In a previous blog article, we described the requirements for Dynamics ERP and CRM certification.

http://blog.365freelance.com/competency/ . They are now out of date for NAV/GP/SL/RMS & C5.

Recently Microsoft announced some big changes to the certification requirements – all exam requirements for NAV/GP/SL/RMS and C5 have been removed! This includes pre-sales, sales assessments, implementation methodology and technical certifications covering both SPA and MPN. You can still reach Silver and Gold ERP competency but by achieving the license, BREP and customer requirements.

The Dynamics AX and CRM certification requirements remain unchanged.

The reason behind is the move to the cloud and the urge to certify in Azure and Office 365. Many of the Microsoft resources are not updated so I decided to promote this further to our existing network.

Here are the revised requirements:

ERP Silver and Gold Competency:

If you are a NAV, GP, RMS, SL or C5 partner, there are no exam requirements. However, you need to meet the below criteria:

NAV, GP, RMS, SL or C5 partner Silver Competency:

1. Provide customer evidence

Your organization must submit three unique customer references that do the following:

• Feature the implementation, deployment, customization, or maintenance of a Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution
• Detail a project that you have completed within the past 12 months
• Can be verified with your customer

2. Meet a revenue goal

Microsoft Partner Network members with a silver competency must meet a minimum revenue and Business Ready Enhancement Plan (BREP) revenue recapture.VAR track
Total annual gross revenue goal:

• Market A: US$75,000
• Market B and C: US$40,000

BREP Revenue Recapture Rate:

• Market A: 65 percent
• Market B and C: 40 percent

Application track
Total annual gross revenue goal:

• Market A: US$400,000
• Market B and C: US$200,000

 

For more details about market A, B, and C designations, refer to the country groupings section in the Microsoft Gold Competency Revenue Guidelines document. Note that country groupings are the same for silver or gold competencies.

 

NAV, GP, RMS, SL or C5 partner Gold Competency:

1. Provide customer evidence

Your organization must use the Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Index survey to measure performance and help drive customer satisfaction.

2. Meet a revenue goal

Microsoft Partner Network members with a gold competency must meet a minimum revenue and Business Ready Enhancement Plan (BREP) revenue recapture.VAR track
Total annual gross revenue goal:

• Market A: US$175,000
• Market B and C: US$75,000

BREP Revenue Recapture Rate:

• Market A: 85 percent
• Market B and C: 60 percent

Application track
Total annual gross revenue goal:

• Market A: US$750,000
• Market B and C: US$400,000

 

For more details about market A, B, and C designations, refer to the country groupings section in the Microsoft Gold Competency Revenue Guidelines document. Note that country groupings are the same for silver or gold competencies.

 

AX partner Silver and Gold Competency:

If you are an AX partner you must meet all of the above requirements + your organization must employ or contract with three (for Silver Competency) or six (for Gold Competency) Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) who have, in aggregate, passed all of the exams from any of the following six options. Note that each of the three MCPs must pass at least one exam listed for a particular option, even if, for example, one MCP has passed all of the exams.

Exam MB6-869: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Development Introduction

Exam MB6-870: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Trade and Logistics

Exam MB6-871: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Financials

Exam MB6-872: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Installation and Configuration

Exam 70-432: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Implementation and Maintenance or Exam 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases

Exam 70-573: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development or Exam 70-488: Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Core Solutions

VAR AX track
Your organization must employ or contract with two people (for Silver Competency) or three people (for Gold Competency) who have met the following exam or certification requirements:

MB5-858: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations or MB5-705: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations

Application AX track
Your organization must employ or contract with one person who has met the following exam or certification requirements:

MB5-858: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations or MB5-705: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations

Sales AX assessment (VAR track only)

Your organization must employ or contract with one person who has passed the presales assessment that is specific to this competency.

In addition, your organization must employ or contract with one person (for Silver Competency) or two people (for Gold Competency) who has passed one of the qualifying sales assessments for this competency.

The full requirements can be found here: https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/uk/pages/membership/enterprise-resource-planning-competency.aspx

CRM Silver and Gold Competency:

Your organization must employ or contract with three (for Silver competency) or six (for Gold competency) Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) who have, in aggregate, passed all of the following exams. Note that each of the three MCPs must pass at least one exam from the list, even if, for example, one MCP has passed all of the exams.

• Exam MB2-866: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Customization and Configuration
• Exam MB2-867: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Installation and Deployment
• Exam MB2-868: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Applications

Additionally, your organization must meet the following track requirements:

VAR track
Your organization must employ or contract with two (for Silver competency) or three (for Gold competency) people who have each met one of the following exam or certification requirements:

• MB5-858: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations or MB5-705: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations

Application track
Your organization must employ or contract with one person who has met the following exam or certification requirements:

• MB5-858: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations or MB5-705: Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations

Sales assessment (VAR track only)

Your organization must employ or contract with one person who has passed the presales assessment that is specific to this competency.

In addition, your organization must employ or contract with one person (for Silver Competency) or two people (for Gold Competency) who have passed one of the qualifying sales assessments for this competency.

Here is the announcement information:

“We are 　 announcing the elimination of certification/exam requirements for Microsoft 　 Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft 　 Dynamics RMS and Microsoft Dynamics C5 effective August 13th. This includes 　 pre-sales and sales assessments as well as implementation methodology and technical 　 certifications covering both SPA and MPN.

Below 　 are the top reasons for the change:

• The biggest business imperative for the 　 small and medium businesses (SMB) is the shift to the cloud with “On Azure” 　 and “In Office 365”.　 Therefore, our 　 SMB focused products (Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP, 　 Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft Dynamics RMS and Microsoft Dynamics C5) 　 requires more in-depth knowledge of Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Office 365 　 as a minimum.

 

• In a time of major transition to the 　 cloud, we want to give partners the flexibility to use their readiness time 　 and money on the investments in those areas most impactful to their 　 individual businesses – this will often be Office 365 training, training on a 　 new vertical product created by one of our ISVs, or non-technical sales, 　 marketing and business transformation training that has been created by 　 Microsoft.

 

• Microsoft made the decision to redirect 　 money and time previously spent on the creation of exams and assessments 　 towards the creation of more training and readiness content. The amount of 　 money and resources dedicated to training and readiness for these product 　 lines is at its highest level in years.

The way Partners choose to consume readiness content has changed.　 In 　 response to this shift, we’ve moved much of our Microsoft Dynamics NAV, 　 Microsoft Dynamics GP, and Microsoft Dynamics SL readiness content online and 　 into bite sized components like the “How Do I…?” series of videos.　 　 Based on partner feedback, these videos have been a significant success with 　 well over 100,000 views.　 Therefore,　we’re confident partners will continue to ensure their resources remain 　 competent on the latest technologies.

Additional details are provided in 　 PartnerSource here.　 This change is effective immediately.”

Massive change in the requirements. It means that the entrance barrier will be lower for NAV/GP/SL/RMS&C5 partners. Let’s hope it won’t impact the quality.

 

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