The Application Builder Learning Track will guide you through building basic CommCare survey forms to deploying complex applications that use case management.
After learning all of the material covered in this track you are eligible to take the App Builder Capstone and become certified as a CommCare Application Builder!
Or go back to the CommCare Learning Tracks and Certification homepage to explore other tracks, or look at general questions about CommCare Certification.
Overview
Is this the right track for me?
This track is appropriate for people that will design and build CommCare applications.
What will I learn?
After completing this track, a CommCare Application Builder will be able to:
- Confidently navigate CommCareHQ and explain the basic function of each part of the website
- Use the CommCare form builder to develop complex forms with multiple question types, skip logic, and validation
- Use Hidden Values to perform moderately complex calculations
- Understand the basic principles of case management in CommCare
- Link forms and case properties using Case Management in CommCare applications
- Be able to find additional information on complex features by using the CommCare Help Site
- Demonstrate good practice in design of CommCare applications
Am I qualified?
Anyone can use the page to walk through application building, and you do not need any programming skills or experience.
We find that a good application builder has the following traits:
- Very comfortable with use of the Internet
- Fluent in English or French
- Comfortable with use of Microsoft Excel or a similar product
- Has experience using Android devices
Core Modules
The modules listed below should be reviewed in order. We recommend you open links in a separate tab, or download this guide so you can use it for navigation.
CommCareHQ Basics
Form Builder Basics
Advanced Form Builder
You can learn everything in this module by completing the Hidden Value Calculations Tutorial.
Case Management
You can learn everything in this module by completing the Basic Case Management Tutorial and the Advanced Case Management Tutorial.
Application Design
Advanced Modules
These modules are relevant to many but not all projects. They are required for a Certification.
Multimedia in CommCare
Applications in Multiple Languages
Advanced Application Building Topics
These advanced topics are often very important to a project; however because they are not relevant to every project they are no covered in detail here.
Certification Process
To get certified as a CommCare Application Builder:
- Learn all of the material associated with each of the modules listed on this page. Where available we recommend you complete the tutorials.
- Pass the test for each module.
- Successfully complete the Application Builder Capstone Exercise
Learning the Material
We hope that you can use the materials available on the CommCare Help Site, along with the CommCare Users Google Group and lots of practice. Dimagi also provides capacity building service packages which include live training around these topics.
Sign up for the users group to be notified of webinars and other CommCare events in your region.
Taking the Tests
CommCare Certification tests are currently hosted on CloudCare, CommCare's web data entry tool. You will need a special account to access them. Please contact your Dimagi point of contact, or if you don't have one email certification-support@dimagi.com
You can access each module test by clicking on the link below, or by finding the test with the corresponding name in CloudCare.
Other things to keep in mind:
- You must do your own work. You can consult the CommCare Help Site or other apps you have built, but you cannot ask other people for help.
- You can take a test multiple times but we will only count the most recent time you took the test.
- You must get 70% correct in order to pass a test.
Information on the Capstone Exercise can be found at the bottom of the page.
Capstone Exercise
In order to become certified in Application Building you will need to complete the Capstone Exercise. This will challenge you to use everything you have learned from all of these modules, and push you to learn even more by using the Help Site, trying things out, and reaching out through other channels.
The capstone is only available to partners that work with Dimagi or by special arrangement. Please contact certification-support@dimgai.com for more information.