Dynamics 365 Business Central is an all-in-one business management (ERP) solution within the Dynamics 365 family, tailored for small and mid-sized businesses. It is a comprehensive ERP system that helps companies manage their finances, operations, sales, and customer service in a unified application.
Business Central is essentially the modern cloud-based evolution of Microsoft’s older ERP (formerly known as Navision or Dynamics NAV), now offered as a cloud service (with on-premises option) optimized for growing businesses. It has become popular worldwide (trusted by over 45,000 SMB customers) as a scalable solution for organizations that have outgrown basic accounting software and need more robust enterprise capabilities.
Business Central’s core idea is to connect your entire business – it ties together finance, sales, service, and operations into one system. This integration helps companies work smarter and adapt faster. For example, with Business Central you can manage financials (general ledger, budgeting, fixed assets, etc.), handle supply chain operations (inventory, purchasing, warehousing), track sales and customer interactions, and even oversee project management and basic manufacturing – all from within the same application. Because it’s part of the Dynamics 365 line, Business Central also easily integrates with other Microsoft services like Office 365 (for productivity tools), the Power Platform (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate for analytics and custom apps), and even other Dynamics 365 apps. This means data flows smoothly between your ERP and CRM or productivity tools, helping you be more assured that everyone in the organization has the information they need.
In summary, Dynamics 365 Business Central is a complete ERP for the SMB segment. It offers an easy-to-use, modern interface (accessible via web or mobile) and employs automation and AI (such as Microsoft’s Copilot features) to streamline business processes. By unifying and streamlining your business with Business Central, you can improve collaboration among teams, make data-driven decisions with real-time insights, and drive greater efficiency and profitability in your operations.
(In practical terms, Business Central can replace disparate legacy systems or entry-level software like QuickBooks, providing a single source of truth for all core business data. It’s continuously updated with new features (Microsoft releases major updates twice a year), and it’s available in many countries with localization for local tax and regulatory compliance.)
The Dynamics 365 MB-800 Certification (Microsoft MB-800 Exam)
For professionals working with Business Central, Microsoft offers a certification path to validate one’s expertise: the Dynamics 365 MB-800 exam. The MB-800 exam (officially named Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant) is the required test to earn the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant Associate credential. In other words, passing the Microsoft MB-800 exam is what makes you a certified Business Central Functional Consultant. This certification is Microsoft’s way of recognizing that an individual has the skills and knowledge needed to implement and configure Business Central for a company.
What MB-800 covers: The MB-800 exam is focused on the functional aspects of Business Central. Candidates for this exam are typically functional consultants – people who implement and configure the Business Central application for businesses. According to Microsoft’s exam description, as a Business Central functional consultant you are responsible for setting up core application functionality and modules (like financial management, sales, purchasing, and inventory) and migrating data for new deployments. You configure the system in collaboration with business stakeholders, adapting it for ease of use and to meet the company’s needs. Essentially, the exam covers everything a consultant needs to do to get Business Central up and running for a client, including configuring role centers (dashboards), adjusting settings for financials, sales/purchase processes, inventory management, basic warehousing, and so on, without custom coding. It even touches on how Business Central interconnects with other Microsoft products (Office 365, Power Platform, other Dynamics 365 apps).
The skills measured by MB-800 typically include four key areas: Setting up Business Central (15–20%), Configuring Financials (30–35%), Configuring Sales and Purchasing (15–20%), and Performing Business Central Operations (30–35%). Practically, this means you need to know how to configure a new company in Business Central, manage users and security, set up core features (like tax, currency, workflows, dimensions for reporting), and demonstrate understanding of business processes in the system (invoicing, purchasing, inventory adjustments, etc.). Microsoft periodically updates the exam content to align with the latest version of Business Central (for example, an update in early 2024 adjusted the skills measured to include the most current features). By passing MB-800, you prove you are current with the latest capabilities of the platform.
How earning MB-800 proves competency: Achieving the MB-800 certification is a strong validation of one’s competency in Dynamics 365 Business Central. When you earn this certification, it proves that you understand Business Central’s core capabilities and can apply its features to real business scenarios. In other words, a certified individual isn’t just cramming theory – they have demonstrated, through a rigorous exam, the ability to use Business Central in practical situations. This gives employers and clients confidence that you can configure the system to meet business requirements. The certification exam is designed to be challenging (even experienced consultants need to prepare, as it uses specific Microsoft terminologies and covers a breadth of topics), so passing it indicates a solid grasp of Business Central’s functional depth.
Additionally, when you pass MB-800 you earn a Microsoft badge/credential that is recognized industry-wide. It shows that Microsoft endorses your skills as a Business Central Functional Consultant Associate. For partners in the Microsoft ecosystem (e.g. consulting firms that implement Dynamics 365), having certified consultants on staff is often important. Microsoft’s partner programs sometimes even incentivize partners to employ certified individuals, because it helps make sure that the consulting quality remains high[. So, by getting this certification, you not only enrich your personal knowledge but also make yourself more marketable professionally. It helps you be more sure that you can confidently tackle Business Central projects, and signals to employers/clients that you meet an industry standard of proficiency.
(It’s worth noting that the MB-800 certification needs to be renewed annually by completing a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn. This ensures that consultants keep their knowledge up-to-date with each year’s new release of Business Central.)
Building Competence with Microsoft Learn and Official Training
Preparing for the MB-800 exam – and more broadly, becoming truly competent in Dynamics 365 Business Central – can be achieved through Microsoft’s official training resources. Microsoft provides two primary learning avenues: the Microsoft Learn online learning path, and the Microsoft Official Course (instructor-led training). Both are excellent resources that serve as Dynamics 365 Business Central developer consulting training tools, helping you gain both knowledge and practical skills on Business Central.
- Microsoft Learn Path (Free, Self-Paced): Microsoft Learn is a free, online platform with a collection of learning modules and learning paths for Dynamics 365 certifications. For MB-800, there is a curated learning path that covers all the exam objectives. The content on Microsoft Learn is always up-to-date and includes everything you need to know to pass the exam. This means that as Business Central evolves, Microsoft updates the Learn materials so you’re studying the latest features – which helps make sure that you don’t learn outdated info. The learning path is broken into bite-sized modules with hands-on exercises, and you can proceed at your own pace, making it flexible for busy professionals. Using the Microsoft Learn path, you’ll get an introduction to setting up Business Central, configuring its modules (finance, sales, purchase, etc.), and performing various functional tasks in the system. This self-directed approach is great if you already have some background in Business Central or similar ERP systems, as you can skip to areas you need to focus on, and it helps you be more sure that you have covered all exam topics systematically. Many candidates have successfully passed Dynamics 365 MB-800 by exclusively using the Microsoft Learn content and practicing in a Business Central trial environment, which speaks to the quality and completeness of the free resources.
- Microsoft Official Course (Instructor-Led Training): For those who prefer a classroom environment or want deeper, guided instruction, the official course MB-800T00: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant is available through Microsoft’s Learning Partners. This is a 5-day training course taught by Microsoft Certified Trainers and uses official Microsoft courseware. In the instructor-led training, you learn directly from experts in live sessions, can ask questions, and perform hands-on labs in a sandbox environment with the instructor’s guidance. So the course follows a structured curriculum that mirrors the exam objectives (Microsoft imposes strict guidelines to make sure that the training content aligns with the exam and real-world best practices). By attending this course, you delve into each topic in detail – often with additional real-world examples and scenarios discussed. This helps you so that you not only memorize how to configure something, but truly understand why and how it’s used in business. The interactive nature of the class and the use of exercises (for example, configuring a new company during the class, or practicing creating workflows in the system) assist you in being more confident and competent with Business Central. Many learners find that this kind of immersive training solidifies their understanding, making them better prepared not just to pass MB-800, but to perform effectively as a consultant afterward. The downside, of course, is cost – instructor-led courses can be expensive and require a full-time commitment for a week. However, for those who can invest in it, the official course is a comprehensive Dynamics 365 developer training experience (for the Business Central functional role) that greatly accelerates learning.
In summary, both the Microsoft Learn path and the Official Course complement each other. If you’re new to Business Central, you might start with the free Learn modules to get familiar with concepts, and then consider the instructor-led class to dive deeper and fill any knowledge gaps. If you’re already working in Business Central, the Learn path might suffice to fill in gaps and formalize your knowledge. Either way, leveraging these Microsoft-provided resources helps make sure that you’re studying the right material – and importantly, practicing in the actual software – which is key to becoming truly competent. By the time you go through them, you will have essentially undergone thorough Dynamics 365 Business Central developer consulting training guided by Microsoft’s expertise. This not only prepares you to pass the MB-800 exam, but also gives you the skills to confidently implement Business Central in real projects.
(Tip: A great strategy is to use a Business Central free trial or a demo environment alongside the Learn modules or course labs. That way, when a module talks about, say, setting up dimensions or posting groups, you can click through the actual Business Central interface yourself. This practical practice helps reinforce learning and makes you more comfortable with the application interface.)
MB-800 vs. MB-820: Functional Consultant vs. Developer Certification
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has two primary certification exams: MB-800 (for Functional Consultants) and MB-820 (for Developers). It’s useful to understand the difference, especially if you’re considering which path aligns with your role or career goals. Both exams target different job roles within the Business Central ecosystem, and each validates a distinct skill set.
- MB-800 – Functional Consultant Associate: As discussed, MB-800 is all about the functional implementation of Business Central. It is designed for consultants (or power users) who configure the system, set up business processes, and support users. The focus is on using out-of-the-box features of Business Central to meet business needs without custom code. For instance, an MB-800 certified consultant can set up a new company in Business Central, configure financial modules (like the chart of accounts, posting groups), establish sales/purchase processes (customers, vendors, sales orders, purchase orders), manage inventory items and warehouse settings, etc., all through the application’s configuration menus. They understand how to translate business requirements into Business Central configurations and how to troubleshoot functional issues. Essentially, MB-800 validates that you can implement Business Central end-to-end for an organization and tailor the standard features through configuration and minor extensions. If you are primarily interested in consulting, business analysis, or functional support roles in Dynamics 365 Business Central, MB-800 is the right certification.
- MB-820 – Business Central Developer Associate: MB-820, on the other hand, is a newer certification aimed at the technical developer role for Business Central. A Dynamics 365 Business Central developer works on extending the capabilities of Business Central through code (using the AL programming language and Visual Studio Code environment). The MB-820 exam tests skills like designing and developing extensions, customizing Business Central’s functionality beyond what the standard product offers, and integrating Business Central with other systems. In practice, someone preparing for MB-820 needs to know how to create new tables, pages, and reports in Business Central, write AL code to implement business logic, work with APIs and events, and handle application lifecycle tasks (such as deploying updates, managing source control, and upgrading to new versions). Microsoft positions this certification for mid to senior AL developers – meaning it assumes the candidate has hands-on experience writing code for Business Central solutions. By passing MB-820, you demonstrate the ability to not just use Business Central’s existing features, but to build and maintain custom solutions on the Business Central platform. This is important for more complex projects where out-of-box functionality needs to be extended or for ISVs developing add-on apps.
Key differences: In summary, MB-800 vs MB-820 comes down to “Configure vs. Customize”. MB-800 (Functional) is about configuring and using Business Central – no coding, more about setups, modules, and business processes. MB-820 (Developer) is about customizing and extending Business Central – writing code, developing new functionality, and technical problem-solving. The MB-800 certified consultant ensures the system is set up correctly for end-users and can handle the company’s processes, while the MB-820 certified developer ensures that when something needs to be built or integrated (for example, a custom report, a new feature, or an integration with a third-party system), they have the skills to design and implement that solution in AL code[.
These two roles often work closely together on Business Central projects. A functional consultant might identify a gap in the standard capabilities and gather requirements, and a developer would then create a customization or extension to fill that gap. Some professionals choose to pursue both certifications to become a more well-rounded Business Central expert – though each exam requires a deep focus in either functional or development areas.
(If you’re deciding which exam to take: choose MB-800 if you enjoy working with business users and configuring systems to solve business problems, and choose MB-820 if you enjoy programming and want to build new capabilities in the system. Both are valuable; it just depends on your career path.)
Conclusion
Dynamics 365 has emerged as a leading platform for business applications, and Dynamics 365 Business Central in particular is a powerful ERP solution for small and mid-sized organizations looking to digitally transform their operations. Understanding what Business Central is – an all-in-one business management system that connects finance, operations, sales, and more – is fundamental for any consultant or developer working in the Microsoft business apps ecosystem.
For professionals aiming to validate and showcase their expertise in Business Central, the MB-800 certification is an important credential. By passing the MB-800 exam (Microsoft’s official Business Central Functional Consultant exam), you earn recognition that you can implement and configure Business Central’s core features to meet real business needs. It proves your competency to employers and clients and helps you be more sure that you have achieved a broad and deep understanding of the product. The journey to certification also naturally makes you more proficient in the software – the process of studying and practicing for MB-800 means you’ll be well-prepared to handle Business Central projects in the field.
Thankfully, Microsoft provides robust resources to help you get there. The Microsoft Learn learning paths for Business Central give you a structured, up-to-date roadmap to follow, and the official MB-800 training course offers immersive, expert-led guidance. Utilizing these, either on your own or in combination, will help make sure that you build both the theoretical knowledge and the practical experience needed to succeed. Think of them as more than just exam prep; they are training tools to become a better Business Central professional.
Finally, as we saw, if your interests or job role extend into development, Microsoft has the MB-820 certification for Business Central developers, which complements the MB-800 for functional consultants. Both certifications together cover the full spectrum of skills on the platform – functional and technical – reflecting the two sides of delivering a successful ERP solution. Whether you pursue one or both, Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 certifications are valuable milestones that can boost your confidence and credibility in working with Business Central.
In essence, Dynamics 365 Business Central combined with the MB-800 certification and related training is a pathway to mastering modern ERP consulting. It equips you with the knowledge to connect and optimize business processes, and the certification signals that you’ve reached a level of expertise recognized by Microsoft and the industry. Armed with this competence, you can contribute to successful Business Central implementations that truly help businesses run smarter and more efficiently in the cloud era.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a suite of intelligent, cloud-based business applications that combines enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities. These applications are designed to work together seamlessly, connecting different business processes for a unified solution. In other words, Dynamics 365 helps run your entire business by integrating functions like sales, customer service, finance, operations, and more into a single platform. Organizations can choose the specific Dynamics 365 apps they need (such as Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Service, Finance, Supply Chain, etc.), and because all these apps share data and a common framework, it helps make sure that your teams are working with the same information across departments. This integrated approach provides greater visibility into the business and enables AI-driven insights that can guide better decision-making. By using Dynamics 365, companies can break down data silos and ensure all parts of the business are connected – so you can deliver stronger results and engage customers more effectively.
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