The Certified Blue Prism Developer exam, also known by its code AD01, is designed to validate a candidate’s understanding of Blue Prism’s capabilities and their ability to create scalable, reliable, and efficient automated processes. This certification is foundational for those pursuing a career in Robotic Process Automation and serves as a critical milestone in the Blue Prism certification path. The exam is based on practical knowledge, meaning it is not purely theoretical; candidates must demonstrate familiarity with real-life development scenarios using Blue Prism’s toolset.
This credential is well-regarded across industries because of Blue Prism’s wide adoption in enterprise environments. Blue Prism robots, or digital workers, are used by large organizations to automate repetitive tasks across departments, including finance, human resources, supply chain, and customer service. This exam confirms that the developer is capable of building secure, maintainable, and production-ready automation solutions using the Blue Prism platform.
In addition to its career benefits, passing the AD01 exam demonstrates a strong grasp of process design, object creation, debugging, exception handling, data handling, and deployment practices. These skills are essential for contributing effectively to automation teams and delivering value through process automation.
Understanding the Blue Prism Environment
Blue Prism is an enterprise-grade Robotic Process Automation platform that enables organizations to design, build, and manage software robots. These robots are capable of mimicking human actions such as logging into systems, extracting and processing data, and interacting with applications through their user interfaces.
The platform is built to be scalable, secure, and manageable. It supports both front-end and back-end automation across desktop, web, and legacy systems. The development interface in Blue Prism is entirely visual. Users create automation workflows by dragging and dropping components within the Process Studio and Object Studio, without writing traditional code.
Process Studio is where developers create the main process flows, including logic, loops, and decision-making paths. Object Studio is used to build reusable components, known as business objects, that interface with applications. These objects are later used in process flows to perform actions such as clicking buttons, entering data, or reading screen values.
The Control Room is another important component of Blue Prism. It is used to schedule, monitor, and manage automated processes. It provides real-time visibility into the status of robots and allows administrators to intervene when needed. Additionally, the System Manager component is used to manage settings, user roles, credentials, and work queues.
The Importance of Blue Prism Certification
In today’s digital environment, organizations are increasingly seeking automation professionals who can help reduce manual effort and improve efficiency. The Blue Prism Developer certification assures employers that a candidate has the skills needed to design robust and scalable solutions using Blue Prism.
This certification increases a professional’s credibility, opens up new career opportunities, and provides a competitive edge in the job market. Many roles in automation now list Blue Prism certification as a preferred or required qualification. The AD01 certification is often followed by advanced certifications, such as the Professional Developer and Solution Designer exams, for those seeking to deepen their expertise.
For consultants and freelance developers, the certification helps demonstrate legitimacy to potential clients. For those working within organizations, it provides validation of their abilities and often leads to expanded responsibilities or promotion opportunities.
Overview of the AD01 Exam
The Blue Prism Developer AD01 exam is administered online and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are given 90 minutes to complete the exam and must achieve a score of at least 70 percent to pass. The questions are designed to test both theoretical understanding and practical application of Blue Prism concepts.
The exam covers a wide range of topics aligned with real-world developer responsibilities. It includes questions on process flow design, object configuration, data management, debugging techniques, exception handling, work queues, and calculations. Each topic has a designated weight, and candidates are expected to be well-versed in all areas.
The questions are scenario-based, which means they often describe a real-world problem and ask the candidate to choose the most appropriate solution. This format ensures that those who pass the exam are not only knowledgeable but also capable of applying their skills in practical settings.
The certification is valid for two years. To maintain certified status, candidates must either retake the exam or earn sufficient continuing professional development credits within that period.
Core Components of the Blue Prism Platform
Understanding the key components of Blue Prism is essential for performing well in the exam and in real-life automation projects. The core elements include Process Studio, Object Studio, the Application Modeller, the Control Room, System Manager, and Work Queues.
Process Studio is the primary environment where automated workflows are designed. It includes stages such as Start, End, Calculation, Decision, Action, Loop, and Anchor. Developers connect these stages to form logical sequences that replicate human tasks.
Object Studio is used to create business objects, which encapsulate the logic required to interact with external systems or applications. Each business object can include multiple actions, which can be invoked from a process. Objects are reusable and modular, supporting the principles of maintainability and separation of concerns.
The Application Modeller is a tool within Object Studio that enables Blue Prism to identify and interact with elements on a screen. Developers define elements such as text boxes, buttons, and links so that robots can interact with them reliably.
The Control Room allows administrators to view the status of robots, run processes on demand, or schedule them to run at specific times. It also provides logs, audit trails, and performance monitoring tools.
System Manager is used to define roles, set permissions, and manage credentials and system-wide settings. It supports the principle of security by design, ensuring that only authorized processes and users can access sensitive information.
Work Queues are used to manage large volumes of work. Developers can create queues to store, retrieve, and prioritize work items. Queues help balance workloads across robots and allow for efficient batch processing.
Blue Prism Design Philosophy and Automation Principles
Blue Prism emphasizes reusable, secure, and scalable design. Developers are encouraged to build modular processes and objects that follow best practices. These practices are captured in the platform’s automation principles, which guide how developers approach process design.
Key principles include using sub-pages to organize logic, limiting hardcoding, using exception handling to manage errors, and separating business logic from application logic. Developers are also advised to make use of templates and naming conventions to ensure consistency.
The automation lifecycle includes requirements gathering, design, build, test, and deploy phases. Each phase is supported by Blue Prism’s built-in tools and features. For instance, reusable objects help reduce development time, while the debugger and log viewer support testing and troubleshooting.
Security is another core principle. Developers must handle sensitive data securely using the credentials manager and avoid embedding credentials within code. Logs should be used responsibly to ensure visibility without exposing confidential information.
Blue Prism encourages developers to build automations that are not only functional but also robust. This means planning for exceptions, incorporating retry mechanisms, and ensuring that processes can recover from unexpected conditions without human intervention.
Real-World Use Cases and Application Scenarios
To understand how Blue Prism is applied in real-world scenarios, consider a few common use cases across industries. In the financial sector, Blue Prism bots are used to automate the loan approval process. The bot retrieves applicant information, validates it against predefined rules, updates internal systems, and generates a response.
In healthcare, Blue Prism is used to process insurance claims, manage patient records, and handle appointment scheduling. Bots can extract data from scanned forms, verify insurance details, and route information to the appropriate department.
Retail companies use Blue Prism to manage supply chain operations. Bots can monitor inventory levels, generate purchase orders, and track deliveries. In customer service, bots are used to handle routine inquiries, escalate issues, and update CRM systems.
These use cases demonstrate the platform’s ability to interact with various applications, handle structured data, and follow complex decision-making logic. A certified developer is expected to be capable of building processes that fit into these kinds of operational contexts.
Key Learnings in Part One
Part one of this guide introduced the purpose and value of the Blue Prism Developer certification. It explored the structure of the AD01 exam and the core components of the Blue Prism platform. It also outlined the key development environments, design philosophy, and real-world applications of the platform.
Understanding these fundamentals sets the stage for deeper learning. In the next section, we will begin examining the exam objectives in detail. Each objective will be broken down into tasks, best practices, and exam tips. This will help guide your study and ensure you are prepared for every aspect of the exam.
Exam Objectives Overview
The Blue Prism Developer AD01 exam is organized into eight objectives. Each objective corresponds to a core capability or set of tasks that a Blue Prism developer is expected to perform proficiently. These objectives align closely with day-to-day automation development work and offer a logical structure to guide your preparation.
Mastering each objective will ensure you can apply your knowledge in both exam settings and real-world project work. This section will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the first four objectives, with clear guidance on concepts, key considerations, and practical use.
Understanding Flow within a Process
One of the first capabilities evaluated in the AD01 exam is your ability to construct and manage logical process flows within Process Studio. This includes creating sub-pages, using decision-making logic, and structuring processes in a modular and readable way.
Process flows represent the backbone of any automation. A strong understanding of control flow not only makes the process easier to manage but also contributes to better debugging and reuse.
Sub-pages are used to modularize a process. Instead of having one long, complex flow, developers can break down logic into manageable segments. Each sub-page performs a specific function and is called from the main process flow, allowing for cleaner, more maintainable design.
Decision stages are used to implement conditional logic. These stages allow the process to evaluate a condition and branch into different paths depending on whether the condition is met. They are often paired with calculation stages that perform data evaluation.
Choice stages allow for multi-branch decisions, similar to switch-case logic in traditional programming. These are especially useful when dealing with several possible input scenarios or data states.
Proper flow design also includes the use of labels, anchors, and annotations. These elements make the process easier to understand for other developers and help with documentation. Following Blue Prism’s naming conventions and visual design guidelines ensures that processes remain standardized and readable.
Configuring Objects in Object Studio
Business objects are foundational to Blue Prism automation. Object Studio allows developers to define reusable components that interface directly with external systems or applications. Understanding how to create, configure, and manage business objects is a major focus area of the certification exam.
Each object is associated with a specific application and includes one or more actions. These actions are modular functions that perform tasks such as clicking buttons, reading fields, or submitting forms. Objects encapsulate the logic needed to interact with a specific screen or software component.
A critical part of object configuration is using the Application Modeller. This tool defines how the object identifies and interacts with on-screen elements. Developers must understand the different spying modes, including Win32, HTML, UI Automation, and Region, to capture the correct elements depending on the application type.
Attributes are used by the Application Modeller to uniquely identify UI elements. Developers must select attributes carefully to ensure reliability. Poorly chosen attributes may lead to fragile automations that fail when application layouts change slightly.
Global Send Keys and Global Mouse Clicks are commonly used actions that simulate keyboard and mouse activity. These actions are helpful when standard spying methods do not yield usable results, particularly in virtualized environments or applications with non-standard interfaces.
Business objects should follow best practices such as limiting the scope of actions, avoiding duplicate code, and documenting behavior clearly. Objects should be tested thoroughly before being used in production processes.
Managing Data Types and Variables
Data handling is essential in automation. Variables are used to store, process, and transfer information between stages, processes, and objects. Understanding how to define, use, and manipulate data types is crucial for building functional and efficient automations.
Blue Prism supports a variety of data types including text, number, date, time, flag, and collection. Collections are similar to data tables and can be used to store lists of records. They are essential for batch processing and iteration.
Developers must know how to create data items, assign default values, and manipulate data using calculation stages. Calculations can include simple arithmetic, string operations, and function-based expressions.
Loop stages are used to iterate over collections. Each time the loop runs, the process can read or write a specific row, enabling operations like filtering data, updating values, or generating new outputs.
Data casting refers to converting data from one type to another. For example, converting a number to text or extracting a date from a string. This is often necessary when interfacing with external applications that expect data in specific formats.
Using environmental variables allows developers to externalize configuration settings. This means settings can be updated without editing the process or object directly, improving maintainability and flexibility.
Understanding how data moves between processes, sub-pages, and business objects is also essential. Parameters and output variables must be clearly defined and used consistently to ensure that data flows correctly throughout the automation.
Error Management and Exception Handling
A reliable automation process must be capable of handling unexpected events and system errors gracefully. Blue Prism provides several tools for managing exceptions, including recover, resume, and exception stages.
Recover stages are used to catch exceptions within a defined block of logic. When an error occurs, the process enters the recovery mode, preventing an immediate crash. Resume stages allow the process to exit recovery and continue execution, often after taking corrective action.
Exception stages are used to deliberately raise errors. This is useful when a process encounters a known issue that requires special handling or reporting. Exception stages can include custom messages to aid in troubleshooting.
Retry loops are a pattern where a failed operation is retried a specified number of times before ultimately being marked as an error. This is especially useful when dealing with unstable applications, network timeouts, or API responses that occasionally fail.
Preservation of exceptions means passing the original error details along when re-throwing or logging an exception. This helps maintain visibility into what caused the issue and supports effective root cause analysis.
Unhappy paths are alternative logic branches that deal with expected failure conditions. For example, if a required field is missing, the process can skip that record, log the issue, and continue. This is preferable to terminating the entire process.
The ability to build robust error management strategies is critical for production environments. Exam questions often present scenarios where error handling is required and ask for the best method to manage the issue using Blue Prism tools.
Managing Work Queues and Case Management
Work queues are an essential part of scalable process automation. They allow developers to manage and organize units of work into manageable batches, referred to as work items. These items are stored in queues, enabling robots to process them individually. This design supports high-volume processing, load balancing, retry logic, and exception handling.
Work queues help decouple the data being processed from the process itself. For example, instead of loading a thousand records into memory at once, a developer can create a work queue and feed each record as a separate item. The robot then picks up one item at a time, processes it, and moves on to the next. This approach improves memory usage, error recovery, and parallel execution.
Creating a work queue involves defining its properties in the System Manager. These properties may include the queue name, tags, maximum number of attempts, and retry intervals. Each item placed in the queue can include a unique key and status, allowing the robot to track progress and outcomes.
A common pattern in Blue Prism development is to load items into the queue in a preparatory process and then use a main process to perform the work. This separation of data ingestion and processing adds flexibility and makes it easier to reprocess failed items or update business rules.
Developers must understand how to use actions such as add to queue, get next item, mark item as completed, and mark item as exception. These actions are provided by Blue Prism in a system-provided business object. Tags and filters can be used to manage subsets of items, prioritize work, or segment different transaction types.
The exam tests knowledge of queue setup, queue actions, and exception handling strategies involving queues. Developers are expected to be able to build processes that can gracefully skip over failed items, retry when needed, and provide summary reports of processed work.
Performing Data Manipulation with Calculations and Functions
Automation often requires transforming, combining, or evaluating data to meet business needs. Blue Prism supports a wide range of calculations and built-in functions to manipulate text, numbers, dates, and other data types.
Calculation stages are used to perform these operations. They accept expressions written in Blue Prism’s expression language, which includes mathematical operators, logical comparisons, and function calls. The output of a calculation stage is stored in a data item and can be used elsewhere in the process.
Blue Prism provides a library of functions grouped by category. These include mathematical functions, string manipulation functions, date and time functions, and logical operators. Understanding how to use these functions effectively is key to building dynamic and responsive automation logic.
Common string functions include length, mid, left, right, replace, and trim. These are useful for cleaning up input data, extracting substrings, or formatting values before entering them into a system. Numeric functions such as round, abs, and mod support arithmetic and conditional calculations.
Date functions like adddays, datediff, and now are often used to calculate deadlines, determine aging of records, or generate timestamps for logs. Logical functions like if, and, or, and not allow developers to build complex decision-making expressions directly in the calculation stage.
Text formatting functions are also available for converting data types. For example, a number can be converted to text for display purposes, or a date string can be parsed into a Blue Prism date data type.
Environmental functions can retrieve settings such as user-defined environment variables or system values. This supports configurable automation, where logic can be altered by changing external values instead of editing the process.
Understanding how to chain functions, nest conditions, and format outputs is essential for the exam. Scenario-based questions may describe a business requirement and ask you to select the correct expression to meet that requirement.
Debugging Techniques and Best Practices
Debugging is the process of identifying and correcting errors in a process. Blue Prism provides powerful tools for this, including breakpoints, step execution, watch windows, and log viewers. These tools allow developers to test their automation logic in a controlled manner and monitor how data flows through the process.
The debugger can be run in Process Studio or Object Studio. During debugging, developers can step into, over, or out of stages to control the pace of execution. This allows detailed inspection of the logic path, especially in complex flows with loops and decision stages.
Breakpoints can be set on any stage to pause execution when the debugger reaches that point. This is useful for stopping the process before or after a critical step, allowing for data review or manual intervention. When execution is paused, developers can view the values of all data items and make temporary changes to test alternative scenarios.
Watch windows display the current value of selected data items. This makes it easy to verify whether expected values are being calculated and passed through the process. Developers can also use the immediate window to execute simple expressions and inspect results in real time.
The log viewer allows detailed analysis of process execution after a run. It shows each stage entered, the path taken, and any exceptions thrown. Log messages generated by the process itself can be viewed alongside system messages, giving a comprehensive picture of what happened during the run.
Debugging is not just about fixing errors. It is also a method for validating process logic, testing edge cases, and optimizing performance. For example, a loop that runs more times than expected may not generate an error but still represents a design issue.
Effective debugging practices include testing each module independently, using test data to simulate live scenarios, and logging key events for later analysis. Developers should also perform negative testing by introducing invalid data to ensure that the process handles it correctly.
The exam tests knowledge of these debugging tools and the correct use of techniques to isolate and resolve process issues. Candidates may be given debugging scenarios and asked how to proceed or interpret a log trace to identify what went wrong.
General Platform Knowledge and Usage
Beyond specific tasks, the Blue Prism Developer exam also includes questions on general platform usage. These questions may cover system configuration, control room operations, template usage, and developer best practices.
One key area is understanding the functionality of the Control Room. This is the operational center where automated processes are scheduled, monitored, and managed. Developers should be familiar with the concepts of sessions, schedules, and resource management. They should also know how to pause, resume, and terminate sessions and understand the implications of each action.
Templates are used to enforce consistency across processes and objects. Blue Prism provides standard templates that define a common structure, such as initialization, main logic, and cleanup. Using templates ensures that all processes follow best practices and are easier to maintain.
Environmental variables are defined in the System Manager and can be accessed by any process. They are used to store configuration settings that may vary between environments, such as file paths, thresholds, or system identifiers. Developers should know how to create, read, and update these variables.
Another important concept is version control. Blue Prism tracks changes made to processes and objects, allowing developers to roll back to earlier versions if needed. Understanding how to use the change history feature and how to manage release packages is important for maintaining stability in production environments.
Credential management is also part of general knowledge. Sensitive data such as usernames and passwords should be stored in the credentials vault and accessed securely during process execution. Developers must never hardcode credentials into processes.
Questions in this section may also test understanding of Blue Prism’s architecture, user roles, and permissions. For example, knowing the difference between a developer and a controller role, or how permissions are assigned to restrict access to certain features.
A good grasp of these platform-wide concepts is essential not only for passing the exam but also for functioning effectively in a team or enterprise setting. Developers must be able to navigate the platform, adhere to governance standards, and contribute to the ongoing improvement of automation practices.
Advanced Preparation Strategies for the AD01 Exam
Achieving success on the Certified Blue Prism Developer (AD01) exam requires more than just a basic understanding of the platform. As the exam is designed to test practical knowledge and application, you must ensure that you not only understand the theoretical concepts but also have hands-on experience in building and troubleshooting Blue Prism processes.
The following advanced preparation strategies will help you to refine your skills and ensure that you are well-prepared to pass the exam with confidence.
Develop Hands-on Experience with Blue Prism
The most effective way to learn Blue Prism is by working directly with the tool. If possible, set up a sandbox environment where you can practice building processes, objects, and workflows. Blue Prism offers a free trial version of its platform that you can use to get familiar with the development environment.
Start by building simple processes and gradually increase the complexity. As you gain more experience, you will encounter challenges such as dealing with complex data manipulations, setting up work queues, handling exceptions, and integrating Blue Prism with third-party systems. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become in solving these problems.
Focus on implementing the core concepts you’ve learned—such as decision-making logic, handling exceptions, creating reusable business objects, and manipulating data. Debugging your processes and experimenting with various techniques will help reinforce your knowledge and improve your troubleshooting skills.
Focus on the Exam Objectives
While hands-on practice is essential, you must also ensure that you have a deep understanding of the exam objectives. The exam is based on eight primary objectives, and each one includes specific tasks that you need to master. Break down each objective and focus on the key tasks within it. Here’s how you can approach this:
- Create detailed notes for each exam objective. As you work through the core concepts in the official Blue Prism materials, write down the steps, key tips, and common pitfalls related to each task.
- Use visual aids like diagrams and flowcharts to help organize your thoughts and design processes effectively. Blue Prism is a visual tool, and creating flow diagrams of process flows, data manipulations, and error-handling logic will help you better understand how the pieces fit together.
- Practice sample questions to get a feel for the types of questions that might appear in the exam. Although practice exams may not replicate the exact questions, they are great for testing your knowledge and identifying weak areas.
- Prioritize the objectives that you find the most challenging or that have the highest weight in the exam. This approach ensures that you are spending adequate time on the most important areas.
- Stay consistent in reviewing each objective regularly. Repetition will reinforce your knowledge, and you will be able to recall key concepts quickly during the exam.
Study Resources for Blue Prism Developer Exam
Using the right study resources is key to exam success. Here are some recommended resources that can help you prepare effectively for the Certified Blue Prism Developer exam:
Official Blue Prism Documentation
The Blue Prism product documentation provides in-depth technical details about every feature of the platform. It is essential for mastering the platform’s functionality and understanding advanced features like work queues, object studio best practices, and error handling.
Review the documentation to ensure you fully understand the terminology and functionality of each component. Take note of important sections such as process design, debugging, exception handling, and credential management.
Blue Prism Academy
Blue Prism offers a comprehensive training program through its academy. The courses available through the academy cover everything from introductory Blue Prism training to advanced process design techniques. These training modules are designed specifically for Blue Prism certification, and they include video tutorials, quizzes, and practical exercises that help you build the skills needed for the exam.
Blue Prism Learning Management System (LMS)
The Blue Prism LMS is another valuable resource for exam preparation. It provides structured learning paths, covering essential topics such as process design, object creation, data manipulation, and debugging. Additionally, the LMS includes practice exercises and quizzes to test your knowledge after each module.
Blue Prism Community Forum
The Blue Prism Community Forum is an excellent platform for engaging with other developers, asking questions, and sharing insights. It’s also a great place to get answers to specific exam-related queries. By joining the community, you can learn from others’ experiences and stay updated on best practices.
Many forum users share their exam experiences and offer useful tips, including information about frequently asked questions. The community also provides solutions to common challenges that developers face during process automation.
Blue Prism Books
Several books are available that focus on Blue Prism development and exam preparation. These books provide a comprehensive overview of key concepts, hands-on exercises, and expert advice.
Some of the recommended books include:
- Blue Prism MasterClass: Developer & Professional Developer by Prasanna Kumar Ballepalli
- Robotic Process Automation with Blue Prism Quick Start Guide by Lim Mei Ying
These books provide detailed explanations of Blue Prism’s functionality and serve as a good supplement to your study materials.
Taking Practice Exams
Practice exams are one of the most effective ways to prepare for the Blue Prism Developer certification. They simulate the actual exam environment and help you become familiar with the question format, the types of scenarios presented, and the timing constraints.
You should aim to take several practice exams before the actual exam date. This allows you to test your knowledge, identify areas where you are weak, and develop time-management strategies. After completing a practice exam, carefully review your incorrect answers and focus on understanding why those answers were wrong. This review process will strengthen your knowledge and increase your confidence.
Time Management Strategies
During the actual exam, you will have 90 minutes to answer 60 questions. This means you must work efficiently to ensure that you can complete the exam in the allotted time.
To manage your time effectively, consider the following tips:
- Read each question carefully: Don’t rush through the questions. Carefully consider each scenario before selecting your answer. Exam questions may contain subtle details that change the best course of action.
- Skip and return: If you encounter a difficult question, don’t waste too much time on it. Mark it and move on. You can return to it later if you have time left. This ensures that you answer all the questions you know first.
- Practice answering questions within the time limit: During your practice exams, work on improving your speed and accuracy. By practicing under timed conditions, you will become more comfortable with the pacing required for the actual exam.
- Stay calm and focused: Anxiety can negatively affect your performance. Maintain a calm, focused mindset throughout the exam. If you feel stressed, take a deep breath, and move on to the next question.
Exam Day Preparation
On the day of the exam, ensure you have everything prepared in advance. Verify the exam time, make sure you have a stable internet connection, and have a quiet environment to minimize distractions. Have your ID or other required credentials ready for verification.
It’s also important to get a good night’s sleep before the exam and avoid cramming the night before. Rest and relaxation will help you approach the exam with a clear and focused mind.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, success on the Certified Blue Prism Developer (AD01) exam comes down to a combination of knowledge, hands-on practice, and exam strategy. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, make use of the available resources, and commit to consistent, focused preparation.
By understanding the core objectives, practicing regularly with the Blue Prism platform, and refining your exam-taking techniques, you’ll be in the best possible position to pass the AD01 exam and take the next step in your robotic process automation career.