How to prepare for the changes in Microsoft Dynamics 365 exams and certifications in 2023

Published by Karan Maur on October 9, 2023

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a suite of cloud-based business applications that help organizations manage their operations, customer relationships, and insights. Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers various certifications for different roles and skill levels, such as functional consultants, solution architects, developers, business analysts, and more.

However, as the technology and business needs evolve, so do the certifications. Microsoft regularly updates its training and certification portfolio to reflect the latest changes in Dynamics 365 and the market demand. In this blog post, we will look at some of the major changes that are coming to Microsoft Dynamics 365 exams and certifications in 2023, and how you can prepare for them.

Reimagining the certifications for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management functional consultants

One of the most significant changes in the Dynamics 365 certification landscape is the reimagining of the certifications for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management functional consultants. These professionals are responsible for configuring and implementing the advanced features of Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, such as manufacturing, planning, inventory management, warehouse management, transportation management, and more.

Previously, there were two associate-level certifications for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management functional consultants: one for general supply chain management (MB-330 exam), and one for manufacturing (MB-320 exam). However, based on the feedback from the industry and the learners, Microsoft has decided to streamline the certification path and create a new expert-level certification for this role.

Starting from June 30, 2023, the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate certification and its required Exam MB-320: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing will be retired. Instead, there will be a new Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert certification, which will require passing two exams: Exam MB-330: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant (updated) and Exam MB-335: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert (new).

The updated MB-330 exam will cover the core concepts and features of Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, such as product information management, inventory management, procurement and sourcing, sales order processing, master planning, warehouse management, transportation management, quality management, cost accounting, and project operations. The new MB-335 exam will focus on the advanced topics of Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, such as manufacturing execution, production control, lean manufacturing, mixed-mode manufacturing, process manufacturing, asset management, IoT intelligence scenario setup.

To prepare for these exams, you can take advantage of the online learning paths and instructor-led training courses offered by Microsoft Learn. You can also practice with hands-on labs and sample data in a sandbox environment. Additionally, you can use exam preparation guides and practice tests to assess your readiness and identify your knowledge gaps.

Retiring the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Commerce Functional Consultant Associate certification

Another change that is coming to the Dynamics 365 certification portfolio is the retirement of the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Commerce Functional Consultant Associate certification and its required Exam MB-340: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce Functional Consultant. This certification was designed for professionals who configure and implement omnichannel solutions that focus on application configuration, product catalog management, e-commerce site configuration, point-of-sale (POS) device configuration, store operations, channel deployment, and merchandising.

However, due to the low demand and relevance of this certification in the market, Microsoft has decided to retire it on June 30, 2023. If you have already earned this certification or plan to do so before June 30th , you can still display it on your resume or LinkedIn profile. However, after June 30th , you will not be able to take or retake the MB-340 exam or earn this certification.

If you are interested in learning more about Dynamics 365 Commerce or pursuing a career in this domain, you can still access the online learning paths
and instructor-led training courses that cover various aspects of Dynamics 365 Commerce. You can also practice with hands-on labs and sample data in a sandbox environment.

Announcing the official Business Applications professional collection

The last change that we will discuss in this blog post is the announcement of the official Business Applications professional collection. This is a curated set of learning paths and certifications that cover the most in-demand skills and roles in the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform ecosystem. The collection includes the following categories:

Dynamics 365 Fundamentals: These learning paths and certifications provide an overview of the core capabilities and features of Dynamics 365, such as finance, operations, customer engagement, commerce, and more. They are suitable for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Dynamics 365 or prepare for a role-specific certification.

Dynamics 365 Functional Consultants: These learning paths and certifications focus on the configuration and implementation of Dynamics 365 applications for various business scenarios, such as sales, customer service, field service, finance, supply chain management, customer insights, and more. They are suitable for professionals who work with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into solutions using Dynamics 365.
Dynamics 365 Solution Architects: These learning paths and certifications focus on the design and architecture of complex and scalable solutions using Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. They are suitable for professionals who have a deep understanding of the business requirements, the technical capabilities, and the best practices for building solutions that meet the customer’s needs and expectations.
Dynamics 365 Developers: These learning paths and certifications focus on the development and customization of Dynamics 365 applications using various tools and technologies, such as Power Apps, Power Automate, Logic Apps, Azure Functions, Common Data Service, AL language, Visual Studio, and more. They are suitable for professionals who have a strong background in software development and want to extend or enhance the functionality of Dynamics 365.

Power Platform: These learning paths and certifications focus on the creation and management of low-code or no-code solutions using Power Platform components, such as Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Power Virtual Agents, AI Builder, Dataverse, and more. They are suitable for professionals who want to build apps, automate workflows, analyze data, or create chatbots using Power Platform.

The Business Applications professional collection is a great way to explore the different roles and skills that are available in the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform domain. You can use it to plan your learning journey, prepare for your certification exams, or advance your career.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have discussed some of the major changes that are coming to Microsoft Dynamics 365 exams and certifications in 2023. We have looked at how Microsoft is reimagining the certifications for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management functional consultants, retiring the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Commerce Functional Consultant Associate certification, and announcing the official Business Applications professional collection.

These changes reflect the evolving needs of the market and the learners, and aim to provide more relevant and valuable certifications for different roles and skill levels. If you are interested in learning more about Dynamics 365 or pursuing a certification, we encourage you to check out the resources mentioned in this blog post, and visit Microsoft Learn for more information.