Whether you are wondering what NetSuite professional you should hire, or looking to take a NetSuite Certification test yourself, it is important to understand what the different NetSuite certifications are.
NetSuite professionals work hard for their certifications whether they work for NetSuite directly, market their services as a freelancer, are employed by a consulting firm, or are applying for a job at your business. Having passed the certification exams, people will be excited to mention their certification on their resume, in job interviews, during consulting sessions, and even on sales calls. However, each of the NetSuite Certifications indicates a different level and type of expertise in NetSuite, so it is important to know the difference. You don’t want to hire an individual who is a NetSuite Certified SuiteAnalytics User when you really need someone who is a NetSuite Certified ERP Consultant.
NetSuite Certified Financial User
According to Oracle NetSuite, when an individual passes the NetSuite Financial User Exam, this confirms that the individual has the foundational knowledge necessary to navigate around the NetSuite system and understand core NetSuite accounting and finance functionality. Individuals who pass the NetSuite Financial User Exam are not permanently certified. There are steps an individual needs to take in order to maintain their NetSuite Certified status, which are outlined in the NetSuite Certification Policy available on the NetSuite Certification webpage.
Subject areas covered by the exam include:
- Subsidiaries, Classifications, Chart of Accounts
- Accounts Receivable
- Billing Schedules
- Accounts Payable
- Banking and Payment Processing
- Journal Entries
- Budgeting
- Expense Allocations
- Financial Reports and KPIs
- Period and Year-End Close
NetSuite Certified Financial User Skills, Training, and Background
NetSuite recommends a certain level of experience for candidates looking to take the NetSuite Financial User Certification Exam. The exam presumably tests for this level of knowledge/experience, and therefore, companies looking to hire NetSuite professionals could expect to see this level of experience/skill from people who are NetSuite Certified Financial Users:
NetSuite recommends that individuals looking to take the NetSuite Financial User Certification Exam should have 3 months of experience in an accounting or finance role using any system, in addition to the completion of the following course:
- NetSuite: Financial Management course
Companies can expect NetSuite Certified Financial Users to understand accounting processes in NetSuite, be able to navigate through all finance & accounting pages in NetSuite, and know where to find related resources. Individuals who have passed the NetSuite Financial User Certification Exam should also be able to explain the features and standard NetSuite modules related to accounting and finance. Finally, these individuals must understand the NetSuite product release cycle, and know where to find more information about NetSuite products.
NetSuite Certified SuiteAnalytics User
According to NetSuite, passing the NetSuite SuiteAnalytics User Certification Exam confirms that an individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and use NetSuite dashboards features, searches, and reports. Individuals who pass this exam are not permanently certified. NetSuite Certified SuiteAnalytics Users need to take certain steps in order to maintain their certification, see the NetSuite Certification webpage for more details.
Subject areas covered by the exam include:
- Reports & Searches (Including Dashboards, Saved Search, Roles & Permissions)
- Report Builder
- Advanced Searches
NetSuite Certified SuiteAnalytics User Skills, Training, and Background
NetSuite recommends a certain level of experience for candidates looking to take the NetSuite SuiteAnalytics Certification Exam. The exam presumably tests for this level of knowledge/experience, and therefore companies looking to hire NetSuite professionals could expect to see this level of experience/skill from people who are NetSuite Certified SuiteAnalytics Users.
NetSuite recommends that individuals looking to take the NetSuite SuiteAnalytics Certification Exam complete the following courses:
- SuiteAnalytics: Reports and Searches OR SuiteAnalytics: Financial Reports and Searches
- SuiteAnalytics: Advanced Searches
For individuals looking to take the NetSuite SuiteAnalytics Certification Exam, NetSuite recommends 3-6 months of experience building searches and reports within NetSuite. Individuals who have passed the SuiteAnalytics User Exam can be expected to have a thorough understanding of the NetSuite data structure: they know how to build personalized dashboards to fit the needs of different users, and they have experience using functions, expressions, and formulas inside of SuiteAnalytics. NetSuite Certified SuiteAnalytics Users can also be expected to be able to pull data from NetSuite using reports, saved searches, and financial reports, and be able to customize the formatting and layout of each.
SuiteFoundation Certified
Passing the SuiteFoundation Exam confirms that you have the foundational knowledge necessary to navigate around the NetSuite system and understand core NetSuite functionality. The credential awarded for passing this exam is SuiteFoundation Certified. Individuals who are SuiteFoundation Certified must take certain steps to maintain their certification. Information about maintaining certifications can be found on the NetSuite Certification webpage.
Subject areas covered by the exam include:
- Setup and Administration (Including Company Information, Enable Features, Custom Forms)
- NetSuite User Interface (Including Navigation Options, Personalized User-level Preferences)
- Standard NS Process Flows
- SuiteAnalytics (Including Saved Search, CSV Import)
- Maintenance, Resources, and Data Security (Incuding SuiteAnswers)
SuiteFoundation Certified Skills, Training, and Background
NetSuite recommends a certain level of experience for candidates looking to take the NetSuite SuiteFoundation Certification Exam. The exam presumably tests for this level of knowledge/experience, and therefore companies looking to hire NetSuite professionals could expect to see this level of experience/skill from people who are NetSuite SuiteFoundation Certified.
NetSuite recomends the following courses for individuals looking to take the NetSuite SuiteFoundation Certification Exam:
- ERP: Fundamentals
- NetSuite: Administrator Fundamentals
- NetSuite Certification: SuiteFoundation Exam Preparation
- Sales Force Automation: Fundamentals
- SuiteAnalytics: Financial Reports and Searches
Companies can expect SuiteFoundation Certified Individuals to have about 3-6 months of experience acting as an admin within the NetSuite application. Individuals who have passed the SuiteCoundation Certification Exam can be expected to have a basic understanding of the concepts and features covered in the ERP: Fundamentals and NetSuite: Administrator Fundamentals courses. You can visit the NetSuite Certifications page for more detailed information on these topics.
Certified NetSuite Administrator
The NetSuite Administrator Exam is the second exam required for NetSuite Administrator Certification. In order to qualify to take this exam, the individual will first have to take and pass the SuiteFoundation Exam (addressed above). In other words, before an individual can be a Certified NetSuite Administrator, they must be SuiteFoundation Certified. Individuals holding any NetSuite certification must take certain steps to maintain their certified state. Information about maintaining certifications and eligibility for individual exams can be found on the NetSuite Certification webpage.
Subject areas covered by the exam include:
- SuiteAnalytics (Including Saved Search, Dashboard)
- SuiteBuilder (Including Form Customization)
- SuiteCloud Platform (Including SuiteBundler Installations)
- Setup and Administration (Including Manage Roles, CSV Import)
- Data Security (Including Data Access)
- Working with NetSuite
Certified NetSuite Administrator Skills, Training, and Background
NetSuite recommends a certain level of experience for candidates looking to take the NetSuite Administrator Certification Exam. The exam presumably tests for this level of knowledge/experience, and therefore companies looking to hire NetSuite professionals could expect to see this level of experience/skill from people who are Certified NetSuite Administrators.
NetSuite recommends the following training courses for individuals looking to take the NetSuite Administrator Certification Exam:
- ERP: Fundamentals
- NetSuite: Administrator Fundamentals
- NetSuite Certification: Administrator Exam Preparation
- SuiteAnalytics: Reports and Searches
- SuiteAnalytics: Advanced Searches
- SuiteCloud: Exploring the NetSuite Platform
- SuiteFlow: Workflow Fundamentals
Companies can expect Certified NetSuite Administrators to have at least 1 year of experience acting as an administrator on a complex NetSuite instance with intensive reporting requirements and high-level customization. Having experience equivalent to configuring and managing a complex NetSuite account, the individual should be able to easily perform the day-to-day tasks of managing the application to meet the company's needs. Certified NetSuite Administrators can be expected to understand the standard NetSuite business/accounting processes, and be able to support other users working with the advanced features and capabilities of NetSuite.
NetSuite Certified ERP Consultant
To earn a NetSuite ERP Consultant Certification, an individual must pass two different exams. First, the individual must pass the NetSuite SuiteFoundation Exam. Upon passing the NetSuite SuiteFoundation Exam, the individual then becomes eligible to take the NetSuite ERP Consultant Exam, which is the second exam required to earn this certification. Passing both the NetSuite ERP Consultant Exam and the SuiteFoundation Exam certifies that an individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to be a NetSuite Certified ERP Consultant. Individuals who are NetSuite Certified ERP Consultants must take certain steps to maintain their certification. Information about maintaining certifications can be found on the NetSuite Certification webpage.
Subject areas covered by the exam include:
- ERP (Including Record to Report, Order to Cash, Design to Build, Procure to Pay)
- Analytics and Dashboard (Including Saved Search, Dashboard)
- OneWorld
- Platform (Including Custom Entry Forms, SuiteBundler Installations, Advanced PDF, Email Templates)
- Data Strategy (Including CSV Imports)
- Data Security (Including Data Integrity, Roles & Permissions)
NetSuite ERP Certified Consultant Skills, Training, and Background
NetSuite recommends a certain level of experience for candidates looking to take the NetSuite ERP Consultant Certification Exam. The exam presumably tests for this level of knowledge/experience, and therefore companies looking to hire NetSuite professionals could expect to see this level of experience/skill from people who are NetSuite ERP Certified Consultants.
NetSuite Recomends the Following Courses for candidates looking to take the NetSuite ERP Consultant Certification Exam:
- ERP: Fundamentals
- Inventory Item Costing
- NetSuite: Administrator Fundamentals
- NetSuite Certification: ERP Consultant Study Session
- NetSuite: Financial Management
- SuiteAnalytics: Financial Reports and Searches
- SuiteAnalytics: Advanced Searches
- SuiteCloud: Exploring the NetSuite Platform
- SuiteFlow: Workflow Fundamentals
- Using Accounts Receivable (AR)
Equivalent to at least 2 years’ worth of NetSuite implementations in a consultant-related role. The candidate has the equivalent experience of performing 5-10 medium scale, or 2-3 enterprise NetSuite ERP implementations. This is roughly equivalent to at least 2 years’ worth of NetSuite implementations in a consultant-related role, which is generally expected before an individual takes the exam. individuals who have passed this exam can be expected to match NetSuite ERP solutions to business requirements. This person can advise on how to change standard ERP workflows, when to use scripting tools to meet the business needs, and when to extend a NetSuite instance through integrations. This consultant can explain the implications and benefits of NetSuite configuration options to customers or your internal employees using NetSuite.
NetSuite Certified SuiteCloud Developer II
The NetSuite SuiteCloud Developer II Exam is the second exam required for NetSuite Certified SuiteCloud Developer II, to be taken after the SuiteFoundation exam has been passed. Passing this SuiteCloud Developer II exam certifies that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to be a NetSuite Certified SuiteCloud Developer II. Individuals who are NetSuite Certified SuiteCloud Developer II must take certain steps to maintain their certification. Information about maintaining certifications can be found on the NetSuite Certification webpage.
Subject areas covered by the exam include:
- SuiteScript 2.0
- SuiteFlow
- SuiteTalk
- SuiteBuilder
- SuiteAnalytics (Including Saved Searches)
- Design Fundamentals (Including SuiteBundler Installations, Roles/Permissions)
NetSuite Certified SuiteCloud Developer II Skills, Training, and Background
NetSuite recommends a certain level of experience for candidates looking to take the NetSuite SuiteCloud Developer II Certification Exam. The exam presumably tests for this level of knowledge/experience, and therefore companies looking to hire NetSuite professionals could expect to see this level of experience/skill from people who are NetSuite Certified SuiteCloud Developer II.
NetSuite Reccomends the following training courses for candidates looking to take the NetSuite SuiteCloud Developer II Exam:
- SuiteAnalytics: Reports and Searches
- SuiteAnalytics: Advanced Searches
- SuiteCloud: Exploring the NetSuite Platform
- SuiteFlow: Advanced Workflows
- SuiteScript 2.0: Extend NetSuite with JavaScript
- SuiteScript 2.0: Custom User Interface Development
- SuiteScript 2.0 for Experienced SuiteScript Developers
- SuiteTalk: Integrate Your Applications
- SuiteCloud Developer II Exam Preparation (SuiteScript 2.0)
A Certified SuiteCloud Developer has the knowledge and skills necessary to design, develop, test and deploy secure, scalable, reliable performance solutions to customize, extend and/or interact with NetSuite. Can explain the implications and benefits of NetSuite development and platform options. Knowledge of JavaScript, SQL, SOAP, XML, JSON, and REST technologies will also be helpful. Recommended Skill Level. 1-2 years of experience working with a range of SuiteCloud technologies and 2-3 years of relevant software development experience.
Certification Benefits
Benefits for Individuals who are Certified:
Earning a NetSuite Certification allows individuals to become part of an elite NetSuite professional network, and some really powerful resources can come through those connections. For example, NetSuite-certified individuals can see additional networking opportunities by tapping into a closed LinkedIn community of other NetSuite Certified individuals. Individuals who hold NetSuite Certifications will see more professional opportunities and accelerate their career related to NetSuite since they will stand our from their non-certified peers. Upon being certified in NetSuite, an individuals recieves a certificate of acheivement, and NetSuite Certified logos, along with guidelines on how to use these materials to market their certification status. NetSuite Certifications are recognized and respected in the industry, so whether an individual is looking for a job, doing freelance work, or working for a NetSuite consulting agency, the certification will help them see more opportunities for themselves and the companies they work with.
Benefits for NetSuite Customers:
NetSuite Certifications offer various benefits to NetSuite end-users. As mentioned above, NetSuite customers can be confident that they are hiring the most qualified individuals when they hire only individuals who hold the appropriate NetSuite Certifications. Their staff will be able to support the product better as they earn NetSuite Certifications, leading many NetSuite customers to see increased ROI from their NetSuite investment. NetSuite Certifications confirm that a company's staff have retained thair skills and knowledge related to NetSuite, and can apply it effectively in their daily tasks. Having staff who hold NetSuite Certifications has been shown to increase productivity as well as bring higher quality NetSuite implementations and more throughough ongoing support. NetSuite customers can also get discounts on further training materials for any of their employees who hold NetSuite Certifications.
Benefits for NetSuite Partners:
NetSuite Partners see many of the same benefits that individuals and customers see. In addition, these certifications ensure that a NetSuite Partner's staff has a thorough understanding of NetSuite through trainings that bring individuals up to the highest skill level. NetSuite Certifications also can help NetSuite Partner managers measure and evaluate employee's knowledge and skill level. The NetSuite Certifications help managers understand what each employee is prepared to take on, allowing managers to assign appropriate tasks, track employee learning, and offer fair wages based on skill level and progress.
These certifications also help NetSuite Partners quickly and easily communicate their expertise to customers. For example, here at Anchor Group, we proudly share that our team collectively holds all 6 major NetSuite Certifications. Without NetSuite certifications (and without our status as an official Alliance Partner and Commerce Partner with NetSuite) it would be a lot more difficult for us to prove that we are good at what we do. After all, everyone wants to say they are the "best in the business" or the "ready to handle your biggest projects", but without evidence to back up these broad sales claims, you won't be able to convince someone that you're worth your salt. NetSuite knows that a smooth implementation process and great post-go-live support is key to a customer's experience of NetSuite, which is why they want to highlight expertise through these Certifications and their Partner programs. After all, NetSuite Certifications ensure that a NetSuite Partner's staff will provide better support to the NetSuite end-users. Finally, NetSuite also offers enhanced customer support options for Partners who meet their recommendations for staffing certifications through the NetSuite Solution Provider program.
Anchor Group NetSuite Trainings
We get a lot of questions about the NetSuite Training we offer here at Anchor Group, and whether these trainings can help people get NetSuite Certifications. You may have noticed that we linked to a few of our own tutorial videos throughout this article. While our trainings are specifically geared towards people who use NetSuite in their day to day work, our trainings were not created to prepare individuals for any NetSuite certification tests. However, our trainings can still be helpful for people who are looking to take a NetSuite certification exam.
Specifically, our Free Beginner Course helps you gain basic knowledge for working in NetSuite, which can be helpful for people who are studying for their first NetSuite certification. Our Free Beginner Course can also be helpful for seasoned NetSuite professionals who are looking for a refresher on certain topics. On the other hand, our 1-on-1 NetSuite trainings are geared towards larger companies, usually customers who we have completed a NetSuite or SuiteCommerce implementation for.
Our 1-on-1 trainings focus on teaching people who will work with NetSuite in their daily work life, such as accountants, marketers, supply chain managers, and C-Suite Executives. Again, these trainings are intended to teach best practices for utilizing NetSuite for your business, and are not designed to prepare individuals for certification exams. However, the knowledge that individuals gain from these 1-on-1 training sessions can still prove to be helpful in preparing for different NetSuite certification exams.
Note: The information included in this article is accurate as of the date the article was published. We will do our best to update this article if and when the information surrounding the certifications changes. For the most up-to-date information regarding the NetSuite Certifications, please visit the NetSuite Certification Page.