What is SAP Certification?

SAP stands for ‘Systems Applications and Products’ and was originally aimed to
provide customers with the ability to interact upon a common database along a
comprehensive application range. Gradually more applications began to be
assembled and today, SAP is being used by leading companies like Microsoft and
IBM. SAP was in fact founded by five IBM employees in 1972 from Mannheim,
Germany. SAP applications have gone through various changes and modifications
and the latest R/3 (business applications from SAP) provides immense capabilities to
manage financial assets, production operations, plants, personnel, materials,
archived documents and cost accounting. The latest R/3 framework runs on several
platforms that include Windows 2000 and use client/server models. It also includes
internet enabled packages for better information exchange.

What is SAP Certification?

SAP has been continuously adding onto its product offerings with new e-business
applications, web interfaces, tools for supply chain management, customer
relationship management and much more. SAP systems comprise various fully
integrated modules covering almost every aspect of business management.

While most businesses today are looking to work upon a SAP

framework,a SAP certification is increasingly becoming important for the career of
employees. Not just regional job prospects, but SAP entertains hiring across the
world.

SAP is a globally recognized business platform today in various functional fields

including Financial Accounting and Controlling (FICO), Production Planning (PP)
and Materials Management (MM). The demand for SAP expertise is increasing in
both production facilities are managerial workplaces, with companies coming up with
a wide spectrum of SAP facilitated modules.

Eligibility of SAP Certification and the Courses Offered

SAP constitutes lot many courses and modules. The eligibility depends on which
particular SAP course one is interested in and the skill he/she possesses. It is
recommended that the candidate has a relevant academic background in subjects
including Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Human
Resource, Information Systems, Operations Management and Systems Engineering.

SAP certification is divided into two types of courses – one being more functional
and the other being more technical. However, both the courses present similar
authorization and transaction codes related to your educational background. Further,
the course content can be greatly varied as per the nature of the course.
The Technical SAP certification focuses more on programming and module
customization.

This is further complimented by roles that mix both the functional and technical skills
including the responsibilities of business analysts. Technical courses are advises if
you come from a programming / developing / computer background.

There aren’t any particular courses or sets of courses that need to be taken before
sitting for the certification exam. However, if you are applying for a higher level
Professional Certification, you must hold an Associate level Certification. SAP
certifications help validate the expertise and experience of SAP partners, software
users, customers and professionals who are looking to be placed in a SAP
environment. The certification is recognized globally and is a standardized criterion
for several roles and responsibilities.

Advantages of SAP certification

SAP is one of the most sought after certification in the current business environment.
IT professionals acquainted with SAP platforms are demanded in every part of the
world and it has been one of the most successful It certifications recently. SAP
implementation is a complicated process and demands adequate knowledge and
training for the same. For professional it takes years of experience to gain adequate
expertise. This is also the reason that modern businesses look out for SAP certified
professionals.

Job

Getting better jobs is the primary reason that professionals enroll for a SAP
certification. Numerous candidates have been able to move up the ladder using their
SAP certification. SAP is currently being recognized by all global companies and can
bring about a huge leap in anyone’s career. 70% of companies listed under the
Forbes 500 run on SAP ERP. With demand getting bigger, the opportunities to
eligible professionals too are swelling.

Money Matters

SAP certified professionals are subsequently higher paid that those without a
certification. SAP consultants begin with a significantly higher pay scale than those
without a certification. The average salary also depends upon a lot of other factors
including their level of experience, educational background, employer type and the
industry they are applying in. Professionals with a minimum of 4 years of experience
can demand an average salary between $57,200 and $79,100. Veteran SAP
executives earn between $92,000 and $137,600. Coming to education, professionals
backed by an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) degree can demand
anywhere between $67,400 and $115,500.
With SAP professionals are hired by both the government and private firms. Those
working with the Federal Department can earn between $79,500 and $165,000.
Coming to the industry type now, those working in software companies have
reported the highest salaries between $82,500 and $113,700. However, SAP
consultants are also required in consultancies, ERP systems, CRM solutions,
manufacturing, logistics, production, distribution and many other industries.

Reputation and Recognition

Better role and paycheck is automatically followed by reputation and recognition

among peers, colleagues, and clients. This can even act as a motivator to help them
do better in their jobs and earn higher benefits. SAP professionals will be recognized
by their certification. The accreditation can be used along with the names and this
indeed makes a strong impression among recruiters and employers.

Prospects of Promotion

SAP certification can act as a special cushion in every professional’s career. There
are endless opportunities after getting the certification and it makes it easier to reach
career goals that it would have been without the certification. In the workplace, SAP
certified employees are prioritized for promotion that those without it. Being the
recognized experts in the platform, they are an asset to the company and thus are
subsequently looked after.

Conclusion

Today, SAP systems define both large scale and small businesses. It is one of the
most benefiting ERP platforms that facilitate better functioning of a business in all
aspects. Having a SAP certification enables a professional to be better prepared for
the rising workplace complexities. In some cases, it is not just an advantage but a
strict criterion for selection.

References

http://www.sap.com/bin/sapcom/en_us/downloadasset.2013-11-nov-18-
10.benchmarking-professional-achievement-with-certification-from-sap-pdf.html
http://sap-certification.info/what-is-sap-certification/
http://searchsap.techtarget.com/definition/SAP
http://www.simplilearn.com/sap-advantages-and-importance-of-sap-training-for-
organizations-rar106-article
http://www.ehow.com/about_6527349_average-salary-sap-consultant.html