It’s time to refresh your knowledge and keep your certifications up to date! ServiceNow’s Zurich release has been around for some time, and it’s now the focus of the Delta exams. If you have an eligible certificate (usually a mainline or accreditation), you should get ready for this mini exam.
You’ll see a warning message when you log into ServiceNow University that highlights one or more of your certifications are at risk of expiration, with a link to take you to the Delta study guide and the Delta exam.
How Much Do Delta Exams Cost?
The delta exams and the retakes are free. However, if it’s been over a year since your first eligible certificate, you’ll need to pay an annual maintenance fee of $200 or 200 learning credits, regardless of the number of certificates you have, unless it is waived as part of a corporate agreement. You’ll see a “Pay now” message with a link if you’re required to pay.
How Do the Maintenance Exams Work?
The more certificates you have, the harder it seems to go through all the Delta exams, but do not postpone it for too long. I know it’s 90 days, but get to them as soon as you have a free hour or so, here or there. They’re easier than they look. But do not rely only on your experience and common sense – I learned that the hard way. You need to be prepared.
It’s probably easier if you’ve recently upgraded your instances, since you’ve had a chance to either review the release notes or test some of the changes as part of your upgrade process.
If not, no need to worry!
It’s a non-proctored open-book exam with plenty of time to complete. There could be up to 20 questions and up to 90 minutes, so maybe have a cup of coffee or tea (or your favorite drink) ready, too.
If you don’t pass the first time, you can try again soon. You’ll have five tries, which is more than enough!
What Do You Need to Know?
This is an opportunity to learn about new features and capabilities, try them out on a test or Personal Developer Instance (PDI), and potentially bring them to life if they seem relevant to your business.
It’s also a chance to review what has changed recently, so you can adjust in your instances and prepare for the applications that are being deprecated.
Don’t think of it as a hurdle to clear quickly and forget about until the following year. It’s not about ticking boxes.
You can usually find all you need for the exam in the Delta study guide. For example, the focus of the CSA Delta study guide is System Update Sets, so it’s a good opportunity to refresh your memory and learn a few new things. Of course, there could be some in-depth questions where you need to check the release notes.
What I usually do in preparation for the exam is spend some time familiarizing myself with the release notes, researching what’s new and what’s changed, upgrading my PDI and relevant applications, then playing around and practicing them in my test instance.
At exam time, I have the Delta study guide and release notes pages open, along with my PDI. If I’m unsure of an answer, I simply look it up or check my instance to validate it.
One thing I’ll do is to stay away from using AI. You may think it’s convenient and quick, but you’re missing all the fun, and it doesn’t guarantee you get them right.
I still find it useful for a fast, concise generic search to learn about a function or terminology, but don’t trust them for more technical or expert advice yet, especially if the topic is so recent.
Summary
Here’s a quick recap:
- Delta Window is Open: Log in to ServiceNow University to check your certification status and tackle your delta exams within the 90-day period.
- Know the Costs: While the exams and retakes are free, you may need to pay the $200 annual maintenance fee if it’s been more than a year since your first eligible certification.
- Exam Format: These are non-proctored, open-book exams with up to 20 questions. You have up to 90 minutes and 5 attempts to pass.
- Prepare, Don’t Wing It: Don’t rely solely on experience. Use the Delta study guide, release notes, and your PDI to get ready and validate the updates.
- Skip the AI: Avoid using AI for answers. It’s often inaccurate for brand-new releases, and you’ll miss out on the actual learning “fun” and professional growth.
I’m sure you’ll be fine, so go get it!