Obtaining a Salesforce certification can increase the annual salary of a professional by up to $ 20,000 compared to an non-certified employee, according to a study conducted in Denver in the United States. If the data does not yet exist in India, this gives an idea of ​​the financial added value of certification. During recruitment, it is a way to tip the scales in your favor. Each certification is also one more argument in negotiating the salary.

In job advertisements, the majority of companies look for profiles with Salesforce certification. There are 27 different certifications and yet little or too much information on the issue. Which certification should be passed first? How do the tests take place? How to prepare for it? How to revise? What’s your profile ? I have answered these questions for you.

Which certification should be passed first?

Are you more functional or technical? It all depends on your profile. To start, you must pass one of these three certifications: Administrator , Platform Developer I or Platform App Builder .

Salesforce administrator

The path of a Salesforce administrator ( job profile ) includes two main certifications: the Administrator and the Advanced Administrator . The questions will call on your ability to answer problems using standard Salesforce configurations: process automation, user and data access management, interface design, etc.

Salesforce developer

For more technical profiles such as Salesforce developer ( job description ), the Platform Developer I and Platform Developer II certifications are more suitable. They relate to knowledge of the APEX code (close to JAVA), development cycles and good programming practices.

If you are planning a technical course, it is still advisable to pass the administrator certification first. It allows you to have a global view of the possibilities of Salesforce as standard. It is sometimes useful to know that a few clicks can be enough!

App Builder

Salesforce has also created a certification halfway between the administrator and the developer: the Platform App Builder. It’s a way to test your ability to build complex solutions and use Lightning to personalize pages, reports, dashboards, etc. It certifies that you can create personalized applications in Salesforce.

I advise you to take the Platform App Builder after your administrator certifications and before the developer journey, but it is a matter of personal preference.

Again, nothing is mandatory. You just have to check the prerequisites of each certification and make your way!

How to prepare for your Salesforce certification

The exam is a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ). You will have 60 questions with a choice of 4 to 5 answers. You will then have to choose the correct answer (s). A correctly answered question is equal to one point. If you have only one error on the question, it is counted as 0.

It is possible to take the test online or on site (at the premises of one of the approved organizations).

Go to the Salesforce website, on the certifications page . You will find information on the certification program, standard questions, the duration of the test, the score to obtain… and the guide! It indicates the subjects that will be mentioned in the test and the value of each in calculating the score.

Use these method to train:

Documentation
The Salesforce documentation is the benchmark in terms of functionality and capacity of the platform.
The Help section allows you to understand the possibilities and limits of each functionality. To find technical documentation, go through the Developer section instead .

Whichever method you choose, these documents will surely be part of your learning. They guarantee you correct and useful information for your certification, among others.

Trailhead
Trailhead is a free training site from the Salesforce universe and allows to train in functionality through modules. These modules must be completed by answering mini quizzes or by configuring the environment according to the statement. The cases are drawn from the problems encountered in business.

It is a mixture of theoretical and practical exercises that make learning easier.

Salesforce communities
Many people discuss certifications on communities such as the Trailblazer Community , not to mention social networks like Quora!

A word of caution: The information on the communities need to be vetted since these are open forums and discussions. 

Training with Certified Professional
Learn from pros. People who have already been through the tests and know what works and what does not.
It ultimately boils down to your preferences and budget for there are both – certified partner agencies and independent professionals available for the purpose.

Last, but not least!

Passing a Salesforce certification will cost you $ 200 (+ GST, which will cost you around $236) for a first try. In case of failure, you can retry the test at half price.

It may be both exciting and scary to start. Plan your test. It is a good commitment that will force you to immerse yourself in your revisions. There’s no point in rushing! Give yourself a few weeks of learning before D-Day.

After that, it will already be time to think about his career. If you do not yet know which path is the most suitable for you, consult our counselor or try a free demo at our office.
Follow the link Salesforce training in Gurgaon, for more information, key benefits, trainer profile and batch details.

You now have the keys in hand, so go for it!