5/8/25, 7:48 PM Study guide for Exam PL-500: Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer | Microsoft Learn

Study guide for Exam PL-500: Microsoft Power

Automate RPA Developer
Article • 06/11/2024

Purpose of this document

This study guide should help you understand what to expect on the exam and includes a summary of the topics the exam
might cover and links to additional resources. The information and materials in this document should help you focus your
studies as you prepare for the exam.

ﾉ Expand table

Useful links Description

Review the skills measured as of This list represents the skills measured AFTER the date provided. Study this list if you plan to take
July 8, 2024 the exam AFTER that date.

Review the skills measured prior to Study this list of skills if you take your exam PRIOR to the date provided.
July 8, 2024

Change log You can go directly to the change log if you want to see the changes that will be made on the
date provided.

How to earn the certification Some certifications only require passing one exam, while others require passing multiple exams.

Certification renewal Microsoft associate, expert, and specialty certifications expire annually. You can renew by passing
a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn.

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Useful links Description

Your Microsoft Learn profile Connecting your certification profile to Microsoft Learn allows you to schedule and renew exams
and share and print certificates.

Exam scoring and score reports A score of 700 or greater is required to pass.

Exam sandbox You can explore the exam environment by visiting our exam sandbox.

Request accommodations If you use assistive devices, require extra time, or need modification to any part of the exam
experience, you can request an accommodation.

Take a free Practice Assessment Test your skills with practice questions to help you prepare for the exam.

Updates to the exam

Our exams are updated periodically to reflect skills that are required to perform a role. We have included two versions of
the Skills Measured objectives depending on when you are taking the exam.

We always update the English language version of the exam first. Some exams are localized into other languages, and
those are updated approximately eight weeks after the English version is updated. While Microsoft makes every effort to
update localized versions as noted, there may be times when the localized versions of an exam are not updated on this
schedule. Other available languages are listed in the Schedule Exam section of the Exam Details webpage. If the exam
isn't available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes to complete the exam.

Note

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The bullets that follow each of the skills measured are intended to illustrate how we are assessing that skill. Related topics
may be covered in the exam.

Note
Most questions cover features that are general availability (GA). The exam may contain questions on Preview features if
those features are commonly used.

Skills measured as of July 8, 2024

Audience profile
Audience Profile

As a candidate for this exam, you automate Windows-based, browser-based, and terminal-based applications that are
time-consuming or contain repetitive processes. You use a mix of automation approaches like:

UI

API

Database

You analyze, design, and implement automations by using Power Automate desktop flows and cloud flows. As a robotic
process automation (RPA) developer, you use actions for logic and work with:

Data

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Applications

Services

You work with business stakeholders to optimize business workflows. You partner with administrators to deploy and
support solutions in other environments.

Additionally, as a candidate, you should have experience with:

The Windows desktop environment

Scripting languages such as VBScript and JavaScript

.NET Framework for use in custom actions

Microsoft Dataverse

Skills at a glance
Design automations (25–30%)

Develop automations (45–50%)

Deploy and manage automations (20–25%)

Design automations (25–30%)

Design automations using Power Automate features and capabilities

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Leverage the Power Automate ecosystem

Differentiate between cloud flows and desktop flows

Design automations using desktop flows and cloud flows

Differentiate trigger types for cloud flows

Differentiate options for interacting with target applications and browsers

Differentiate the different methods for running a desktop flow

Assess the ability to run cloud and desktop flows concurrently

Recommend running desktop flows attended versus unattended

Differentiate HTTP actions in cloud and desktop flows

Assess if work queues are applicable for the automation

Design custom actions

Design automations using other Microsoft Power Platform features and capabilities
Design automations that include canvas and model-driven apps

Design automations using connectors, custom connectors, connection references, and connections for cloud flows

Design automations that include Microsoft Dataverse

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Design automations that analyze and enhance data and documents

Differentiate Microsoft AI options for processing documents in desktop and cloud flows

Differentiate Microsoft AI options for processing data in desktop and cloud flows

Recommend optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities in desktop flows

Recommend Document Automation Toolkit for use in automation design

Design automations using scripting languages in desktop flows

Design automations using scripting languages including PowerShell and Visual Basic Script (VBScript)

Recommend automation use cases that use JavaScript

Design an automation that uses the document object model (DOM)

Develop automations (45–50%)

Develop cloud flows

Develop a cloud flow that calls a desktop flow

Develop and use child cloud flows including passing and returning data

Perform actions in cloud flows by calling external APIs

Implement trigger conditions and concurrency in cloud flows

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Implement timeout and retry policies in cloud flows

Implement data objects and data operations in cloud flows

Perform text parsing including JSON, XML, and CSV in cloud flows

Develop desktop flows

Implement UI options

Implement datatables, lists, and custom objects in desktop flows

Implement subflows in desktop flows

Perform actions in desktop flows by calling external APIs

Implement timeout and retry in desktop flows

Implement data objects and data operations in desktop flows

Perform text parsing including JSON, XML, and CSV in desktop flows

Implement custom actions in desktop flows

Implement logic in cloud and desktop flows

Implement flow control in cloud and desktop flows including loops

Implement expressions in cloud flows

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Implement variable actions for cloud and desktop flows

Implement secure input and output data in actions in cloud flows

Implement secure variables in desktop flows

Implement priority for desktop flows in a queue

Implement exception handling blocks in cloud and desktop flows to handle system exceptions

Implement error handling routines in cloud and desktop flows to handle business exceptions

Implement work queues in cloud and desktop flows

Build custom connectors and implement connector configurations

Build a custom connector

Implement authentication for custom connectors

Implement custom connector policy templates

Develop code in a custom connector

Perform automation infrastructure management

Recommend credential management practices

Utilize on-premises data gateway to connect resources from cloud flows

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Build components in Microsoft Dataverse solutions

Test automations and finalize development efforts

Test a cloud flow

Test a desktop flow

Utilize environment variables and configuration files to manage configurations

Utilize debugging features in cloud and desktop flows

Deploy and manage automations (20–25%)

Perform target environment preparation

Implement Microsoft Power Platform application lifecycle management (ALM)

Differentiate credentials used for different environments

Recommend how to deploy solution components to other environments

Build virtual desktop environments for unattended desktop flow execution

Assess data loss prevention (DLP) policies for RPA execution

Assess Microsoft Power Platform DLP policies

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Assess how DLP policies impact actions in cloud and desktop flows

Assess how DLP policies apply to custom connectors

Implement access to RPA components

Perform sharing of cloud and desktop flows

Perform sharing of machines and machine groups

Recommend security roles required to run and monitor cloud and desktop flows

Implement service accounts and service principals

Implement machine groups and queues required for desktop flow automations
Assess machine and machine group requirements

Perform machine registration management

Perform machine group management

Implement load balancing of desktop flows by using machine groups and queues

Perform operations on the run queue to manage desktop flows

Analyze cloud and desktop flow run history from the Power Automate portal

Study resources
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We recommend that you train and get hands-on experience before you take the exam. We offer self-study options and
classroom training as well as links to documentation, community sites, and videos.

ﾉ Expand table

Study resources Links to learning and documentation

Get trained Choose from self-paced learning paths and modules or take an instructor-led course

Find documentation Microsoft Power Platform documentation

Power Automate documentation

Ask a question Microsoft Q&A | Microsoft Docs

Get community support Power Platform Community (microsoft.com)

Follow Microsoft Learn Microsoft Learn - Microsoft Tech Community

Find a video Exam Readiness Zone

#LessCodeMorePower | Shows

Change log
Key to understanding the table: The topic groups (also known as functional groups) are in bold typeface followed by the
objectives within each group. The table is a comparison between the two versions of the exam skills measured and the
third column describes the extent of the changes.

ﾉ Expand table

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Skill area prior to July 8, 2024 Skill area as of July 8, 2024 Change

Audience profile Major

Design automations Design automations % decrease

Describe Power Automate features and capabilities Design automations using Power Automate features and Major
capabilities

Work with other Microsoft Power Platform offerings Design automations using other Microsoft Power Platform Minor
features and capabilities

Record and analyze processes Removed

Identify how to analyze and enhance data and Design automations that analyze and enhance data and Minor
documents documents

Identify use cases for scripting languages in desktop Design automations using scripting languages in desktop Minor
flows flows

Develop automations Develop automations % increase

Create and manage cloud flows Develop cloud flows Minor

Create and manage desktop flows Develop desktop flows Major

Implement logic in cloud and desktop flows Implement logic in cloud and desktop flows Minor

Create and configure custom connectors Build custom connectors and implement connector Minor
configurations

Manage automation infrastructure Perform automation infrastructure management Minor

Test automations and finalize development efforts Test automations and finalize development efforts Minor

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Skill area prior to July 8, 2024 Skill area as of July 8, 2024 Change

Deploy and manage automations Deploy and manage automations No %

change

Prepare target environments Perform target environment preparation Minor

Evaluate data loss prevention (DLP) policies for RPA Assess data loss prevention (DLP) policies for RPA execution Minor
execution

Manage access to RPA components Implement access to RPA components Minor

Configure machine groups and queues required for Implement machine groups and queues required for desktop Minor
desktop flow automations flow automations

Skills measured prior to July 8, 2024

Audience profile
Candidates for this exam automate Windows-based, browser-based, and terminal-based applications that are time-
consuming or contain repetitive processes. They use a mix of approaches like UI, API, and database automations.

Candidates analyze and design processes for automation and implement automations using Power Automate for desktop
and Power Automate cloud flows. RPA developers use actions for logic and to work with data, applications, and services.

Candidates work with business stakeholders to optimize business workflows. They work with administrators to deploy
solutions to other environments and support solutions.

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Additionally, candidates should have experience with the Windows desktop environment, scripting languages, Power
Automate cloud and desktop flows, AI Builder, Process Advisor, and Microsoft Dataverse.

Design automations (30–35%)

Develop automations (40–45%)

Deploy and manage automations (20–25%)

Design automations (30–35%)

Describe Power Automate features and capabilities

Identify the Power Automate ecosystem and offerings

Identify the differences among cloud flows, and desktop flows, and business process flows

Identify when to use a desktop flow or a cloud flow, and when to use them together

Identify the different trigger types for cloud flows

Identify options for interacting with target applications and browsers

Identify the different methods for running a desktop flow

Identify considerations for running cloud and desktop flows concurrently

Identify considerations for running desktop flows attended versus unattended

Differentiate HTTP actions in cloud and desktop flows

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Work with other Microsoft Power Platform offerings

Identify how canvas apps and model-driven apps work with automation

Identify use cases for connectors, custom connectors, connection references, and connections for cloud flows

Identify use cases for Microsoft Dataverse

Record and analyze processes

Create processes in Process Advisor

Identify the steps for Process mining

Identify the steps for Task mining

Identify the use cases for Process Advisor

Identify how to analyze and enhance data and documents

Identify Microsoft AI options for processing documents in desktop and cloud flows

Identify Microsoft AI options for processing data in desktop and cloud flows

Identify optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities in desktop flows

Identify use cases for the Document Automation Toolkit

Identify use cases for scripting languages in desktop flows

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Identify use cases for scripting languages including PowerShell and VBScript

Identify use cases for application-specific macro languages including VBA in Microsoft Excel and Office Scripts

Identify use cases for using JavaScript

Identify how to use the document object model (DOM) in automation

Develop automations (40–45%)

Create and manage cloud flows

Create a cloud flow

Create a cloud flow that calls a desktop flow

Create and use child cloud flows including how to pass data to a child cloud flow and return data back

Perform actions in cloud flows by calling external APIs

Configure filter conditions and concurrency in cloud flows

Configure timeout and retry policies in cloud flows

Implement data objects in cloud flows

Identify common processes for parsing text including JSON, XML, and CSV in cloud flows

Configure cloud flow action to run Microsoft Office Scripts

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Create and manage desktop flows

Create desktop flows to launch, connect to, and authenticate target application

Configure user interface (UI) options

Configure datatables, lists, and custom objects in desktop flows

Implement subflows in desktop flows

Add desktop actions to exit from target applications

Perform actions in desktop flows by calling external APIs

Configure timeout and retry in desktop flows

Implement data objects in desktop flows

Identify common processes for parsing text including JSON, XML, and CSV in desktop flows

Implement logic in cloud and desktop flows

Configure flow control in cloud and desktop flows including loops

Configure expressions in cloud flows

Configure variable actions for cloud and desktop flows

Configure secure input and output data in actions in cloud flows

Configure secure variables in desktop flows

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Configure priority for desktop flows in a queue

Create exception handling blocks in cloud and desktop flows to handle system exceptions

Create error handling routines in cloud and desktop flows to handle business exceptions

Configure document processing by using AI Builder

Create and configure custom connectors

Create a custom connector

Implement authentication for custom connectors

Identify custom connector policy templates

Write code in a custom connector

Manage automation infrastructure

Configure credential management

Connect cloud flows to on-premises data by using the on-premises data gateway

Create and manage components in Microsoft Dataverse solutions

Test automations and finalize development efforts

Run and test a cloud flow
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Run and test a desktop flow

Manage configurations by using environment variables and configuration files

Debug solutions by using Power Automate cloud and desktop flows debugging features

Deploy and manage automations (20–25%)

Prepare target environments

Implement Microsoft Power Platform application lifecycle management (ALM)

Differentiate credentials used for different environments

Deploy RPA solutions to other environments

Prepare virtual desktop environments for unattended desktop flow execution

Evaluate data loss prevention (DLP) policies for RPA execution

Identify Microsoft Power Platform data loss prevention (DLP) policies

Identify how DLP policies impact actions in cloud and desktop flows

Identify how DLP policies apply to custom connectors

Manage access to RPA components

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Share a cloud flow

Share a desktop flow

Share machines and machine groups

Identify security roles required to run and monitor cloud and desktop flows

Create service accounts and service principals

Configure machine groups and queues required for desktop flow automations
Identify use cases for and capabilities of machines and machine groups

Manage machine registrations

Create and manage machine groups

Implement load balancing of desktop flows by using machine groups and queues

Work with queues and queue operations for desktop flows

Evaluate cloud and desktop flow run history from the Power Automate portal

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