In this article, we’ll cover all the essentials for anyone considering the Salesforce certification path 2025 and beyond, from the different types available to what’s included and how to prepare effectively.

Why Certifications Matter for Salesforce Developers

Being a certified Salesforce developer isn’t just a badge. First and foremost, it’s an undoubted competitive advantage. An industry-recognized certification not only opens doors to higher-paying roles but also potentially speeds up career growth and builds immediate trust with employers and clients. This is why it’s considered the smart (and even necessary) career move.

Overview of the Salesforce Developer Certification Path

If you’re building a career as a Salesforce developer, a structured certification path is a smart way to grow your skills and career. 

To help you with that, there are Salesforce developer certification options for every level. Let’s explore them.

Salesforce Certification PathSalesforce Platform App Builder >  Salesforce Platform Developer > Salesforce Platform Developer II (PD II)

Level 1: Salesforce App Builder 

This step of the Salesforce certification path gives a foundational understanding of platform capabilities: designing data models, automating business processes, and building custom no-code applications, to name a few. Together, they form a knowledge foundation for Salesforce development beginners.

Salesforce App Builder Certification is a good fit if you:

• Are new to Salesforce or transitioning from an Admin role;
• Are comfortable with point-and-click tools;
• Understand data models, object relationships, and basic security settings;
• Have some experience with business process automation but no coding background.

Level 2: Platform Developer 

Platform Developer certification introduces core coding and automation, focusing specifically on the core principles of programmatic development on the Salesforce platform. 

Consider this level if you:

• Are already comfortable with Apex testing essentials and object-oriented programming;
• Can write triggers, classes, and test methods;
• Understand governor limits and best practices for data manipulation;
• Are able to decide when to use code vs declarative solutions.

Level 3: Platform Developer II (PD II)

Platform Developer II, as a notable Salesforce path certification, prepares you to design and implement complex, enterprise-level solutions on the Salesforce platform. It’s intended for experienced developers who are ready to take on advanced technical challenges and build scalable architecture around the Salesforce ecosystem.

You’re a good match for this Salesforce certification path if you have:

• Experience with integrations (REST/SOAP APIs, external systems);
• The ability to implement asynchronous processing and advanced error handling;
• Understanding of the patterns for scalability, security, and performance optimization;
• Confidence in writing modular, reusable code and leading technical decisions.

“Bonus” Certification: JavaScript Developer

While not part of the core developer certification path, JavaScript Developer is becoming an increasingly valuable credential — especially for those working on front-end features and Lightning Web Components (LWC) in modern Salesforce projects. It’s a specialist certification that focuses on applying modern JavaScript within the Salesforce ecosystem.

With this Salesforce certifications path, you will master:

• Key ES6 concepts, such as arrow functions, promises, classes, and modules;
• Lightning Web Components structure, lifecycle, and data binding;
• Event handling and component communication in a Salesforce UI context;
• Security best practices for building web components on the platform.

How to Prepare for Certifications: Best Practices & Key Considerations

More than experience, Salesforce certification prep takes strategy. At Focus on Force, we help thousands succeed in their Salesforce certification career path thanks to clear, exam-ready content. Here are key tips to prepare smart, at any developer level.

Platform App Builder Certification

When preparing for the Platform App Builder certification, it’s important to understand more than just where things are in Salesforce. Therefore, ensure you cover the following:

• How declarative tools like Flows, validation rules, page layouts, and security settings work together;
• How each tool can be applied to solve real-world business challenges;
• How to model data effectively across them all, including choosing the right relationships.

Remember: the exam tests your ability to choose the right tool for the job and apply it in the context of user needs, data structure, automation logic, and other essential factors.

PRO TIP:

Learn to spot traps and key decision points in multiple-choice questions.

On the App Builder exam, questions often include several “almost right” answers. The key is identifying what the question is really asking.

Besides, make sure you set your priorities straight. Focus on the topics that carry more weight in the certification exam — they’re publicly disclosed by Salesforce.

Platform Developer 

For this certification, even if you’ve written triggers or built Lightning Components, the PD I exam goes deeper than that. It tests your understanding of Apex logic, governor limits, component structure, and testing best practices — often in scenario-based questions.

To prepare for such questions effectively, learn from the combination of the study guide in tandem with practical resources, including:

• The official Trailhead PD I Trailmix to cover exam-aligned topics;
• A free Salesforce Developer Org to test your logic and scenarios;
• Visual Studio Code + Salesforce CLI to write, deploy, and debug Apex code;
• Your own practice apps, custom triggers, and test classes to reinforce skills in context.

Also, consider the weight of each topic in the exam so you focus on what matters most.

Platform Developer II

The PD II certification eхam expects you to think beyond a single trigger or class — considering such multi-faceted areas as long-term scalability, maintainability, and performance. Therefore, don’t just aim to pass, aim to build like a real architect. 

In doing this, ensure you cover top-priority certification topics, from process automation to UI to performance and beyond.

PRO TIP:

Practice, practice, practice. 

Try building a real-world project, like a customer onboarding process using Queueable Apex, custom metadata, and integration callouts. Then, test it with mock data and test classes to simulate production behavior.

Discover more insights to prepare for your Salesforce certification