Find the right Dynamics 365 certification for you

Do you love using Dynamics 365 to empower your organization to deliver operational excellence and delight customers? Have you considered earning a certification that validates your ability to strengthen your team’s digital foundation and to use technology to innovate and adapt? To help you plan your career journey, we’re presenting a new series of blog posts that explore the value and benefits of Dynamics 365 certifications.

In this post, we’ll focus on some of the highlights of our certification portfolio, which spans from fundamentals to role-based certifications that validate key Dynamics 365 skills.

We’re here to help you discover the career path that’s right for you—whether you’re just starting out with Dynamics 365, looking to advance, or wanting to change to a new focus. When you pass an exam and earn your Microsoft Certification, that’s a validation of your skills and experience. The combination of your skills and a globally recognized, industry-endorsed Microsoft Certification sends a career-building message to employers. Your certification can even give you a boost of confidence and recognition in your career.

In later posts in this series, we’ll dive deeper into each of the certifications that we highlight here, to help you further explore and choose the certifications that are right for you and your career journey. Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 certifications often complement each other. To learn more about Microsoft Power Platform certifications, go to Finding the right Microsoft Power Platform certification for you.

The benefits of certification

Dynamics 365 offers many avenues for professionals to deepen their skills. Let those skills guide you as you investigate the different Dynamics 365 certifications available to you. A Microsoft Certification validates that you have the skills that organizations are looking for when they hire and advance employees. Plus, Microsoft keeps certifications up to date based on market and industry demands.

Many respondents in the 2020–2021 Microsoft Dynamics Salary Survey from Nigel Frank consider that years of experience with Dynamics 365 is the most important factor associated with a professional’s earning potential. Added to that, 61 percent of that survey’s respondents believe that certifications give you an edge in the job market. Many reported a salary increase (a 22 percent increase, on average) after they achieved a certification. Just as you use certifications to prove your skills, organizations can use them to identify the talent they’re looking for. They can even help you achieve promotions and raises.

Certifications can give your self-confidence and your career a boost. They’re an indication to employers that you’re willing to invest the time to build essential skills. The Global Knowledge 2020 IT Skills and Salary Report found that IT professionals with certifications, on average, earn more than their peers without them. Interestingly, the survey found that the more certifications a professional holds, the higher their average salary. Certification, combined with your drive and abilities, can help to open career doors for you.

The fundamentals certifications

Consider a fundamentals certification as the first milepost on your certification journey. These very popular technical certifications are held by professionals all over the globe. They build foundational skills and provide a pathway for earning certifications based on deeper technical skills required to perform industry roles.

There are two fundamentals certifications for Dynamics 365. The first is for those who are familiar with customer relationship management (CRM) and are IT savvy—either generally or through work experience. If you have this basic experience, look into Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) certification (pass Exam MB-910). To start exploring your journey to certification, check out the Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) journey map.

The other fundamentals certification is for those who have a broad exposure to the enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities of Dynamics 365 and who understand the basics of how finance and operations apps fit in within the overall Microsoft ecosystem. If this sounds like you, consider the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) certification (pass Exam MB-920). The Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) journey map can help you get started.

These two certifications that focus on CRM and ERP skills are replacing the older Dynamics 365 Fundamentals certification, which retires on June 30, 2021.

The functional consultant certifications

Functional consultants understand the value of collaborative work between business and technology. There are many possible career paths for those in this role. We have a wide variety of Dynamics 365 certifications for functional consultants who seek to validate their skills and broaden their career options.

If you’re a professional with expertise in marketing, sales, field service, or customer service, consider exploring the following Dynamics 365 associate certifications. Professionals who achieve these certifications also have skills configuring Microsoft Power Platform solutions and apps.

Marketers who use their technical expertise with both Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform to implement marketing solutions for their organization might consider the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Marketing Functional Consultant Associate certification (pass two exams: Exam PL-200 and Exam MB-220). To start your journey to certification, check out the Dynamics 365 Marketing Functional Consultant journey map.

Sales professionals who use their technical expertise with both Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 to implement and extend sales solutions for their organization should explore the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Sales Functional Consultant Associate certification (pass two exams: Exam PL-200, linked to earlier in this post, and Exam MB-210). The Dynamics 365 Sales Functional Consultant journey map can help you get started.

Field service professionals who have technical expertise using both Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform to implement intelligent planning solutions for their organization to help ensure consistent and dependable operations should consider Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate certification (pass two exams: Exam PL-200 and Exam MB-240). To start your journey to certification, explore the Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant journey map.

Customer service professionals who have strong applied knowledge of customer service and experience using Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 to implement omnichannel solutions that focus on service, quality, reliability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction should investigate the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate certification (pass two exams: PL-200 and Exam MB-230). To start your journey to certification, check out the Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant journey map.

If you’re a functional consultant with applied knowledge of Dynamics 365 Business Central, Commerce, Finance, or Supply Chain Management, consider exploring the following Dynamics 365 associate certifications.

Functional consultants who implement core Dynamics 365 Business Central processes for small and medium-sized businesses might be interested in Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant Associate (pass Exam MB-800). The Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant journey map can help you get started.

Functional consultants, developers, information workers, or business professionals who use Dynamics 365 Commerce to support their teams might consider Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Commerce Functional Consultant Associate (pass two exams: Exam MB-300 and Exam MB-340). To start your journey to certification, check out the certification page on Learn.

Functional consultants with experience working in finance departments analyzing business requirements and translating them into business processes and solutions should explore Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate (pass two exams: Exam MB-300, linked to earlier in this post, and Exam MB-310). The Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant journey map can help you start your journey to certification.

Business users and functional consultants with a fundamental understanding of supply chain management industry standards should consider Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate (pass two exams: Exam MB-300 and MB-330). To start your journey to certification, check out the Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant journey map.

Functional consultants or business users with a deep understanding of industry and manufacturing standards with experience configuring Dynamics 365 supply chain management should look into Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate (pass two exams: Exam MB-300 and MB-320). To start your journey to certification, get more information on the Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant journey map.

The developer certification

Developers who are responsible for translating requirements into critical system functionality for finance and operations apps in Dynamics 365 should look into Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Developer Associate certification (pass two exams: Exam MB-300 and Exam MB-500). You need to have experience providing solutions using standardized application coding patterns, extensible features, and external integrations. To get started on your journey to certification, explore the Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Developer journey map.

The solution architect certification

This expert certification is for highly qualified professionals with years of experience, such as solution architects, functional or technical consultants, or IT or business professionals who have a deep understanding of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations apps. You fit the profile for the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert certification (complete a prerequisite and pass Exam MB-700) if you’re a trusted advisor for stakeholders and you design cohesive solutions for your customers. The Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect journey map can help get you started on your journey to certification.

Dynamics 365 resources

These resources can help you get started on your journey and connect with others:

Blog: Microsoft Dynamics 365
Blog: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Support
Microsoft Learn resources: Microsoft Dynamics 365
YouTube channel: Microsoft Dynamics 365
Twitter: Dynamics 365

Ready to discover your career path?

Training is available for every Dynamics 365 certification, whether you want to review before an exam or brush up on your skills to prepare. Go to Microsoft Learn for Dynamics 365 (linked to earlier in this post) to decide how you want to learn and which platform best fits your learning style. You have access to a breadth of options to help grow your confidence and expertise—from self-paced learning, training events, instructor-led training, and more. It’s time to take the next step to discover your career path!

And stay tuned for the next blog posts in this series to learn more about the certifications that interest you.