Becoming an SAP Consultant: How to Make a Career Change Without a College Degree
Zuletzt bearbeitet am 13. August 2026
The problem has long been known: There is a shortage of the skilled workers needed to digitize the economy. SAP consultants, in particular, are in high demand as new technologies such as cloud computing and AI continue to emerge. The chances of landing a job quickly are better than ever—even for career changers. Are you looking for a job and/or interested in a career change? In this article, we’ll answer all your key questions about the role, the qualifications required, and how to get started as an SAP consultant.
The Content
- Why are SAP consultants needed?
- What exactly does an SAP consultant do?
- Becoming an SAP Consultant—Is It Possible Even Without a College Degree?
- How can I train to become an SAP consultant?
- How do I transition into the job after earning my SAP certification?
- What qualifications should I have as an SAP consultant?
- What are my career prospects as an SAP consultant?
- Become an SAP Trainer – Pursue a Career in Professional Development as an SAP Consultant
- Conclusion: Continue Your Education & Launch Your Career as an SAP Consultant
- FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About “Becoming an SAP Consultant”
Why are SAP consultants in such high demand right now?
In the era of digital transformation, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to respond quickly to changes and new challenges. To remain competitive, businesses must adapt their business processes to the demands of the new world of work —and in doing so, they typically opt for digital solutions from SAP, the market leader in enterprise software.
In addition, support for the traditional SAP ECC ERP system will end in 2027. Over the next few years, nearly 9 out of 10 companies (88 percent) that already use an ERP solution plan to migrate to the new, more flexible real-time solution, SAP S/4HANA. But exactly how the migration and subsequent implementation will proceed remains unclear to many. There is a shortage of specialists to guide companies through the rollout of the new software solution.
What exactly does an SAP consultant do?
As an SAP consultant, you have the opportunity to provide consulting services in either a technical or functional capacity, focusing on a specific business area mapped in the SAP system. For example, if you’ve already gained professional experience in finance and controlling, you can continue to develop your expertise in this area, whereas those with sales or marketing experience often specialize in sales and the corresponding modules in SAP. Those with an IT or more technical background, on the other hand, usually delve deeper into SAP technology and application development.
Generally speaking, as an SAP consultant, you support companies with SAP projects, such as implementation and migration initiatives. You analyze the company’s needs, identify the right SAP product for your client, and assist with the installation. If the company also wants to redesign its business processes and optimize workflows, you identify areas for improvement and ensure the necessary adjustments are made to the system.
Not only do you oversee the implementation and further development of an SAP solution within the company, but you also support the system users. Your responsibilities therefore include training the people who work with the software. With your specialized knowledge, you equip them to use new applications and help them complete their daily tasks more efficiently.
Becoming an SAP Consultant—Is It Possible Even Without a College Degree?
To become an SAP consultant, a college degree isn’t necessarily the best route. SAP-specific training programs are rarely offered at colleges anyway. However, it’s important for this profession that you have both a basic understanding of business administration and SAP skills—and that you can demonstrate this with appropriate proof, such as recognized certifications.
Your advantage: More and more job openings remain unfilled, and the opportunities for applicants without a college degree or prior work experience are excellent. Companies have realized that practical knowledge is particularly important in IT professions—and, in light of the growing shortage of skilled workers, they are increasingly adapting to accommodate qualified career changers.
One alternative to a lengthy degree program, for example, is retraining as an IT specialist followed by internships in the SAP field. Or you can focus on SAP from the very beginning—by taking a training course with an authorized SAP training partner like GFN. In an SAP certification program like this, practical experience is a top priority: Through exercises, case studies, hands-on projects, and more, you’ll build the skills you’ll actually need in your future job and can apply right away. You choose the focus areas—whether specific SAP modules or business areas—yourself, based on your learning and career goals.
How can I train to become an SAP consultant?
If you don’t have any prior experience, you’ll start by earning a foundational certification to enter the world of SAP. In this introductory SAP Foundation Level course, you’ll gain an initial overview of the SAP system and the individual business areas it supports, such as accounting or logistics. Upon successful completion, you’ll receive an official SAP certificate as proof of your skills.
In a user certification program, you’ll learn how to work with SAP, with a specific focus on certain business areas such as Materials Management (Sourcing & Procurement) or Financial Accounting. You’ll gain user skills in your chosen field and learn how to use the SAP system efficiently in your day-to-day work. This practical knowledge will benefit you not only as an SAP user but also in SAP consulting. Those who wish to broaden their skill set can pursue an additional user certification in another business area.
The SAP Consultant Certification program provides you with in-depth knowledge of business processes—for example, through the SAP Consultant Certification in Sales (SD). Alternatively, you can gain cross-module expert knowledge through the SAP Consultant Certification in End-to-End Business Processes. In either case, you’ll develop in-depth expertise that will enable you to tackle SAP projects professionally and support companies in solving complex challenges in the SAP environment.
How do I transition into the job after earning my SAP certification?
Both large companies and consulting firms are currently—and will continue to be in the coming years—actively seeking qualified candidates to support them as internal or external consultants. Software and consulting firms that specialize in SAP, in particular, need new talent to handle the growing number of client projects.
In addition to consultants in the Finance (FI) division, which covers all business processes related to finance and accounting, the company is primarily seeking specialists in the areas of logistics, sales, and human resources.
SAP-certified graduates can often start their careers directly at an SAP consulting firm or a client company.
You can start, for example, as a junior consultant or through a trainee program lasting several months. Through on-the-job training, you’ll quickly get the hang of the work and gain valuable experience. Over time, you’ll then take on responsibilities such as process and application consulting, training, or (partial) project management.
What qualifications should I have as an SAP consultant?
To work in a consulting role, you should have a customer-focused mindset and strong communication and teamwork skills . Both are necessary for identifying business needs through interaction with clients and other project stakeholders and for successfully completing projects. Knowledge of project management—especially agile methods such as Scrum—will also help you with your project work.
Also important: the ability to discuss complex issues as simply and clearly as possible—while remaining precise—whether in consulting meetings, project work, or user training. Presentation skills are also helpful and can be acquired , for example, through continuing education to become an SAP trainer .
In addition to a certain ability to solve problems and creativity, you bring a good understanding of business processes to the table. As a general rule, anyone who is adaptable and willing to keep learning can be very successful in SAP consulting. It’s not crucial that you already know everything, because the job requirements are changing faster and faster anyway. What you should bring to the table, however, is the ability to continually adapt to new tasks and challenges.
Here are the most important requirements at a glance:
- Understanding the Process
- Basic IT skills
- Consulting Expertise
- Expertise in the chosen field of specialization
- Communication Skills
- Empathy and the ability to work well with others
- Presentation Skills
- Willingness to travel, if necessary (external SAP consulting)
What are my future prospects as an SAP consultant?
IT services related to SAP are in high demand and, given ongoing technological developments, will remain indispensable for companies and businesses in the future. As a consultant for SAP projects and digital processes, you’ll always be in demand and needed in nearly every industry. The range of job opportunities is correspondingly broad and will continue to grow in the coming years.
There is a severe shortage of skilled workers in the IT job market —despite good pay: The average starting salary for SAP consultants is approximately 48,600 euros gross per year (see StepStone, as of December 2025), and the median salary is 55,700 euros gross. Depending on the company, project experience, and region, you can earn up to 67,300 euros, and performance-based commissions and bonuses are not uncommon. SAP consultants with many years of professional experience earn an average salary of 81,000 euros.
Become an SAP Trainer – Pursue a Career in Professional Development as an SAP Consultant
If you can demonstrate the commitment and potential that are important for the open position, you’ll have a good chance of getting hired—and can quickly gain your first professional experience. Take Katrin Grund, a former GFN participant: After more than three decades in the restaurant industry and a few years in administrative roles, she seized the opportunity to completely reorient her career at the age of 50 by pursuing SAP training.
After completing the introductory course and two user certifications, she also successfully earned two consultant certifications. She was then offered a position at GFN as an SAP trainer. “To do that, I had to complete additional training to become an SAP trainer,” says Katrin Grund. “I was introduced to the role of trainer step by step. I was able to observe my colleagues and learn a lot from them.”
After a while, she was given the opportunity to take on the role of trainer herself: “My first task was to lead the exam preparation week. Next, I taught individual lessons, and eventually a full day. Now I teach two groups on a rotating basis: SAP beginners and aspiring SAP consultants.”
Katrin Grund feels she has found her place. But she knows there’s still a lot to learn. Whether in SAP consulting or training—especially in the IT field—it’s important to stay up to date and keep pace with technical developments. So if you enjoy constantly learning new things, you’ll be rewarded as an SAP consultant with a varied career and excellent opportunities for growth.
Conclusion: Continue Your Education & Launch Your Career as an SAP Consultant
As an SAP consultant, you’ll have excellent career prospects in one of the most in-demand fields in IT. With the right qualifications, you can actively support companies in their digital transformation and advance your career.
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