If you spend any time on job sites looking at Salesforce certifications jobs, you’ll quickly encounter the idea that a Salesforce certification is something of a preferred qualification. The company offers more than 48 different credentials across administration, development, consulting, architecture, marketing, and AI career fields, so it can be hard to know where to start.
To help, the following are the 8 main areas of Salesforce certification along with tips on what each track can do for you, how to choose which certification to pursue, and what the exam and learning options are like.
Why Pursue Salesforce Certifications
Salesforce certifications serve as proof of practical skill with the company’s dominant CRM platform and help you stand out to potential employers, proving your ability to become a productive Salesforce professional quicker than an uncertified candidate. Salesforce-certified administrators, developers, consultants, and architects can each command higher salaries and enjoy better job opportunities than their uncertified peers.
As of mid-2025, all Salesforce certifications including MuleSoft, Tableau, and Slack credentials, are tracked and managed through a new Trailhead Academy website, with options to take classes and take certification exams.
Eight Main Salesforce Certification Tracks
Salesforce certifications can be generally grouped into the 8 categories below. These categories give us the best insight into the types of Salesforce jobs that exist and the kinds of skills required to be successful in them.
1. Foundations
These entry-level tracks are designed for candidates with little or no Salesforce experience who want to gain familiarity with how Salesforce fundamentals work.
- Salesforce Certified Associate (0-6 months of experience)
- Agentforce Fundamentals (Salesforce’s new “AI agent” product)
2. Administration
The administrator track group is the most popular Salesforce career track, and it’s where many Salesforce professionals get their start.
- Salesforce Certified Administrator (the most sought-after entry-level Salesforce certification)
- Salesforce Advanced Administrator
3. App Builders and Developers
These certifications are all about developing and designing applications on the Salesforce platform.
- Salesforce Platform App Builder
- Salesforce Platform Developer I & II
- JavaScript Developer I
4. Consultant
To pursue a career as a Salesforce consultant, you need to demonstrate proficiency in at least one of the solution areas below.
- Sales Cloud Consultant
- Service Cloud Consultant
- Experience Cloud Consultant
- Education Cloud Consultant
- Nonprofit Cloud Consultant
- Field Service Consultant
5. Architects
The highest levels of Salesforce certification, reserved for the most elite professionals in the ecosystem, are the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect, also known as “CTA.” To earn the CTA designation, candidates must have deep knowledge of the various Salesforce domains and typically spend years preparing for the review board process.
- To qualify for the Certified Technical Architect examination, you must first obtain three “Designer” level certifications of your choosing
- Data Architecture and Management Designer
- Sharing and Visibility Designer
- Integration Architecture Designer
- After earning three designer credentials, you’re eligible to pursue the Application Architect and System Architect certifications, which serve as a natural progression toward CTA
- Certified Technical Architect (CTA): This is the “highest” Salesforce certification, requiring years of experience and knowledge of the entire Salesforce ecosystem. It’s extremely challenging and expensive ($6,000)
6. Marketers
- Marketing Cloud Administrator
- Marketing Cloud Email Specialist
- Pardot Specialist and Pardot Consultant
7. AI and Agentforce
Salesforce’s new AI certification track covers the company’s latest innovations in generative AI and autonomous agents.
- AI Associate
- AI Specialist
- Agentforce Specialist (covers how to use the new agent builder)
8. Industries, MuleSoft, and Slack
These three separate areas of expertise are also managed from the new Trailhead Academy site as of 2025.
- MuleSoft Certifications (two tracks for MuleSoft developers)
- Industries Certifications (covers Salesforce’s vertical solutions for Communications, Media & Entertainment, Energy & Utilities, and CPQ)
- Slack Certifications (covers Slack administration)
Salesforce Certification Costs
Certification exams typically range from $200 to $75 to $6,500 for the Certified Technical Architect review, with the Associate level exam being near the bottom of that range due to its “board-style” testing format. Exams are multiple-choice and can be taken online via remote proctoring or at an official testing center. Most contain between 60-105 questions, with a passing score anywhere between 62% and 73% depending on the exam. The average retake fee is half the original exam price.
Maintaining Salesforce Certifications
Salesforce typically launches three major releases each year (Winter, Spring, and Summer), and certified professionals are expected to complete a few Trailhead courses on maintenance topics during the release window. Certifications must be renewed every two years by completing these maintenance trails, and certifications that are not renewed expire. Expired certifications must be renewed by retaking the entire exam, not merely the maintenance trails.
How to Choose a Salesforce Certification Track
Your personal circumstances will dictate the best way to get started with Salesforce certification. The following is a general set of circumstances that can help you decide which certification to pursue based on your professional goals.
- If you’re brand new to Salesforce: The Salesforce Certified Associate is a great way to get started.
- If you’re interested in general configuration: Look into the Salesforce Certified Administrator track since it’s the most popular one and the one with the biggest job demand.
- If you’re interested in building applications using the Lightning platform: The Platform App Builder exam will provide you with the necessary foundation, and the Platform Developer I & II exams will help you develop the programming skills needed to become a Salesforce developer.
- If you’re interested in becoming a Salesforce Consultant: The Sales Cloud Consultant, Service Cloud Consultant, or Experience Cloud Consultant exams are the ones you should be thinking about.
- If you’re aiming for a long-term career as a Salesforce Architect: You’ll want to start with the Administrator credential and then advance to the Application Architect and System Architect certifications, eventually working toward the Certified Technical Architect (CTA) designation with the right experience and preparation.
Salary Trends by Certification Track
- Certified Administrator: $65,000 – $85,000
- Certified Developer: $85,000 – $120,000
- Certified Consultant: $90,000 – $130,000
- Certified Architect: $130,000+ (especially with CTA)
Professionals with multiple certifications, including roles in Salesforce and Einstein AI, generally have higher chances of landing high-paying roles due to their ability to perform a wide variety of tasks.
How to Prepare for Your Certification Exam
- Complete Trailhead trails related to the certification you’re aiming for
- Set up a Developer Org and practice
- Study in groups or with others who are taking the same exam
- Practice tests help you prepare. If the exam provides practice assessments, make sure you take them and understand the areas where you’re struggling.
- Take the exam when you feel confident that you’ve completed enough practice to be prepared.
Common Mistakes When Pursuing Certification
- Skipping the administrator track if you want to be a developer
- Studying for certification but never practicing what you’ve learned
- Ignoring certification maintenance requirements
- Getting multiple certifications but having no true specialization
- Underestimating architect-level exams
Salesforce Certifications vs. Other Cloud Certifications
Compared to other cloud-related certification programs, Salesforce’s approach offers greater breadth and depth. Whereas other CRM and enterprise software companies offer only a handful of general-purpose certifications, Salesforce provides the career specialization and breadth of expertise needed to fully leverage the company’s large ecosystem of integrated products.
As a result, Salesforce certifications carry more weight than general-purpose cloud certificates from other companies and better prepare you for niche roles that wouldn’t be available with alternative certification tracks.
How to Think About Salesforce Certifications Over Time
Certifications should be looked at over the span of 2-3 years as opposed to individual milestones during the journey. Most companies that require Salesforce certifications look for candidates that have at least one relevant certification related to their area of hiring.
For someone trying to move up the ranks and into consulting or architecture roles, a typical certification progression would be to start with the Administrator certification, add in the Platform App Builder and Cloud Consultant certifications in the next year or so, and then move on to pursuing the architect certifications and the Certified Technical Architect designation the year after.
Study Resources
- Trailhead badges and superbadges (the official study guide and practice exam)
- Trailblazer Community groups (some are local to your area while others are virtual)
- Salesforce Ben and Focus on Force (resources for the Trailhead Superbadges and exam prep content)
- The free Developer Org (most certification exams have scenarios which are easier to answer if you’ve already built out the features being asked)
- Trailhead Exam Guides (published by Salesforce, they provide a weighted list of topics to guide your studying)
Why Are Salesforce Certifications In Demand?
Salesforce’s leading position in the CRM space is driving an increase in demand for certified professionals. Analysts have noted that interest in certified Salesforce professionals is increasing across industries as companies begin to adopt the platform across additional business functions, like marketing, commerce, and service, and begin implementing Salesforce’s latest developments including generative AI.
This trend is especially prevalent in the “Agentforce” space, which requires Salesforce professionals to have skills in addition to regular administration or development work. The rising popularity of Salesforce’s AI and agent-related offerings is helping drive demand in these specific certification areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Salesforce certification should I get first?
The Administrator certification serves as the perfect foundation for most Salesforce careers. It’s among the most in-demand certifications, and it’s also a required exam for many of the more specialized tracks.
Do Salesforce certifications expire?
While they can technically last forever, Salesforce certifications require you to complete a few Trailhead courses during the first three months of a new release before your certification renewal date. Certifications that are not renewed expire, so be sure to monitor your certification’s status.
How long does it take to prepare for a Salesforce certification exam?
It varies depending on the track you’re pursuing, but it’s not uncommon for most people to spend anywhere between four and eight weeks preparing for the Administrator exam, in particular. The time it takes to prepare for the architect certifications could be significantly higher.
Can I take a Salesforce certification course online?
Certification courses are available via remote proctoring in most cases, but it’s always a good idea to check if local testing centers are an option as well.
Is the Certified Technical Architect designation worth pursuing?
If you want to move into more executive Salesforce positions, you should definitely consider the CTA. It’s an impressive achievement with excellent job market appeal, but it’s also extremely challenging and time-consuming. Furthermore, it’s not cheap either — you’ll need to budget nearly $6,000 for the designation, with most CTAs possessing the experience and knowledge to justify each step of the way.
Do I need a college education to get certified?
No, you do not. There is no formal education requirement for Salesforce certifications.
How many Salesforce certifications should I get before applying for a job?
Having more relevant certifications will always help your application, but one certification that matches the job description is a good start. A primary Salesforce certification you have that matches the career field you’re applying to can go a long way. It demonstrates to the hiring manager that you’re qualified while giving you the confidence and credentials to demonstrate your abilities.
Are Salesforce certification exams open-book?
Exams are typically closed-book and proctored either via remote online proctoring or in-person at a testing center.
What happens if I fail a certification exam?
You have a few options regarding which course of action to take if you fail a certification exam. First, consider what you did wrong to cause the failure. Then, take the necessary steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
You can usually retake an exam for half the price, but a few certifications only allow you to retake the exam a limited number of times. The most important thing to do when you fail a certification exam is to review your score report and identify which areas you need to improve on before retaking the exam.
Are MuleSoft and Tableau certifications part of the same system?
Yes, as of the 2025 changes in the way Salesforce manages its certifications, all three companies’ credentials are now available on the same Trailhead Academy site.
