C_ACT_2403 vs C_ACTIVATE22: What's the Difference, and Which One Should You Book?
If you've started researching the SAP Activate Project Manager certification, you've probably run into two exam codes that look almost identical: C_ACTIVATE22 and C_ACT_2403. This mix-up shows up constantly in the SAP Community forums, and it's a fair question — SAP doesn't always make exam transitions obvious.
Here's the short answer, then the detail.
Why two exam codes exist for the same certification
SAP refreshes its certification exams periodically to keep pace with changes to the SAP Activate methodology itself — new accelerators, updated guidance on cloud transitions, and adjustments to how topics are weighted. Rather than silently updating one exam code forever, SAP issues a new code (like moving from C_ACTIVATE22 to C_ACT_2403) and runs a transition period where the old code is still bookable for a limited time before it retires completely.
This is normal practice across SAP's certification catalogue, not something unique to Activate. You'll see the same pattern with other certifications using year or date-based suffixes.
What actually changed between the two exams
The core subject matter is the same: SAP Activate methodology, project management fundamentals, agile delivery, workstreams, organisational change management, testing, and stakeholder management. If you've been studying SAP Activate concepts generally, that knowledge carries over.
The differences that matter for your prep:
- Topic weighting has shifted slightly — areas like transition paths and cloud-specific guidance carry more emphasis in C_ACT_2403 than they did in earlier versions.
- Some terminology and tooling references are updated to reflect the current state of SAP's accelerators and roadmap viewer.
- C_ACTIVATE22 is being retired, which means any study material written specifically for it may reference content that's no longer fully aligned with what you'll be tested on.
Which one should you actually book?
Unless you have a specific reason tied to an employer requirement or a partner programme that still references C_ACTIVATE22 by name, book C_ACT_2403. It's the current exam, it's the one your certification will be recognised under going forward, and it's the version all current SAP training material is aligned to.
Check before you book
Exam codes and retirement dates do shift, so before you schedule, it's worth a quick check on SAP's own certification page for C_ACT to confirm current availability — SAP reserves the right to update exam content, weighting, and availability at any time.
How to prepare for C_ACT_2403 specifically
A few things that make the biggest difference in prep, based on what consistently trips people up:
- Don't rely purely on past project experience. Several experienced SAP practitioners have reported failing the exam on a first attempt despite years of hands-on Activate delivery — the exam tests specific framework knowledge and terminology, not just whether you've run projects successfully.
- Use the official SAP learning journeys (Discovering SAP Activate Tools and Discovering SAP Activate Agile) as your foundation, then reinforce with practice questions.
- Practise the exam format, not just the content. C_ACT_2403 mixes single-answer and multi-answer questions, and the multi-answer format (where you must select all correct options with no partial credit) catches people off guard if they haven't practised it.
- Avoid braindump sites. Sites offering "real exam questions" are a certification integrity risk — SAP actively works to invalidate certifications earned through leaked content, and the questions are frequently outdated or simply wrong.
Practise the real exam format for R100
146 questions written for C_ACT_2403 specifically, with full explanations — not leaked content, not guesswork.
Start practising →Frequently asked questions
Is C_ACT_2403 harder than C_ACTIVATE22?
Not inherently harder — the difficulty is comparable. The main shift is in emphasis, with slightly more weight on transition paths and cloud deployment topics than earlier versions carried.
Will my C_ACTIVATE22 certification still be valid if I already passed it?
Yes — certifications already earned remain valid. The retirement affects future bookings, not certifications you've already achieved.
Do I need to retake the exam if I'm already C_ACTIVATE22 certified?
Generally no, unless your employer or a specific programme requires the current exam code. Check SAP's certification recommendation documentation if you're unsure about your specific situation.