Associate MuleSoft

Developer Exam
Preparation Guide
Mule Runtime 3.6
March 3, 2015

Table of Contents
PREPARATION GUIDE PURPOSE ............................................................................................3
EXAM OBJECTIVE .......................................................................................................................3
PREPARATION RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................3
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE ............................................................................................................3
INTENDED AUDIENCE ................................................................................................................3
EXAM COST ...................................................................................................................................4
EXAM REGISTRATION ................................................................................................................4
EXAM FORMAT.............................................................................................................................4
EXAM PASS REQUIREMENT .....................................................................................................4
CERTIFICATION VALIDITY ........................................................................................................5
EXAM TOPICS (ANYPOINT PLATFORM ESSENTIALS OUTLINE) ...................................5

Associate MuleSoft Developer Exam Preparation Guide

Preparation guide purpose
The purpose of this guide is to help you understand what knowledge and skills are needed to
successfully pass the Associate Mule Developer exam. It does not provide that knowledge, but
includes information on how to obtain that knowledge.

Exam objective
The Associate Mule Developer exam was specifically designed to be a basic accreditation exam and an
end-of-class exam for the Anypoint Platform Essentials training course. It assesses core Mule
knowledge and development skills, without requiring significant real hands-on experience. In order to
pass the exam, you need to have a strong programming background and be able to apply the concepts
listed in the exam topics (the Anypoint Platform Essentials outline) included in this document. Note, that
the exam questions do not necessarily map exactly to the course content; you will need to apply the
knowledge acquired in the course.

Preparation recommendations
The best preparation for the exam is to attend the Anypoint Platform Essentials training course. Data
shows that people who take the course usually pass the exam and people who do not take the course
are unlikely to pass unless they have months of hands-on Mule experience. If you do not take the
course, be sure to review the exam topics (the Anypoint Platform Essentials outline) included in this
document and make sure that you have experience with all the topics. For the latest Mule product
documentation, go to http://www.mulesoft.org/documentation.

Required experience
There is no official requirement for the amount of Anypoint Platform experience you need to pass the
exam. If you attend the Anypoint Platform Essentials course and have the appropriate programming
background, you should be able to pass the exam at the end of class without additional study or
experience. If you do not attend the course, you need to obtain the equivalent knowledge and
experience.

Intended audience
The target audience for the Anypoint Platform Essentials course and the exam are people that have:

Experience with Java (preferred) or another object-oriented language.

3

A basic understanding of data formats such as XML, CSV, and JSON.

A basic understanding of typical integration technologies such as HTTP, JMS, JDBC, REST, and
SOAP.

This typically maps to roles including:

Developers (various languages)

Program Managers

Project Managers

System Integrators

Solution Consultants

Business Architects

Technical Architects

Exam cost
If you do not take the Anypoint Platform Essentials course, the exam fee is $100 USD per person. If
you take the Anypoint Platform Essentials course, the exam is free; it is bundled with the course. You
will receive a voucher at the end of class to take the exam. Other purchase bundles may also be
available that include this exam; to check, see http://training.mulesoft.com/catalog.

Exam registration
The exam is administered via the Webassessor testing platform. To register for the exam, go to
https://www.webassessor.com/home.do?page=PUBLIC&branding=MULESOFT&tabs=1, create a user
profile, log in, select Register for an Exam, and select the Associate Mule Developer exam. On the
payment screen, you will have the option of paying by credit card and/or entering a voucher code.

Exam format
Format:

Multiple-choice, open-book, unproctored

Number of questions: ~40

Duration:

Typically around 30-60 minutes, but up to 90 minutes are permitted

Language:

English

Delivery method:

Available online anywhere via the Webassessor testing platform

Availability:

On demand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, either immediately upon registration

or later at your convenience

Exam pass requirement

A score of 75% or higher is required to pass the Associate Mule Developer exam.

Certification validity
The Associate Mule Developer accreditation expires two years from the date of passing.

Exam topics (Anypoint Platform Essentials outline)

The topics covered in the Associate Mule Developer exam correspond to the topics covered in the
Anypoint Platform Essentials course. The outline for the course is included below.
Module 1: Introducing the Anypoint Platform

Learning what Anypoint Platform is and the problems it can help you solve

Getting familiar with the components of the Anypoint Platform

Module 2: Building Integration Applications with Anypoint Studio

Understanding Mule applications, flows, messages, and message processors

Creating flows graphically using connectors, transformers, components, scopes, and flow control
elements

Building, running, testing, and debugging Mule applications

Reading and writing message properties

Writing expressions with Mule Expression Language (MEL)

Creating variables

Module 3: Consuming Web Services

Understanding RESTful and SOAP web services

Learning about what RAML is and how it can be used

Consuming RESTful web services with and without RAML definitions

Consuming SOAP web services

Module 4: Connecting to Additional Resources

Connecting to files, databases, and JMS queues

Connecting to SaaS applications

Discovering and installing connectors not bundled with Anypoint Studio

Module 5: Transforming Data

Getting familiar with the different types of transformers

Transforming objects to and/from XML and JSON

Using Jackson annotations for more complicate JSON to object mappings

Using JAXB annotations for more complicated XML to object mappings

Streamlining complex data transformations with DataSense and the DataMapper

Creating custom transformers with Java

Module 6: Refactoring Mule Applications

Separating applications into multiple configuration files

Encapsulating global elements in a separate configuration file

Creating and running multiple applications

Creating and referencing flows and subflows

Understanding variable persistence through subflows and flows and across transport barriers

Module 7: Controlling Message Flow

Understanding and creating synchronous and asynchronous flows

Multicasting a message

Routing message based on conditions

Filtering messages

Module 8: Handling Errors

Handling messaging exceptions in flows

Creating and using global exception handlers

Specifying a global default exception strategy

Module 9: Processing Records

Processing items in a collection individually

Understanding what batch jobs are and when to use them

Creating batch jobs to process items in a CSV file or a database

Restricting record processing to new records

Module 10: Building RESTful Web Services with Anypoint Platform for APIs

Understanding the benefits of RESTful APIs and web services

Using the API Designer to define APIs with RAML

Implementing a RAML file as a RESTful web service with Anypoint Studio and APIkit

Module 11: Deploying Applications

Understanding the options for deploying applications

Adding application properties

Deploying and running applications on CloudHub

Deploying and running applications on Mule ESB