Exam Name: Appian Senior Developer (exam ACD201)
Requirement(s): Associate Developer Certification
Blueprint Updated: last updated on December 15, 2023
Number of items: 50 Items
Duration: 60 Minutes
Price: $200
Cut Score: 60%*

*All exam scores are final, for more information see our program policies.

This exam validates your knowledge and skills of delivering scalable and high-performing Appian applications. This page will help you understand the expectations of a Senior Developer as well as provide you with resources to prepare for the exam itself.

Appian Certified Senior Developers have a minimum of 12 months of Appian project delivery experience. Senior Developers can independently convert complex business requirements into functioning pieces of application with minimal guidance. They understand the basic concepts of Appian’s platform architecture and leverage that knowledge while designing and implementing scalable applications.

Senior Developers are able to design, build, test, deploy, and maintain Appian applications. They properly use each of Appian’s core components and implement them according to proven design patterns. They design a complex relational data model for an application, and translate the data model into Appian objects. They understand when to utilize advanced database functions.

To help achieve successful process automation, Senior Developers have an academic understanding of advanced Appian concepts, such as plug-ins and connections with external systems. They should also have an academic understanding of Admin Console settings. They often troubleshoot and debug common issues, and understand where to locate more information when required. They understand the Monitoring tab, logs, and Health Check.

Senior Developers routinely configure and administer the Appian platform, including user management and deployment to multiple environments. They have a comprehensive understanding of business process management (BPM), and a high-level understanding of how businesses use automation technologies to improve their processes. With that knowledge, Senior Developers help guide project teams by performing code reviews and acting as technical resources. Senior Developers ensure that design decisions take performance, security and scalability into consideration. They serve as a point of escalation for junior developers within the team regarding performance and scalability issues. They also work closely with the client’s internal teams, such as database administrators, DevOps leads, and quality assurance throughout the project lifecycle.

Lastly, Senior Developers stay on top of each Appian release and updates while actively contributing to the Appian Community.

Candidates should fully prepare for an exam using the objectives below as a checklist to identify possible gaps between knowledge and the skills measured by the exam. The relative weight illustrates the approximate size of each section. It is recommended that focused preparation should be in areas where any knowledge gaps are found.

Platform and Application Management (12%)

- Configure the Administration Console
- Troubleshoot applications using a variety of sources (i.e., logs, performance dashboards, Admin Console)
- Prepare for complex deployments by performing technical review, unit testing, and performance testing
- Configure and monitor the health of the platform by using Health Check, the Process Monitoring tab, and the Admin Console

Data Management (20%)

- Design data models implementing business data requirements and correctly document the data model
- Recommend record types to connect to, unify, optimize, and secure data
- Read, translate and transform relational data within Appian
- Implement complex data models and maintain supporting objects (i.e., views, triggers, stored procedures, etc.)

Application Design and Development (28%)

- Leverage Appian functionality to convert business requirements into user stories
- Construct an end-to-end application using a variety of objects
- Implement and administer application object security
- Implement design and development best practices
- Follow user experience (UX) best practices to achieve user-centric design

Advanced Appian Concepts (18%)

- Create and configure authentication options using connected systems
- Configure integration objects
- Design and implement web APIs
- Assess appropriate use cases for smart services and plug-ins, and identify potential challenges when using them
- Recognize how SAML, LDAP authentications supports single sign-on (SSO)

Performance & Scalability (22%)

- Design Appian components to be performant
- Implement memory-efficient process models
- Perform database load testing, configure automated testing tools, and provide recommendations based on test results
- Identify potential performance risks associated with server memory using logs and the Monitoring tab
- Identify and resolve user-facing performance concerns

Preparation is the key to certification success. While training is not required, we do provide specific course recommendations that provide you with skills validated by the exam. It’s important that you couple your technical training and familiarity with Appian documentation  with practical application to ensure your highest chances for success on your exam. Use the below resources to guide your preparation based on a thorough review of the exam objectives.

The Senior Developer certification builds upon the knowledge and skills of an Associate Developer.

Resources:

- My Learning Journey
- Appian Documentation
- Appian Knowledge Base
- Appian Methodology
- Appian Max
- Senior Developer Practice Test
- Hands-on, real-world experience