Anderson Frank’s 2019 Salary Survey has shown that 68% of current NetSuite professionals hold at least one NetSuite certification. The number is even more incredible compared to last year, with an increase of 66%. So, if you are still questioning why you should go back to the academy, continue reading.
- Time to Read: 10 min
- Who Should Read: NetSuite administrators, consultants, developers & users
- Drink Pairing: Peppermint tea
- NetSuite issues? It takes time to be proficient at it, contact us in the form below to get training or support.
What you’ll learn:
- About NetSuite certification Benefits and Types of certification available
- Exam questions
- Training and Courses
About NetSuite Certification
It’s an educational initiative to teach all kinds of users the software functionality, system applications, and best practices. NetSuite has developed its own educational resources to improve its user’s knowledge and actually turn professionals into on-demand-experts.
The program covers seven different types of disciplines, based on the different main user roles involved in the platform:
- Administrator
- Financial User
- ERP Consultant
- SuiteCommerce Developer
- SuiteCloud Developer
- SuiteFoundation
- SuiteAnalytics
Pro Tip: Before applying for ANY certification, you must first be approved for the SuiteFoundation exam.
Is it actually important to hold a certification?
Yes, it is. NetSuite certifications are the only trustworthy source to prove a professional has the capability to use the platform. Some ERP Partners and job offers do not require their ERP consultants to be certified. Most recruiters would prefer a certified candidate since they have proven commitment to the platform’s proper use.
Pro tip: Companies like Trajectory Inc invest in their consultants, offering internal training and ensuring only certified professionals work on top-tier clients.
Benefits of being certified by NetSuite:
- Adds credibility
- Brings professional support
- Access to an exclusive community of ERP professionals
- Access to exclusive job offers and better salaries
- Access to use the NetSuite logo for credibility
- NetSuite ID number
Back to Anderson Frank’s survey, 68% of the NetSuite professional population holds a certification. Your chances of being chosen as a candidate decrease to almost 30% in a recruitment process if you are not certified. Also, lying about being certified is silly – certifications have their own code and can be verified by anyone via the NetSuite website.
What are the different certifications in NetSuite?
| Exam | Initial exam | Allows Retakes | Update Exam | Refresher Exam | Authorized uses | |
| SuiteFoundation | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ➖ |
You can proudly state, “I’m a NetSuite Certified Professional.” You can use the NS certification logo under the policy agreement. Your company can attest to having [X number] of certified professionals. |
|
| Administrator | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| ERP consultant | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| SuiteCloud Developer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| SuiteCommerce Developer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Financial User | ✅ | ✅ | ➖ | ➖ | ||
| SuiteAnalytics User | ✅ | ✅ | ➖ | ➖ | ||
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- Some NS exams require professionals to take an updated exam once a year to maintain their certification status. The updated exam is related to the new features, functionality or modules NS has added during the year.
- Every 3 to 4 years NS updates its certification exams. Some certifications required that the professional retakes the updated exam to maintain the certification. The exam must be taken during the first 12 months after it’s released.
- The certifications that don’t require an updated exam, keep their status valid for life.
FYI: If a certified professional misses a yearly update exam, the certification status would be “invalid”. To recover the certification status, the person would need to take every yearly exam missed until that moment. Also, in case you need to reschedule, you may ask to do so within 72 hours of the exam start time.
1. SuiteFoundation – 6 months of experience in NetSuite
- Duration: 80 minutes – 66 matching and multiple-choice questions
- Registration cost: $250
- Repeat fee: $150
SuiteFoundation is the mandatory certification every NetSuite consultant needs to accomplish before any other. Designed for professionals who already use NetSuite ERP, and are familiar with the concepts, modules and core features. In the SuiteFoundation Study Guide, you will find the 5 main areas this test covers:
- User Interface
- Standard process flows
- Resources, Maintenance, and Data Security
- SuiteAnalytics
General understanding questions are related to:
- Company and user preferences
- Relationships among users, roles and permissions
- Features and standard modules
- Dashboards, reports and searches
- Standard record types and how they are structured
- Customization options of the NetSuite user interface
- The NetSuite product release process
How can I prepare for the SuiteFoundation exam?
NetSuite offers a sample test and support documentation for every certification. Prepare a study agenda and divide it into sections according to the main areas you need to review. Then set the deadlines. This way, you can be sure that topics are not left behind before the exam date.
There are also complimentary courses you can take:
- SuiteAnalytics
- NetSuite essentials
- NetSuite certification: SuiteFoundation exam preparation
Pro Tip: SuiteFoundation was created for NetSuite beginners. The required knowledge level is a minimum of 6 months of experience using the system. No professional can skip the initial test, and it’s mandatory to hold this certification before attempting others.
2. Administrator – 1+ year of NS Implementation experience
- Duration: 90 minutes – approx. 60 matching and multiple-choice questions
- Registration fee: $250
- Repeat fee: $150
There are 2 things to keep in mind before taking NetSuite Administrator certification:
- You already hold a SuiteFoundation certification
- You have 1+ year of experience working with robust NS implementations
This certification was created for NetSuite users whose daily responsibilities are related to organizing, managing and maintaining the ERP environment. Anyone interested in this certification must be able to drive an application to meet the company’s requirements and be familiar with:
- System setup & administration
- SuiteCloud platform
- SuiteBuilder
- SuiteAnalytics
- Data security
How can I prepare for the NetSuite Administrator exam?
Review the admin study guide. Create an agenda with deadlines in order to design your own study program. Once you have finished, it’s time to test your knowledge and skills before the real exam! Complete the Test exam and verify your answers.
SuiteFoundation is the only requirement to apply for Administrator certification. However, NS recommends that users interested in taking this certification complement their knowledge before the test with the following courses:
- NetSuite Essentials
- SuiteCloud
- SuiteFlow
- SuiteAnalytics
- SuiteAnalytics – Advanced Searches
- Administrator Exam Preparation
3. ERP Consultant (2+ years of experience)
- Duration: 120 minutes – 80 multiple-choice and matching questions
- Registration Fee: $250
- Repeat fee: $150
The complexity of this test requires a minimum of 2 years of experience working with NetSuite (the equivalent of 2 NetSuite implementations). You are capable of determining the proper solution for company requirements, explaining the benefits and implications of the configuration options. You should know when to use scripting tools, how to modify basic ERP workflows and manage integrations.
The main areas covered by this exam are:
- OneWorld
- Data Strategy
- ERP
- Analytics
- Platform usage
How can I prepare for ERP consultant certification?
The trick is to read every NetSuite customer case study you find relevant. Use your Sandbox account (or Demo account if you’re a partner) to recreate the problem and the solution.
NS offers study sessions to help consultants solve their questions and teach the main subjects this test covers. Also, they recommend taking the following courses in order to clarify the thorough topics:
-
- SuiteCloud
- NetSuite Essentials
- Financial Reports and Searches
- Advanced Searches
- Workflow Fundamentals
- Financial Management
If you work for a NetSuite Partner, they also recommend a specific course for you, the NetSuite Partner Consultant Masterclass
As I said before, grab a pencil and review the ERP consultant study guide. Select the main topics you need to work on and order them in a manner of difficulty. After you finish reviewing the guide, try your best to do the sample test.
4. SuiteCommerce Developer – 2 years experience as a web developer
- Duration: 120 minutes – 77 matching and multiple-choice questions (support documentation can’t be used during the developer exam).
- Registration fee: $250
- Repeat fee (request coupon): $150
The SuiteCommerce certification requires:
- Core background on development (2-3 years of experience)
- 1 year of experience working with NetSuite as a developer
- At least 2 years of experience with web development
- 1 year working with SuiteCommerce relevant technologies
You must have the ability to build solutions according to customer needs. Knowing how to incorporate scripting, integration or workflows that are outside of the platform.
Anyone interested in this certification should have a basic knowledge of SuiteScript. Plus, the skills to implement, create and extend NS commerce apps. Also, it requires a deep understanding of how to secure, scale and perform customized solutions that interact with NetSuite.
The main topics covered by this certification are:
- Design Fundamentals
- SuiteCloud
- SuiteCommerce Advanced applications
- APIs and Services
- Account Configuration and Set-Up
The candidate should manage the following skills:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- JSON
- RESET
- SQL
- SOAP
- XML
- E-commerce Fundamentals
How can I prepare for the SuiteCommerce exam?
- Review your notes about e-commerce and SuiteCommerce in general. Remember that this certification not only validates your skills as a developer but also, as an e-commerce specialist. Go through the study guide and review the main topics and subjects covered by the exam to prepare your schedule.
- NS recommends candidates take the SuiteCommerce Advanced for Developers course before applying for this certification. Once you sign up, choose between taking the exam at a Testing Center or through an online proctored system. Any digital or physical resources aren’t allowed during the exam.
How can I maintain my certification?
- To keep your SuiteCommerce developer certification valid, you will need to take the Annual Release Maintenance quiz. This is a small test to verify you keep track of new modules, features and general updates.
- All certified Developers must retake the exam every 3-4 years and be approved in order to maintain their certification.
5. SuiteCloud Developer I
- The SuiteCloud Developer I certification was eliminated from NS syllabus. Now it’s called SuiteCloud Developer II. The reason why is because the exam has been updated replacing the SuiteScript 1.0 section with SuiteScript 2.0 objectives.
- This update won’t affect currently certificated professionals. NS has explained that there’s no need to upgrade your certification.
- NS created a Suite Cloud Developer II DELTA exam, designed specifically for those who wish to upgrade their current certification. The DELTA exam costs $150 (the same price for retakes).
5.1. SuiteCloud Developer II
- Duration: 120 minutes – 77 multiple-choice and matching questions
- Registration Fee: $250
- Repeat Fee: $150
To become a SuiteCloud developer, you’ll need to be able to map, build, test, as well as deploy solutions that are scalable, secure and reliable. It’s also expected for candidates to have a core understanding of the NS platform, you’ll require:
- 2 years minimum of experience as a developer
- 1 extra year working with SuiteCloud technologies.
The following skills will definitely help:
- JavaScript
- SQL
- SOAP
- XML
- JSON
- REST
The main subject of this exam are:
- SuiteFlow
- SuiteTalk
- SuiteAnalytics
- SuiteScript (2.0)
- SuiteBundler
- SuiteBuilder
- Design Fundamentals
How can I prepare for the SuiteCloud Developer II exam?
Before starting, review the main topics the exam will cover in the study guide and create an agenda. Due to the complexity of this exam, NS recommends candidates participate in the following courses:
- NetSuite Essentials
- Reports and Searches
- Advanced Searches
- SuiteCloud
- Advanced Workflows
- SuiteScript 2.0
- Integrate Your Applications
- SuiteCloud Developer II Exam Prep (coming soon)
NS is currently working on a specialized course and the sample exam. If you’d like, review the draft.
6. Financial User Certification – 3 months of Account. experience
- Duration: 60 minutes – 30 matching and multiple-choice questions
- Registration fee: $150
- Repeat fee: $150
- Requirements: SuiteFoundation + Approve Financial User exam
This is the ideal certification for Financial teams. As its name says, this certification focuses on the application and understanding of accounting and financial management in NetSuite. The goal is to facilitate the knowledge related to resources, navigation, and features, covering areas such as:
- Subsidiaries
- Budgeting
- Journal entries
- Accounts payable
- Accounts receivable
- Expense allocations
- Billing schedules
- Banking and payment processing
- Classifications and chart of accounts
- Financial reports and KPIs
- Period and year-end close
How can I prepare for the Financial user exam?
Before the test, check out the Financial certification study guide and make a list of the main subjects the test will cover. Organize it according to the complexity of topics and create a study schedule (and don’t forget to set deadlines!.
NS also recommends that you take their Financial Management course before the test in order to improve your skills.
7. SuiteAnalytics User Exam – 6 months of experience in SuiteAnalytics
- Duration: 60 minutes – 30 matching and multiple-choice questions
- Registration Fee: $150
- Repeat fee: $150
In order to become a SuiteAnalytics certified user, you must master NS data structure. Reports, Financial Reports and Searches functions should be your breakfast, lunch and dinner. You must be able to pull any kind of data. It is necessary to know the main differences between every tool used and be able to customize the formats and layouts.
The ideal candidate can make suitable dashboards and have a deep understanding of NS formulas, expressions and functions.
The main areas this exam covers are:
- Advanced Searches
- Reports and Searches
- Report Builder
How can I prepare for this certification?
The ideal method of preparation is to segment the areas you need to work on. Organize them according to the level of difficulty and first face hard topics. This way, you can make certain that you are ready for the exam. NS provides a Study Guide and a Sample test to prepare you for the exam. They also recommend candidates to participate in the following courses:
- Financial Reports and Searches or Reports and Searches
- SuiteAnalytics: Advanced Searches
NetSuite Exam Questions – How do I know where I went wrong?
NS exams are confidential, so there’s no real way to know which were correct and which were incorrect. The score is also private. In case you fail the exam, NS will send you a notification explaining the areas you should take care of.
Pro Tip: Every test has different scoring criteria – this means that even if you score above 50% on every section you may either pass or fail the exam as every section has a different scoring weight.
Online, you will find plenty of websites offering NetSuite exam questions. These resources may be helpful while you are studying but they don’t reflect the reality of the test. Only the example exam NS provides for each certification is a trustworthy source.
NetSuite Training and courses
In general, NS offers different courses and resources for the professional, not only related to certifications. Before applying to take any exam, we deeply recommend that you start one step at a time. Review the NetSuite courses catalogue to discover the courses available for your professional interest.
NetSuite, also offers live training webinars for free. Allowing professionals to gain access to tips and tricks to improve their NetSuite skills. NetSuite Partners, such as Trajectory Inc., also offer customized training services, ideal for professionals and companies with specific requirements.
What’s the best user training for NetSuite? 👉 Our Insights
As a certified NetSuite Solution Partner, our team is full of NetSuite implementation & support veterans. That’s why we created our Insights section. A source for NetSuite users, where you can learn the best practices and wonderful tips straight from pro consultants. When you need advanced help, feel free to reach out.
Here’s a list of the most useful insights we have, to help you get your certification:
- Month End Close Process in NetSuite
- Cheat Sheets: Top Saved Searches
- Cheat Sheets: Reports vs Saved Searches
- Successful NetSuite Integration Guide
- ERP data migration best practices
- How to migrate your GL to NetSuite General Ledger
