The Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification is a credential that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in designing, building, and customizing applications on the Salesforce platform.
Whether you are an aspiring Salesforce developer, an experienced administrator looking to expand your skill set, or a business analyst seeking to bridge the gap between technology and business processes, this certification is a valuable asset.
This certification not only validates your knowledge of Salesforce but also showcases your ability to create custom applications that empower businesses to work smarter and more efficiently.
It covers a wide range of topics, including data modeling, user interface design, automation, and security, all of which are essential skills for crafting tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of Salesforce users.
In this guide, we will explore the key components of the Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification exam, including the topics covered, exam format, and preparation strategies. Whether you’re embarking on a new career in Salesforce development or aiming to enhance your existing Salesforce skills, this certification will open doors to exciting opportunities in the Salesforce ecosystem. Join us on this journey as we delve into the world of the Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification and equip you with the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in the world of Salesforce application development.
Youtube Video
Before we jump too far into the post I want to mention that there is a corresponding youtube video on the Salesforce Emily youtube channel.
I will embed that here but keep scrolling to get to the good stuff!
Basic Overview
The platform app builder certification bridges the gap between the salesforce admin certification and the developer certifications.
While the app builder cert doesn’t test on code, it does test on where the line is between admin tasks and developer tasks.
So this certification is fantastic for those who are in any role that touches either admin functionality or developer functionality.
Quick Stats
Here are the quick stats on the certification:
- Content: 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions and 5 non-scored questions
- Time allotted to complete the exam: 105 minutes (1 hr 45 mins)
- Passing score: 63% (38 questions needed to pass)
- Registration fee: USD 200, plus applicable taxes as required per local law
- Retake fee: USD 100, plus applicable taxes as required per local law
Sections
Salesforce Fundamentals: 23%
This section has a lot of crossover from the admin exam. So if you were able to pass that certification, then you may need to brush up just a little bit on these sections and pass it easily!
Three key things in this section to study:
- The differences and intricacies of record types and page layouts
- Report Types vs Report Formats
- The sharing model of object level and record level security
Mastering those 3 things will ensure you pass the salesforce fundamentals section!
Data Modeling and Management: 22%
This section is all about the objects, relationships, and fields in your salesforce instance. Personally, I think about this section as the house building part of salesforce. To house the data your users will be creating.
Three key things to study for this section:
- Master Detail Relationships vs. Lookup Relationships
- Data Import Wizard vs. Data Loader
- Which field to use in different scenarios
These things are great not only for passing this section, but also having context on the rest of the exam.
Business Logic and Process Automation: 28%
This section is very much about understanding the line between administration and development!
While outdated, it’s still important to know workflows, process builders, and flows on the exam and which is used in different scenarios.
Three key things to study for this section:
- Rollup summary fields
- Out of the box automation tools (IE case escalation rules, lead assignment rules, etc.)
- When to use each automation solution
This section is the largest on the exam so it’s important to really know these!
User Interface: 17%
This section is all about the tools for designing the interface of salesforce. This section does have a fair amount of questions and some crossover with other sections.
Three key things to study for this section :
- Lighting Components
- The different parts of the lighting page builder
- Custom button links and actions
App Deployment: 10%
This section is split into a few different parts. One understanding the app development lifecycle or salesforce development lifecycle. Two understanding standboxes, their tools, and when to use them.
Three key things to study for this section:
- Application Lifecycle
- Sandboxes
- Sandboxes and stages of the application lifecycle together
How this certification fits in the salesforce Ecosystem
Finally let’s talk about how this salesforce certification fits in the ecosystem.
First, what do I mean by ‘how it fits’. I mean what’s the value in getting this certification and what it would mean to hiring mangers, recruiters, and for your career.
So this certification means a good amount in the ecosystem. It is great for the knowledge of the line between administration and development.
This aspect comes in handy when you are working on teams and need to understand roles.
This certification is also a prerequisite for getting architecture certifications, which will increase your salary.
So all in all this certification is a fantastic grab and should be taken by all salesforce professionals!
Conclusion
A big congrats to you for making it through this blog post! We hope you found it useful!
Check out the Salesforce Emily youtube channel here.
You can read more about us here
And check out our courses here