Hey friends,
Salesforce organizes its certifications by role, and 63 of them will remain after 24 retire on February 1, 2027. The tracks are Administrators, Architects, Business Analysts, Consultants, Data Analysts, Designers, Developers, Marketers and Sales professionals, plus product-focused and Accredited Professional credentials. That comes from Salesforce's own certification overview, and this guide walks through each group, what each exam is for and which one to take first.
I'm leaving out how registration, exam day, retakes and yearly maintenance work, because my guide to the Salesforce certification process covers that step by step. I've also left out prices, which change. Where I describe an exam below, it comes from that exam's official guide on Salesforce Help, and each name links to the guide. Passing scores and question counts differ, so open the guide before you book.
Which Salesforce certification should you take first?
Start with the work you do or want to do. This is my own shortlist, built on what each exam guide says about its audience and prerequisites.
| If you... | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are new to Salesforce | Platform Foundations | The guide is written for people who may be new to the Salesforce ecosystem, with up to 6 months of user experience. 40 questions in 70 minutes, and no prerequisite. |
| Run or support a Salesforce org | Platform Administrator | No prerequisite, and several consultant exams list it as theirs. |
| Build apps with point-and-click tools | Platform App Builder | No prerequisite. The guide describes 6 months to 1 year of experience building applications. |
| Write Apex and Lightning code | Platform Developer | No prerequisite, and it's the prerequisite for Platform Developer II. |
| Want to work with AI agents | Agentforce Specialist | No prerequisite. See my comparison of the Agentforce certifications. |
| Implement sales or support solutions for clients | Agentforce Sales Consultant or Agentforce Service Consultant | Both guides list Platform Administrator as the prerequisite. |
| Gather requirements on Salesforce projects | Business Analyst | No prerequisite, but the guide describes 2 years of business analyst experience and 2 years on the Salesforce Platform. |
| Design user experiences | Platform User Experience Designer | No prerequisite. The guide describes at least 6 months of hands-on experience in a related role. |
| Work with unified customer data | Data 360 Consultant | No prerequisite. It's for consultants who implement Data 360. |
| Connect Salesforce to other systems | Platform Integration Architect | No prerequisite listed. It covers designing secure, scalable integrations. |
| Run email and journeys in Marketing Cloud | Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist | No prerequisite is required, and the guide highly recommends the MKT 101 course. |
If you're still deciding between the first two, my beginner certification comparison puts Platform Foundations and Platform Administrator side by side. For the Admin track in order, see Salesforce certifications for admins.
How the Salesforce certification catalog is organized
Salesforce's overview lists these groups. The sections below cover them in an order that fits common learning paths:
- Administrator. Platform setup and configuration, plus Slack and Tableau Server administration.
- Developer. Code, JavaScript, Omnistudio, commerce, Marketing Cloud, MuleSoft and Slack development.
- Architect. Data, security, identity, integration and lifecycle design, up to the Technical Architect review board.
- Consultant. Implementing specific products for customers, from sales and service to data and analytics.
- Business Analyst, Designer and Data Analyst. Requirements, design strategy, user experience and Tableau analysis.
- Marketer. Marketing Cloud Engagement and Account Engagement.
- Sales Professional and Product-Focused. Agentforce Sales Foundations, Agentforce Specialist and Tableau Desktop Foundations.
- Accredited Professional. A separate group of product and industry credentials.
What changed in 2026: renames and retirements
Two changes matter if you're reading older material. First, on July 24, 2026 Salesforce renamed 16 certifications to match current product names. Per Salesforce's name changes FAQ, you don't need to re-earn a renamed certification, and the exam content and maintenance requirements don't change. A few examples:
| Old name | New name |
|---|---|
| Sales Cloud Consultant | Agentforce Sales Consultant |
| Service Cloud Consultant | Agentforce Service Consultant |
| Revenue Cloud Consultant | Revenue Management Consultant |
| Field Service Consultant | Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant |
| Nonprofit Cloud Consultant (NPC) | Agentforce Nonprofit Consultant |
| Sales Foundations | Agentforce Sales Foundations |
| Marketing Cloud Email Specialist | Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist |
| B2C Commerce Cloud Developer | B2C Commerce Developer |
The same FAQ renames eight Accredited Professional credentials, such as Health Cloud Accredited Professional, which became Agentforce Health Professional.
Second, 24 certifications retire on February 1, 2027. The retirements FAQ gives three dates: the last day to register for a retiring exam was July 24, 2026, the last day to take one was August 31, 2026, and the retirement date is February 1, 2027. Today that means you can't start any of them. If you passed one before the deadline, Salesforce says it stays valid and visible on your Trailblazer profile, marked as retired. The full list is at the end of this guide, so you can recognize the names in older job posts and study guides.
Administrator certifications
This is where most people start. Platform Foundations is the entry exam, Platform Administrator is the core credential, and Platform App Builder and Platform Administrator II extend it. My admin certification roadmap explains the order, and the beginner comparison covers the first choice.
| Certification | What it covers | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Foundations | How the platform connects departments and customer data, key terms, and core functionality such as reporting, security, customization and data management. My guide. | None |
| Platform Administrator | Maintaining and configuring a Salesforce org day to day. The core admin credential. My guide. | None |
| Platform Administrator II | Advanced administration for a seasoned admin: complex reports, automation, data access, sandboxes and data quality. My guide. | Platform Administrator |
| Platform App Builder | Designing, building and deploying custom apps with declarative tools, including the data model, security, business logic and process automation. | None |
| Slack Administrator | Managing and configuring Slack workspaces and organizations at scale, including user lifecycle, security and integrations. | None |
| Tableau Server Administrator | Tableau Server functionality in a single-machine environment. | None |
The overview also lists a CPQ Administrator certification, but it's one of the retiring ones. Two details are easy to miss. Platform Administrator II lists Platform Administrator as its prerequisite, and the Platform App Builder guide lists no prerequisite, even though many people take it after Admin.
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Developer certifications range from Apex and Lightning on the core platform to JavaScript, commerce, Marketing Cloud, MuleSoft and Slack. The Platform Developer exam is the usual start. Note that the Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer exam appears in both the Developer and Marketer lists in Salesforce's overview.
| Certification | What it covers | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Developer | Custom business logic and interfaces on the Lightning Platform using Flow, Lightning components, Apex and Visualforce. My guide. | None |
| Platform Developer II | Advanced programmatic capabilities and data modeling for complex business logic. My guide. | Platform Developer |
| JavaScript Developer | Core JavaScript for front-end and back-end web applications. It isn't tied to one framework. My guide. | None |
| Omnistudio Developer | Building and customizing applications on Omnistudio with both code and point-and-click skills. | None |
| B2C Commerce Developer | Developing B2C Commerce storefronts, including Storefront Reference Architecture, cartridges and JavaScript controllers. | None |
| Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer | Developing dynamic, personalized marketing on Marketing Cloud. | Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist |
| MuleSoft Developer | Designing, building, testing and deploying basic Mule 4 APIs and integrations. | None |
| MuleSoft Developer II | Production-ready Mule applications in a DevOps environment. | MuleSoft Developer |
| Slack Developer | Building custom apps on the Slack platform and its APIs. | None |
Two more Developer credentials, Industries CPQ Developer and MuleSoft Hyperautomation Developer, are on the retirement list.
Architect certifications
Architect exams are about design trade-offs rather than clicks. Most list no prerequisite on paper, but experience matters. For example, the Platform Data Architect guide describes 2 to 3 years of Salesforce experience and 5 or more years supporting or implementing data-centric solutions. I've written exam guides for three of them: Data Architect, Integration Architect and the Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect.
| Certification | What it covers | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Data Architect | Scalable data models, large data volumes, master data management, governance and migration. | None |
| Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect | DevOps, application lifecycle management and governance on Salesforce. | None |
| Platform Identity and Access Management Architect | Designing identity architecture and secure access management on the platform. | None |
| Platform Integration Architect | Secure, scalable integrations with the Lightning Platform. | None |
| Platform Sharing and Visibility Architect | Designing secure, scalable security models. | None |
| B2C Solution Architect | Multi-product solutions that deliver business value, drawing on the Customer 360 platform. | Platform App Builder, Integration Architect and Data Architect |
| Heroku Architect | Architecting scalable solutions and managing build workflows on Heroku Enterprise. | None |
| MuleSoft Platform Architect | Defining an organization's Anypoint Platform strategy and API-led connectivity. | None |
| MuleSoft Platform Integration Architect | Leading Anypoint Platform implementations and their technical quality and governance. | None. MuleSoft Developer is recommended. |
| Tableau Architect | Designing, deploying and maintaining a scalable Tableau Server platform, including moves to Tableau Cloud. | None |
| Technical Architect Review Board | The top of the architect path: you solve a hypothetical scenario, present it to a panel of judges and answer their questions. | A passing grade on the Architect Review Board Evaluation |
The overview also lists Application Architect and the Technical Architect Evaluation. I haven't covered those two, so check their pages in Trailhead Academy. B2B Solution Architect and B2C Commerce Architect are retiring.
Consultant certifications
Consultant exams test whether you can implement one product for a customer, so they assume project experience. Many list Platform Administrator as the prerequisite. If you're weighing the Sales exam, my post on Sales Consultant prerequisites goes deeper.
| Certification | What it covers | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Agentforce Sales Consultant | Designing and implementing Agentforce Sales solutions that meet customer requirements. My guide. | Platform Administrator |
| Agentforce Service Consultant | Customer support solutions, including case management, OmniChannel and where AI agents fit. My guide. | Platform Administrator |
| Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant | Deploying Agentforce Field Service and Operations, including the mobile app. | Platform Administrator and Agentforce Service Consultant |
| Experience Cloud Consultant | Designing and building Experience applications with declarative tools. | Platform Administrator |
| Revenue Management Consultant | Designing and implementing Agentforce Revenue Management across product to cash. | None |
| Data 360 Consultant | Implementing and consulting on Data 360, including data strategy and modeling. My guide. | None |
| CRM Analytics and Einstein Discovery Consultant | Designing and supporting CRM Analytics and Einstein Discovery apps, datasets, dashboards and stories. | None |
| OmniStudio Consultant | Consulting on digital transformation projects that use Omnistudio tools. | None |
| Agentforce Nonprofit Consultant | Designing and leading Agentforce Nonprofit implementations for nonprofit customers. | Platform Administrator |
| Slack Consultant | Leading Slack implementation projects, change management and user adoption. | None |
| Tableau Consultant | Leading the design of analytics solutions on the Tableau platform. | None |
| MuleSoft Integration Foundations | Core integration and API-led connectivity concepts, for people on a MuleSoft project team. | None |
Salesforce also lists Agentforce Life Sciences Consultant, Marketing Cloud Next Consultant and Tableau Next Consultant in this group. I haven't covered those three either. The Education Cloud, MuleSoft Catalyst and Nonprofit Success Pack consultant certifications are retiring.
Business analyst, designer and data analyst certifications
These are smaller tracks with one or two exams each. The Business Analyst exam centers on requirements and stakeholders, and my business analyst certification roundup compares it with the alternatives.
| Certification | What it covers | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Business Analyst | Understanding business needs, capturing requirements and working with stakeholders on Salesforce solutions. My guide. | None |
| Platform Strategy Designer | Using design methods to align an organization around a vision and tie design to business outcomes. | None |
| Platform User Experience Designer | UX design on the platform, including human-centered design, accessibility and declarative design. My guide. | None |
| Tableau Data Analyst | Exploring data and delivering actionable insights with Tableau Desktop, Prep and Server or Cloud. | None |
Marketer certifications
Marketer certifications cover Marketing Cloud Engagement and Marketing Cloud Account Engagement. Salesforce's overview also lists an Account Engagement Foundations exam, which I haven't covered here.
| Certification | What it covers | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Specialist | Designing and building marketing campaigns in Account Engagement, including email, lead generation and qualification. | None required. Course attendance is highly recommended. |
| Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator | Configuring Marketing Cloud products and troubleshooting account configuration. | None |
| Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist | Email marketing best practices in Marketing Cloud, such as content, subscriber data, delivery and analytics. | None required. The MKT 101 course is highly recommended. |
| Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant | Implementing Marketing Cloud solutions with design best practices. | Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator |
| Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer | Developing dynamic, personalized marketing on Marketing Cloud. | Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist |
Account Engagement Consultant is retiring.
Sales professional, product-focused and Accredited Professional credentials
Three credentials sit outside the role tracks. Agentforce Sales Foundations is the Sales Professional exam, aimed at sales skills such as building a sales plan, handling objections and negotiation. It lists no prerequisite. Agentforce Specialist is the product-focused AI exam, covered in my Salesforce AI certifications guide, and Tableau Desktop Foundations is the foundational Tableau exam.
Accredited Professional credentials are a separate group in the overview. These are the eight that remain:
- Salesforce Accredited B2B Commerce Administrator Professional
- Salesforce Accredited B2B Commerce Developer Professional
- Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Communications Professional
- Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Consumer Goods Professional
- Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Financial Services Professional
- Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Health Professional
- Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Manufacturing Professional
- Salesforce Accredited Agentforce 360 for Public Sector Professional
They're tied to specific products and industries, so check each one's detail page in Trailhead Academy before you plan around it.
Sensible paths through the catalog
These are my suggestions, not Salesforce rules. Each step follows the prerequisites listed in the guides.
- Admin to consultant. Platform Administrator, then Platform App Builder or Platform Administrator II, then Agentforce Sales Consultant or Agentforce Service Consultant, which both need Admin first.
- Developer. Platform Developer, then JavaScript Developer if you build Lightning components, then Platform Developer II, which requires Platform Developer.
- Architect. Build a base in the Developer or Admin track, then pick the architect exams that match your work, such as Data Architect or Integration Architect. Note that B2C Solution Architect lists three other certifications as prerequisites.
- AI. Agentforce Specialist has no prerequisite, so you can take it at any point. Data 360 Consultant is a natural second step if you work with customer data.
- No-code project roles. Business Analyst, then a consultant exam for the product you work on.
Mistakes that trip people up
- Studying for a retiring exam. Check the retirements list below before you buy study material.
- Skipping the Prerequisite line. Every exam guide has one. Booking a consultant exam without Platform Administrator is the most common slip.
- Using old names. A 2025 blog post about the Sales Cloud Consultant is about the same exam that's now called Agentforce Sales Consultant.
- Collecting the wrong certifications. A stack of unrelated credentials is weaker than three that match your job. Choose by role first.
- Ignoring the experience in the guide. Architect and consultant guides describe years of experience. Compare the guide's description of a typical candidate with your own experience before you book.
The 24 retiring certifications
These retire on February 1, 2027, according to the retirements FAQ and the overview:
- Advanced Field Service Accredited Professional
- B2B Solution Architect
- B2C Commerce Architect
- Consumer Goods Cloud: Trade Promotion Management Accredited Professional
- Contact Center Accredited Professional
- CPQ Administrator
- CPQ and Billing Consultant Accredited Professional
- Industries CPQ Developer
- Education Cloud Consultant
- Energy and Utilities Cloud Accredited Professional
- Heroku Developer Accredited Professional
- Loyalty Management Accredited Professional
- Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Consultant
- Marketing Cloud Advanced Cross Channel Accredited Professional
- Marketing Cloud Intelligence Accredited Professional
- Marketing Cloud Personalization Accredited Professional
- Media Cloud Accredited Professional
- MuleSoft Catalyst Consultant
- MuleSoft Hyperautomation Developer
- Net Zero Cloud Accredited Professional
- Order Management Administrator Accredited Professional
- Order Management Developer Accredited Professional
- Process Automation Accredited Professional
- Nonprofit Success Pack Consultant
For some of them, the FAQ names a next step. CPQ Administrator, CPQ and Billing Consultant and Media Cloud point to the Revenue Management Consultant exam, Heroku Developer points to the Heroku Architect exam, and Nonprofit Success Pack Consultant is retiring in favor of the newer nonprofit consultant certification, now called Agentforce Nonprofit Consultant.
FAQ
How many Salesforce certifications are there?
Salesforce says 63 certifications will remain after 24 retire on February 1, 2027.
What types of Salesforce certifications are there?
The overview groups them as Administrator, Architect, Business Analyst, Consultant, Data Analyst, Designer, Developer, Marketer, Product-Focused and Sales Professional, plus a separate Accredited Professional group.
What is the best Salesforce certification?
The best one matches your role. If you're new, Platform Foundations or Platform Administrator. For code, Platform Developer. For AI, Agentforce Specialist. The table near the top maps each goal to a first exam.
Which Salesforce certifications have prerequisites?
Several consultant exams, such as Agentforce Sales Consultant and Agentforce Service Consultant, list Platform Administrator. Platform Administrator II and Platform Developer II list the credential they build on. Foundations, Platform Administrator, Platform App Builder and Platform Developer list none.
What are the new Salesforce certifications?
On July 24, 2026, Salesforce renamed 16 certifications, adding Agentforce to names such as Agentforce Sales Consultant and Agentforce Service Consultant. Those are renames of existing exams, not new content. Check the catalog for newly added exams, because it changes.
Can I still take a retiring certification?
No. The last day to register was July 24, 2026 and the last day to take an exam was August 31, 2026.
How much do Salesforce certifications cost?
Each exam guide lists its registration and retake fee, and my Salesforce certification cost post compares them.
How do I know if someone's certification is real?
Salesforce has a verification tool, which I walk through in how to verify a Salesforce certification.
Where to go next
- Salesforce Certification: How It Works and How to Get Started: registration, exam day, retakes and maintenance.
- Best Salesforce Certification for Beginners: Platform Foundations or Administrator first.
- Salesforce Certifications for Admins: the Admin track in order.
- Agentforce Certifications Compared and Salesforce AI Certifications: the AI exams.
- Salesforce Certification Study Guides: every study guide in one place.
- Salesforce Certification Cost: exam fees, retakes and upkeep.
- How to Verify a Salesforce Certification: check a credential.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nick
