Salesforce Certifications for Admins: Which to Get and in What Order (Admin vs App Builder)

Hey friends,

For most admins, the order is Platform Administrator first, then Platform App Builder, then Platform Administrator II (Advanced Admin), then Agentforce Specialist. After that, follow the job you want: business analyst, a cloud consultant certification, or developer.

I hold 17 Salesforce certifications. Here's the order I'd use if I were an admin starting today, and why.

Do them in this order and each one makes the next easier. For what each exam costs, see my Salesforce certification cost guide.

1. Platform Administrator

The foundation, and the credential employers name in job posts. Trailhead's credential page lists App Builder, Administrator II and Agentforce Specialist as the related next steps. Start with my Admin certification guide.

2. Admin vs App Builder: which first?

Admin first. Trailhead's App Builder page describes it as designing, building and deploying custom applications with the platform's declarative tools. That overlaps heavily with Admin's Object Manager and Automation sections, so it's the cheapest second certification you'll ever earn. The difference in focus: Admin is about running and supporting an org; App Builder is about designing apps on it. Guide: Platform App Builder study guide. To test yourself, try my App Builder practice questions. When you're ready, my App Builder study plan lays it out week by week.

3. Administrator II (Advanced Admin)

Trailhead describes Administrator II holders as seasoned admins who use advanced features to solve business problems. Take it after real experience, not right after Admin. My Advanced Administrator study guide covers the exam.

4. Agentforce Specialist

The Admin exam itself now includes an Agentforce section, and the Salesforce Admins blog describes the admin role expanding into AI work. That makes Agentforce Specialist the natural fourth step.

Then follow the job you want

• Requirements and process: Business Analyst.
• Code: Platform Developer I. Read Admin vs Platform Developer I and the developer career path. Torn between the two builder certs? See App Builder vs Platform Developer I.
• Not sure Salesforce is for you yet? Platform Foundations is a lighter starting point.

Mistakes I see

• Collecting certifications faster than experience. Interviewers notice.
• Skipping maintenance. Each certification needs its annual maintenance module or it expires. Here's how that works for the Salesforce Certified Administrator credential.
• Taking an advanced exam right after the associate one, before you've used the features for real.

Hope this helps!

Best,

Nick