Most valuable Salesforce Certifications 2021
7 min
‘Why’ ‘Which’ and ‘How many' are questions that arise when thinking of Salesforce certifications.
The words of Steve Jobs, “Learn continually – there’s always one more thing to learn” echo in my head when someone asks why we should learn or do certifications one after the other.
- Some advantages of obtaining Salesforce Certifications:
- Builds trust with recruiters and adds weight to your resume.
- Helps you access more and better job opportunities.
- Fast-tracks your career in your current job.
- Enables you to optimize your job.
- Provides you with a skillset to propel your success.
This was the answer to the “Why.”
Before sitting for any Salesforce Certification, you should get well acquainted with registration and exam dates, exam and retake fees, Syllabus, and its module-wise weightage, and passing marks.
Knowing how many questions await you, the test duration, and whether it's online or offline might be relevant. Still, you can't forget to review requirements such as a webcam or installing specific software.
Hopping to “Which,” Salesforce tries to cover certifications for every profession that benefits from it.
Talking about the most valuable Salesforce Certifications of 2021. A few of them are:
Architect Credentials:
Before this year there was only one route to Salesforce Architect credential that is Technical Architect Certification. This year Salesforce has diversified the Salesforce Architect credentials in the following ways:
Technical Architect:
In order to achieve this certification, aspiring candidates have to clear 7 mandatory certifications plus a final interview with the Review Board (with a presentation + QA setup) which comprises a panel of Salesforce Experts. There are two domain architect certifications:
→ Application Architect Certification Is awarded once all four certifications stated below are completed. The order does not matter and no additional exam is required.
- Data Architecture and Management Designer.
- Sharing and Visibility Designer.
- Platform Developer I
- App Builder
*There is one optional Certification that is Experience Cloud Consultant. It helps in brushing up your concepts as tons of questions are asked from this cloud.
→ System Architect Certification is awarded once all four certifications stated below are completed. The order does not matter and no additional exam is required.
- Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer
- Identity and Access Management Designer
- Integration Architecture Designer
- Platform Developer I (Common as Application Architect Certification)
Once both these (Application Architect and System Architect) certifications are achieved, then you are just one step away from your endmost certification that’s Technical Architect Certification.
Solution Architect:
Under this umbrella, there are two paths for certifications that a candidate can follow as per their requirements or interests. They can do both of these also. These two domains are:
→ B2B Solution Architect is intended for: Senior Level (4-5 years exp) with knowledge, skill and Salesforce Architect trajectory who are working on multi-cloud B2B solutions. The B2B Solution Architect Certification is awarded once all four certifications stated below are completed. The order does not matter and no additional exam is required.
- Platform App Builder
- Platform Developer 1
- Data Architecture and Management Designer: One who
- Sharing and Visibility Designer
More details on Trailhead Support.
→ B2C Solution Architect is intended for experienced Salesforce Architects who are working on multi-cloud B2C solutions. The level required is middle (2-3 years experience) and as a prerequisite, it’s necessary to complete all following three certifications to acquire B2C Solution Certification. The order doesn’t matter.
- Platform App Builder
- Integration Architecture Designer
- Marketing Cloud Email Specialist
More details on Trailhead Help.
Developer Credentials:
OmniStudio Developer
OmniStudio Developer is intended for experienced developers who have the knowledge and skill required for developing cloud applications using OmniStudio. Middle Level in this case implies at least 1 year experience, plus 3-6 months of design, implementation and deployment experience working with OmniStudio tools in one or more roles like UI Developer, Technical Architect etc. This Credential has no prerequisites.
More details: Trailhead OmniStudio Exam Guide
The late motiv of this certification is for developers to be able to build an app with OmniStudio tools, including FlexCards, OmniScripts, Integration Procedures, DataRaptors, Calculation Procedures and Matrices, and Industry Consoles.
Industries CPQ Developer
Indented for people with knowledge, skill and experience in building configure, price, quote solutions using Industries CPQ in a middle level (1 year of experience working plus 3 to 6 months of project implementation experience working with Industries CPQ). This certification doesn’t have prerequisites.
Prior to this year’s Industries CPQ Developer Certification, there was CPQ Specialist Credential which was more involved in implementing the Salesforce CPQ solution.
Designer Credentials:
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designer is a credential for a designer who can build and design solutions on the Salesforce Platform. The motive of this certification is to enable human-centred design to work with a client to find out their needs and requirements. With no previous requirements, designers are expected to have at least 6 months of hands-on experience as a UX designer, engineer, administrator, stakeholder, facilitator, or researcher. Plus 3 to 6 months experience utilizing UX design concepts on the Salesforce Platform.
More details: User Experience Design Exam Guide
These were the ones which are newer to the family. Some of the all-time favourites Certifications of Salesforce are:
Certification for Administrators:
Administrator
Administrator will provide the basic knowledge of the features available to users and configuration options available to a Salesforce Administrator. This program covers two certifications.
→ The Salesforce Certified Administrator credential: Lay emphasis on the features and functionality used to maintain a Salesforce implementation.
→ The Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator: Intended Salesforce Certified Administrators who have expertise in Salesforce configuration maintenance. It requires only 6 or more months of experience as a Salesforce Administrator.
More details: Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator Exam Guide.
Certification for Developers:
Platform App Builder
Platform App Builder is a certification for those developers who can design, build, and implement custom apps using the declarative customization capabilities of the Force.com platform. Having approximately 6 months to 1 year of experience building applications on the Lightning Platform and/or on a similar technology platform is its only requirement.
More details: Platform App Builder Exam Guide
Certification for Consultants:
Sales Cloud Consultant
Sales Cloud Consultant is designed for those who have experience implementing Sales Cloud solutions in a customer-facing role with 2 to 5 years of experience as a senior business analyst. Being a Salesforce Certified Admin is a previous requirement.
More details: Sales Cloud Consultant Exam Guide
Service Cloud Consultant
Service Cloud Consultant is the certification that avails experience implementing Service Cloud, designing and implementing maintainable and scalable solutions that meet customer business needs. Eligibility is dependent on 2 to 5 years of experience as a senior business analyst and having achieved the Salesforce Admin Certification.
More details: Service Cloud Consultant Exam Guide
Certification for Marketers:
Marketing Cloud Email Specialist
Marketing Cloud Email Specialist requires experience using the Salesforce Marketing Cloud Email application tools in executing both tactical and strategic email campaigns. It has no previous certification requirements but it’s helpful to have at least 6 months to 1 year of experience utilizing the Marketing Cloud Email application and associated tools.
More details: Marketing Cloud Email Specialist Exam Guide
Coming to the question on “How many', to this, we would say the sky's the limit. In this crazy competitive world one can only survive if one is continually learning and upgrading oneself and acquiring new skills.
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