Power Platform App Maker
In this blog post, I will share my secret prep guide of passing certification PL-100: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker.
Newbie to Power Platform certification?
If you are new to Microsoft certification exams, I recommend you to go through the official Microsoft course content for this certification as it would give you a decent foundation to have a chance to pass. When taking the exam use these Strategies to read Certification Questions.
Below here you find the self-paced learning that covers the certification:
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/create-powerapps/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/automate-process-power-automate/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/manage-permissions-administration-common-data-service/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/get-started-cds/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/understand-advanced-topics/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/best-practices-environments/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/create-use-analytics-reports-power-bi/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/bring-ai/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/ui-controls-canvas-app-powerapps/
https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/create-business-process-flow/
But certification is not passed with just reading the theory, but you need to actually get into the system, use it and understand the process and relationships on components as some certification questions are quite “where to click incorrect order” questions. For this, I recommend spinning up a free individual Power Platform aka. Community Plan to have a fully functional Power Platform to mess up going through some of the laps found in the below training.
The Shorter prep for us with PowerApps practical experience
Having passed Dynamics certification the last 15+ years, I found the most effective step to prep is always to list and look into the specific Skills measured and find relevant information for those topics only to keep my prep lean, clean, and quick. I focus on reading up on the added and changed skills measured and only skim the skills measured that have not changed since last time.
Relevant information on Skills Measured
First, I look through the official Microsoft documentation that is getting better and better at Docs.Microsoft.Com.
I have done all the “hard work” and below you find the relevant links for prep on Pl-100 in a lean, clean and quick fashion focusing on the information that has helped me answer the questions in the exam.
Note when reading Docs.Microsoft.com documentation take particular care of reading and remembering the purple “Note” and baby blue “Important” section as information here have a high likelihood of being in the certification questions.
Skills measured in PL-100
Design solutions (10-15%)
Create a high-level design
Collect business requirements
Identify data sources
Describe real-world objects as entities
Describe the user experience
Create a high-level data model
Identify required Power Platform components
Determine required Power Apps
Identify existing resources and licenses
Identify gaps between existing functionality and requirements
Map problem domain to Power Platform-tools
Identify required business processes
Evaluate accelerators, Microsoft apps and services, and third-party solutions
Describe connectors including standard, premium, and custom connectors
Design data models
Determine required entities
Identify relationships
Identify fields and data types
Determine requirements for offline access
Design User Interface
Identify opportunities for component reuse
Apply user interface (UI) standards
Design for accessibility
Design for localization
Design output
Define data output requirements
Define requirements for visualizations
Identify repositories for analytical data
Design security, privacy, and compliance
Identify data that must be protected or requires special handling
Identify tools that help ensure compliance with applicable government regulations
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/wp-data-loss-prevention
Understand Power Platform environments
Understand how to get started building apps
Describe the different types of environments
Describe Common Data Service solutions
Describe other environment creation options
Create solutions (55-60%)
Manage Power Platform development environments
Create a solution
Add existing apps and flows to a solution
Run Solution Checker and interpret results
Create model-driven apps
Create model-driven apps
Create a site map
Create and configure Common Data Service entity forms
Create and configure Common Data Service entity views
Embed model-driven app records in Microsoft Teams channels
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/model-driven-apps/embedded-canvas-app-guidelines
Create canvas apps
Create canvas apps within a solution
Connect to data sources in canvas apps
Build canvas apps screens
Configure apps for offline access
Use formulas
Use collections and variables
Describe the implications of design choices on app performance
Interpret App Checker results
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/accessible-apps
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/functions/function-form
Create and Use Controls
Add canvas app assets and components to screens
Build canvas app components
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/controls/control-image
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/use-line-pie-bar-chart
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-the-data-table-control/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/controls/control-form-detail
Create and configure data stores
Create a Common Data Service database
Configure a connection
Create Common Data Service entities based on a data model
Link entities by using Common Data Service entity relationships
Load or create data records for testing and development
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-create-entity
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/create-edit-1n-relationships
Create business logic
Create Common Data Service business rules
Create Common Data Service business process flows
Create Common Data Service classic workflows
Create business logic using Power Automate flows
Create Canvas app formulas and events
Create Power Automate flows
Create flows in a solution
Configure triggers
Build scheduled, automated, and instant flows
Configure flow steps
Interpret Flow Checker results
Test a flow
Implement common expressions and loops
Create adaptive cards for Microsoft Teams
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/connection-cds-native
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/button-flow-with-user-input-tokens
Analyze and visualize data (5-10%)
Create Power BI reports
Create Power BI report by using Power BI Desktop
Create Power BI report by using Power BI service
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/fundamentals/service-service-vs-desktop
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/admin/desktop-privacy-levels
Implement other reports
Merge data from a data source into a Microsoft Word or Excel template
Create model-driven dashboards
Create model-driven charts
Add existing Power BI tile or dashboard to a model-driven dashboard
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/developer/model-driven-apps/create-dashboard
Describe AI Builder models
Identify model types including prebuilt and custom models
Describe the process for preparing data and training models
Use a model from within Power Automate or Power Apps
https://knowledgefrommanish.com/powerplatform/ai-builder-entity-extraction-ai-model/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ai-builder/prebuilt-text-recognizer-component-in-powerapps
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ai-builder/prebuilt-key-phrase
Implement and manage solutions (15-20%)
Configure Common Data Service security
Configure security roles
Configure field security
Test apps and flows
Describe the testing process
Implement Power Platform testing tools
Validate accessibility
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/use-powerapps-checker
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/test-studio
Secure a solution
Manage data security
Manage app security
Share flows
Share Power BI reports
Deploy the solution
Export solutions
Move individual apps and flows between environments
Support deployment of solutions to testing and production environments
https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Apps-Pro-Dev-ISV/Managed-vs-Unmanaged/td-p/495685
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/alm/use-solutions-for-your-customizations
Manage versions of canvas apps
Create new versions of an app
Restore a previous version of an app
Publish a new version of an app
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/share-app
Thanks for sharing on PL-100, looks like they restructured the exam a bit lately, but still, MS Learn path is the best place to get prepared. I like your strategies to read Certification Questions; such an approach helps a lot!
Those who want to improve their careers in the Power Platform sector should primarily apply for the PL200 Certification The PL 200 Certification confirms that the applicant possesses the necessary theoretical understanding and practical expertise in the field of Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant.