Preparing for the Planisware Administrator Expert Certification Exam: A Comprehensive Guide

The Planisware Administrator Expert certification is a prestigious credential that validates your expertise in managing and configuring Planisware environments. Achieving this certification demonstrates your ability to handle complex administrative tasks, optimize system performance, and support organizational goals. This article provides a detailed guide to help you prepare effectively for the Planisware Administrator Expert certification exam.

Understanding the Certification

The Planisware Administrator Expert certification is designed for individuals who have a deep understanding of Planisware’s functionalities and can manage its administrative aspects proficiently. This certification is ideal for system administrators, IT professionals, and consultants who are responsible for implementing and maintaining Planisware solutions.

Exam Structure and Content

The certification exam covers a wide range of topics, including:

  1. System Configuration: Understanding the architecture of Planisware, configuring system settings, and managing user access.
  2. Data Management: Handling data import/export, managing data integrity, and configuring data models.
  3. Reporting and Analytics: Creating and customizing reports, using advanced reporting tools, and interpreting data.
  4. Performance Optimization: Ensuring system performance, troubleshooting issues, and implementing best practices.
  5. Security and Compliance: Managing security settings, ensuring compliance with organizational policies, and handling audits.

The exam typically consists of multiple-choice questions, scenario-based questions, and practical exercises. It is designed to test both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Preparation Steps

  1. Understand the Exam Objectives: Start by reviewing the exam objectives provided by Planisware. This will give you a clear understanding of the topics you need to focus on. Make sure you are familiar with each objective and its subtopics.

  2. Enroll in Training Courses: Planisware offers a range of training courses through the Planisware Academy. These courses are designed to help you build the necessary skills and knowledge for the certification exam. The training is divided into different levels, starting from Associate to Expert. Make sure to complete all the relevant courses and take advantage of the hands-on exercises.

  3. Study the Documentation: Planisware provides comprehensive documentation that covers all aspects of the system. Make sure to study the documentation thoroughly, focusing on the topics covered in the exam. Pay special attention to the sections on system configuration, data management, and reporting.

  4. Practice with Real-World Scenarios: The exam includes scenario-based questions that test your ability to apply your knowledge in real-world situations. Practice with real-world scenarios to build your problem-solving skills. You can find practice scenarios in the training materials and online forums.

  5. Join Study Groups and Forums: Joining study groups and online forums can be very helpful. You can interact with other candidates, share study materials, and discuss difficult topics. The Planisware community is very supportive, and you can find valuable insights and tips from experienced professionals.

  6. Take Practice Exams: Practice exams are a great way to assess your knowledge and identify areas where you need improvement. Planisware Academy offers practice exams that simulate the actual exam environment. Make sure to take these practice exams and review your answers thoroughly.

  7. Review and Revise: As the exam date approaches, review all the topics and revise your notes. Make sure you are comfortable with all the exam objectives and have a good understanding of the key concepts. Focus on areas where you feel less confident and seek help if needed.

Tips for Success

  • Time Management: The exam is timed, so it is important to manage your time effectively. Make sure to allocate enough time for each question and avoid spending too much time on difficult questions. If you are unsure about a question, move on and come back to it later.

  • Read Questions Carefully: Make sure to read each question carefully and understand what is being asked. Pay attention to keywords and phrases that can help you identify the correct answer. Avoid rushing through the questions and take your time to think through your answers.

  • Use the Elimination Method: If you are unsure about an answer, use the elimination method to narrow down your choices. Eliminate the options that are clearly incorrect and focus on the remaining options. This can increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.

  • Stay Calm and Confident: It is natural to feel nervous before an exam, but try to stay calm and confident. Trust in your preparation and believe in your abilities. Take deep breaths and stay focused throughout the exam.

Resources for Preparation

  • Planisware Academy: The official training platform for Planisware, offering a range of courses and practice exams.
  • Planisware Documentation: Comprehensive documentation covering all aspects of the system.
  • Online Forums and Study Groups: Join the Planisware community to interact with other candidates and share study materials.
  • Practice Exams: Take practice exams to assess your knowledge and identify areas for improvement.

Preparing for the Planisware Administrator Expert certification exam requires dedication, thorough study, and practical experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide and utilizing the available resources, you can build the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. Remember to stay focused, practice regularly, and seek help when needed. With the right preparation, you can achieve the Planisware Administrator Expert certification and advance your career in project portfolio management.

📌 Overview of the Exam

CategoryDetails
Exam LevelExpert
Target AudienceSenior Planisware admins, implementation leads, solution architects
FormatMultiple choice + Configuration scenario-based questions
Duration~2 to 3 hours
Passing Score~70–75% (estimated)
Pre-ReqCompletion of Planisware Configuration Foundation training or equivalent hands-on experience
ModeOnline or proctored on-site

🧠 Core Knowledge Areas (Based on Planisware Training Paths)

1. Platform Architecture & Administration

  • Architecture: Modules, Databases, Application Tiers

  • User management: Roles, Groups, Licenses, Access Control

  • Instance management: Refreshes, backups, patching basics

  • Server configuration: Environments (Dev/Prod), deployments

2. Data Model & Configuration

  • Object types: Activities, Deliverables, Gateways, Projects, Portfolios

  • Relations: 1-to-N, N-to-N relationships and lookups

  • Fields: Types, computed, default values, reference fields

  • Object Behavior: Status flows, event scripts, validations

3. UI & UX Customization

  • Layout configuration: Custom tabs, widgets, KPIs

  • Forms & Views: Dynamic display rules, column configs

  • Navigation & Menus: Menu security and hierarchy

4. Business Rules & Scripting

  • Event scripting: JavaScript or Planisware Script Engine

  • Business rules: Triggers, validators, workflow scripts

  • Job scheduling: Data sync, alerts, escalations

5. Reporting & Dashboards

  • Portfolios & Dashboards: Configuring visualization widgets

  • Aggregation & Roll-ups: Cross-object KPIs and summaries

  • Pagebuilder: Designing Executive Dashboards

6. Integrations & Interfaces

  • API usage: REST/SOAP integration basics

  • ETL/Export: Data extracts and XML/Excel-based workflows

  • Web Services: Authentication, performance, and security concerns

7. Security & Governance

  • User rights modeling: Profiles, Roles, Object-level permissions

  • Audit logs & compliance configurations

  • Data privacy settings (especially for multinational orgs)


🧪 Sample Deliverables You Should Know How to Build

✅ Custom object with status workflow
✅ Dynamic project detail form for multiple roles
✅ Script to update project health based on KPIs
✅ Dashboard for Portfolio Health by Region
✅ Job to auto-generate deliverables based on a template
✅ REST API integration to push updates to a CMDB


📚 Study Resources

ResourceNotes
Planisware Learning PortalCore and Expert Admin courses (must complete for certification path)
Planisware Configuration GuideDeep dive into object modeling, forms, scripting
Admin Expert WorkbookAvailable through training partners or Planisware consultants
Community & ForumsPlanisware Slack / LinkedIn Groups
Internal Instance AccessPractice is key – try all scenarios on a sandbox or test instance

🗺️ 4-Week Study Roadmap

WeekFocus Areas
Week 1✅ Review platform architecture
✅ Study object types & relationships
✅ Practice: create a custom object
Week 2✅ Deep dive into forms, status flows, layouts
✅ Practice: custom status flow + event script
✅ Create views with conditional fields
Week 3✅ Practice scripting use cases
✅ Build a dashboard page + charts
✅ Learn integration methods & API access
Week 4✅ Study security model, audit features
✅ Review governance use cases
✅ Take mock test + revise weak topics

📝 Tips to Succeed

  • 💡 Think like an enterprise admin: Understand how your configuration decisions impact project managers, portfolio leads, and execs.

  • 💬 Explain your rationale: You may be tested on why you use certain designs, not just how.

  • 🔐 Governance is key: Pay special attention to object security, user rights, and compliance rules.

  • 🧪 Hands-on practice > reading: Nothing beats creating and troubleshooting real-world scenarios.

Naval Thakur

Speaker, Mentor, Content creator & Chief Evangelist at nThakur.com. I love to share about DevOps, SecOps, FinOps, Agile and Cloud.