The MB-820 certification is coming for Business Central developers. In this article, you will find helpful guides for each certification requirement. This will give you clear, step-by-step guidance to get ready for each part of the certification.
Just a note: I’ve gathered Microsoft documentation, learning paths, and a few of my blog posts. Keep in mind that these are not official training materials for the certification and some of the points might differ from the actual requirement. But they’re a great place to start your learning journey.
Announcement
Find the original Microsoft breakdown of requirements:
And the official certificate announcement:
These are the main requirements:
1️⃣ Describe Business Central (10–15%)
🔴 Describe the BC architecture
– Describe the components and capabilities of Business Central
– Describe the core solution and extensions approach for Business Central
– Describe the update lifecycle for customizations of Business Central
– Differentiate Business Central Online and Business Central on-premises features
🔴 Describe Business Central apps
– Differentiate between the base app and the system app
– Describe the functionality of apps
– Describe the process of bringing an app to AppSource
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/bring-app-appsource/
2️⃣ Install, develop, and deploy for BC (10–15%)
🔴 Install and configure a BC development environment
– Describe the development environment for BC
– Install and configure the development environment
– Manage JSON configuration files
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/devenv-json-files
– Manage multiple AL extensions in one workspace
https://businesscentralgeek.com/how-to-use-workspaces-in-business-central
🔴 Create, debug, and deploy an extension in BC
– Debug an extension with Visual Studio Code
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/devenv-debugging
– Deploy an extension
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/introduction-development-process/
– Create or modify a BC extension in Visual Studio Code
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/introduction-development-process/
– Manage multilanguage development
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/manage-multilanguage-development/
– Maintain extensions
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/app-maintain
3️⃣ Develop by using AL objects (35–40%)
🔴 Build and extend tables and pages in BC
– Develop Role Center pages
– Identify different page types
– Build and extend page objects
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/extend-tables-page-objects/
– Build and extend tables
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/extend-tables-page-objects/
– Build and extend enums
🔴 Build and extend reports
– Substitute a report
– Create a report layout
– Create document reports
– Design the data model of a report
– Implement multilanguage in reports
– Use report triggers, functions, and processing-only reports
– Develop the report request page
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/paths/build-reports/
🔴 Design and create an XMLport
– Configure different XMLport properties
– Define nodes and their properties
– Use XMLports in AL code
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/work-with-xmlports/
🔴 Develop codeunits
– Create and access codeunits
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/work-with-codeunits/
– Use events and triggers
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/events-triggers/
– Implement interfaces
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/business-central-interfaces/
https://businesscentralgeek.com/how-to-use-interfaces-in-business-central
– Create installation and upgrade codeunits
https://businesscentralgeek.com/how-to-use-install-and-upgrade-codeunits-in-business-central
🔴 Work with entitlement and permission set objects
– Create and extend permission sets
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/work-entitlements-permission-sets/
– Override entitlements with inherent permissions
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/work-entitlements-permission-sets/
– Troubleshoot permission sets
🔴 Create queries in BC
– Link and join data items
– Apply filters in query objects
– Use queries instead of record variables
– Aggregate data in query objects
– Use a query to create a report
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/work-with-queries/
https://businesscentralgeek.com/query-object-how-does-it-work-in-business-central
4️⃣ Develop by using AL (15–20%)
🔴 Customize the UI experience and implement onboarding techniques
– Create profiles in AL
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/devenv-design-profiles
– Use and create views in AL
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/devenv-views
– Develop the UI by using the user assistance model
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/user-assistance
– Integrate assisted setup
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/build-assisted-setup/
– Create teaching tips and in-app tours to onboard users
– Create an onboarding checklist
🔴 Describe the essential development standards
– Implement the data process model in BC
– Define the different functional table types and characteristics
– Use document standards in BC
– Implement master data standards and design patterns
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/paths/essential-development-standards/
🔴 Use AL to extend BC
– Create custom procedures
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/create-custom-functions/
– Differentiate data types
– Manage files
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/introduction-basics-file-management/
– Manipulate data by using code
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/manipulate-data-via-code/
– Describe the basics of the AL
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/intro-basics-al-programming/
– Use the different types of expressions
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/al-statements/
– Work with AL built-in functions and AL statements
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/al-built-in-functions/
– Work with variables and define them in AL code
https://learn.microsoft.com/is-is/training/modules/intro-basics-al-programming/
– Manage errors
https://businesscentralgeek.com/3-ways-to-handle-errors-in-business-central
– Use access modifiers to limit access
5️⃣ Work with development tools (10–15%)
🔴 Implement semi-automated test processes and run standard BC tests
– Test applications in BC
– Install and run the Test Toolkit
– Develop test codeunits and procedures
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/introduction-test-automation/
🔴 Manage and analyze telemetry
– Monitor and analyze telemetry
– Configure telemetry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5XkX9mv6H8
– Create custom telemetry signals
6️⃣ Integrate BC with other applications (10–15%)
🔴 Access REST services from within BC
– Use the different HTTP classes and their functions
https://businesscentralgeek.com/how-to-connect-to-external-apis-from-business-central-http-request
– Get data from and send data to an external REST service
https://businesscentralgeek.com/how-to-connect-to-external-apis-from-business-central-http-request
– Use and read JSON
https://businesscentralgeek.com/json-full-guide-in-business-central
🔴 Implement APIs
– Create and work with APIs
https://businesscentralgeek.com/how-to-create-custom-apis-in-business-central
– Manage UI interaction when working with web services
– Use Read-Scale Out to improve performance
That’s it! There is already an official GitHub repo for practicing:
MicrosoftLearning/MB-820-Business-Central-Developer-Certification (github.com)
That´s all. Hope you find it helpful.
Thanks a lot for this great overview!
I just took the (beta) exam for which my preparation was largely based on your overview. It was a great help and I am quite positive regarding the results which will come in a few weeks. *fingerscrossed*
I am very experencied in the areas covered in this exam, but took a number of days to follow all links and took all learning paths mentioned.
Very important to know is that you are allowed to use Microsoft Learn website during the exam. The result of my preparations is that I am now “very good” at navigating the learn website which was of great help during my exam.
During the exam I used this strategy.
– please note that the exam consitst of multiple parts, and that after each part you have to confirm you have finished it completely. ( so make sure you have reviewed your answers).
– I tried to answer every question (per section) from personal knowledge / experience
– every answer I was not 100% sure I marked for review.
– during review I used learn to validate my answer ( this turned out to be a good strategy since subsequent questions are often related to eachother, in some cases answer for 3 questions on one learn page)
Thanks again.
Very valuable information and feedback. I hope more developers can pass the exam with all the info we can gather.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this amazing guide! Navigating Dynamics 365 Business Central might feel tricky, but your ultimate guide gives clear help and important tips for new developers. It’s a great help to the community!
Thanks!