Association of Dynamics Professionals to revive Microsoft Dynamics GP, NAV, SL certification standards

Microsoft's decision to end professional certifications for Microsoft Dynamics GP, NAV, and SL professionals in 2014 was received with disappointment by many and confusion by some, but few in the partner channel found any real good news in the change. At best, some felt it was the end of a system that wasn't providing much value any longer as tests lagged the latest product releases and failed to measure or reflect a Dynamics ERP professional's true qualifications.

As soon as the news of the tests' demise landed in the Dynamics ERP community, there were also whispers that an independent certifying authority could replace Microsoft's system. A group of field experts could better reflect the standards that professionals should live up to, the thinking went.

On Sunday at the Dynamics Connections PreGame event, a new organization was announced to fulfill that role of testing and certification authority for the Dynamics SMB ERP products. The Association of Dynamics Professionals, as it is called, has been spearheaded by Dynamic Communities, the company that runs the AXUG, GPUG, NAVUG, and CRMUG user groups, but will operate independently as a non-profit organization.

Hal Howard, executive director of Dynamic Communities and former R&D chief for Microsoft Dynamics ERP, told partners at the event that Microsoft had been considering ...