Salesforce Certification Study Guides (2026): Which Cert to Take and How to Pass
Start with where you want to go. You'll see the cert to start with, what to take next, a free study guide for each one, and a Cert Lab when you want structured practice.
Which sounds most like you?
- I'm new to Salesforce
- I'm an admin leveling up
- I want AI skills
- I'm a consultant
- I'm a business analyst
- I write code
- I'm heading toward architect
- I know my exam
Guides by Nick Frates, a senior Salesforce developer with 17 certs. Every exam fact is checked against Salesforce's official exam guides.
Not sure? Most people start with Platform Administrator.
It's where most Salesforce careers start, and it's the prerequisite for Admin II and both Agentforce consultant exams.
- 68% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Free Cert Lab: lessons, practice questions and flashcards for all 8 exam sections. No card needed.
What a Salesforce certification can do for you
A certification is one line on a résumé. What it stands for is bigger: proof, anyone can verify, that you can do the work. Here's what people usually want from one.
A way into Salesforce work
Changing careers is easier with something concrete to show. A cert tells a hiring manager you've learned the platform, even if your last title wasn't in tech.
A stronger case for a raise
It backs up the work you already do with a recognized name, in your next review, on your résumé and on LinkedIn.
Respect in the room
Knowing why a setting works, not just where it is, changes how stakeholders, developers and your boss listen to you.
Less time wasted
Every guide follows the official exam outline, so your study hours go where the points are instead of on things that won't come up.
Which Salesforce certification should I start with?
Pick the goal that sounds most like you. Each path shows where to start and what usually comes next, in the exam's own colour.
I'm new to Salesforce or changing careers
You want a way in, and a credential a hiring manager recognizes. Platform Foundations (the old Associate exam, $75 with free retakes) is the gentle first step. Platform Administrator is the core cert most Salesforce careers build on, so go straight there if you've already used Salesforce at work.
Platform Foundations
Formerly Salesforce AssociateA low-pressure first cert that shows you know your way around Salesforce.
- 62% to pass
- 40 questions · 70 min
- No prerequisite
Platform Administrator
Formerly AdministratorThe cert most Salesforce careers start with. It shows you can run an org: users, security, data and automation.
- 68% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Platform App Builder
Shows you can design and ship custom apps without code.
- 73% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
I'm an admin leveling up
You already do the work. Now you want it on paper: for the raise, the title, or the bigger projects. Make your experience official, then show you can handle the advanced side of the job.
Platform Administrator
Formerly AdministratorThe cert most Salesforce careers start with. It shows you can run an org: users, security, data and automation.
- 68% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Platform App Builder
Shows you can design and ship custom apps without code.
- 73% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Platform Administrator II
Formerly Advanced AdministratorFor admins ready to own the harder problems, and to be the person the team asks.
- 65% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- Requires Platform Administrator
Platform User Experience Designer
Shows you can design the Salesforce way: research, accessibility, declarative design and SLDS.
- 65% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
I want AI skills
Agentforce is the newest part of the platform, and teams need people who can set it up safely. Agentforce Specialist has no prerequisite. Data 360 Consultant adds the customer-data side that agents depend on.
Agentforce Specialist
Put AI agent skills on your profile, backed by a credential anyone can verify.
- 72% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Data 360 Consultant
Formerly Data Cloud ConsultantShows you can turn scattered customer data into one profile the business can use.
- 70% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
I'm a consultant implementing Sales or Service Cloud
Clients and employers want proof you can design the process, not just click through setup. Platform Administrator comes first because both consultant exams require it. Then take the one that matches your projects.
Platform Administrator
Formerly AdministratorThe cert most Salesforce careers start with. It shows you can run an org: users, security, data and automation.
- 68% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Agentforce Sales Consultant
Formerly Sales Cloud ConsultantShows clients and employers you can design a sales process, not just configure one.
- 73% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- Requires Platform Administrator
Agentforce Service Consultant
Formerly Service Cloud ConsultantFor people who design contact centers that customers and agents actually like using.
- 78% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- Requires Platform Administrator
I'm a business analyst or product owner
Business Analyst has no prerequisite, so you can start with the cert that matches the work you already do: discovery, requirements, user stories and sign-off.
Business Analyst
For people who turn what stakeholders say into what gets built.
- 72% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Platform Administrator
Formerly AdministratorThe cert most Salesforce careers start with. It shows you can run an org: users, security, data and automation.
- 68% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
I write Apex or Lightning Web Components
Start with the developer cert most teams expect, then go deeper on JavaScript or on advanced Apex design.
Platform Developer
Formerly Platform Developer I (PD1)Shows you can write Apex and Lightning Web Components that hold up in a real org.
- 68% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
JavaScript Developer
Formerly JavaScript Developer IProves the JavaScript behind modern front-end work, on and off Salesforce.
- 65% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Platform Developer II
The senior developer credential: design code that scales.
- 70% to pass
- 60 questions · 120 min
- Requires Platform Developer
I'm heading toward architect
Get Administrator or Platform Developer under your belt first. Then pick the architect domain closest to the problems you already solve.
Platform Data Architect
A step toward architect: design data that stays fast and clean at scale.
- 58% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Platform Integration Architect
For people who connect Salesforce to everything else, safely.
- 67% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect
For people who own how changes get from a sandbox to production without drama.
- 65% to pass
- 60 questions · 105 min
- No prerequisite
Still unsure?
Take Platform Administrator. It's where most Salesforce careers start, and it's the prerequisite for Admin II and both Agentforce consultant exams. Its Cert Lab is free.
See every path on one map
Each row is a path. Start on the left and move right as your skills grow. Every cert shows in its Cert Lab colour, and grey ones have a free study guide. Tap any cert to open its free guide.
- Optional startPlatform Foundations62% to pass · $75 examCert Lab $9.99
- CorePlatform Administrator68% to pass · $200 examCert Lab free
- Any orderThenPlatform App Builder73% to pass · $200 examCert Lab $9.99ThenPlatform Administrator II65% to pass · $200 examCert Lab $9.99DesignPlatform User Experience Designer65% to pass · $200 examCert Lab $9.99
- One of these firstFoundationPlatform Administrator68% to pass · $200 examCert Lab freeFoundationPlatform Developer68% to pass · $200 examCert Lab $9.99
- Your domainDataPlatform Data Architect58% to pass · $400 examCert Lab $9.99IntegrationPlatform Integration Architect67% to pass · $400 examCert Lab $9.99ReleasePlatform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect65% to pass · $400 examCert Lab $9.99
Find your certification
Every guide is free. The score calculator link opens with that exam already picked, so you can turn a practice test or your section results into an estimated score.
Start here
Admin and builder track
- Platform Administrator II study guide
score calculator · Platform Administrator II Cert Lab ($9.99) - Platform App Builder study guide
score calculator · Platform App Builder Cert Lab ($9.99) - Business Analyst study guide
score calculator · Business Analyst Cert Lab ($9.99) - Platform User Experience Designer certification: the exam sections, question count and a study plan.
score calculator · Get the Cert Lab, $9.99 · Try a free lesson
Developer track
Consultant track
AI and data track
- Agentforce Specialist study guide
score calculator · Agentforce Specialist Cert Lab ($9.99) - Data 360 Consultant study guide
score calculator - AI Associate: retired, what to study now
The exam ended in February 2026. This explains what replaced it.
Architect track
- Platform Data Architect study guide
score calculator · Get the Cert Lab, $9.99 · Try a free lesson - Platform Integration Architect study guide
score calculator · Get the Cert Lab, $9.99 · Try a free lesson - Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect study guide
score calculator · Get the Cert Lab, $9.99 · Try a free lesson
Marketing Cloud, Experience Cloud and other exams don't have guides yet. The exam score calculator still has the passing score and section weights for 29 current exams, including the Marketing Cloud ones.
Salesforce certification exams at a glance (2026)
The numbers for every exam with a guide here, taken from Salesforce's official exam guides and Trailhead Academy. Last verified October 18, 2026.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →| Certification | Exam code | Questions | Minutes | Pass | Fee / retake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Foundations | Plat-101 | 40 | 70 | 62% | $75 / free |
| Platform Administrator | Plat-Admn-201 | 60 | 105 | 68% | $200 / $100 |
| Platform Administrator II | Plat-Admn-301 | 60 | 105 | 65% | $200 / $100 |
| Platform App Builder | Plat-Admn-202 | 60 | 105 | 73% | $200 / $100 |
| Business Analyst | Not listed | 60 | 105 | 72% | $200 / $100 |
| Platform User Experience Designer | Not listed | 60 | 105 | 65% | $200 / $100 |
| Platform Developer | Plat-Dev-201 | 60 | 105 | 68% | $200 / $100 |
| Platform Developer II | Plat-Dev-301 | 60 | 120 | 70% | $200 / $100 |
| JavaScript Developer | JS-Dev-101 | 60 | 105 | 65% | $200 / $100 |
| Agentforce Specialist | Not listed | 60 | 105 | 72% | $200 / $100 |
| Data 360 Consultant | Data-Con-101 | 60 | 105 | 70% | $200 / $100 |
| Agentforce Sales Consultant | Sales-Con-201 | 60 | 105 | 73% | $200 / $100 |
| Agentforce Service Consultant | Service-Con-201 | 60 | 105 | 78% | $200 / $100 |
| Platform Data Architect | Plat-Arch-201 | 60 | 105 | 58% | $400 / $200 |
| Platform Integration Architect | Plat-Arch-204 | 60 | 105 | 67% | $400 / $200 |
| Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect | Plat-Arch-202 | 60 | 105 | 65% | $400 / $200 |
- Questions are the scored ones. Every exam also adds up to 5 unscored questions that don't count.
- Pass is the percentage of scored questions you need right. Japanese-language versions of Platform Administrator (65%) and Agentforce Sales Consultant (69%) have lower passing scores.
- Fees are US dollars before tax. Retakes are half the fee, and Platform Foundations retakes are free.
- Prerequisites: Platform Administrator II, Agentforce Sales Consultant and Agentforce Service Consultant require Platform Administrator. Platform Developer II requires Platform Developer. The rest have none.
- Exam codes come from each exam's Trailhead Academy registration page. Business Analyst's and Agentforce Specialist's pages don't list one, so they're left blank rather than guessed.
Got your results email? The Salesforce exam score calculator turns your section percentages into an estimated overall score next to the passing score.
How to pass a Salesforce certification exam
The same five-step routine works for every exam on this page. It's built on practice, not rereading, so the time you put in sticks.
- Start with the official exam outline. Each guide lists the sections and their weights, so you know where your study hours pay off most.
- Study the heaviest sections first, hands-on. Build things in a free Developer Edition org. Scenario questions are much easier when you've clicked through the setting yourself, and so is the job afterwards.
- Test yourself instead of rereading. Practice questions and flashcards beat highlighting. The science of studying for Salesforce certifications shows how to set that up.
- Take a timed practice test and score it. Plug your results into the score calculator to see which sections cost you the most, then go back to those.
- Book once you're clearing the passing score with room to spare, not the first time you scrape past it.
Exam-specific versions of this routine: how to pass the Admin exam on your first try, the 6-week Admin study plan, the 8-week Platform Developer I study plan, and Admin vs Platform Developer I if you're choosing where to start.
One tip that pays off across exams: Flow shows up on Administrator, App Builder, Admin II, Platform Developer and Agentforce Specialist. The free Flow best practices guide is a good place to brush up.
Before you book an exam
Five things worth knowing before you pay the fee, so nothing on the day surprises you.
Booking
You register through Trailhead Academy, and Pearson VUE delivers the exam online (proctored from home) or at a test center.
Results
You get pass or fail plus a percentage for each section, but no overall score. The score calculator estimates it.
Retakes
Up to 3 attempts per release cycle. Wait 24 hours after a first fail and 14 days after a second (Salesforce retake policy).
Maintenance
Certifications stay active when you complete the free maintenance module on Trailhead once a year. Miss the deadline and the cert expires (Salesforce maintenance FAQ).
Names change
Salesforce renames credentials often. Every guide here lists the current name and the old one, so search results and job posts still make sense.
Retired and renamed Salesforce certifications in 2026
If a job post or an old blog uses a name you can't find, this is probably why.
- 16 certifications were renamed on July 24, 2026. It's a name change only, so there's nothing to retake. Examples: Sales Cloud Consultant is now Agentforce Sales Consultant, Service Cloud Consultant is now Agentforce Service Consultant, Marketing Cloud Email Specialist is now Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist, Field Service Consultant is now Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant, and Revenue Cloud Consultant is now Revenue Management Consultant.
- 24 certifications retire on February 1, 2027. Registration closed July 24, 2026, and the last day to sit one was August 31, 2026. The list includes CPQ Administrator, B2B Solution Architect, B2C Commerce Architect, Nonprofit Success Pack Consultant, Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Consultant and about a dozen Accredited Professional credentials. If you hold one, it stays valid on your Trailblazer profile, but it no longer shows on the public verification page.
- AI Associate was retired in February 2026. Here's what replaced it and what to study instead.
- The core tracks aren't affected. Every certification with a guide on this page is still active.
Sources: Salesforce's certification lifecycle announcement, plus the full lists from Salesforce Ben and Salesforce Time.
Salesforce certification FAQ
How many Salesforce certifications are there?
Dozens, across admin, developer, consultant, architect, marketing and AI roles, and the count changes every year as Salesforce adds, renames and retires exams. There are guides here for 16 of the most popular ones, and the score calculator covers 29 current exams.
How much does a Salesforce certification cost?
Most exams cost $200 with a $100 retake. Platform Foundations is $75 with free retakes, and architect exams are $400 with a $200 retake. Prices are in US dollars before tax.
What is the passing score for Salesforce exams?
It depends on the exam. For the certifications on this page it ranges from 58% (Platform Data Architect) to 78% (Agentforce Service Consultant). Platform Administrator is 68%.
Which Salesforce certification should I get first?
For most people, Platform Administrator. If you're brand new to Salesforce and want a cheaper, lower-pressure start, take Platform Foundations first. Developers usually start with Platform Developer, and business analysts can go straight to Business Analyst.
How long does it take to study for a Salesforce certification?
Usually two to four weeks for Platform Foundations, four to eight weeks for Administrator or App Builder, and longer for developer, consultant and architect exams if you don't use the platform every day.
Do Salesforce certifications expire?
Not if you keep them up. Complete the free maintenance module on Trailhead once a year by Salesforce's deadline. If you miss it, the certification expires.
Is a guide missing something, or does a number look out of date? Say so through the feedback form and it gets fixed.
Start where most Salesforce careers start
Platform Administrator is the prerequisite for Admin II and both Agentforce consultant exams, and its Cert Lab costs nothing. Learn the platform, test yourself until you're clear of 68%, then pick your next step from this page.
Lessons, practice questions and flashcards for all 8 Admin exam sections. Free, no card needed.
Already past Admin? Browse all Cert Labs: the Admin Cert Lab is free and every other Cert Lab is $9.99.