Free Salesforce Training & Certification: Where to Start?

Salesforce skills are in high demand, making it an excellent career path for beginners and experienced professionals alike. Whether you’re an aspiring Salesforce administrator, developer, or consultant, getting the right training is the key to success. 

Fortunately, there are several free resources available to help you learn and even prepare for Salesforce certifications without spending a dime.

Salesforce Certification Training & Exam Preparation

1. Salesforce Administrator Training 

The Salesforce Certified Administrator credential is designed for professionals who manage and configure Salesforce environments, focusing on user setup, data management, security, automation, and reporting.

Exam Syllabus:

• Configuration & Setup (20%) – User management, security, profiles, and permission sets.
• Object Manager & Lightning App Builder (20%) – Custom fields, page layouts, and app customization.
• Sales & Marketing Applications (12%) – Lead management, campaign setup, and opportunity tracking.
• Service & Support Applications (11%) – Case management, knowledge, and service automation.
• Productivity & Collaboration (7%) – Chatter, reports, dashboards, and workflows.
• Data & Analytics Management (14%) – Reports, dashboards, and data security.
• Workflow/Process Automation (16%) – Approval processes, flows, process builder, and automation rules.

Preparation Strategy:

• Complete the Salesforce Administrator Trailmix on Trailhead.
• Practice in a free Salesforce Developer Org.

2. Salesforce Developer Training  

The Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I certification is for professionals who develop custom applications using Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning Components.

Exam Syllabus:

• Salesforce Fundamentals (10%) – Object model, MVC architecture.
• Data Modeling & Management (12%) – Relationships, schema builder, and SOQL/SOSL.
• Process Automation & Logic (40%) – Apex triggers, workflows, and flows.
• User Interface (23%) – Visualforce, Lightning Components, UI customization.
• Testing, Debugging, & Deployment (15%) – Debugging, test classes, deployment best practices.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Salesforce Developer Trailmix.
• Complete hands-on projects in Salesforce Developer Edition.

3. Salesforce Flow Builder Training

Salesforce Flow is a powerful automation tool that enables users to build complex workflows and business processes with minimal coding.

What You’ll Learn:

• Flow Types & Capabilities – Screen flows, record-triggered flows, and scheduled flows.
• Flow Design Best Practices – Variables, loops, and fault handling.
• Automation Scenarios – Automate approvals, data updates, and task creation.
• Debugging & Optimization – Troubleshooting common flow errors.

Preparation Strategy:

• Complete the Salesforce Flow Trailmix.
• Build and test flows in a Salesforce Developer Edition account.

4. Salesforce Associate Certification Training

The Salesforce Certified Associate credential is designed for individuals new to Salesforce, helping them understand the platform’s ecosystem, business value, and core functionalities.

Exam Syllabus:

• Salesforce Ecosystem (32%) – Understanding Salesforce applications, cloud solutions, and use cases.
• Navigation (28%) – Basic navigation, global search, and data management.
• Data Model (25%) – Standard and custom objects, relationships, and security settings.
• Reporting & Dashboards (15%) – Creating and customizing reports and dashboards.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Salesforce Associate Trailmix on Trailhead.

5. Salesforce Service Cloud Training

The Salesforce Certified Service Cloud Consultant credential is designed for professionals who implement and optimize customer service solutions in Salesforce.

Exam Syllabus:

• Industry Knowledge (10%) – Best practices in customer service, contact centers, and industry trends.
• Implementation Strategies (15%) – Setting up case management, SLAs, and escalation rules.
• Service Cloud Solution Design (16%) – Omni-channel, Knowledge Management, and automation.
• Case Management (15%) – Case lifecycle, assignment rules, and automation tools.
• Service Console (15%) – Configuring the Service Console for productivity.
• Integration & Analytics (14%) – Reporting, dashboards, and integrations with third-party tools.
• Knowledge Management (13%) – Setting up a knowledge base for self-service.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Service Cloud Consultant Trailmix on Trailhead.
• Gain hands-on experience with case management, Omni-Channel, and Knowledge articles.

6. Salesforce Field Service Lightning (FSL) Training

The Salesforce Certified Field Service Consultant credential is designed for professionals implementing Field Service solutions, optimizing mobile workforce management, and streamlining on-site service operations.

Exam Syllabus:

• Field Service Overview (5%) – Understanding Field Service Lightning (FSL) and its capabilities.
• Managing Resources (15%) – Setting up service territories, technicians, and skills.
• Service Appointment Management (10%) – Scheduling policies, dispatching, and field operations.
• Work Order Management (25%) – Creating and managing work orders and service reports.
• Scheduling & Optimization (15%) – Automated scheduling, workforce optimization, and AI-driven assignments.
• Mobile App Configuration (10%) – Setting up the Field Service Mobile App for technicians.
• Inventory Management (10%) – Managing parts, returns, and van stock.
• Integration & Reporting (10%) – Connecting FSL with Service Cloud and generating reports.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Field Service Consultant Trailmix on Trailhead.
• Practice setting up Field Service policies in a Salesforce Developer Org.

7. Salesforce CPQ Specialist Training

The Salesforce CPQ Specialist certification is designed for professionals responsible for implementing and managing Salesforce CPQ solutions, focusing on product configuration, pricing strategies, and quote automation.

Exam Syllabus:

• CPQ Platform Basics (23%) – Understanding CPQ setup, guided selling, and package installation.
• Pricing & Discounting (16%) – Pricing methods, discounting, and approval processes.
• Quote Management (11%) – Quote templates, document generation, and renewal automation.
• Product Configuration (17%) – Bundles, rules, and dependency management.
• Orders & Contract Management (14%) – Subscription management, amendments, and renewals.
• Advanced CPQ Topics (19%) – Approvals, custom scripting, and integrations.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Salesforce CPQ Specialist Trailmix on Trailhead.
• Gain hands-on experience by practicing CPQ setups in a Salesforce Developer Org.

8. Salesforce OmniStudio Training

The Salesforce OmniStudio Consultant certification validates expertise in building and managing digital experiences using OmniStudio tools such as FlexCards, OmniScripts, and DataRaptors.

Exam Syllabus:

• OmniStudio Overview (15%) – Understanding key OmniStudio components and their use cases.
• DataRaptors (20%) – Extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes.
• FlexCards (25%) – Designing and configuring interactive UI components.
• OmniScripts (30%) – Creating guided processes and automation flows.
• Integration & Best Practices (10%) – Connecting OmniStudio with external systems.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the OmniStudio Consultant Trailmix.
• Build and test OmniScripts and FlexCards in a Salesforce Developer Org.

9. Lightning Web Components (LWC) Training

Lightning Web Components (LWC) is the modern UI framework for building fast, reusable components in Salesforce.

What You’ll Learn:

• LWC Basics – Component structure, templates, and rendering.
• Data Binding & Events – Communicating between components.
• Apex & Lightning Data Service – Fetching and updating data.
• Security & Performance – Best practices for secure and optimized LWC apps.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Lightning Web Components Trailmix.
• Practice LWC development using VS Code & Salesforce CLI.

10. Agentforce Specialist Certification Training (Formerly AI Specialist)

The Agentforce Specialist certification validates expertise in AI-driven automation, prompt engineering, and customer engagement using Salesforce AI agents.

Exam Syllabus:

• Prompt Engineering (30%) – Covers Prompt Builder, grounding techniques, and AI response accuracy.
• Agentforce Concepts (30%) – Focuses on AI agent functionality, security, adoption, and deployment strategies.
• Agentforce & Data Cloud (20%) – Utilizes the Data Library and retrievers for AI-driven interactions.
• Agentforce & Service Cloud (10%) – Connects AI agents to Knowledge articles and digital channels for better support.
• Agentforce & Sales Cloud (10%) – Implements AI-powered sales assistants and coaching tools to enhance sales performance.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Agentforce Specialist Trailmix.
• Gain hands-on experience by working with AI-driven automation tools.

Related Read – Salesforce Renames AI Specialist Exam to ‘Certified Agentforce Specialist

11. Sales Cloud Consultant Training

The Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant certification is designed for professionals who design and implement Sales Cloud solutions to drive sales automation and performance.

Exam Syllabus:

• Sales Cloud Solution Design (25%) – Lead, opportunity, and pipeline management.
• Account & Contact Management (15%) – Customer segmentation and relationships.
• Sales Productivity & Integration (15%) – Forecasting, automation, and Einstein AI features.
• Implementation Strategies (15%) – Designing scalable and efficient solutions.
• Analytics & Reports (15%) – Advanced reporting, dashboards, and KPIs.
• Data Management & Security (15%) – Role hierarchies, security settings, and data sharing.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Sales Cloud Consultant Trailmix.
• Gain experience configuring Sales Cloud and pipeline automation.

12. Salesforce Advanced Administrator Training

The Salesforce Advanced Administrator certification is designed for experienced administrators who want to master complex Salesforce configurations and automation strategies.

Exam Syllabus:

• Security & Access (20%) – Advanced permissions, user authentication, and security controls.
• Objects & Relationships (20%) – Master-detail relationships, record types, and schema best practices.
• Automation & Process Builder (25%) – Advanced workflows, flows, and validation rules.
• Analytics & Reporting (20%) – Custom report types, dashboards, and KPI tracking.
• Service & Support Applications (15%) – Omni-channel setup, case management, and Service Cloud integrations.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Advanced Administrator Trailmix.
• Gain hands-on experience managing advanced automation and security features.

13. Marketing Cloud Training

The Salesforce Marketing Cloud certification focuses on marketing automation, email campaigns, and customer engagement.

Exam Syllabus:

• Email Studio (20%) – List segmentation, email automation, and campaign management.
• Journey Builder & Automation Studio (25%) – Customer journeys, triggers, and scheduled automation.
• Data Management (20%) – Contact records, segmentation, and subscriber lists.
• Pardot Marketing Automation (20%) – Lead nurturing, scoring, and B2B marketing strategies.
• Analytics & Reporting (15%) – Campaign performance, A/B testing, and ROI tracking.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Marketing Cloud Trailmix.
• Gain hands-on experience by creating marketing automation campaigns.
• Explore real-world B2B and B2C use cases for Marketing Cloud and Pardot.

14. Business Analyst Training

The Salesforce Business Analyst certification is for professionals who analyze business processes, gather requirements, and drive Salesforce implementations to optimize operations.

Exam Syllabus:

• Business Process Mapping (25%) – Understanding workflows, data flow, and process optimization.
• User Stories & Requirements Gathering (20%) – Capturing stakeholder needs and defining acceptance criteria.
• Data Analysis & Reporting (20%) – Utilizing Salesforce reports, dashboards, and KPIs.
• Stakeholder Engagement (20%) – Collaboration, communication, and requirement prioritization.
• Salesforce Capabilities (15%) – Understanding platform capabilities and solution design.

Preparation Strategy:

• Follow the Business Analyst Trailmix.
• Work on real-world case studies and user story creation.

How to Start Your Free Salesforce Learning Journey

Before diving into certifications, it’s essential to build a strong foundational knowledge of Salesforce. The best way to do this is through structured learning platforms that offer guided content and hands-on exercises.

Trailhead: The Ultimate Free Learning Platform

Salesforce Trailhead is the official learning platform designed to help individuals of all experience levels gain expertise in Salesforce. It offers interactive, self-paced learning modules that guide you through key concepts, real-world scenarios, and hands-on challenges.

Key Benefits of Trailhead:

• Structured Learning Paths: Modules are grouped into Trails and Superbadges, making it easy to follow a guided learning path.
• Hands-On Experience: Use a free Salesforce Developer Edition account to practice concepts directly within the Salesforce environment.
• Gamified Learning: Earn points, badges, and even Superbadges to showcase your expertise.
• Role-Specific Learning: Choose trails based on roles like Admin, Developer, Consultant, or Architect.

If you’re new to Salesforce, starting with the “Beginner Admin Trail” or the “Salesforce Fundamentals” module is highly recommended.

Salesforce Certification Days: Free Expert-Led Training Sessions

Once you’ve gained foundational knowledge, the next step is certification preparation. While Salesforce certification exams usually require a fee, Salesforce offers free Certification Days—half-day virtual training sessions conducted by certified experts.

These sessions focus on helping candidates prepare for key Salesforce exams by covering essential topics, best practices, and sample exam questions.

Why Join Salesforce Certification Days?

• Expert Guidance: Learn directly from Salesforce trainers who provide insights into exam patterns.
• Focused Content: Sessions cover the most important topics for each certification.
• Exclusive Resources: Participants receive additional study materials to reinforce their learning.

Salesforce Certification Days are an excellent way to solidify your knowledge before attempting an exam.

saasguru: Master Certifications with Structured Learning & Mock Exams

For those aiming to crack Salesforce certification exams, structured learning combined with mock exams is the best approach. saasguru is an excellent platform that provides a structured way to prepare for and pass Salesforce certification exams efficiently.

Why Choose saasguru for Certification Prep?

• 30+ Salesforce Certification Courses covering multiple roles, from admin to developer and architect.
• 50+ Mock Exams to practice in a real-exam-like environment.
• 50+ Hands-On Salesforce Labs to gain practical experience.

Unlike traditional learning platforms, saasguru tailors its learning path based on your strengths and weaknesses, helping you focus on areas where you need improvement.

Moreover, you can sign up for free on saasguru to explore the platform and access valuable study resources.

Checkout – Salesforce Training Courses by saasguru

End Note

Your Salesforce journey starts here! With Trailhead, Salesforce Certification Days, and saasguru for hands-on practice and mock exams, you have everything you need to succeed without spending a dime.

Also, join us on Slack Community for the latest Salesforce updates, expert tips, and a supportive network of learners just like you. Join Now!