Core App vs Core Product certification

florian.zbinden7

Hello everybody,

I am interested in learning more om how Smartsheet works and therefore looked at certifications.

I took the free course in the Smartsheet university and got the free Core App badge.

Now my question : What is the difference in terms of content/things to know between the Core App certification (the one which is free in Smartsheet University, giving you 14 PDUs) and the Core Product certification that costs 149 USD ? Is this work pursuing the proctored exam in my case ?

Thanks for your advices,

Florian

Colleen Patterson

They are slightly different and the certification is a longer, proctored test. I have all new team members go through the Core App badge to learn the basics, and the Certification is designed for users with at least 3-6 months of experience. I have attached a little more information and links to resources below.

The Core App Skills badge shows that you completed all the eLearning courses in the Core App Path and passed the capstone quiz. Badges give you a way to showcase your Smartsheet knowledge, skills, and achievements. See: Smartsheet University Badging

The Core App Certification is an Exam separate to this (although it's recommended that you complete the Core App Path before attempting the exam). This exam validates your ability to build and configure collaborative work environments and can help you stand apart as a professional in your field. You can learn more about the Exam on this page, here.

Paul Newcome

The short answer is that the App certification is more surface level making sure you understand the more common features. The Product certification is more in depth and tests your ability to combine those features into a solution.

Colleen Patterson

They are slightly different and the certification is a longer, proctored test. I have all new team members go through the Core App badge to learn the basics, and the Certification is designed for users with at least 3-6 months of experience. I have attached a little more information and links to resources below.

The Core App Skills badge shows that you completed all the eLearning courses in the Core App Path and passed the capstone quiz. Badges give you a way to showcase your Smartsheet knowledge, skills, and achievements. See: Smartsheet University Badging

The Core App Certification is an Exam separate to this (although it's recommended that you complete the Core App Path before attempting the exam). This exam validates your ability to build and configure collaborative work environments and can help you stand apart as a professional in your field. You can learn more about the Exam on this page, here.

Paul Newcome

The short answer is that the App certification is more surface level making sure you understand the more common features. The Product certification is more in depth and tests your ability to combine those features into a solution.

florian.zbinden7

ok thanks for the clarification !

Paul Newcome

Happy to help. 👍️

Tamara C.

Is there a training pathway focused on processes vs project management?

Tamara C.

@Paul Newcome — if I am working to be proficient in smartsheet solution architecture and planning to take the Product Certification and the Project Management Certification courses, do you think it's wise to test for the Core App exam through self-study and save the 1500 or do you think a 3 day instructor led course on Core App is essential for building the foundation for the others?

Tamara C.

@Paul Newcome and second question: is there a Product Certification instructor led course? (Or is the Core App instructor led course the only instructor led course for Product Certification?

florian.zbinden7

hi

I passed both certifications on my first try and took the learning paths from Smartsheet university, if you do that and spend enough time practicing in the system that should be enough.
the questions and the grading are challenging, not impossible.

I know that there are some mock exams now, probably worth using that as well

Paul Newcome

@Tamara C. I would say that everyone learns differently. I personally prefer self study, but others may find it more useful to do the instructor led course because it may be more curated and geared towards the certification. I will say though that I have seen a high number of people able to pass the certification exams with self-study.

Tamara C.

@Paul Newcome and @florian.zbinden7 thank you. I would like to get to a place where I can identify the elements of a business case and lay out a plan upfront before starting to build. I find myself creating sheets and discovering needs and opportunities as I go - somewhat working from blind spots to build an optimal process. I like the practice, but does solution architecture just come with time and experience, or is there a resource that I can learn effective roadmaps for addressing needs. I think I'm looking to know how to organize the workplan. Right now, I'm starting every practice scenario with a workspace, 2-3 sheets with a form each, and a metrics sheet and going from there. How do I evolve that to needs based solution set?

Paul Newcome

@Tamara C. You can look through the various "Best Practices" here in the Community and also take a look at some of the template sets. You can get some knowledge of where to start through various courses, but a lot of it is going to come from experience and getting to know your audience.

Of course there are a lot of variables and complexities that can come with full solution building, but a good general rule of thumb is to get to know your audience first. What do they want to see and how do they want to see it? Then you can map out the various business processes that go from the "end" all the way down to the "beginning" which would be your data collection.

One thing to keep in mind… A solution will almost always change as you build. Whether that be realizing new sheets are needed to having to insert some helper columns with formulas or even restructuring something that has already been created to facilitate a certain metric that wasn't initially thought to be necessary.

Find out as much as you can from the beginning. Map it all out. Get a handle on the overall structure of the solution. Map that all out. THEN start building.

Tamara C.

@Paul Newcome thank you. This is really helpful. I'm going to study the Best Practices and the template sets and start looking at it through this lens. It's a great perspective from end to beginning, super helpful. And knowing now that helper columns with formulas will be useful when it's time to change it (even restructuring ok at that point) that really moves me forward. Thank you.