This change is significant, but it is not something to fear. The new format is designed to reflect how SAP professionals actually work — with access to documentation, AI tools, and system resources. If you know your SAP platform well and have hands-on experience, the new format plays to your strengths.
This guide explains exactly what has changed, why SAP made the change, the two new exam types, which certifications have already transitioned, how to prepare effectively, and what tools you can use during the exam. Whether you are planning your first SAP certification or renewing an existing one, this is everything you need to know.
What Is the SAP Certification New Format?
The SAP certification new format replaces traditional multiple-choice, closed-book exams with performance-based, open-book assessments that require candidates to complete tasks and solve scenarios in simulated SAP environments.
The transition began in November 2025 with a pilot group of cloud and BTP-focused certifications, and by end-March 2026 all SAP certifications moved to the new format. The change affects how exams are structured, how they are graded, and — most importantly — how you need to prepare for them.
Rather than answering 80 multiple-choice questions from memory in a proctored room, you now complete practical tasks in an SAP system simulation or respond to real-world business scenarios. The exam is open-book: you can consult SAP’s official documentation, learning portals, and AI tools during the assessment — just as you would on an actual SAP project.
“In a world where AI supports everyday tasks, what matters most is your ability to apply knowledge and deliver outcomes in real-world SAP environments.”
SAP certified professionals already demonstrate measurable career advantages: 39% faster promotion, 41% greater career mobility, 38% improved service levels to customers, and 35% faster problem solving (IT Cert Council, via SAP Learning, 2025). The new format is SAP’s way of ensuring those credentials reflect genuine, applicable competence — not test-taking ability.
Why Is SAP Changing Its Exam Format?
SAP is changing its exam format because traditional multiple-choice questions no longer reflect how SAP professionals work — and AI tools like SAP Joule have made pure knowledge-recall testing redundant.
Three forces are driving this shift:
1. AI Is Now Part of the Job
SAP Joule and other AI tools are embedded in everyday SAP workflows. Professionals no longer need to memorise every transaction code or configuration path — they need to know how to apply SAP capabilities to solve business problems, with AI assistance where appropriate. Testing recall of facts that an AI tool can answer in seconds no longer measures real competence.
2. Employers Want Proof of Practical Skill
Hiring managers and project leads want to know that a certified SAP consultant can actually configure a module, resolve a system issue, or design an integration — not just that they passed a multiple-choice test. Performance-based certification closes the gap between credential and capability.
3. SAP’s Platform Has Become Cloud-First
With SAP ECC mainstream maintenance ending in April 2026, the industry is accelerating its move to SAP S/4HANA and cloud-based SAP BTP solutions. The new exam format reflects this shift: it is cloud-first, scenario-driven, and aligned with how modern SAP projects are delivered.
SAP’s certification programme now signals: certified professionals who passed under the new format have demonstrated they can deliver outcomes. That is a stronger signal than a multiple-choice pass rate.
What Are the Two New SAP Exam Types?
The SAP certification new format uses two distinct exam types: the scenario-based assessment and the system-based assessment. The type you encounter depends on the specific certification you are pursuing.
Type 1: Scenario-Based Assessment
In a scenario-based assessment, you receive a brief business scenario — typically 2–3 lines describing a real-world SAP challenge — and must propose or select the appropriate SAP solution, architecture, or configuration approach.
These assessments offer two evaluation paths:
- AI-reviewed path: Your response is evaluated by an AI system with instant feedback, typically within 15 minutes of submission.
- Human review path: Your response is reviewed by SAP subject-matter experts, with results delivered within up to 10 business days.
Some exams in this category include interaction with an AI avatar, or require you to submit a short video response explaining your approach. This reflects how SAP professionals increasingly communicate solutions to clients and stakeholders.
Type 2: System-Based Assessment
In a system-based assessment, you work directly inside a provisioned SAP practice environment and execute actual technical tasks — configuring settings, building processes, resolving issues, or developing artefacts. Grading is automated through system verification of your completed work.
This type most closely mirrors day-to-day SAP consultant work. If you can do the task on a real project, you should be able to complete it in the exam — with the added advantage of having access to documentation and SAP Learning resources throughout.
Both types share a strict 2-hour exam duration. Note that the SAP portal may display a “24-hour” window — this refers to the overall activity lifecycle, not the actual exam time. The exam itself is always 2 hours.
Which SAP Certifications Have Already Transitioned?
All SAP certifications completed their transition to the new performance-based format by end-March 2026. The rollout happened in phases, starting with cloud and BTP credentials.
Pilot Wave — November 2025
The first certifications to transition were:
- SAP BTP Administration
- SAP Build Developer
- SAP BTP Solution Architect
- Generative AI Developer
- SAP Datasphere / Business Data Cloud
- RISE with SAP Methodology and Experience
These cloud-forward credentials were chosen for the pilot because they represent the types of roles where practical, hands-on proficiency is most critical and most verifiable in a system simulation.
Full Transition — January to March 2026
By mid-January 2026, most remaining SAP certifications moved to the new format, with the final batch completing the transition by end-March 2026. This includes S/4HANA Finance, SuccessFactors, SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Integration Suite, and all other certifications in the SAP Learning portfolio.
If you are pursuing a certification such as the C_TS4FI_2023 SAP S/4HANA Finance exam, it is now delivered in the new performance-based format. Review the specific exam page on SAP Learning for the latest format details for your target certification.
For a comprehensive look at what’s new in the SAP exam format and the complete transition guide, ERPPrep’s coverage provides detailed certification-level information on the rollout.
How Is the New SAP Exam Different From the Old Format?
The new SAP exam format differs from the legacy format across every key dimension — from question type and study approach to environment and attempt policy.
| Aspect | Legacy Format | New Format (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Question Type | Multiple-choice (theoretical) | Scenario-based / system-based tasks |
| Book Policy | Closed-book | Open-book (docs and AI tools allowed) |
| Focus | Memory and recall | Application and problem solving |
| Environment | Static, text-based interface | SAP system simulation or AI roleplay |
| Proctoring | Live proctored | No live proctor required |
| Duration | Varies per exam | 2 hours (strictly enforced) |
| Attempts | Varied by certification | Maximum 4 attempts per 12 months |
| Study approach | Memorisation and MCQ practice | Hands-on SAP system practice |
The most significant operational change for candidates is the attempt policy: you now have a maximum of 4 attempts within 12 months. If you exhaust all four attempts without passing, you are locked out of that certification for one full year. This makes proper preparation — not exam-dumping — essential.
The removal of live proctoring is a practical convenience: you can take the exam from your own workspace without setting up a physical test centre environment. However, the open-book aspect should not be misread as easy — the assessments are designed so that documentation alone cannot substitute for real hands-on knowledge of SAP systems.
How Do You Prepare for the New SAP Performance-Based Exam?
Preparing for the new SAP exam requires a shift from memorisation to application. The candidates who perform best are those who have spent time working inside SAP systems — not those who crammed from a question dump.
Step 1: Complete Your SAP Learning Journey
Every SAP certification has an associated Learning Journey on the SAP Learning portal. These journeys include practical exercises that closely mirror the new exam format. Do not skip the exercises — they are essentially miniature versions of the tasks you will face in the actual assessment. Work through each exercise, repeat the ones where you feel uncertain, and take notes on key configuration paths and decision points.
Step 2: Practice in a Real or Simulated SAP System
If you have access to a SAP system through your employer or a training environment, use it. The system-based assessment format requires you to execute tasks directly in the system. Familiarity with navigation, transaction codes, and configuration menus under time pressure is something you can only build through hands-on practice.
Step 3: Build Your Reference Library
Because the exam is open-book, your ability to find information quickly is a genuine advantage. Before exam day, organise your reference materials: bookmark the relevant sections of SAP Help Portal, download the key documentation for your certification area, and prepare a personal notes file covering the most commonly used configuration steps. Speed of reference matters — you have 2 hours and cannot spend 20 minutes searching for a document you should know how to locate.
Step 4: Set Up a Dual-Monitor Environment
SAP and exam preparation resources recommend a dual-monitor setup: Monitor 1 for the exam portal or practice system, Monitor 2 for SAP Learning Journeys and reference documentation. This mirrors a real project environment and allows you to work efficiently without constantly switching windows.
Step 5: Do Not Rely on Exam Dumps
Legacy MCQ dumps are now doubly useless: the question format has changed entirely, and the new exams are designed to be impossible to pass with memorised answers. Focus on understanding SAP concepts and practising tasks, not collecting question lists.
For tips on avoiding common exam preparation mistakes that apply across SAP certifications, the 10 mistakes to steer clear of for SAP exam success is a practical resource worth reviewing before you begin your study plan.
Does the New Format Affect Your Existing SAP Certification?
No — your existing valid SAP certification is not affected by the new exam format. Certifications you have already earned remain valid for their full defined lifecycle.
This is an important clarification, because many SAP professionals have heard about the format change and are unsure whether they need to re-certify under the new system. The answer is clear from SAP’s official guidance:
- Existing certifications remain valid until their natural expiry date, regardless of the format change.
- Renewal of an existing certification does not require taking the new performance-based format — the renewal process is unchanged for certifications that are still within their validity period.
- The new format applies only when you pursue a new certification that has already transitioned to the performance-based model.
If you are currently mid-preparation for an SAP certification that transitioned during your study period, the key change is in how you prepare — not whether your existing credential needs immediate action. Switch from MCQ-focused revision to hands-on practice and scenario-based exercises as soon as possible.
“Those who demonstrate practical skills now will help define what excellence looks like going forward.”
Understanding the technical depth of the platform you are certifying on is essential. The SAP S/4HANA extensibility guide is a useful reference for understanding the boundaries of customisation and extension — topics that appear across multiple SAP certification areas and that the new exam format specifically tests through scenario-based tasks.
What Tools and Resources Can You Use During the Exam?
The new SAP performance-based exam is open-book, and SAP officially permits use of its own documentation and AI tools during the assessment.
The following resources are explicitly permitted during the exam:
- SAP Help Portal — the primary official documentation source for all SAP products and configuration guides
- SAP Learning site — learning journeys, exercises, and course materials
- SAP Community — community Q&A and blog posts on SAP topics
- SAP Joule for Consultants — SAP’s AI assistant, where applicable to the specific certification
- Personal notes — notes you have prepared ahead of the exam
What is not permitted is live collaboration — sharing exam content with others, receiving real-time help, or coordinating with external parties during the assessment. The exam tests your individual competence in applying SAP knowledge and tools.
The practical implication: document navigation speed matters. The SAP Help Portal is comprehensive, but searching it efficiently requires familiarity. Spend time before your exam date practising searches for configuration topics in your certification area. Knowing exactly where to find a specific setting or procedure guide within 30–60 seconds can make a material difference to your performance within the 2-hour window.
SAP’s official guidance on what is allowed and how the exam is structured is published at SAP Learning — Practical Exam Essentials. Review this page before your exam date to confirm the current rules for your specific certification.
For the latest on SAP Generative AI tools and how they integrate into SAP workflows — an area now embedded in multiple certifications — the SAP Integration Suite generative AI article is a useful primer on how AI is being used in production SAP environments.
Frequently Asked Questions About the SAP Certification New Format
When did the SAP certification new format take effect?
The new performance-based format launched in November 2025 with a pilot group of cloud and BTP certifications. All SAP certifications completed the transition by end-March 2026.
Is the new SAP exam harder than the old MCQ format?
It is different, not necessarily harder. If you have genuine hands-on SAP experience, the new format is arguably fairer — it tests what you can actually do. If you relied on question memorisation under the old format, the new format will be more challenging. Practical preparation is now essential.
How long is the new SAP exam?
The exam is 2 hours. SAP’s portal may show a “24-hour” window — this is the activity lifecycle window, not the exam duration. The active exam time is strictly 2 hours.
How many attempts do I get for a SAP certification under the new format?
You have a maximum of 4 attempts within any 12-month period. If you fail all 4, you are locked out of that certification for one full year.
Can I use Google or external websites during the new SAP exam?
SAP officially permits use of SAP Help Portal, SAP Learning, SAP Community, and SAP Joule. Personal notes are also allowed. Whether general external search engines are explicitly permitted varies — check the current exam essentials page on SAP Learning for your specific certification before exam day.
Do I need to re-certify if my existing SAP certification is still valid?
No. Existing valid certifications remain valid for their full lifecycle. The new format only applies when you pursue a new certification that has already transitioned to the performance-based model.
What happens if a SAP certification transitioned while I was mid-preparation?
Pivot your preparation strategy immediately. Shift from MCQ practice to hands-on SAP system work and scenario-based exercises via SAP Learning Journeys. The domain content is largely unchanged — only the assessment method is different.
Is there a live proctor for the new SAP exam?
No. The new format does not require live proctoring. You can take the exam in your own workspace, which removes the logistical complexity of test centre booking.
Which SAP certifications are still using the old format?
As of end-March 2026, all SAP certifications have transitioned to the new performance-based format. None remain on the legacy MCQ structure.
Where can I find the official SAP exam essentials and allowed resources?
The official guidance is published at learning.sap.com/helpcenter/certification-support/exam-essentials. This page is updated regularly and should be your first reference before any SAP exam.
Embrace the New SAP Certification Standard
The SAP certification new format is a genuine improvement for anyone who has real SAP skills. By shifting from closed-book multiple-choice to open-book, performance-based assessments, SAP has aligned its credentials with how the platform is actually used — in practical, AI-assisted, documentation-referenced environments.
The key takeaways: all SAP certifications transitioned by end-March 2026. The exam is 2 hours, open-book, and requires hands-on system competence — not memorised answers. Existing certifications are unaffected. You have 4 attempts per year. Prepare by working in SAP systems, completing your Learning Journey exercises, and building a fast, organised reference library.
The candidates who succeed under the new format are those who know SAP because they have used it — and that is exactly the kind of certification the industry needs.
