Salesforce Administrator Exam Guide

The Salesforce Administrator Exam and Program cater to individuals with experience in Salesforce who strive to contribute to their companies by optimizing additional features and capabilities. The Salesforce Administrator credential offers a comprehensive assessment of their knowledge and skills. It encompasses a wide range of applications, features, and functions available to end users, as well as the configuration and management options accessible to administrators across the Sales, Service, and Collaboration Clouds.

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Within the Salesforce Certified Administrator program, there are two certifications available. The first certification is the Salesforce Certified Administrator credential, which concentrates on the features and functionality essential for maintaining a Salesforce implementation. It equips individuals with the necessary expertise to handle the day-to-day operations of a Salesforce system.

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The second certification in the program is the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator. This credential is designed for Salesforce Certified Administrators who have gone beyond the fundamental level and demonstrated mastery in Salesforce configuration maintenance. These administrators possess an in-depth understanding of administration best practices and possess the ability to leverage advanced features and functionality to solve diverse business problems.

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By obtaining these certifications, individuals showcase their proficiency in Salesforce administration and validate their ability to drive organizational success through effective implementation and utilization of Salesforce features and tools. These credentials not only enhance their professional standing but also empower them to contribute significantly to their company's growth and success.

 

Who is it for

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess a solid understanding of the features accessible to end users and the configuration options available to Salesforce Administrators. They should be equipped to efficiently manage and maintain a Salesforce organization, effectively address common business requirements, and proficiently perform administrative tasks using the latest Salesforce features.

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In addition to the knowledge and skills mentioned above, candidates should have a minimum of 6 months of hands-on experience as a Salesforce Administrator. This practical experience allows them to navigate the intricacies of Salesforce implementation and administration. Furthermore, candidates are expected to demonstrate their ability to fulfill the specific tasks outlined in the exam objectives section of the Salesforce Administrator Exam Guide.

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By acquiring the Salesforce Certified Administrator certification, candidates validate their expertise and competence in Salesforce administration. This credential serves as a testament to their capability to navigate the Salesforce platform, address business needs, and efficiently manage Salesforce-related tasks. It demonstrates their commitment to professional growth and positions them as valuable contributors to any organization utilizing Salesforce as a critical business tool.

 

Purpose of this Exam Guide

This comprehensive guide has been created with the aim of assisting you in assessing your readiness to successfully complete the Salesforce Administrator exam. It serves as a valuable resource by providing essential information about the target audience for the exam, recommended training and documentation, and a detailed list of exam objectives.

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To ensure your success, it’s highly recommend adopting a holistic approach that combines on-the-job experience, attending relevant courses, and engaging in self-study. By immersing yourself in real-world Salesforce administration tasks, participating in training sessions, and dedicating time to self-guided learning, you can maximize your chances of performing well in the exam.

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By utilizing this exam guide as your roadmap, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the skills and knowledge areas that will be assessed in the Salesforce Administrator exam. It will help you identify any gaps in your understanding and allow you to focus your efforts on areas that require further attention. Additionally, the guide will familiarize you with the recommended resources and references that can supplement your learning journey.

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Remember, the Salesforce Administrator certification is a significant milestone in your professional development, opening doors to exciting opportunities in the world of Salesforce administration. By leveraging the guidance and insights provided in this exam guide, you can confidently embark on your exam preparation journey and work towards achieving a successful outcome. Good luck!

 

About the Exam

This section provides important details about the exam format and logistics to help you prepare effectively. Please read on for key information:

• Content: The Salesforce Administrator exam consists of 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions and 5 non-scored questions. These questions cover a wide range of topics related to Salesforce administration, testing your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

• Time Allotted: You will have 105 minutes to complete the exam. It is essential to manage your time efficiently to ensure you can answer all the questions within the given timeframe.

• Passing Score: To pass the Salesforce Administrator exam, you need to achieve a minimum score of 65%. This score indicates your proficiency in the subject matter and demonstrates your readiness to assume the responsibilities of a Salesforce Administrator.

• Registration Fee: There is a registration fee of USD 200 for the exam, in addition to applicable taxes as required by local laws. This fee covers the administrative and operational costs associated with conducting the exam.

• Retake Fee: In the event that you need to retake the exam, there is a retake fee of USD 100, plus any applicable taxes required by local laws. This fee applies to each subsequent attempt to ensure fair and consistent administration of the exam.

• Options: The exam can be taken in two delivery options: a proctored exam delivered onsite at a designated testing center or an online proctored environment. The choice of delivery method provides flexibility and convenience for candidates.

• Prerequisite: No prerequisites are required to take the Salesforce Administrator exam. However, it is highly recommended that candidates attend relevant courses to enhance their understanding of the subject matter. Course attendance can provide valuable insights and best practices that will contribute to your success in the exam.

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By familiarizing yourself with these exam details, you can approach your exam preparation with clarity and confidence.

 

Recommended Training and References

To maximize your preparation for the Salesforce Administrator exam, it’s highly recommend a comprehensive approach that includes a combination of hands-on experience, training courses, Trailhead trails, and self-study. By leveraging these resources, you can enhance your knowledge and skills in the areas outlined in the Exam Outline section of this guide. Here are some recommended self-study materials:

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• Trailmix: Prepare for Your Salesforce Administrator Credential with specifically designed trailmix to help you prepare for the Salesforce Administrator exam. It includes a curated collection of modules, projects, and trails that cover key topics and provide hands-on practice to reinforce your understanding.

• Practice Test: Administrator Practice Test: is a valuable resource for assessing your knowledge and readiness for the exam. It provides a simulated exam experience, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the question format and evaluate your performance.

• Superbadge: Lightning Experience Reports & Dashboards Specialist: This superbadge focuses on developing your expertise in creating and managing reports and dashboards in Salesforce Lightning Experience. By completing this superbadge, you can strengthen your skills in this essential aspect of Salesforce administration.

• Superbadge: Business Administration Specialist: superbadge is designed to enhance your knowledge of business processes and their implementation in Salesforce. It covers topics such as data modeling, automation, and security, equipping you with the skills to optimize business operations within the Salesforce platform.

• Superbadge: Security Specialist: The Security Specialist superbadge is dedicated to deepening your understanding of Salesforce security features and best practices. Through practical exercises and challenges, you will learn how to configure and maintain robust security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance.

 

Exam Outline

The Salesforce Administrator exam evaluates candidates' knowledge and skills across various objectives. It is essential for candidates to have hands-on experience as a Salesforce Administrator and demonstrate proficiency in each of the features and functions outlined below:

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Configuration and Setup: 20%

In this section, you will demonstrate your understanding and proficiency in configuring and setting up Salesforce. Key areas include:

• Understanding and describing the information found in the company settings, such as fiscal year, business hours, currency management, and default settings.

• Differentiating and comprehending the administration of declarative configuration of the User Interface, including UI settings, app menu, list views, global actions, and Lightning App Builder.

• Demonstrating proper setup and maintenance of users based on given scenarios.

• Explaining the organization's Security Controls and their significance in maintaining a secure environment.

• Applying appropriate security controls in response to user requests, considering the features and capabilities of the Salesforce sharing model.

• Determining the appropriate use of custom profiles or permission sets by utilizing various profile settings and permissions.

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Object Manager and Lightning App Builder: 20%

This section focuses on your knowledge of Object Manager and Lightning App Builder. Key areas include:

• Describing the standard object architecture and relationship model, including standard objects, parent/child relationships, master-detail/lookup/junction relationships, and record types.

• Explaining the creation, deletion, and customization of fields and page layouts on standard and custom objects, taking into consideration the implications of deleting fields.

• Creating and assigning page layouts, record types, and business processes for custom and standard objects based on given scenarios.

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Sales and Marketing Applications: 12%

This section tests your understanding of sales and marketing applications within Salesforce. Key areas include:

• Identifying the capabilities and implications of the sales process, including sales process, opportunity, path, and forecast impact.

• Applying appropriate sales productivity features using opportunity tools, such as dashboards, lead scoring, Einstein opportunity scoring, and home page assistant.

• Describing the capabilities of lead automation tools and campaign management, including leads, lead convert, lead assignment rules, campaigns, and campaign members.

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Service and Support Applications: 11%

In this section, you will showcase your knowledge of service and support applications. Key areas include:

• Describing the capabilities of case management, including case, case assignment rules, and queues.

• Identifying how to automate case management using support processes, case auto-response rules, and case escalation.

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Productivity and Collaboration: 7%

This section focuses on productivity and collaboration features in Salesforce. Key areas include:

• Describing the capabilities of activity management.

• Explaining the features of Chatter, Salesforce's collaboration platform.

• Describing the capabilities of the Salesforce Mobile App.

• Identifying use cases for AppExchange applications.

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Data and Analytics Management: 14%

This section assesses your knowledge of data and analytics management in Salesforce. Key areas include:

• Describing considerations when importing, updating, transferring, mass deleting, exporting, and backing up data.

• Understanding the capabilities and implications of data validation tools.

• Describing options available when creating or customizing reports and report types.

• Explaining the impact of the sharing model on reports.

• Describing options available when creating and modifying dashboards, including dashboard components, data sources, and chart types.

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Workflow/Process Automation: 16%

In this section, you will demonstrate your understanding of workflow and process automation. Key areas include:

• Identifying the appropriate automation solution based on the capabilities of the tool, considering given scenarios.

• Describing the capabilities and use cases for Flow, Salesforce's visual workflow tool.

• Describing the capabilities and use cases for the approval process, including defining approval steps, criteria, and actions.

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By comprehensively covering these exam objectives and demonstrating proficiency in each area, candidates can increase their chances of successfully passing the Salesforce Administrator exam.