Top 10 SAP Developer Certifications

Certifications for SAP developers are very important in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and proficiency with the SAP platform that employers look for in potential candidates. By obtaining certifications, SAP developers can validate their skills and knowledge to employers, which can make them more attractive to prospective employers. Certifications also provide evidence of commitment to learning and keeping up with the latest technologies, which is also appealing to potential employers. Finally, certifications provide a way for SAP developers to differentiate themselves from other applicants by demonstrating their technical competence in the field.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for SAP Developers and explains how they can help to enhance a SAP Developer's career.

What are SAP Developer Certifications?

SAP Developer Certification is a professional credential program designed to recognize and validate the skills of software developers who are proficient in developing applications with SAP technologies. The certification program helps to ensure that developers have the necessary knowledge and experience to build high-quality applications that meet customer needs and industry standards.

The certification process consists of passing an exam, demonstrating technical proficiency in a specific area, and completing a project or other task related to the technology being certified. Upon successful completion of the certification process, developers receive a certificate which serves as proof of their expertise and knowledge in the field. This can help them stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs or promotions within their organization, as well as provide assurance to employers that they are hiring qualified professionals for development roles. Additionally, having SAP Developer Certification may also increase an individual's earning potential by providing them with additional job opportunities.

Pro Tip: Make sure to read the exam objectives and review the content of each certification level before taking your SAP Developer Certification. This will help you to prepare for the exam and ensure that you understand the topics covered in order to maximize your chances of success.

Related: What does an SAP Developer do?

Top 10 SAP Developer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to SAP Developers today.

1. SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP S/4HANA Cloud (public cloud edition)

SAP Certified Application Associate – SAP S/4HANA Cloud (public cloud edition) is a certification program that validates the skills and knowledge of professionals in the implementation and management of SAP S/4HANA Cloud solutions. It is designed for individuals who have hands-on experience in configuring and managing SAP S/4HANA Cloud solutions.

The certification exam consists of 80 multiple choice questions, which must be completed within 180 minutes. The topics covered include: understanding the fundamentals of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, setting up and configuring the system, managing users and security, working with master data, using analytics, integrating with other systems, and troubleshooting.

To get this certification you must first register for the exam at the SAP Education website. Once registered, you can purchase the exam voucher from an authorized training partner or directly from SAP Education. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but is typically around $500 USD.

Once you have purchased your exam voucher you will need to schedule your exam date through Pearson VUE’s online scheduling system. You will then need to pass the certification exam within one year of purchasing your voucher or it will become invalid.

Upon successful completion of the certification exam you will receive an official certificate from SAP Education confirming that you are now a certified application associate for SAP S/4HANA Cloud (public cloud edition).

2. SAP Certified Development Associate - ABAP with SAP NetWeaver 7.5

SAP Certified Development Associate - ABAP with SAP NetWeaver 7.5 is a certification program designed to validate the skills and knowledge of developers who are working with SAP NetWeaver 7.5 and ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming). This certification demonstrates that the individual has the ability to develop, test, and deploy applications using the latest version of SAP NetWeaver and ABAP programming language.

The certification exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 180 minutes. The topics covered include: ABAP Workbench, ABAP Dictionary, Database Updates, Reporting Techniques, Performance Optimization, Object Oriented Programming, Web Dynpro for ABAP, and more.

In order to get certified as an SAP Certified Development Associate - ABAP with SAP NetWeaver 7.5 you must first register for the exam through the SAP website. You will then need to purchase a voucher from an authorized training provider in order to take the exam. The cost of the voucher varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $400-$600 USD. Once you have purchased a voucher you can then schedule your exam at any authorized testing center near you.

Once you have taken and passed the exam you will receive an official certificate from SAP confirming your status as an SAP Certified Development Associate - ABAP with SAP NetWeaver 7.5

3. SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP HANA 2.0

SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP HANA 2.0 is a certification program designed to validate the skills of professionals who work with the SAP HANA platform. It is an entry-level certification that demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of SAP HANA and its applications.

The certification exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions and takes about 180 minutes to complete. To get certified, you must pass the exam with a score of at least 60%.

To become certified, you will need to register for the exam through the SAP Learning Hub, which requires a subscription fee. The cost varies depending on your country and region but typically ranges from $200-$400 USD. You may also be able to find discounted rates if you are part of an educational institution or organization.

Once registered, you can access study materials such as e-books, tutorials, and sample questions to help prepare for the exam. After passing the exam, you will receive an official certificate from SAP validating your achievement.

4. SAP Certified Development Professional - ABAP for SAP HANA

SAP Certified Development Professional – ABAP for SAP HANA is a certification that validates the skills and knowledge of an individual in developing applications using ABAP programming language on the SAP HANA platform. It is a professional-level certification that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in developing solutions on SAP HANA.

To get this certification, you need to have at least two years of experience in developing applications with ABAP programming language on SAP HANA. You also need to pass the C_HANADEV_15 exam, which covers topics such as development principles and techniques, performance optimization, debugging and troubleshooting, data modeling and SQL Scripts. The exam takes about 180 minutes and consists of 80 multiple-choice questions.

The cost of the C_HANADEV_15 exam is €500 plus applicable taxes. The exam can be taken at any authorized Pearson VUE testing center or online via the Pearson VUE website. After passing the exam, you will receive your official certificate from SAP within 8 weeks.

5. SAP Certified Technology Associate - Process Integration with SAP NetWeaver 7.5

SAP Certified Technology Associate - Process Integration with SAP NetWeaver 7.5 is a certification that validates a professional’s ability to design, configure, and deploy integration solutions using SAP NetWeaver 7.5 Process Integration (PI). It is an intermediate-level certification for professionals who are experienced in the area of process integration and have knowledge of the latest version of PI.

The exam for this certification consists of 80 multiple choice questions and takes approximately 180 minutes to complete. The cost of the exam is $500 USD.

To get certified, you must first register for the exam through the SAP Learning Hub and then take the exam at an authorized testing center. You can find more information about registering for the exam on the SAP website. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your certificate from SAP within 4-6 weeks.

6. SAP Certified Development Specialist - ABAP for HANA

SAP Certified Development Specialist – ABAP for HANA is a certification program offered by SAP that validates an individual’s expertise in developing and deploying applications using the ABAP programming language on the SAP HANA platform. This certification is intended for developers who are responsible for designing, developing, testing and deploying ABAP applications on the SAP HANA platform.

The duration of this certification program typically takes around 4-6 weeks to complete depending on the individual's experience and knowledge. To get certified as a SAP Certified Development Specialist - ABAP for HANA, individuals must pass two exams: C_HANATEC_15 (ABAP Development for SAP HANA) and C_HANADEV_15 (SAP Certified Development Associate - ABAP for SAP HANA).

The cost of the certification depends on the country you are located in. Generally, it costs around $500 USD to become certified as a SAP Certified Development Specialist - ABAP for HANA.

7. SAP Certified Application Associate - Financial Accounting with SAP ERP 6.0 EhP7

SAP Certified Application Associate - Financial Accounting with SAP ERP 6.0 EhP7 is a certification program designed to validate a candidate’s knowledge and skills in the area of financial accounting with SAP ERP 6.0 EhP7. This certification is aimed at professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in the areas of general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, asset accounting, and more.

It typically takes about two months to prepare for this certification exam depending on the individual's experience level and background. Candidates should have a good understanding of the Financial Accounting module within SAP ERP 6.0 EhP7 before attempting this certification exam.

To get certified, candidates must pass an exam administered by SAP Education. The exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 180 minutes (3 hours). The cost of taking the exam is €550 (approximately $625 USD).

8. SAP Certified Development Associate - Business Intelligence with BW 7.5 on HANA

SAP Certified Development Associate - Business Intelligence with BW 7.5 on HANA is a certification program that validates the skills and knowledge of SAP professionals in developing business intelligence solutions using SAP Business Warehouse (BW) 7.5 on the SAP HANA platform. This certification demonstrates an individual’s ability to design, develop, test, implement and maintain BW solutions for businesses.

It typically takes about 2-3 months to study for and pass the exam that is required to get this certification. The exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within 180 minutes. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $500-$600 USD. To prepare for the exam, you can take an official SAP training course or use self-study materials such as books, online tutorials, practice tests and more.

9. SAP Certified Development Professional - Business Objects 4.1

SAP Certified Development Professional - Business Objects 4.1 is a certification program that validates the technical skills and knowledge of individuals who develop, implement, and maintain SAP Business Objects solutions. This certification is designed for professionals who are responsible for designing, developing, and implementing Business Objects solutions within an organization.

To become certified, candidates must pass two exams: one on the fundamentals of Business Objects development and another on the advanced topics. The exam covers topics such as architecture, design principles, data integration, security, performance optimization, and troubleshooting.

The certification process typically takes about six months to complete. During this time, candidates must study for the exams and gain hands-on experience with Business Objects development. Candidates can prepare for the exams by taking courses or self-study using textbooks or online resources.

The cost of the SAP Certified Development Professional - Business Objects 4.1 certification varies depending on where you take your exams and how many attempts you need to pass them. Generally speaking, the cost can range from $500-$2,000 USD depending on your location and number of attempts needed to pass each exam.

10. SAP Certified Technology Consultant – Enterprise Portal & Knowledge Management

SAP Certified Technology Consultant – Enterprise Portal & Knowledge Management is a certification program offered by SAP to demonstrate expertise in the implementation and management of enterprise portals and knowledge management solutions. The certification is designed for technology consultants who are responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of SAP Enterprise Portal and Knowledge Management solutions.

To become certified as an SAP Certified Technology Consultant – Enterprise Portal & Knowledge Management, you must pass two exams: C_EP_KM_70 (Knowledge Management with SAP NetWeaver 7.0) and C_EP_74 (SAP Certified Technology Associate – Enterprise Portal 7.4). Both exams must be passed within 12 months of each other to receive certification.

The exams can be taken at any Pearson VUE test center or online through the SAP Learning Hub. The cost of each exam is $500 USD.

Do You Really Need a SAP Developer Certificate?

When it comes to SAP development, having an SAP developer certificate can be a valuable tool in your career. It can help you stand out from the competition, demonstrate your knowledge and expertise, and help you to secure employment or higher-level positions. So, do you need an SAP developer certificate? The answer is yes, but it depends on your individual circumstances.

If you are looking to make a career change into SAP development or if you are looking for higher-level positions that require experience with SAP development, then having an SAP developer certificate could be beneficial. It will provide evidence of your knowledge and ability in this field and could give you a competitive edge over other candidates for the same job. Additionally, many employers may prefer candidates who have earned their certification as it gives them confidence that the candidate has the necessary skills and experience to do the job successfully.

On the other hand, if you already have experience working with SAP development or if you are currently employed in this field then having an SAP developer certificate may not be necessary. However, it can still be beneficial as it demonstrates your commitment to staying up-to-date with industry standards and new technologies which can help when applying for jobs or promotions.

Ultimately, whether or not you need an SAP developer certificate depends on your individual circumstances and goals. If you think that having a certification could benefit your career then it is worth considering taking one.

Related: SAP Developer Resume Examples

FAQs About SAP Developer Certifications

Q1: What types of SAP developer certifications are available?

A1: There are currently three different types of SAP developer certifications available – Associate, Professional, and Master. The Associate certification is the entry-level certification for SAP developers and requires a basic understanding of ABAP programming language. The Professional certification requires more advanced knowledge in ABAP and is recommended for experienced developers. The Master certification is the highest level of SAP developer certification and requires extensive experience with multiple SAP technologies.

Q2: How do I become certified as an SAP developer?

A2: To become certified as an SAP developer, you must pass the relevant exam(s) for the desired certification level. You will also need to have a minimum of two years’ experience working with SAP products.

Q3: How long does it take to get certified?

A3: The time required to get certified depends on the type of certification you are seeking. For example, the Associate certification typically takes around six months to prepare for and complete, while the Professional and Master certifications can take up to two years or more depending on your experience level.

Q4: What materials do I need to study for an SAP developer certification exam?

A4: Various materials are available to help you prepare for an SAP developer certification exam including books, online courses, practice tests, and tutorials. It is important to research what materials best fit your learning style before beginning your studies.

Q5: Is there a fee associated with taking an SAP developer certification exam?

A5: Yes, there is usually a fee associated with taking an SAP developer certification exam which varies depending on the country where it is taken. Additionally, some countries may require additional fees such as travel or accommodation costs if the exam location is not local.