At Expert Links, we strongly believe that validated skills are the foundation of trust in SAP delivery.

Therefore we would like to emphasize the SAP 2025 Initiative “A Mutual Commitment to Skill Validation for Agile Success.” marks the beginning of a roadmap for formal certification requirements and is now in full swing:

• By the end of 2025, over 50% of SAP professionals are expected to hold at least one active certification.

• The first major milestone is this July.

• Certification is becoming a key differentiator — for employers, clients, and headhunters.

We understand that preparing for an SAP certification requires significant and focused effort. Some believe that simply attending an instructor-led training (ILT) is sufficient, while others assume that deep expertise in the subject matter is a guarantee of success. However, based on many real-world experiences and feedback, these assumptions often lead to failure. Here are some reasons why these approaches may not work:

1. Content Changes – In many areas, content evolves over time, so even expert knowledge may be outdated or incomplete.
2. Broad Scope – The scope of certification is usually much wider than the course title suggests. Often, more than one course is required to cover the exam topics fully.
3. Tricky Questions – Many questions are oddly worded, contain traps (such as outdated terminology), or are deliberately confusing — what we might call “curveballs.”
4. Theory-Based Focus – Certification exams are theory-driven. Practical, real-world knowledge may even interfere, as answers must match exactly what is described in the official course materials.

Instructor-led courses (ILTs) typically combine standard SAP content with the instructor’s own insights and real-life case studies. While this makes the training engaging and practical, it does not always align with the rigid, textbook-style answers expected in SAP certification exams 🙁

Likewise, experienced consultants may fall into the trap of underestimating the exam. Certification content is regularly updated and often includes topics that go beyond daily practice. For instance, an SAP FI certification might consist of questions on Clean Core principles or deployment strategies for SAP S/4HANA—subjects that a senior FI consultant may not deal with regularly. These seemingly peripheral topics can make or break a passing score.

If your SAP Learning Hub subscription includes multiple exam attempts and the cost of failure is acceptable, you could take a trial-and-error approach. However, this often leads to wasted attempts, lost time, and frustration before finally committing to proper study.

Instead, we recommend treating each attempt as if it’s your only chance. This mindset encourages more disciplined preparation and increases your chances of passing on the first try.

Using this opportunity, we’re proud to highlight that @Waldemar Faliński, a SAP Cutover Expert with whom we’ve been cooperating on various initiatives, has just renewed his SAP C_ACT and E_ACTAI certifications 🎓✅

Waldemar earned his first certifications back in 2024 – SAP C_ACT and E_ACTAI back in November 2024, after many years he spent working across SAP projects without formal certifications.

Getting certified can be tough 🫣 That is why, after failing the first attempt, Waldemar has  turned his certification journey into a practical and proven approach and published as: “SAP Certification Focused learning Guide” –  https://lnkd.in/dJfZgCgh

This publication is packed with strategies for first-time success, including smart techniques and a breakdown of certification types and difficulty.

🎯Waldemar shares with us the following:

“My trick? I do it during a quick monthly “pit stop” in my day. That way, the expiry date keeps shifting forward another year! 😊

💡 Pro tip: Once you earn one certificate, go for the next! Many are related, so you’ll get a better return on your effort. Nobody knows what the next milestones may be, perhaps at least one Certificate will not be sufficient. Making the effort now, you can be prepared for the future. Besides, after years of skepticism, I can now see this as a valuable upskilling method.

I currently hold three certifications and have four more in my sights that align with my profile, and I plan to pursue them soon.“

🎯 Don’t wait —SAP credentials are becoming a valuable asset on the market

Below, we publish an extract from Waldemar’s published book, which includes a list of currently available certifications in Delivery and Project Management, along with key details. In some cases, the certifications may be considerably easier to obtain.

Certification	No. of Q.	Scope	Passing score	Difficulty (as assessed by the author)
C_ACT	80	Huge	73%	Hard – Broad scope, frequent changes, outdated terminology traps
E_ ACTAI	40	Big	73%	Moderate – Less complicated than C_ACT; agile content is intuitive
C_ OCM	80	Small (only OCM)	63%	Relatively easy – Stable content, well-known topics, and practical experience help
C_ CALM	60	Moderate	67%	Not yet taken – no experience to share
C_ S4PM	80	Huge	69%	Not yet taken – no experience to share
E_ S4CPE	60	Big	72%	Not yet taken – no experience to share
E_ S4CON	40	Moderate	65%	Not yet taken – no experience to share

📍 At Expert Links, we don’t just talk SAP — we deliver it.

Whether you’re planning an SAP transformation, preparing for S/4HANA rollout, looking to modernize legacy processes, or need project leadership and delivery expertise, we’re here to support your success at every step.

📩 If you’re curious about certification, need guidance, or are preparing for a large-scale SAP initiative — reach out. We’re happy to share insights, tools, and hands-on support to accelerate your SAP journey.

🌍 Visit our website or message us directly here on LinkedIn.

💡 And don’t forget to check out @Waldemar’s SAP books: https://lnkd.in/d7ubANmJ

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