Appian ACD201 study plan
Appian ACD201 · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Data Modeling and Data Management
Define and distinguish record types, fields, and relationships in a data model you sketch from a written scenario
Configure one-to-many and many-to-many relationships and explain how each is stored
Identify primary keys, foreign keys, and lookup fields and state when each is appropriate
Build a small data model in a practice environment from a one-page requirements brief
Your checkpoint
A written data model spec (entities, fields, relationship cardinalities) for a sample case-management app, plus the configured objects in a practice environment
Data Modeling and Data Management
Write queries and filters that return correct subsets of records from your week-1 model
Explain how record-level and field-level data types affect storage and validation
Design and implement at least two validation rules or constraints on your model
Document a data-dictionary entry for every field in your model
Your checkpoint
A data dictionary covering all fields in the week-1 model plus a set of saved queries/filters with expected results
Process Modeling and Automation
Diagram a multi-step approval workflow as a process model with explicit gateways and decision logic
Configure user input tasks, assignment, and routing in a working process
Implement at least one escalation or timeout path and explain its trigger conditions
Trace a process instance end-to-end and identify where state is persisted
Your checkpoint
A working end-to-end approval process with at least one decision gateway and one escalation path, plus a one-page process diagram
Process Modeling and Automation & User Interface Design
Connect UI forms to the process from week 3 so task completion advances the workflow
Design a form with appropriate input types, validation, and conditional visibility
Configure at least one dynamic behavior (show/hide or enable/disable) driven by user input
Review your form against accessibility and clarity criteria and list three fixes
Your checkpoint
A functional task form integrated with the week-3 process, plus a written list of three applied UX improvements
User Interface Design & Data Modeling and Data Management
Build a record list view with sorting, filtering, and column configuration
Create a dashboard or summary view that aggregates data from your week-1 model
Apply consistent layout and navigation patterns across at least two interfaces
Verify that displayed data matches the underlying records for three test cases
Your checkpoint
A two-interface mini-application (list view plus dashboard) with a test log confirming data accuracy across three cases
Integration and Web Services
Design an integration that consumes a REST endpoint and maps the response into your data model
Configure authentication for an outbound integration and explain the tradeoffs
Handle at least one error or timeout case and define the retry or fallback behavior
Describe how an inbound web service would be exposed and secured
Your checkpoint
A documented integration design (endpoint, auth method, field mapping, error handling) plus a working outbound call in a practice environment
Security and Access Control
Map at least three user groups to permissions on your application and justify each grant
Configure record-level visibility so that two test users see different subsets of data
Verify that a restricted user cannot access at least two resources they should not
Explain how authentication and session handling affect access decisions
Your checkpoint
A permissions matrix (groups x resources) plus a test report showing two users with correctly differentiated access
Deployment, Administration, and Performance & Data Modeling and Data Management & Process Modeling and Automation & User Interface Design & Integration and Web Services & Security and Access Control
Deploy your application from a development to a test environment and document the steps
Identify at least three performance risks in your model or process and propose mitigations
Complete a timed 60-question practice set and categorize every miss by domain
Re-study the two weakest domains based on practice-set results
Your checkpoint
A deployment runbook plus a scored practice-set report with a domain-by-domain remediation list
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain and defend every field and relationship in your data model without notes
Week 4: A process instance can be started, routed through a decision, escalated, and completed via a UI form
Week 6: An outbound integration returns data that correctly populates your data model, with error handling demonstrated
Week 7: Two test users with different group membership see demonstrably different records and actions
Week 8: Practice-set score of 80 percent or higher, with no domain below 70 percent