PL-900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals Study Guide

I remember sitting in the back of an Uber on November 4th in Orlando for MS Ignite, receiving the invite for the PL-900 beta exam. While I booked the exam at 85% discount, the goal was NOT to pass the exam (though, that would be a nice result) – it was to give in to my curiosity as I do with ALL of my beta exams. Learn, fail, self-motivate, build, and share this experience with others would be the end game for this exam try.

Never underestimate the power of determination, prior experience, mind over matter, and an inspiring #PowerPlatform Principal Advocate and #PowerAddicts community. Thinking back on time spent working with Excel pivot tables, then Power Pivot, SQL Reporting Services, and Power BI, I kept telling myself that “you got this”. I relied on an incredible Microsoft Learn learning path to update my skillset, resources below to prepare for (and pass) the beta exam, and countless community examples. Truly, an exam in which ANYONE can learn the techniques and gain some incredibly awesome skills along the way!

The amazing thing is that the power of what was once called Microsoft Flow has now been nurtured into the Power Platform, consisting of Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents. You will see similar technology used throughout both Microsoft 365 and Azure (Azure Logic Apps is big sibling of Power Automate), appearing where “no code task automation” would be desired (think combination of data, AI, automation, and rich GUI visualizations). Just be forewarned – the lines are blurring and we’re seeing integrations in Azure where you can take data stored in an Azure SQL database and with a few clicks in the Azure portal, create a canvas app!

Goals of this Study Guide

I will break apart the newly refactored exam below, supplying links that will quickly allow you to focus on sections or topics based on the 15-60 minutes a day #LearnItAll growth mentality. The very first thing you will need to do is to sign up for a 30-day trial of Power Apps or the Power Apps Community Plan.

According to the details on the PL-900 exam details page (updated on May 7th):

Candidates for this exam are users who aspire to improve productivity by automating business processes, analyzing data to produce business insights, and acting more effectively by creating simple app experiences.

This exam covers the following: Describe the Power Platform components: Power Apps, Power BI, Microsoft Automate, Common Data Service (CDS), connectors, and AI builder; describe cross-cloud scenarios with representation across Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Azure, and third-party services; identify benefits and capabilities of Power Platform; identify the basic functionality and business value Power Platform components; implement simple solutions with Microsoft Automate, Power BI, and AI Builder; and create a basic app in a no-code environment.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/pl-900

Understand the business value of Power Platform (20-25%)

Describe the value of Power Platform applications

Analyze data by using Power BI
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/analyze-data-power-bi/
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/desktop-analytics-pane
Act with Power Apps
Build solutions that use Common Data Service (CDS)
Automate with Microsoft Flow/Power Automate
Interoperate with external systems and data
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/data-integrator
Create powerful chatbots using a guided, no-code graphical interface
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/fundamentals-get-started
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/authoring-first-bot
- https://powervirtualagents.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/learn-how-to-create-a-bot-add-topics-test-and-publish-it-to-a-website-with-a-few-clicks/

Describe the value of connecting business solutions

Connect to Dynamics 365
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/connections/connection-dynamics-crmonline
Connect to Microsoft 365
Connect to Microsoft Azure
Connect to third-party services and apps
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/connector-reference/

Describe Power Platform administration and security

Describe how Power Platform implements security
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/database-security
Describe Power Platform as a service
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/intro-to-power-platform-mba/
Describe how to manage apps and users
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/wp-application-lifecycle-management
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/grant-users-access
Identify describe admin centers
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/wp-work-with-admin-portals
Describe how the platform supports compliance
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/wp-compliance-data-privacy

Identify Understand the Core Components of Power Platform (15-20%)

Describe Common Data Services

Describe the Power Apps user experience vs unique job role using Power Apps
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/user/
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-intro
Identify entities, fields, and relationships
Describe environments
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/environments-overview
Describe use cases and limitations of Business process flows
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/cds-processes
Describe use cases and limitations of business rules
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-create-business-rule
Describe the Common Data Model (CDM)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/common-data-model/
Identify common standard entities
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/developer/common-data-service/entities

Describe Connectors

Describe uses for and types of triggers
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/custom-connectors/create-webhook-trigger
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/custom-connectors/create-polling-trigger
Describe actions
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/Connectors/connectors
Describe connectors
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/connectors
Identify use cases for custom connectors
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/custom-connectors/

Describe AI Builder

Identify the business value of AI Builder
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ai-builder/overview
Describe models
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ai-builder/model-types
Describe how the Power Platform can consume AI Builder data consumption by the Power Platform
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ai-builder/use-in-powerapps-overview
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ai-builder/use-in-flow-overview

Describe Demonstrate the business value of Power BI (10-15%)

Identify Understand common Power BI components in Power BI

Identify and describe uses for visualization controls
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/developer/visuals/power-bi-custom-visuals
Describe types of filters
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/consumer/end-user-report-filter
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/power-bi-reports-filters-and-highlighting
Describe Tabs
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/power-bi-report-display-settings
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-embed-report-microsoft-teams
Describe uses for custom visuals
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/developer/visuals/power-bi-custom-visuals
Compare and contrast dashboards and workspaces
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-dashboards
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-new-workspaces
Compare and contrast Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/fundamentals/service-service-vs-desktop

Connect to and consume data

Combine multiple data sources
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/desktop-shape-and-combine-data
Clean and transform data
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/get-data-power-bi/6-cleaning-data
Describe and implement aggregate functions
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-aggregates
Identify available types of data sources
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/paginated-reports/paginated-reports-data-sources
Describe and consume shared datasets and template apps Content packs
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-organizational-content-pack-introduction
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-organizational-content-pack-copy-refresh-access

Build a basic dashboard using Power BI

Design a Power BI dashboard
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-dashboard-create
Design data layout and mapping
Publish and share reports and dashboards
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-share-dashboards
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-publish-to-web

Describe Demonstrate the business value of Power Apps (15-20%)

Identify Understand common Power Apps components in Power Apps

Describe canvas apps
Describe model-driven apps
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/model-driven-apps/model-driven-app-overview
Identify and describe controls
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/model-driven-apps/model-driven-app-components
Understand uses for templates
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/get-started-test-drive
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/model-driven-apps/templates-overview
Understand use cases for formulas
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/working-with-formulas

Build a basic canvas app

Connect to data
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/open-and-run-a-sample-app
Use controls to design the user experience
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/add-configure-controls
Describe the customer journey
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/dev-appsource-test-drive
Publish and share an app
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/save-publish-app
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/share-app

Describe Understand Power Apps portals

Describe use cases for and the business value of portals
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/overview
Describe how to extend CDS data, use controls, and embed Power BI objects
Create a portal by using a template
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/portal-templates
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/work-with-templates
Apply a theme to a portal
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/theme-overview
Create a simple Common Data Service database
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/create-database
Add controls, portal components, and sections to a page and map controls to the database
Embed Power BI objects
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/admin/set-up-power-bi-integration
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/admin/add-powerbi-report
Publish and share a portal
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/configure/publishing-states
Manage a portal
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/manage-existing-portals

Describe Demonstrate the business value of Power Automate Microsoft Flow (15-20%)

Identify Understand the common Power Automate components of Microsoft Flow

Identify flow types
Describe use cases for and available templates
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/get-started-logic-template
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/publish-a-template
Describe connectors
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/connectors
Describe triggers
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/email-triggers
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/introduction-to-button-trigger-tokens
Describe conditions
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/add-condition
Describe expressions
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/use-expressions-in-conditions
Describe approvals
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/modern-approvals

Build a basic flow

Create a business process flow
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/create-business-process-flow
Implement a Power Automate Microsoft Flow template
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/get-started-logic-template
Modify a flow
Run a flow
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/run-scheduled-tasks
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/ui-flows/run-ui-flow
Export a flow to Logic Apps
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/logic-apps/export-from-microsoft-flow-logic-app-template

Demonstrate the business value of Power Virtual Agents (10-15%)

Identify common Power Virtual Agents components

Build and publish a basic bot

Create a bot
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/authoring-first-bot
Create a topic
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/authoring-create-edit-topics
Author core topics
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/authoring-create-edit-topics
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/authoring-topic-management
Call an action
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/configure-bot-greeting
Test a bot
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/authoring-test-bot
Publish a bot
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/publication-fundamentals-publish-channels
Monitor bot usage
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/analytics-overview
Monitor bot performance
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-virtual-agents/analytics-summary

While the exam doesn’t specifically cover this, I would like to call out the Power Platform Center of Excellence starter kit, as it is quite incredible for ANYONE involved with the Power Platform.

As always, best of luck to you on your studies and learning journeys, and do let me know how you did when you sit the exam. If this resource helps you, please share with others and #LearnFromOthers!