level its difficult for me to get opportunity....Is certification gona help me get a job in US?? plz suggest

    • Hi!

      In US the situation with SAP certification is much better than in Asia. You do not have to enroll into SAP training course and spend a fortune on it (like fhatuwani did). If you a confident in your knowledge, you can just go and write the certification. I think it is around 500 USD.

      I will also provide a citation of Susan Martin who wrote on the SCN blog that "SAP Certification is certainly not the only solution to career challenges, and it is not the most suitable answer for everyone – but it can be a very valuable “trump card” to have combined with other factors, depending on the situation each individual finds themselves in – one of the major differentiators being whether the (prospective) employer values validation of leading edge skills."

      I really hope that you will get the right opportunity very soon!

      Good luck!

      • Thankyou so much for quick response.....

        Yes the certification cost is 500 USD.....
        Just planning to give it soon if any guidence as to how to prepare plz let me know....
        I would like to give the latest version SAP Certified Application Associate - Business Intelligence with SAP BW 7.3 and SAP BI 4.0 C_TBI30_73...I do not have standard SAP Notes so plz Advice me the right path and let me know in How many days I should prepare and appear for the certification....I have started studying with TBW10 & 20 ...Also let me kknow if any good SAP-Press Books to refer..

        Thanks in Advance :)

        • We have a special section for SAP BI certification, please see the link in the footer of this page. You are reading the right books. The certification mainly tests the knowledge of the content of these books. Other good books from SAP Press are listed in the 'Books' section of our website (please see the menu above this post). Just read their description and pick the one you like more.

          Good luck with your SAP certification! Let us know how it worked out!

      • Well said, here in India we have to invest a good amount of money on training only, where the classes are only just bunch of a slide show nothing more than that & afterwards only one can qualify the criteria for getting the certification.
        Really hopeless for most of the asian country.

  • I now hold 2 certificates, one in FI and other in SAP Business One. Am based in RSA...... What are chances or should be my next step?

    • I am really sorry to hear that... However, I thought that in South Africa there is good job market for SAP professionals because some of my ex-colleagues (SAP consultants) even moved to South Africa after getting job offers with very good benefits packages.

      You should not give up! Try as many interviews as possible, eventually you will get it, I am sure!

  • Hi,

    I am a BSc IT Graduate and very much interested in getting a job a SAP professional. I am not working as a Software developer but a non technical Profile with a Healthcare IT company. I would like to know the jobs in SAP that I can try to get to earn some experience and later on do a SAP Certification. Please Guide me.If Possible step by step details.

    Thank You in advance.

    • Hi Rinil,

      I did not really understand what is your current job. Are you a software developer? Then, it is a good idea to become SAP ABAP consultant. Essentially, you will be writing code for modification of standard SAP functionality and adding new custom features. Then, you will be able to go for SAP ABAP certification.

      Cleo

  • Hi,I am looking for SAP BI certification & I am already working in SAP reporting tool i.e. Deski & Webi (but only involved in report designing part) from last 3-3.5 years.So can I go for SAP BI Certification & could you please also guide me that SAP BI certification includes Universe designing??I am very keen to do the universe designing. If it so then how can I learn the universe designing in 4-5 days as SAP academy is offering a course of 13 days for SAP BI certification which includes 4-5 days for universe designing. Kindly suggest.

    • Hi Akash,

      We have a dedicated page for SAP BI certification. However, I think, that you actually need SAP BO certification because the Universe Designer is a part of SAP Business Objects curriculum. Unfortunately, we do not (yet!) provide information about SAP certification in BO but it is certainly in our future plans. You can learn more about the Universe Designer in the following courses: BOU310 (3 days) and BOU320 (2 days).

      Cleo

      • Hi Cleo,

        Thanks a lot for providing this info!! Really appreciate for this!!

        But Cleo how can I learn the universe designing in 5 days, I mean SAP Academy covers everything about Universe designing in 5 days i.e. How to create objects, Creating complex linking in any database Or they will just provide the overview about Universe??

        • According to the description on SAP Education website, the first course I mentioned teaches basics of the Universe Designer. The second one is the advanced course. So, I think that in 5 days they cover everything.

          Disclaimer: I have never taken those courses myself so my advice is based on the publicly available information shared by SAP.

          Cleo

  • Hi Cleo,

    I have SAP BI Certificate, and currently doing SAP BW/BI/BO.
    Currently I been given a chance to sit for SAP FI exam (I only need to pay for Exam fees which is around SGD600).
    What I want to know is:-

    1. Would SAP FI Cert would help me gain any advantages prior to what I do?

    2. Or perhaps allow me to change FI capability in the future etc?

    What is your advice?

    Thanks.

    • Hi Vince,

      Thanks for visiting our humble blog about SAP certification :)

      1. No
      2. Maybe

      I don't think that you need SAP FI certification. Big data and business analytics is a hot area now and, I think, it will continue to grow. I recently read about a study that indicated a shortage of data scientists and professionals who can work with the big data. My proposal is that you should focus on BI/BW/BO. It will be beneficial for you in terms of a faster career growth and a higher salary. If you for some reason still want to switch to FI, then SAP FI certification will likely benefit you. But again, I don't think you should go for SAP FI.

      Cleo

  • hi,
    i have 13 yrs exp. in glass industry. now i am jobless and thinking to change my career to sap pp from where i should start pl. advice

    • I would say that you should start reading about SAP PP on the Internet and try to get some basic knowledge about SAP yourself. Then, if you like it, take an SAP training course for a deeper inside into SAP PP. After that, try to apply for entry-level SAP jobs. You can also pass SAP certification after the training course or when already have a job.

      Cleo

  • hi, Cleo,
    Thanks for advice.
    I would more like to know :
    1. it is advisable to change the career ?
    2. What is the job scope as SAP PP for the person like me.

    Thanks a lot.

    • I don't know anything about you :) So, it is difficult to answer your questions. The only thing I can say for sure is that you should wait with SAP certification.

      Cleo

  • HI,

    I am having Finance & Accounts exprience and want to take SAP FI exam. From where can I get the study material

  • I've 10+ experience in Sybase ASE & IQ. Im planning to do SAP HANA CERTIFICATION. Is it worth doing SAP certification and getting into SAP job ? Please advise

    Thanks
    Raj

    • Hi,

      I don't know the job market for Sybase ASE & IQ. If there are very few vacancies available, then moving to SAP HANA may be a good idea. SAP certification in this case may help you to make the career switch because it would be viewed as a positive asset by recruiters.

      Cleo

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