Certifications

There are essentially 3 different certification routes:

  1. Administrator –> Advanced Administrator
  2. Developer –>  Advanced Developer
  3. Administrator –> Consultant

I’ve outlined the basics below; make sure to check out the official info.

Name Official Course Exam Cost Prereq Official Guide Passing Req Prep Materials
Certified Administrator ADM201 $200 None Link Multiple Choice Exam (67%) Study Guide
Practice Exam
Certified Advanced Administrator ADM301 $200 Certified Admin Link Multiple Choice Exam (67%) Keep posted!
Certified Developer DEV401 $200 None Link Multiple Choice Exam (68%) Study Guide
Video Podcast
Certified Advanced Developer DEV501 $400 Certified Developer Link Multiple Choice Exam (73%), App & Essay Submission Video Podcast
Certified Consultant PRN201 & CON201 $200 None Link Multiple Choice Exam (73%) Keep Posted!

 

Salesforce.com Certified Administrator [First 500 Certified]
Covers out of the box functionality without much depth. Most basic exam.

Salesforce.com Certified Advanced Administrator [Passed It!]
Tests specific knowledge of advanced features of the platform. Does not require code knowledge but will require an understanding of when VF and Apex are used.

Salesforce.com Certified Developer [Passed It!]
Tests understanding of how to design and build an application on force.com.  Emphasis on data layouts and user interfaces.  Focuses on out of the box functionality, but requires an understanding of when VF and Apex are used.

Salesforce.com Certified Advanced Developer [Not Attempted]
Builds on the developer certification; requires knowledge of VF and apex code.  Includes code and essay submission.

Salesforce.com Certified Consultant [Passed It!]
Focuses on implementation strategy, data migration, business strategy, and aligning business processes to Salesforce.com.