About PL-600 Exam
With the growing demand for certified professionals, passing the Microsoft PL-600 exam and earning the corresponding accreditation has become a thriving need among solution architects. It is such an impressive feat that highlights your proficiency in performing solution envisioning as well as designing and implementing solutions in the Microsoft Power Platform. So, if you want something that sets you apart from the crowd, make your way to this certification route.
Significant Points about Microsoft PL-600
The first thing that you should know about the exam is that it serves as the primary requirement for the role-based Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert certification. The test measures how well you master the technicalities of handling a Microsoft Power Platform, from requirement analyses to architecture to implementation. Do take note that, as of this writing, PL-600 is still a beta exam, which means the scores may not be available instantly because they have to gather data to further improve the questions and the test as a whole.
And since the test is part of the expert-level accreditation, there are certain prerequisites that you need to clear ahead of time. Candidates must either have a current Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate or Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate. These certifications give you a solid background in Power Platform, which in return helps in making your exam journey less stressful.
Primary Responsibilities of Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
Passers of Microsoft PL-600 are transformed into skilled solution architects with a specialty in Microsoft Power Platform. These people are assigned to leading implementations and supervising various solution issues. Because of their expertise, they can capably address the broader scale of business, along with the technical requirements of the organization. Furthermore, it’s easy for them to execute preventative and proactive work because they have a good foundation not just in Power Platform but also in Microsoft Dynamics 365, cloud solutions, and even third-party technologies. As they handle tasks throughout the engagement, they are offered the role to solve business concerns and discover business opportunities.
Relevant Prep Materials to Use
As a beta exam, there are still limited training resources specifically designed for Microsoft PL-600. But there’s no need to fret because we’ve gathered some of the most useful options to help you out.
- Skills Outline
Start with the official PL-600 skills outline that breaks down all the important features that you need to comprehend thoroughly. The document supplies you with the core topics, focusing on the main skills required for a solution architect. There are only three major areas that require your in-depth attention. Let’s begin with solution envisioning and requirement breakdown. At 35 to 40% coverage of the test questions, this section underlines the key methodologies in initiating solution planning, distinguishing organization metrics, identifying existing systems, acquiring requirements, and performing gap analyses, among others.
The second goal of the exam is to furnish you with a profound understanding of how to efficiently architect a solution. Here, you have to learn more about the design process, solutions topology, app customization, user experience prototypes, ALM process, along with various data strategies for migration, automation, and visualization. This also addresses the functionalities associated with designing data models, security models, and integration. You have to exert extra effort in this stage because these topics take around 40 to 45% of the total exam. The last domain covers at least 15 to 20% and it focuses on implementing solutions, wherein you need to master verifying solution designs and supporting go-live.
- Learning paths
Gain necessary skills by availing of the official learning paths for PL-600. There are only two such resources that cater to your exam preparation. The first one is “Architect solutions for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform” which comes with 5 modules. Running for almost 4 hours, the training unlocks the features needed to become an adept solution architect. It also gears you with information about handling customer needs, working with key requirements, and performing a fit-gap. The next track to take is the “Solution Architect: Design Power Platform solutions”, a 7-hour course that provides you with credible details on the architecture aspects, security, and data modeling of solution architect. Comparatively, this path has more modules, with a total of 12 lessons that accentuate a specific area.
If you have extra time, it’s best that you have a refresher of the learning paths created for PL-200 and PL-400, which lead to the above-mentioned prerequisite certificates of Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert. This is very beneficial in polishing your capabilities and giving you a better command of the Microsoft Power Platform and its vital points. One thing to take note of is that the lectures may take a lot of your time because these are lengthy. Therefore, make sure to squeeze them into your daily schedule for a more realistic approach. By completing these online programs, it’s much easier to create, develop, secure, manage, and troubleshoot a Power Platform solution.
- Instructor-led course
Get support from industry specialists with the official instructor-led training. Although there are no training options specific to PL-600, there is the course MB-600T00-A that expounds on the major points of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. This is highly recommended to anyone studying for the Microsoft PL-600 or those senior consultants who aim to be proficient solution architects. And before you enroll, make sure you accomplish the prerequisites, which include completion of MB-200, prior experience in Power Platform, background in Dynamics 365, and familiarity with Microsoft Azure.
The course content is designed for an entire 3-day discussion. Therefore, you have to vacate at least 3 days to maximize your studies. Some of the things that you need to learn by heart include the process of becoming a solution architect, design conceptualization, data modeling, project governance, integration, Power Platform Architecture, Power Apps Architecture, and Power Automate Architecture
Conclusion
With the comprehensive information above, are you ready to take on this certification exam journey? Microsoft PL-600 is certainly an illustrious step in your career that you shouldn’t miss out on, especially if you’re a solution architect vying for an expert role or promotion. By clearing the test and obtaining its related accreditation, it’s easy to expand your professional skillset and get backup support from a world-renowned IT organization like Microsoft.
