Hey friends,
If you write, or want to write, Apex and Lightning web components, take Salesforce Certified Platform Developer first. If you build with clicks and Flow, take Platform App Builder first. Take JavaScript Developer first only if you already know JavaScript and are new to Salesforce. Platform Developer II comes last, because it requires Platform Developer. That's my take, and the exam guides back up the facts behind it.
Salesforce has several developer exams, and they test very different things. Below: the four most people choose between, side by side, then a quick way to pick. Every fact comes from the official exam guides, checked on October 28, 2026. Salesforce calls Platform Developer I "Certified Platform Developer" now, so I use both names.
The four developer exams side by side
| Exam | What the exam guide says |
|---|---|
| Platform Developer (also called Platform Developer I) | 60 questions, 105 minutes, 68% to pass. No prerequisite. Aimed at developers with 1 to 2 years of experience, including about 6 months on the Lightning Platform. Covers Apex, SOQL, triggers, Lightning web components, testing and deployment. |
| Platform App Builder | 60 questions, 105 minutes, 73% to pass. No prerequisite. Aimed at people with 6 months to 1 year of experience building apps with point-and-click tools. Covers data modeling, security, business logic and automation, and deployment. |
| JavaScript Developer | 60 questions, 105 minutes, 65% to pass. No prerequisite. Aimed at people with 1 to 2 years of JavaScript experience. Covers the JavaScript language itself, from types and functions to asynchronous code. |
| Platform Developer II | 60 questions, 120 minutes, 70% to pass. Requires Platform Developer. Aimed at developers with 2 to 4 years of experience. Covers larger data volumes, asynchronous Apex, integration and performance. |
All four cost $200 to register and $100 to retake, plus tax, per the exam pricing page. I break the fee down in how much the Platform Developer I certification costs.
Which one should you take first?
| Your situation | Take first |
|---|---|
| You write Apex, or want to move into it from admin work | Platform Developer. It is the main developer credential and the gateway to Platform Developer II. |
| You build apps and automation with clicks, and code is not your day job | Platform App Builder. It is declarative, so it fits an admin or builder. |
| You know JavaScript well but have barely used Salesforce | JavaScript Developer, then Platform Developer. |
| You hold Platform Developer and have 2 or more years of development experience | Platform Developer II. |
| You work in one product, such as OmniStudio, B2C Commerce or MuleSoft | That product's own developer exam, listed on Salesforce's pricing page. |
Salesforce's guides don't rank these exams, so the experience levels they list are the best signal. Pick the exam that matches the work you do now, not the one that sounds most impressive.
Platform Developer or Platform App Builder?
This is the choice I get asked about most. The two overlap in data modeling, security and automation, but Platform Developer adds Apex, SOQL, triggers and Lightning web components, while Platform App Builder stays declarative. The Platform Developer guide lists Platform Administrator as a recommended certification, not a required one. If you are an admin who wants to code, I wrote a longer comparison in App Builder vs Platform Developer I, and one for admins in Admin vs Platform Developer I.
What JavaScript Developer does and doesn't prove
JavaScript Developer tests JavaScript, not the Salesforce platform. The exam guide says the skills apply to any framework, such as Lightning web components. So it proves you know the language, but it won't teach you Apex, SOQL or governor limits (the per-transaction caps Salesforce puts on code). That makes it a good first step if JavaScript is your background, and a poor substitute for Platform Developer if you want a Salesforce developer role. My JavaScript Developer study guide covers the exam. If JavaScript is your starting point, the JavaScript Developer Cert Lab is where I would practice.
Where Platform Developer II fits
Platform Developer II is a second step, not a starting point. The guide requires Platform Developer first and describes a candidate with 2 to 4 years of experience, including at least 1 year designing, building and deploying on the platform. If you are deciding between the two, read Platform Developer I vs II.
What happens after you pass
Each of these certifications needs one Trailhead maintenance badge per year, per Salesforce's maintenance page, so every extra certification adds a yearly task. Platform Developer and Platform Developer II share one badge. That is one more reason not to collect exams you won't use at work. For the wider map of credentials, see every Salesforce certification explained, and for what developers do next, the Salesforce developer career path.
Cert Lab by Nick Frates
Starting with Platform Developer?
The Platform Developer Cert Lab has lessons weighted like the exam, practice questions that explain every option, flashcards and timed practice exams, so you can see where you stand before you book.
Start the Cert Lab, $9.99 →Frequently asked questions
Which Salesforce developer certification should I take first?
Platform Developer if you write or want to write Apex and Lightning web components. Platform App Builder if you build with clicks. JavaScript Developer only if you already know JavaScript and are new to Salesforce.
Do I need Platform Developer before Platform Developer II?
Yes. The Platform Developer II exam guide lists Salesforce Certified Platform Developer as the prerequisite.
Is JavaScript Developer a Salesforce platform exam?
No. It tests the JavaScript language, and the guide says the skills apply to any framework, including Lightning web components. It doesn't test Apex or SOQL.
Do I need Platform Administrator before a developer exam?
No. The Platform Developer guide lists it as recommended, not required, and Platform Developer, Platform App Builder and JavaScript Developer have no prerequisite.
How much do the developer exams cost?
$200 to register and $100 to retake, plus applicable taxes, for Platform Developer, Platform Developer II and JavaScript Developer. Platform App Builder is listed at the same price.
Is Platform Developer harder than Platform App Builder?
They are different. Platform App Builder has the higher passing score (73% against 68%), but Platform Developer asks you to read and reason about code. Pick by what you do at work.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nick
