BusinessObjects Certification FAQ

The following questions, and answers, were gathered and compiled by Jansi and myself. Discussions related to BusinessObjects Certification should take place in this topic.

What certifications are available?
What are the requirements for certification?
Where do I go to take the exams?
What is the cost of certifications?
Where can I find documentation for certification?
What classes are available to prepare for certification?
Can I purchase materials to help me prepare?
How will most of the questions be presented?
Is there negative marking for the wrong answers?
I am not involved in server administration. Is that knowledge required to get certified?
Is there any formal certificate of merit for having passed the 1st level?
How will I receive my certificate?
After completing all the exams, how long will it take to receive the formal certificate?
If I fail the first attempt, can I re-take the exam without paying additional exam fees?
Do we have any special logo for display in the profile for the people certified on BO?
How long (duration) will be the examination?
Can I appear for a beta exam?
How can I get a S-ID?
SAP FAQ Document Regarding New Certifications Effective May 1, 2010

A great deal of care has gone into making these answers as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please post in the discussion topic.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: What certifications are available?

:arrow_forward: There are currently four certifications available:

  • BusinessObjects Enterprise
  • Crystal Reports
  • Web Intelligence
  • Data Services

There is no certification for Desktop Intelligence, and probably never will be, as that product will eventually be retired. There is also no certification for Designer, but may be in the future.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: What are the requirements for certification?

:arrow_forward: Certification is granted upon passing the certification exams. The number of exams varies by certification. Exams must be completed at a certified testing center.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: Where do I go to take the exams?

:arrow_forward: The exams are provided through Pearson Vue, so if you go to their site you can review the requirements and schedule the exam. Test locations can be found at http://www7.pearsonvue.com/Dispatcher?application=VTCLocator&action=actStartApp&v=W2L&cid=342


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: What is the cost of certifications?

:arrow_forward: The cost of exams ranges from $100 - $200 USD per exam. Check the Pearson Vue web site for the most accurate and recent pricing.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: Where can I find documentation for certification?

:arrow_forward: Pearson Vue maintains a list of certification requirements on their web site here. You can also download PDF files from SAP here.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: What classes are available to prepare for certification?

:arrow: Classes may be taken through eLearning courses or Formal training (Instructor Lead). The exam questions are taken from the training materials. Therefore, it is recommended to attend classes, either through eLearning or Classroom. Classroom training is the best for a thorough knowledge of the subject matter. Click here to find a training option that meets your needs.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: Can I purchase materials to help me prepare?

:arrow_forward: Yes. However, the training materials from SAP BusinessObjects are best, as the exam questions are taken from them.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: How will most of the questions be presented?

:arrow_forward: There are true / false, multiple choice (single answer), and multiple choice (multiple answer) questions. They have to be determinate answers (no fill-in-the-blank) because they are graded by the computer, so an answer must either be right or wrong.

The tough ones are the multiple-choice multi-answer questions, which can be something like:
Q: Identify all of the following that are true

  1. BOB is awesome
  2. BOB sucks
  3. BOB is my home page
  4. 1 and 3 but not 2
  5. 1 and 2 but not 3
  6. All of the above
  7. None of the above

If you miss any part of the multiple correct answers, the entire question is wrong. :stuck_out_tongue:


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: Is there negative marking for the wrong answers?

:arrow_forward: No they don’t have negative marking. It’s a straight percentage.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: I am not involved in server administration. Is that knowledge required to get certified?

:arrow_forward: Yes, knowledge of server administration, server sizing, processes, etc. is necessary to achieve BOE certification. However, keep in mind that the questions are taken from the training materials.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: Is there any formal certificate of merit for having passed the 1st level?

:arrow_forward: No there will be no certificate just for passing the first one. You will have to pass all tests to earn your certification and get a formal certificate.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: How will I receive my certificate?

:arrow_forward: You should receive a formal certificate by mail. This might take some time.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: After completing all the exams, how long will it take to receive the formal certificate?

:arrow_forward: It might depend on where you are located, etc. If you have been waiting a couple of weeks you might want to contact www.vue.com or SAP BusinessObjects.

If you need to show proof of your certification just show your employer your test record online on www.vue.com for example.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: If I fail the first attempt, can I re-take the exam without paying additional exam fees?

:arrow_forward: If you fail, you must pay again to take it again.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: Do we have any special logo for display in the profile for the people certified on BO?

Yes, the logos can be found on the Pearson Vue website, here. Once you pass all exams, you are certified, and can use the logo wherever you want, including your BOB signature.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: How long (duration) will be the examination?

:arrow_forward: The duration varies by exam, but generally last from 1.5 to 3 hours. During the exam, you may not have any food or beverage with you, nor will you be allowed to take any personal items, such as wallets, purses, or cell phones with you.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: Can I appear for a beta exam?

:arrow_forward: The beta exams, when available, are made available only to partners.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)

:?: How can I get a S-ID?

:arrow_forward: You must be a SAP customer to get a S-ID number. You can apply for a S-ID number here.


MichaelWelter :vatican_city: (BOB member since 2002-08-08)