What you need to know about the Magento 2 Solution Specialist Exam

Joseph has participated in writing exams. He tells you what you need to know.

The Magento 2 Solution Specialist exam was the first in the Magento 2 exam lineup. It was released in 2018 and has since been updated several times. Once the Magento to Adobe transition was finalized, the test was released as AD0-E700 under the title Adobe Commerce Expert Business Practitioner. Adobe has updated this test to examine the candidate's understanding of Adobe Commerce 2.4.

How do I benefit from getting certified?

You unlock the complexities of Adobe Commerce.

Magento 2 is a beast of an application. There are some aspects that other platforms are still catching up to. Magento 2 users expect a lot and they are not happy if you recommend they have a feature custom-built that already exists. You must be an expert on everything Adobe Commerce offers.

You can direct merchants to using existing features. I have had plenty of conversations with merchants who find out that a part a previous company built comes built into Magento. A development company sold a merchant Magento 2 with the B2B suite and then purchased and installed the Amasty B2B suite. They continue to pay monthly for the B2B suite. There are better ways to win friends than this.

People immediately understand your value.

We only have a little time to make an impression on our clients. Initial perspective is made within 30 seconds or less. You can subtly show off your certification if you have email exchanges or LinkedIn communications before this conversation.

The term "Solution Specialist" or "Business Practitioner" are widely known as providing value in "non-technical" areas. You are seen as someone who has invested into your career by achieving this certification. Only some will know the effort required to pass the test. But you are "setting the table" and will continue building on it with your intelligent and valuable answers.

It counts toward your agency's Adobe Commerce specialization.

This specialization is challenging to achieve. SwiftOtter has it, thanks to our consistent drive to get our team certified (we are 100% certified). You must have at least two people in your organization with the Business Practitioner certification.

How do I pass the Solution Specialist exam?

The good news is you now have two options: Professional (AD0-E712) and Expert (AD0-E708). Professional is much easier than Expert.

About the Professional exam:

This exam has 50 questions with a time allotment of 1 hour and 40 minutes. You need to achieve a 60% score to put this sexy badge on your profile.

The syllabus:

  • Section 1: Magento Open Source Core Feature (25 questions). This ensures you know how the "non-paid" edition of Magento works. There will likely be tricky questions that cover seemingly "basic" aspects, but are often glossed over.
  • Section 2: Adobe Commerce Basics (7 questions). Adobe Commerce takes a back seat on this test compared to the Expert test. Still missing 7 questions can be enough to sink your chances of passing.
  • Section 3: Digital Marketing and eCommerce Fundamentals (12 questions). These can be the most difficult to achieve as they are "unknown". This covers a comprehensive spectrum of knowledge,, including Google Analytics.
  • Section 4: Compliance/Security Basics (6 questions). Good thing there are only six questions here as legal is not an enjoyable topic. It's necessary.

About the Expert Exam:

This exam has 50 questions with a time allotment of 1 hour and 40 minutes. You need to achieve a 62% score to achieve success.

The syllabus:

  • Section 1: Core Features/General Configuration (23 questions). This is the monster section. Don't expect to be easy. This sections wraps up Adobe Commerce features, too. You need to know Adobe Commerce like the back of your hand to pass through this buy-in.
  • Section 2: Merchandising (5 questions). This discusses, in significant depth, how to customize promotions. You need to know what Magento 2 is capable of and what it isn't. Get lots of practice.
  • Section 3: Digital Marketing (2 questions). There's two questions here. You hardly need to study. I have had plenty of conversations with people who failed by one question. Each correct answer helps.
  • Section 4: Add-on Modules and Additional Products (9 questions). This covers aspects like Live Search, Product Recommendations and B2B.
  • Section 5: Systems Architecture (5 questions). This section carries most of the complaints I hear about this test. You will be tested about APIs in way more depth than you think necessary for a developer.
  • Section 6: Compliance/Security (6 questions). You may feel like a lawyer, but that goes with the job. You need to know basic information about GDPR, taxes. You also need to unstand the process of securing the admin.

The (non-patented) SwiftOtter process

  • Study 15-30 minutes a day. Consistency wins every time. You likely won't retain knowledge if you study in fits and spurts. You'll start on a big project; then your manager cracks down on you to take the test. You'll fail because you haven't been studying. This happens way too often.
  • Download the test syllabus: Professional (AD0-E712) and Expert (AD0-E708).
  • We have written a course guaranteed to help you pass this test. Hundreds of people have become Solution Specialists thanks to this course.
  • Practice your findings in a vanilla Magento environment. Magento tests are written with a blank website in mind—not your customized website.
  • Take our practice test. Only look at the answers once you are ready for a real exam attempt.
  • Schedule your test for the morning. Don't let an urgent client priority take your mind away from success.

Am I ready to go straight for the Expert exam?

I'd say you're ready if:

  • You have 2+ years of experience of working with Magento 2.
  • You are very confident in the admin. Many people I talk to who want to take this test have little boots-on-the-ground knowledge of Magento and are crucified.
  • You have some experience with the less-tasteful legal aspects of e-commerce: GDPR, VAT and other taxes.

If you don't have the above in your knowledge repository, you shouldn't worry: you can get there. All that is necessary to pass this exam is your time. If you invest, you will succeed. I've seen someone with three months of experience on Magento pass the Expert exam. Don't get me wrong, she spent many hours studying. She passed.

What is a Solution Specialist?

A solution specialist:

  • Understands requirements and interacts with their development team to follow through with these requirements.
  • Has some technical knowledge (as proven by the API-related questions).
  • Breaks down complex concepts when conversing with merchants.
  • Understands best practices to ensure a performant Magento application.
  • Is a library of Magento features. They guides the merchant to using these features in the best way possible.

What job titles are best suited to achieve the Solution Specialist certification?

  • Project manager
  • Sales / Business development
  • Technical sales
  • Quality assurance (Professional certification is often satisfactory)

Even though we have listed mostly "non-technical" roles above, we see plenty of developers hoping to achieve this certification. Developers benefit from the unique perspective this test brings.

Can I renew the my Solution Specialist exam?

Yes, Adobe has provided the path to renew Expert-level certifications. Unfortunately, they do not allow for renewing the Professional-level exams.

To renew an exam, you simply watch a video then take a 7-8 question assessment. Knock out three of these videos and your certification is renewed. You could substitute one of these videos for a customer reference where you have over 100 hours working on their project in the last year. If you ask me, it's way easier to watch a video and take the mini-test.

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