How to become Salesforce Certified
Salesforce certifications are a powerful way to validate your skills, stand out in the job market, and advance your career. As Salesforce continues to expand its capabilities across sales, service, marketing, commerce, and more, the demand for certified professionals is growing rapidly. Since its launch in 1999, Salesforce has evolved from a simple sales automation tool into a leading CRM platform that supports organizations of all sizes.
Whether you’re beginning your Salesforce journey or specializing in a specific area, getting certified helps you stay ahead of the curve. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the certification path and help you choose the right credentials based on your role and goals.
To support that journey, Salesforce offers multiple certification tracks tailored to different specialties and experience levels.
Salesforce certifications offer a clear path to career advancement by validating your expertise on the platform. As Salesforce continues to expand into AI, data, automation, and customer experience, these certifications have become essential credentials for professionals who want to stand out.
Whether you're new to the ecosystem or looking to specialize further, certification provides both structured learning and industry-recognized credibility.
Salesforce offers a wide range of certifications tailored to different roles, from Administrators and Developers to Architects, Consultants, and AI Specialists. Each certification is backed by a detailed exam guide, covering the core skills and best practices needed for success in your role.
Applying for a Salesforce Administrator role? You’ll need the Certified Administrator credential.
Interested in AI or data roles? Consider new certifications like Salesforce Certified Agentforce Specialist or Data Cloud Consultant.
Aiming to be a Salesforce Application Architect? Salesforce Certified Application Architect is earned by completing four specialized certifications focused on app development, data modeling, and security—this credential validates advanced platform architecture expertise. A milestone Salesforce credential earned by completing four key certifications: App Builder, Developer I, Data Architect, and Sharing & Visibility Architect.
Certification gives you more than a badge, it gives you a professional edge in a rapidly growing ecosystem.
Salesforce Certification Guide
Salesforce certifications are organized into different levels and role-based tracks to match your current experience and career goals. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to specialize in a particular domain, there’s a certification path for you. Below is a breakdown of foundational and intermediate-level certifications, including details on exam format and cost.
Foundational Certifications (Great for Beginners)
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| USD $75 | |
Salesforce Certified AI Associate |
| USD $75 |
| Free on First Take, USD $100 thereafter | |
| USD $200 |
Role-Based Certifications (Intermediate Level)
Admin Roles
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator II |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified CPQ Administrator (Formerly Salesforce Certified CPQ Specialist) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator (Formerly Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Administrator) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Slack Administrator (Formerly Slack Certified Administrator) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Tableau Server Administrator |
| USD $200 |
Marketer Role
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Engagement Foundations (Formerly Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Foundations |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Email Specialist |
| USD $200 |
Consultant Role
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Catalyst Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Data Cloud Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Education Cloud Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Field Service Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Integration Foundations |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Nonprofit Success Pack Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Nonprofit Cloud Consultant (NPC) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified OmniStudio Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Service Cloud Consultant |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Slack Consultant (Formerly Slack Certified Consultant) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Tableau Consultant (Formerly Tableau Certified Consultant) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Tableau Desktop Foundations |
| USD $200 |
Data Analyst Role
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified Tableau Data Analyst (Formerly Tableau Certified Data Analyst) |
| USD $200 |
Designer Role
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified Platform Strategy Designer |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Platform User Experience Designer |
| USD $200 |
Developer Certifications
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified B2C Commerce Cloud Developer |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Hyperautomation Developer |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Industries CPQ Developer |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified JavaScript Developer (Formerly Salesforce Certified JavaScript Developer I) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Developer (Formerly Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Developer I) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Developer II |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified OmniStudio Developer |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Platform Developer (Formerly Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I) |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Platform Developer II |
| USD $200 |
Salesforce Certified Slack Developer |
| USD $200 |
Note:
Check the individual study guides from the Saleforce.com website for the most up to date information.
Note:
Check the individual study guides from the Saleforce.com website for the most up to date information.
Accredited Professional (AP) Credentials
Salesforce’s Accredited Professional (AP) credentials are designed for consultants, implementation partners, and advanced users who want to demonstrate deep product and industry-specific expertise. These credentials are complementary to Salesforce certifications and often focus on industry clouds and specialized Salesforce solutions.
Each AP exam typically contains 30-60 questions and costs $150. While many of these credentials are primarily available to Salesforce consulting partners or companies officially partnered with Salesforce to implement and support its solutions. These exams are becoming more accessible to the general public through Trailhead Academy.
Advanced Architect Certification
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified Platform Sharing and Visibility Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified Platform Data Architect (Formerly Salesforce Certified Data Architect) |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified Application Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified B2B Solution Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified B2C Commerce Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified B2C Solution Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified Heroku Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified Platform Integration Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Platform Integration Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Platform Architect |
| USD $400 |
System Architect Path
Certification | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce Certified System Architect |
| USD $400 |
Salesforce Certified Tableau Architect |
| USD $250 |
How to Take the Certification Exam? (2025 Update)
Salesforce uses the Webassessor online testing platform to administer the exams.
Salesforce has transitioned all certification exams to the new Trailhead Certification Hub, replacing the legacy Webassessor system as of July 21, 2025. Here’s how to register, schedule, and prepare for your exam in the updated platform:
Step-by-Step: Registering for a Salesforce Exam
1. - Go to the Trailhead Certification Hub
➤ https://trailhead.salesforce.com/credentials
2. - Log in with your Trailblazer ID
➤ This will now serve as your single sign-on (SSO) for exam scheduling, history, and vouchers.
3. - Browse or search for the certification you want (e.g., “Platform Administrator”).
4. - Click “Schedule Exam” and choose:
➤ Onsite at a Pearson VUE test center, or Online proctored (via webcam & screen share)
5. - Pick your date and time, and complete payment or apply any promo/voucher codes.
6. - Read exam policies carefully, including ID requirements and retake conditions.
Key Changes (2025)
What Changed | New Process |
|---|---|
Old registration via Webassessor | Now fully handled in Trailhead Certification Hub |
Separate account logins | Unified login via Trailblazer ID (SSO) |
Exam history not always visible | All credentials auto-linked if emails match |
“Webassessor linking” advice | No longer needed — system links automatically |
How can Employers Verify your Certifications?
Salesforce makes it easy for employers, recruiters, and clients to verify your credentials through your public Trailblazer.me profile. Here's how:
1. - Go to https://trailhead.salesforce.com
2. - Hover over Certifications in the top menu.
3. - Click “Verify Certifications” (as shown in the image above).
4. - Enter the full name or email address of the certified professional.
5. - The system will display any active certifications linked to their Trailblazer profile.
This dual-verification system helps maintain trust and transparency while making it easy for professionals to showcase their Salesforce expertise.
Complete List of Salesforce Certifications 2025
Salesforce offers a wide range of certifications across roles and specialties each designed to validate specific skills aligned with career paths in administration, development, architecture, marketing, analytics, and more.
The table below organizes these credentials into clear categories to help you explore the full certification landscape, including:
- Entry-level Associate certifications
- Core roles like Administrator, Developer, and Consultant
- Specialist credentials for Marketers, Architects, and Data Analysts
- Advanced Accredited Professional certifications tailored to industry clouds and product mastery
Use this breakdown to identify the best next step for your Salesforce career or to plan a multi-certification path aligned with your goals.
5X Salesforce certified Slalom Associate Consultant Megan Tuano explains how Focus on Force helped her in her Salesforce certification journey:
With my 5 certifications, I always have used Focus on Force — I love the bank questions. I love the questions at the end. I love how there's pictures involved as well. I love how there's a mindmap now that you can really really utilize — especially for people that are more visual learners, like myself. I've always centered myself around Focus on Force — that being the core place where I would focus down on the areas that I had no idea would be asked on the test.
“
What Certification are you studying for now?
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