What is the Salesforce Certified Administrator Certification?
Obtaining a Salesforce Administrator Certification serves as a strong signal that an individual possesses a fundamental comprehension of the Salesforce platform. This certification acts as a pivotal requirement for pursuing other certifications, regardless of whether one is on the path of an administrator or a developer. In my own journey, attaining the Salesforce Administrator Certification marked my initial stride towards achieving my career aspiration of becoming a Salesforce developer.
The Salesforce Administrator examination is ideally suited for individuals who possess an extensive and comprehensive understanding of Salesforce, along with its myriad customization capabilities to align with the unique requirements of organizations.
Categories for the Salesforce Administrator Certification Exam sections
The Salesforce Administrator Certification Exam is divided into various sections, and each section is assigned a specific percentage that represents its weight in the overall exam. To determine which topics to focus on and their respective section weightings, it’s essential to refer to the official Salesforce Certified Administrator Exam Guide. It’s worth noting that these section categories and their weight percentages can change periodically.
Here’s an example of how the sections might be categorized:
Configuration and Setup: 20%
Workflow/ Process Automation: 20%
Object Manager and Lightning App Builder: 20%
Sales and Marketing Applications: 12%
Service and Support Applications: 11%
Productivity and Collaboration: 7%
Data and Analytics Management: 10%
As you can see, some sections carry more weight in terms of the number of questions on the exam. While it’s crucial to have a good understanding of all these sections, it’s advisable to prioritize your study efforts on the sections with higher weightings, as they are likely to be more challenging.
Once you feel that you have built a solid foundation of knowledge, you can shift your focus toward the sections that have a weight of 10% or more. This approach will help you better prepare for the exam.
Here are 7 tips for getting ready for your Salesforce Administrator Certification Exam:
1. See what the exam is all about
To successfully obtain your Salesforce Administrator certification, you must possess a comprehensive understanding of how to configure and tailor the Salesforce Platform, manage users effectively, and optimize the platform’s features and capabilities. To gain insight into the exam’s structure and specifics, such as the number of questions, time constraints, covered topics, their respective weights, recommended study resources, and more, refer to the Administrator exam guide.
2. Schedule your certification exam
It may sound counterintuitive to schedule your exam before commencing your study efforts, but it can be a potent motivator. Having a fixed exam date helps you prioritize your study time and stay committed to your certification goal. You can schedule your certification exam here, choosing between an onsite testing center or the convenience of an online exam. If you prefer the online option, you can explore online test-taking tips.
3. Form a Study Group
Studying for an exam is often more engaging and productive when you have peers accompanying you on the learning journey. Seek out a study group by connecting with local Community Groups or posting in the Admin Trailblazers group to discover potential study partners.
4. Gain Practical Experience
Practical experience is invaluable when preparing for the exam, as it allows you to recall specific projects and implementations, aiding you in tackling challenging, scenario-based questions. Allocate dedicated time in your calendar for hands-on practice and communicate its importance to your team. To bolster your Salesforce skills and knowledge, it’s recommended to complete both the Admin Beginner and Admin Intermediate trails on Trailhead. Additionally, consider creating an app that caters to your interests, whether it’s tracking your favorite TV episodes, movies, recipes, or even planning a personal event like a wedding. Building your own app not only provides experience but also showcases your abilities to potential employers.
5. Complete the Admin Certification Trail
To prepare thoroughly for the exam, make use of the Admin Certification Prep trail, designed specifically to help you become exam-ready. There’s also an Admin Certification trailmix available, which indicates the percentage of coverage for each subject area on the test. This allows you to allocate more time to subjects with higher percentages, such as Standard & Custom Objects, Sales and Marketing Applications, and Security & Access, and less time on areas with lower percentages, like Mobile, AppExchange, and User Setup.
6. Participate in a FREE Virtual Preparation Webinar
Enhance your confidence by attending a free virtual certification prep webinar led by a Salesforce Certified Instructor. These sessions offer valuable study tips and explanations for challenging concepts, providing you with a significant boost in your preparation.
7. Excel Before and After the Exam
When taking the exam, focus on reading the questions carefully, as time is limited. If there are questions you’re uncertain about, don’t worry—make your best-educated guess, mark them for review, and return to them after addressing other questions. Utilize the three provided pieces of scratch paper to jot down notes, helping you recall the context and reasoning behind your answers when revisiting marked questions. Remember, not everyone passes the certification exam on the first attempt, but the experience itself is valuable. After the exam, you’ll receive section-level feedback via email, allowing you to identify your strong areas and areas requiring further study. Take advantage of this feedback to schedule your exam retake while the knowledge is still fresh in your mind.
Resources
Trailhead: Salesforce Certified Administrator Exam Guide
Trailhead: Prepare for Your Salesforce Administrator Credential
Salesforce Developer Site: Administrator Practice Test