How to study ...
There are a variety of ways to prepare for Microsoft Certifications, including formal training provided by Microsoft Learning Partners, group study and self-learning and the approach each of us take will depend on our own personal situation.
I’m a big fan of self-study, as it helps me fit my learning in around my work and family commitments, and also as I don’t have a lot of free cash to pay for formal training! That being said, I would always join a study group if there were one that happened to be running for my topic of interest, to help me structure my learning and to give me deadlines to aim for … helpful if you are a procrastinator like myself!
I always keep a look out for anything being run by Julian Sharp who is a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) and MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer). Julian regularly runs study groups on subjects across the Business Applications and Power Platform areas and they are exceptionally valuable for anyone hoping to pass those types of certifications.
On this occasion, while Julian was not running a study group, I did happen to find one that was being run for MB-600 by Dynamics Communities – now DAC. The study group was comprised of some really big names in the Dynamics Community, who were sharing their insight and experiences, so I registered immediately!
What to study ...
The MB-600 is an ‘expert level’ exam, intended to test an in depth level of knowledge on the implementation of Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform, as well as technical and functional knowledge of the D365 model-driven apps;
- Dynamics 365 Customer Service
- Dynamics 365 Field Service
- Dynamics 365 Marketing
- Dynamics 365 Sales
The skills measured in the exam are as follows;
- Perform solution envisioning and requirement analysis (30-35%)
- Architect a solution (45-50%)
- Implement the solution (20-25%)
My first step whenever studying for a Microsoft Certification is typically to log onto the Microsoft Learn website, browse to the certification or exam and download the ‘exam skills outline‘ which gives further detail on the elements that will be tested during the exam.
I would additionally also typically ensure that I had access to a trial environment with all of the relevant features necessary to complete the study. As I had recently studied for all of the pre-requisite certifications, I took a slightly less practical approach and focused more on the implementation side of things. However, if you do not have that relevant recent experience, I would recommend to make sure you have the necessary hands on practice.
Using Microsoft Learn ...
Microsoft Learn is the key resource for learning material to anyone hoping to study for Microsoft certifications. To use Microsoft Learn, it is helpful to have first set up a ‘learning profile’ as the associated Microsoft Certification ID (MCID) will be needed once you decide to schedule your exam. Additionally, your learning profile will help you keep track of what you have studied, enable you to participate in challenges, and provide other motivational features.
Once you’ve set up your learning profile you can browse certifications to find information relating to the MB-600 exam, including the skills outline and the Learning Paths you will need to complete to cover all of the relevant features. For the MB-600 there is just one;
As with all learning materials on the Microsoft Learn website, I would recommend always following the links out to Microsoft documentation wherever provided. I would also recommend allowing more time than is estimated on each Learning Path and Module, as it always takes me exponentially longer to work through the resources than is estimated.
Other learning material ...
One of my ‘go to’ resources when preparing for any Microsoft certification, especially around model-driven apps, is Neil Parkhurst’s blog, and this occasion was no exception. Neil has an absolutely invaluable Revision Guide for the MB-600 as well as some really detailed information around a lot of the concepts covered in the exam. Given the limited materials available for this exam on the Microsoft Learn site, I would 100% recommend checking Neils blog.
Additionally there are some ‘on demand’ webinar resources for MB-600 available in the Microsoft Events Catalog, and these can be found by clearing any search filters and searching for MB-600.
Taking the exam ...
Information on the exam itself is available on the MB-600 certification page on Microsoft Learn and the exam can also be booked from there. I would advise anyone new to Microsoft certification to check through the Exam Resources section and to additionally check the information relating to exams and exam question types included on Microsoft Docs.