Hey friends,
Maybe you're about to hire someone whose resume lists Salesforce certifications. Maybe you hold a few yourself and want to see what a recruiter sees. Either way, the check takes a minute once you know where Salesforce keeps the record.
To verify a Salesforce certification, use the official Salesforce certification verification page on Trailhead: type the person's full name, first name then last name, and select Search. The verification page says to use exactly that order, because any variation "will not return accurate search results."
An empty result isn't proof that a certification is fake. The person may not have made their certifications public yet, or the name may not match. I'll cover both below.
Salesforce certification verification in four steps
- Open the Verification page on Trailhead.
- In the "Verify a Salesforce Certified Professional" box, enter the full name: first name (given name), then last name (surname). Salesforce's own example is John Smith.
- Select Search and read what comes back.
- If nothing comes back, check the person's public Trailblazer profile or ask them to send the link (both covered below).
Salesforce notes that updates can take up to one business day. A certification earned in the last day or so may not show yet, so try again before you assume anything.
Three ways to check, side by side
There are really three places a certification shows up, plus one tool for holders. They answer different questions, so here they are next to each other:
| Method | What you see |
|---|---|
| Verification page, for checking someone else | Salesforce's own lookup by full name |
| Public Trailblazer profile, for seeing everything a person has earned | Each certification's name, dates and description, but only if the profile is public (Help) |
| Certificate, the holder's own proof | Name, certification name, a unique certification number and the date earned |
| Check Your Status, for holders checking themselves | An email listing your certifications, the maintenance modules you owe and their deadlines |
The first two are Salesforce's own records. A certificate is the holder's copy, which Salesforce says can be emailed to yourself from your Trailblazer profile at any time. If the decision matters, I'd confirm with the verification page or the profile and treat the certificate as a bonus.
If the search finds nothing
Work through these before you decide anything:
- Name order and spelling. Enter first name, then last name, the way the page asks. Salesforce's certification FAQ says the Trailhead Academy account holds a person's legal name, so a nickname may not match.
- The privacy setting. Salesforce Help tells people whose certifications are missing to open their Trailhead Academy Account and check the Certification Privacy section, where the display setting must be public (see the account merge article). If it's private, there is nothing public to find.
- Timing. Updates can take up to one business day, both on the verification page and on the profile.
- The wrong profile. Certifications appear on the Trailblazer profile that uses the email linked to the exam account. Someone with two Trailhead accounts may have their certifications on the other one.
When I'm the one checking, the fastest fix is to ask the candidate for their Trailblazer profile link.
What a public Trailblazer profile shows
Your Trailblazer profile is your public Trailhead page, a resume of what you've earned. It lists every certification with its name, dates and description. Salesforce Help says other people see that only when the profile is public. The maintenance status is different: it's visible only to the holder, so you won't see whether someone has maintenance due.
What you will see is whether a certification is still active. When a certification expires, Help says it no longer appears as active on the profile.
How to check your own certification status
Help gives you two ways, and recommends the first:
- Open your Trailblazer profile and make sure your certifications are listed. Next to each one you'll see its name, dates, description and your maintenance status.
- Or open the verification page, find Certification Holders: Check Your Status, enter the email linked to your Trailblazer profile and request it. Salesforce emails you a complete list of your certifications, the maintenance modules you need and their deadlines.
Salesforce also sends automated reminders every few months. Don't lean on them, though. The maintenance article is blunt that it's your responsibility to finish your maintenance badges by the published deadline.
What the status labels mean
These are the statuses you'll see next to your own certifications, as defined in Verify Your Salesforce Certification Status:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Active | Your certification is up to date and no maintenance is due right now. |
| Maintenance Due | Maintenance is due. The details and due date are visible only to you. |
| Expiring Soon | Maintenance is due very soon and the certification is at risk of expiring. |
| Expired | The certification expired because maintenance wasn't completed on time. |
| Retired | The certification has been retired from the Salesforce certification program. |
If you just finished a maintenance badge and still see Maintenance Due or Expiring Soon, be patient. It can take up to one business day for the change to appear.
Make your certifications easy to verify
If you hold certifications, a few minutes now saves a recruiter from an empty search later:
- Confirm your certifications show on your Trailblazer profile. If you took exams under the older Webassessor exam system and they're missing, the certification FAQ says to open Settings, check Connected Accounts for your Webassessor email, and add it with Connect an Account if it isn't there.
- Open your Trailhead Academy Account and check the Certification Privacy section so your certifications are set to display publicly.
- Wait up to one business day, then search your own name on the verification page the way a stranger would.
- Put your Trailblazer profile link on your resume so people can check without guessing at your name.
Expired or missing: what to do
- You finished maintenance but it still says Expired. Confirm the badge is on the Trailhead account linked to your certifications, wait up to 24 hours, then clear your browser cache and reload. If it still shows Expired after 24 hours, open a support case with a screenshot of the completed badge, a screenshot of your certification status and the email tied to your certification account.
- It really expired. Salesforce Help lists two options. You can open a support case to request reinstatement, which isn't guaranteed and is reviewed case by case. Or, if it has been expired for more than one cycle, you register to retake the exam at full price on Trailhead Academy.
- A prerequisite expired. Certifications that list it as a prerequisite expire with it. Help calls this cascade expiry.
The root of most of this is maintenance: one Trailhead badge per year for most certifications, and the entry-level badge also maintains related ones, such as Platform Administrator covering Platform Administrator II. Platform Foundations is the exception. Help says it needs no maintenance and never expires once earned. For the Admin version, see my Platform Administrator credential guide, and for what upkeep and retakes cost, see Salesforce Certification Cost.
Working toward your first certification?
If you're reading this because you're about to earn one, the part you control is the exam itself. I built Cert Lab at nickfrates.com for that moment, and the Platform Administrator course is free. Not sure which credential to start with? My guide to the best Salesforce certification for beginners and the certification study guide hub can help.
Cert Lab by Nick Frates
Earning the Admin credential?
All 8 Admin exam sections with lessons, practice questions that explain every option, and flashcards. Free, no card, no trial.
Start the free Admin Cert Lab →Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a Salesforce certification?
Go to the verification page on Trailhead, enter the person's full name as first name then last name, and select Search. You can also open their public Trailblazer profile.
Can I verify a certification with an email address?
The public search on the verification page takes a full name. The email box on that page is for certification holders checking their own status, and Salesforce emails them the results.
Why can't I find someone's certification?
Common reasons are a name that doesn't match their legal name, a Certification Privacy setting that isn't public, a very recent certification (updates can take up to one business day), or certifications sitting on a different Trailhead account.
How can I tell if a Salesforce certification is still active?
Check their public Trailblazer profile. An expired certification no longer appears as active there. Only the holder can see the maintenance status and due dates.
Do Salesforce certifications expire?
Most need one Trailhead maintenance badge a year, and missing the deadline can expire them. Platform Foundations needs no maintenance and never expires once earned.
How long does a new certification take to show up?
Salesforce says updates can take up to one business day on the verification page, and a completed maintenance badge can take up to 24 hours to update your status.
Can I get a copy of my certificate?
Yes. Open your Trailblazer profile, use the drop-down next to the certification, and email yourself the certificate or download the logo. Retired certifications can't be downloaded.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nick
