SAP training is a serious business, one which apart from good and powerful training partner, requires a lot of due diligence on part of the student as well. We understand all implications and apprehensions one might have when changing careers because we have helped hundreds of people through the transition. It is even more critical to fully understand the mechanism of SAP training so that correct and realistic expectations can be set up between the student and the school. Due to the lack of regulatory body to govern the standard of curriculum it is essential to fully comprehend the quantity and quality of the deliverables.

The most common mistake is to compare two SAP courses on the basis of cost and not taking in account the curriculum. Cost savings on the basis of reduced course content is not a saving at all.

Pre-requisites
We get dozens of calls everyday asking for suggestions on which SAP course to go for. There is no simple cookie cutter solution that could apply to everyone. There are too many factors involved which can cause one SAP module to be ideal for one and disaster for another. SAP has done a great job of demystifying the task of understanding pre-requisites. Just go to http://www.sap.com/education and follow the links by first selecting the country and then the course. You will notice that each SAP course has its well defined pre-requisites. Knowing your training partners’ capabilities and your limitations is vital to make this transition a success. Make sure you have the pre-requisites prior to attending a next level course.

Instructor
SAP is very flexible by nature which means that the same software out of the box can be configured for a variety of industries. While there are hundreds of books on best-practices for every industry but in reality each implementation is peculiar and far from text book guidelines. Eventually during your job interview you will be required to exhibit knowledge about these variations. A well rounded, knowledgeable and experienced instructor can not only prepare you for the technical knowledge but also for the tough interview that lies ahead. Some schools undermine this important factor by hiring under-qualified instructors with little or no diversified experience.

Curriculum
Most of the courses that are taught at private schools (schools not owned or operated by SAP) teach a shorter version of the actual course. It is important to understand what rules/reasons were applied to omit certain topics. If the reason was that the topic has little or no strategic significance in the local marketplace then it is ok.

However if the topic was taken out so the price can be competetive then that is NOT ok. Irony of the mater is that 99% of students are well educated individuals and still they place an un-proportionate amount of trust in their training partners and not question the curriculum. There are thousands of so called “SAP Consultants” who are jobless even after spending a lot of money and time. If the school does not have their curriculum published on their website ask them to give you one on paper and then compare it with other offers.

SAP Course Cost
Depending on number of students, instructors pay rate, venue and software applications as well as training material, schools can charge different fee. As a student what should matter to you most is the overall knowledge you walk out with. Student – Instructor ratio is critical. If the number of students is too many then you can not ensure one-on-one quality time with the instructor. If the number is too small than it is economically not feasible to conduct the class. The appropriate number is around 10 students. Under qualified instructor who is looking to review his knowledge will be willing to instruct for a small compensation which can also drive the cost down. Venue should be one with environment that is conducive to total learning. Every little detail matters.

SAP Course Material
Regardless of how condensed the course is, now is your chance to obtain the complete material required for certification so that if in future you want to write the certification exam you should have enough material in hand. So ensure you are getting enough reference material.

Practice
This is the most critical part of the training. So far things have been moving along in a structured environment. After the SAP lectures are over, students are given projects to practice and this is where most of the people drop out due to lack of organization. Because now they are in-charge of their own schedule they tend to slack and gradually the topic slips out of hands.

You probably have figured out by now that SAP course requires a lot of practice, I would like to emphasize the fact that if it was easy people would be making $25 per hour as is the case with several IT professions. The lectures you receive typically require several hours of practice to settle in. Another myth out there is that you would be ready for a job at the end of the SAP training. That is as far from reality as can be. You need several hundred hours of practice before you can actually be ready for a job which can translate into as much as three months of practice.