Hey friends,
The Salesforce Admin exam is not open book. The official exam guide says “No hard-copy or online materials may be referenced during the exam,” and every attempt is proctored, either online through Pearson OnVUE or at a Pearson VUE test center. You need a valid government photo ID whose name exactly matches your Trailhead Academy legal name.
Most failed check-ins come from small things: a name mismatch, a second monitor, a phone on the desk. Here’s every rule that can stop you on the day, with the official source for each.
Is the Admin exam open book?
No. The Platform Administrator exam guide lists: “References: No hard-copy or online materials may be referenced during the exam.” That means no Trailhead tab, no notes, no second device. The same guide gives the format: 60 multiple-choice questions plus up to five unscored, 105 minutes, 68% to pass for the English version.
Online or at a test center
“All proctored Salesforce certification exams can be taken online with a remote proctor or onsite at a testing center” (Schedule an Online-Proctored Exam). Pick online if you have a quiet room and a reliable computer and connection. Pick a test center if you don’t, because if any online requirement isn’t met, you can’t test and the fee is forfeited (Pearson OnVUE).
Online exam: device and room rules
From Pearson’s OnVUE page for Salesforce:
- Windows 10 or macOS 14 or later. No virtual machines or beta operating systems.
- A working webcam, microphone and speaker. Headphones and headsets aren’t allowed.
- One display only. Disconnect extra monitors.
- A stable connection of at least 6 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up.
- You must be able to close every application except OnVUE.
- No phones, tablets, earbuds, styluses, watches or smart devices that can record.
Salesforce adds two things people miss: disconnect from any VPN or Zscaler connection, and close screenshot apps before you launch (How to Prepare for Your Exam Day). Work laptops often have both, so a personal computer is usually the safer choice. Run Pearson’s system test on the same device and network you’ll use on the day.
ID check rules
You need “a valid, government-issued ID with a recognizable photo that exactly matches the name on your exam booking” (Pearson OnVUE).
| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| International passport | Expired, digital, damaged or copied IDs |
| Plastic driver’s license | Birth certificates and naturalization papers |
| National, state, provincial or EU ID card | Privately issued IDs |
| Green card or permanent resident card | IDs that can’t legally be photographed |
| Approved Aadhaar cards | Canadian health insurance cards |
The name trap is the big one. Your legal name is set in Trailhead Academy before you schedule and “cannot be changed once you have completed scheduling your exam” (Salesforce Help). Fix it first, then book. Candidates under 18 show their own ID, and a parent or guardian must be present at check-in.
What check-in looks like
- Go to Trailhead Academy 20 to 30 minutes early. Your exam shows under Available. Click Launch.
- Pearson runs a system check (camera, microphone, closed apps, extra monitors).
- You download the OnVUE browser lock.
- You take a selfie, photos of your ID and photos of your room. Your phone camera is handy here; put it out of reach afterward.
- Auto Greet, an automated check-in, verifies your identity, workspace and technology. If it flags something, you either get guidance to fix it or a human greeter helps.
Steps from How to Prepare for Your Exam Day (Online-Proctored).
If something goes wrong on the day
- OnVUE won’t launch. Salesforce’s checklist: disable VPN software (Zscaler, Cisco AnyConnect, GlobalProtect), close screen recording and video apps like Zoom or Teams, plug in your laptop, then restart the browser or the computer. If it still fails, open a case before your exam window closes with your appointment ID and the error message (Troubleshoot Online Proctored Exam Issues).
- Your computer freezes or disconnects mid-exam. Close and relaunch OnVUE from your downloads folder. The proctor chat can’t pause or extend your exam or fix your device (Pearson OnVUE).
- A crash or outage ends your exam. A technical or system failure is an exception to the cancellation policy. Submit a case with Salesforce Help with supporting documentation (Reschedule and Cancellation Policy).
- You can’t make it. Reschedule or cancel an online exam at least 24 hours before the start, free, from Trailhead Academy (Upcoming > your exam > Modify Registration). Note that 24 hours is not one business day. Miss it without contacting Salesforce Help before the start and you’re a no-show: the full fee is charged, and a voucher is forfeited (Reschedule and Cancellation Policy).
Things that end an exam on the spot: speaking or reading aloud, leaving the webcam view, touching your phone, or letting anyone see your screen. “Violations will result in your exam being revoked and your fee forfeited” (Pearson OnVUE).
If you don’t pass: the retake rules
You get three attempts per release cycle. Fail once and you wait 24 hours to register again; fail twice and you wait 14 days; fail three times and you wait for the next release cycle (Retake Policy). Each retake is paid, so the best rule to follow is to book only when your practice scores are steady. The admin practice test and How to Pass the Admin Exam on Your First Try help with that.
Cert Lab by Nick Frates
Ready before you book?
Lessons, practice questions that explain every option, and flashcards for all 8 Platform Administrator exam sections, each linked to Salesforce Help. Free, no card, no trial.
Start the free Admin Cert Lab →FAQ
Is the Salesforce Admin exam open book?
No. The exam guide says no hard-copy or online materials may be referenced during the exam.
Can I use two monitors for the online exam?
No. Pearson OnVUE allows one display only, so disconnect any extra monitors.
Can I wear headphones?
No. Headphones, headsets and earbuds aren’t allowed; use your computer’s speaker.
What ID do I need for the Salesforce exam?
A valid, unexpired government photo ID, such as a passport or plastic driver’s license, whose name exactly matches your Trailhead Academy legal name.
What if my internet drops during the exam?
Relaunch OnVUE from your downloads folder. If the exam can’t continue, open a Salesforce Help case right away, because a technical failure is an exception to the cancellation policy.
How early should I log in?
Salesforce says 20 to 30 minutes before your exam; Pearson says to begin check-in 30 minutes before.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nick
