ABAP Cloud Certification 2026: Preparation, Exam Tips & Experience Reports

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Career
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Johannes

The ABAP Cloud Certification is the official proof of your expertise in the modern SAP development environment. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need for successful exam preparation - from exam content to proven learning strategies to experience reports from certified developers.

Overview of Current ABAP Cloud Certifications

SAP offers several certifications in the ABAP environment. Here are the most important ones for ABAP Cloud developers:

C_ABAPD_2309 - SAP Certified Associate - ABAP Cloud Developer

This is the certification for ABAP Cloud developers and should be your primary goal.

CriterionDetails
Exam CodeC_ABAPD_2309
Duration180 minutes
Questions80 Multiple-Choice
Passing Score63% (approx. 50-51 correct answers)
LanguagesEnglish
ValidityUnlimited (as of 2026)
Cost~500 EUR / ~560 USD

Other Relevant Certifications

CertificationFocusRecommendation
C_ABAPD_2309ABAP Cloud, RAP, CDSPrimary recommendation
C_S4DEV_2021S/4HANA DevelopmentSupplementary for S/4 projects
C_TS410_2020S/4HANA Business ProcessesFor consultants

Exam Content C_ABAPD_2309 in Detail

The exam covers all essential areas of ABAP Cloud development:

1. ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP) - 25-30%

This is the most important exam area. You should master the following:

  • Behavior Definitions & Implementations

    • Managed vs. Unmanaged Scenario
    • Draft Handling
    • Actions & Functions
    • Determinations & Validations
    • Feature Control

  • Entity Manipulation Language (EML)

    • MODIFY, READ, DELETE Statements
    • Transaction handling
" Example: EML CREATE Operation
MODIFY ENTITIES OF zi_travel_m
  ENTITY Travel
    CREATE SET FIELDS WITH
      VALUE #( ( %cid = 'new_travel'
                 agencyid = '000001'
                 customerid = '000002'
                 begindate = cl_abap_context_info=>get_system_date( )
                 enddate = cl_abap_context_info=>get_system_date( ) + 7 ) )
  MAPPED DATA(lt_mapped)
  FAILED DATA(lt_failed)
  REPORTED DATA(lt_reported).

2. Core Data Services (CDS) - 20-25%

CDS Views are the foundation of ABAP Cloud. Exam-relevant topics include:

  • CDS View Entities (no longer classic DDIC Views!)
  • Associations and Compositions
  • CDS Annotations (UI, Search, OData)
  • Aggregations and Groupings
  • Parameters and Input Helps
@AbapCatalog.viewEnhancementCategory: [#NONE]
@AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #NOT_REQUIRED
@EndUserText.label: 'Travel View Entity'
@Metadata.allowExtensions: true


define view entity ZI_Travel
  as select from ztavel
  association [1] to ZI_Agency   as _Agency   on $projection.AgencyId = _Agency.AgencyId
  association [1] to ZI_Customer as _Customer on $projection.CustomerId = _Customer.CustomerId
{
  key travel_id     as TravelId,
      agency_id     as AgencyId,
      customer_id   as CustomerId,
      begin_date    as BeginDate,
      end_date      as EndDate,


      @Semantics.amount.currencyCode: 'CurrencyCode'
      total_price   as TotalPrice,


      currency_code as CurrencyCode,


      _Agency,
      _Customer
}

3. ABAP Cloud Development Environment - 15-20%

  • ABAP Development Tools (ADT) in Eclipse
  • Packages and Software Components
  • Transport Concepts in ABAP Cloud
  • Released APIs vs. non-released objects
  • Naming conventions (Z*, Customer Namespace)

4. ABAP OO and Modern Syntax - 15-20%

  • Classes and Interfaces
  • Inline Declarations (DATA(...), FIELD-SYMBOL(...))
  • Constructor Expressions (VALUE, NEW, CONV, COND, SWITCH)
  • String Templates
  • Internal Tables (Operations, Iterations)
" Modern ABAP Syntax
DATA(lt_travels) = VALUE tt_travel(
  FOR ls_raw IN lt_raw_data
  WHERE ( status = 'A' )
  ( travel_id = ls_raw-id
    description = |Travel { ls_raw-id } - { ls_raw-destination }| )
).

5. Business Services & OData - 10-15%

  • Service Definitions & Service Bindings
  • OData V2 vs. V4
  • Fiori Elements Integration
  • Communication Management

6. Testing and Quality Assurance - 5-10%

  • ABAP Unit Tests
  • Test Double Framework
  • Test Isolation

Registration Process and Costs

Step-by-Step Registration

  1. Access SAP Training Shop

  2. Search for Certification Exam

    • Search for “C_ABAPD_2309”

  3. Choose Exam Format

    • Certification Hub (recommended): Flexible scheduling, online exam
    • Pearson VUE Test Center: On-site exam

  4. Book Appointment

    • Certification Hub: Available 24/7
    • Test Center: Based on availability

Cost Overview

ServiceCost
Single Exam~500 EUR
Certification Hub Subscription~2,500 EUR/year (6 exam attempts)
Learning Journey + ExamFrom ~3,000 EUR

Tip for Companies: The Certification Hub Subscription is worthwhile when certifying multiple employees or when pursuing multiple SAP certifications.

Exam Format

Online Exam (Certification Hub):

  • System check required in advance
  • Webcam and microphone needed
  • Quiet environment without interruptions
  • Identity verification via ID

On-site (Pearson VUE):

  • Appointment-bound
  • No personal materials allowed
  • Locker for personal items

Learning Resources and Preparation

Official SAP Learning Journeys

The best preparation is offered by official SAP Learning Journeys:

  1. Getting Started with ABAP Programming on SAP BTP

  2. Build Apps with the ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model

    • Comprehensive RAP introduction
    • Hands-on exercises

  3. SAP Certified Associate - ABAP Cloud Developer

    • Official exam preparation
    • Paid (~1,500 EUR)

Free Resources

openSAP Courses

SAP Developer Tutorials

Community Resources

Book Recommendations

BookPublisherFocus
ABAP RESTful Application Programming ModelSAP PressRAP Deep Dive
Clean ABAPSAP PressCode Quality
ABAP to the FutureSAP PressModern ABAP Syntax

Hands-on Practice

Essential: Practical exercises on a real system!

  1. SAP BTP Trial Account

  2. SAP Learning System Access

    • Included in Learning Journeys
    • Pre-configured environment

Proven Preparation Strategies

The 8-Week Plan

A structured approach for working professionals (10-15 hours/week):

Week 1-2: Solidify Fundamentals

  • Refresh ABAP OO concepts
  • Practice modern ABAP syntax
  • CDS View basics

Week 3-4: RAP Deep Dive

  • Work through Managed Scenario
  • Understand Behavior Definitions
  • Practice EML hands-on

Week 5-6: Advanced Topics

  • Draft Handling
  • Actions & Functions
  • Validations & Determinations

Week 7: Integration & Services

  • Service Definitions
  • OData Basics
  • Fiori Elements

Week 8: Exam Preparation

  • Go through sample questions
  • Identify weak points
  • Exam simulation

Learning Methods

Active Learning:

  • Write code yourself, don’t just read
  • Build your own small RAP apps
  • Provoke errors and understand them

Flashcards for:

  • CDS Annotations
  • EML Syntax
  • Important classes and interfaces

Practice Questions:

  • SAP Learning Hub offers sample questions
  • Community-created quizzes

Experience Reports and Tips from Certified Developers

Experience Report 1: Maximilian S. (Senior Developer)

“The exam is doable if you have practical experience with RAP. I prepared for 6 weeks, 4 of which with intensive hands-on on the BTP Trial Account.

My tip: Don’t underestimate CDS Annotations! About 20% of my questions were about UI annotations and their effects on Fiori Elements.”

Preparation: 6 weeks, ~12h/week Result: Passed with 78%

Experience Report 2: Sandra K. (Developer, Classic ABAP Convert)

“As a Classic ABAP developer, the transition was a challenge. The biggest hurdle was abandoning old thinking patterns and understanding the declarative RAP approach.

My tip: Focus on understanding WHY RAP works the way it does. The exam tests not only syntax but also conceptual understanding.”

Preparation: 10 weeks, ~8h/week Result: Passed with 71%

Experience Report 3: Thomas M. (Consultant)

“I had no practical experience with ABAP Cloud and prepared purely through courses and tutorials. That was a mistake - I failed on the first attempt.

My tip: Without practical experience, the exam is very difficult. Invest time in the BTP Trial Account and build at least 2-3 complete RAP apps.”

Preparation (1st attempt): 4 weeks theory only - Failed Preparation (2nd attempt): +6 weeks with practice - Passed with 68%

Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes

1. Too Little Practical Practice

The exam contains many scenarios that require practical understanding. Pure theory is not enough.

2. Classic ABAP Thinking Patterns

Forget CALL FUNCTION, SELECT * INTO TABLE, and other classic constructs. The exam tests exclusively ABAP Cloud concepts.

3. Underestimating Annotations

CDS and Behavior Definition annotations are exam-relevant. Learn the most important ones by heart:

" Frequently tested annotations
@UI.lineItem: [{ position: 10 }]
@UI.selectionField: [{ position: 10 }]
@UI.identification: [{ position: 10 }]
@Consumption.valueHelpDefinition
@ObjectModel.text.element

4. Ignoring Draft Handling

Draft is a central RAP feature and is extensively tested. Understand the lifecycle:

  1. Edit - Create draft
  2. Changes in draft
  3. Activate - Activate draft
  4. Discard - Discard draft

5. Time Management in the Exam

180 minutes for 80 questions = ~2.25 minutes per question. Don’t get stuck on difficult questions, mark them and return later.

Exam Day: What to Expect

Before the Exam

  • Tech check (for online exam): 30 minutes beforehand
  • Have ID ready: National ID or passport
  • Stay calm: You’ve prepared well

During the Exam

Question Types:

  • Single Choice (one correct answer)
  • Multiple Choice (multiple correct answers - number is indicated)
  • Scenario-based questions

Strategy:

  1. Read question completely
  2. Exclude obviously wrong answers
  3. When uncertain: First intuition is often correct
  4. Mark difficult questions, return later

After the Exam

  • Immediate result: Pass/Fail displayed directly
  • Detailed report: Via email within 24h
  • Certificate: Downloadable in SAP Learning Hub
  • Badge: For LinkedIn and other platforms

Is the Certification Worth the Effort?

Advantages

  • Career accelerator: Demonstrable expertise for applications
  • Salary argument: Certified developers earn on average 10-15% more
  • Project qualification: Often a prerequisite for SAP projects
  • Structured learning: The preparation makes you a better developer

Disadvantages

  • Costs: ~500 EUR exam fee + learning materials
  • Time investment: 6-12 weeks intensive preparation
  • Theory-heavy: Exam doesn’t test 1:1 project reality

My Recommendation

The ABAP Cloud certification is worthwhile if you:

  • Want to officially verify your ABAP Cloud knowledge
  • Want to work on SAP projects or at SAP partners
  • Want to systematically learn RAP and CDS

It’s less important if you:

  • Already have years of demonstrable ABAP Cloud project experience
  • Work at a company that doesn’t require certifications

Conclusion

The C_ABAPD_2309 ABAP Cloud Developer Certification is the central qualification for modern SAP developers. With structured preparation, sufficient hands-on practice, and the right time management, the exam is definitely achievable.

Your Next Steps:

  1. Create SAP BTP Trial Account
  2. Start Learning Journey at learning.sap.com
  3. Build first RAP app
  4. Book exam date (6-8 weeks in advance)

Good luck with your certification!

Further Reading