Which Salesforce Certification is best for beginners?

Are you planning to build your career on a solid foundation of Salesforce? Then this is the best decision you have taken to witness a successful career ahead. Salesforce is consecutively ranked as the topmost CRM service provider in the world. Starting your career as a Salesforce Certified professional will help you boost your work life. Read on Can you learn Salesforce in 2 months?

Let us check which Salesforce Certification you should aspire to take as a beginner.

Today, there are more than 40 certifications in the Salesforce certification portfolio, but some of them are especially suitable for beginners. Let’s check them out.

Salesforce Administrator Certification

The Salesforce Administrator Certification is one of the most in-demand certifications in multiple ways. First, it is one of the first certifications a beginner can start their Salesforce journey with as it is less challenging than the other Salesforce certs. 

Secondly, Salesforce Admin Certification does not need any high-end qualifications or hardcore skills. Anybody with decent knowledge of the Salesforce platform can appear for the exam and become a Salesforce Admin.

Your ability to resolve problems with standard Salesforce setups, such as process automation, user and data access management, interface design, and more, will be tested and verified in this certification. 

The Salesforce Admin Certification criteria could be summed up as you should be well versed in the Salesforce program. You must be proficient in managing and configuring cloud-based sales and service solutions. You should be skilled at presentations and be familiar with Salesforce CRM. 

Finally, it would help if you were acquainted with the basic features like managing users, objects, fields, and custom modifications. Check what happens if you fail a Salesforce exam 3 times?

Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification 

Platform App Builder is a certification that falls between the developer and administrator qualifications. It highlights how Salesforce enables the creation of original apps and validates a professional’s ability to develop complex solutions to modify webpages, reports, and dashboards.

The Platform App Builder certification does not need in-depth programming knowledge or abilities. Still, it demands understanding when coding is appropriate or essential to accomplish a goal. 

As a beginner in the Salesforce ecosystem, we advise you first to clear the Salesforce Administrator Certification and then go for the Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification before jumping into the Salesforce Developer Certification. 

Salesforce Developer Certifications

If you aspire to become a Developer, then the Salesforce Platform Developer I certification is the best for you. This is the second most suitable choice of certifications for beginners because even this does not have any prerequisites. It is classified into 2 categories, the first one being the Salesforce Platform Developer I certification and the second being the Salesforce Platform Developer II certification.

The Platform Developer I and Platform Developer II certifications encompass the understanding of development lifecycles, excellent programming methods, and APEX code, similar to Java.

It will help you better understand the Salesforce platform Developer field if you get certified with the Salesforce Platform Developer I certification first and then begin your way to achieving the Salesforce Platform Developer II certificate.

• Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I

If you have experience managing a developer’s responsibilities for at least 6 months to 1 year, then you are eligible for this Salesforce Developer certification. It will help if you are well-versed in the fundamentals of Visualforce and Apex and have a strong understanding of the Salesforce platform. 

• Salesforce Certified Platform Developer II 

It is mandatory for a Salesforce Platform Developer II certification aspirant to first complete the Salesforce Platform Developer I certification. It will help you to get a better understanding of the Salesforce platform developer territory.

Typically, candidates for this certification have two to four years of experience working as developers, with at least one of those years working with the Force.com platform. Being certified as a Salesforce Platform Developer II demonstrates that you are an expert in Visualforce and Apex and know how to build Lightning Web Components (LWC) and apps on Heroku and use REST and SOAP APIs.

Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant Certification

Many Salesforce candidates possess 2-5 years of working as senior professionals in the cloud platform and want to validate their expertise by being Salesforce certified to attract recognition and better job prospects. If this description matches you, then the Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant Certification can be your niche. 

Keep in mind this certification has a prerequisite. You must first get certified as a Salesforce Administrator and then opt for Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant Certification. All you need is prior expertise in implementing Sales Cloud solutions while working with sales and marketing to maximize the ROI of the business. 

Being certified as a Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant demonstrates that you have a firm grasp of Sales Cloud product features and how to customize them. A Salesforce Cloud Consultant is the person who analyzes the business needs of a client and, after that, creates and maintains cloud-based sales applications designed according to their needs. 

Summing Up

Salesforce, the top-ranked CRM service provider in the world, is the best place to get certified to demonstrate your abilities in handling the cloud platform and contributing to an organisation’s growth. We have covered some of the high-profile certificates in this blog. There are more, indeed. 

If you want to know further about the courses and prospects, join the saasguru official Slack community, where our seasoned course instructors for the Salesforce certification preparation training course respond to the aspirants’ queries and provide solutions that help them advance their careers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the Benefits of Getting Salesforce Certified?

• Career Progression: Salesforce certifications can unlock new opportunities and career trajectories.
• Skill Verification: Certifications attest to your Salesforce skills and expertise, demonstrating your proficiency to employers.
• Enhanced Earnings Potential: Professionals with certifications typically possess elevated earning potential due to their validated abilities.
• Professional Authenticity: Certifications amplify your credibility and illustrate your dedication to professional advancement.
• Distinct Advantage: Possessing a certification can differentiate you from other applicants in a competitive employment market.
• Community and Connectivity: Achieving certification links you to a network of professionals with similar qualifications.

2. Which Salesforce Certification Should I Get First?

The Salesforce Administrator Certification is often recommended as the first certification for beginners. It provides foundational knowledge and skills related to the Salesforce platform and does not require extensive prerequisites. It validates your ability to manage users, data, and security, as well as build reports, dashboards, and workflows.

3. How Much Does It Cost to Get Salesforce Certified?

The cost of Salesforce certifications can vary. Here are a few examples:

• Salesforce Administrator: $200 USD (retake fee: $100 USD)
• Salesforce Platform Developer I: $200 USD (retake fee: $100 USD)

Check this blog for more details – Salesforce Certifications List and Cost [updated 2023]

4. Which Salesforce Certification is the Best for Beginners with No Experience?

The Salesforce Administrator Certification is commonly recommended for beginners with no experience. It provides a foundational understanding of the platform and is less challenging than other certifications. It validates your ability to manage and configure Salesforce, create users, and more, without requiring in-depth technical knowledge.

5. Which Salesforce Certification is the Easiest?

The term “easiest” can be subjective as it depends on your existing knowledge and skills. However, many consider the Salesforce Administrator or Salesforce Associate Certification to be one of the more straightforward certifications to start with due to its foundational level and the wide availability of study materials and courses. Remember that even the certifications considered “easier” require dedicated study and hands-on experience to pass.