Salesforce Advanced Administrator Exam Guide

The Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator program is designed to recognize individuals with the expertise and experience of a seasoned Salesforce Administrator. This program covers a wide range of applications, features, and functions available to end-users, as well as advanced configuration, management, and application extending options across the Salesforce platform.

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Within the Salesforce Certified Administrator program, there are two certifications. The first certification is the Salesforce Certified Administrator credential, which focuses on the essential features and functionality required to maintain a Salesforce implementation.

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The second certification in the program is the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator. This certification is specifically designed for Salesforce Certified Administrators who have attained a high level of proficiency in Salesforce configuration maintenance. These individuals have a deep 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 earning the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator credential, you demonstrate your advanced knowledge and skills in Salesforce administration. This certification signifies your ability to effectively manage and optimize Salesforce solutions, ensuring that your organization derives maximum value from the platform's capabilities.

 

Who is it for

The Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam is designed for individuals who have extensive experience working as a Salesforce Administrator, with a strong emphasis on applying the skills and concepts outlined in the exam outline below. The ideal candidate is someone who has already obtained the Salesforce Certified Administrator credential and has successfully completed the Administer, Extend, and Automate Salesforce (ADX211) course from Salesforce or an Authorized Training Center. Alternatively, the candidate may possess equivalent experience and knowledge gained through self-study and other relevant resources provided by Salesforce.

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The candidate should possess a comprehensive understanding of the full range of application capabilities, including the features and functions available to end-users, as well as the configuration and management options available to an Administrator across the Salesforce platform. At an expert level, the candidate should be proficient in performing administration functions using the complete set of Salesforce features outlined in the exam outline. This includes leveraging advanced administration capabilities to address specific business challenges and automate complex business processes.

 

Moreover, the candidate should be able to recommend configuration enhancements and best practices to optimize and extend an organization's use of Salesforce. They actively stay updated on new functionality and can assess the potential benefits of new features for their organization.

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Key capabilities expected from the candidate include:

• Properly defining record and field data access based on business requirements.

• Creating custom objects and determining the appropriate relationship types.

• Setting up and configuring Sales and Service Cloud applications.

• Understanding the capabilities of forecasting.

• Configuring Salesforce Knowledge and entitlements.

• Assessing, cleansing, and maintaining data quality using standard Salesforce functionality.

• Understanding the capabilities of sandboxes and utilizing tools for data migration between environments.

• Utilizing custom report types, reporting snapshots, complex charting, custom summary formulas, bucketing, joined reports, and cross-filters to build reports that meet complex business requirements.

• Enhancing dashboards through the use of dynamic dashboards and dashboard filters.

• Automating complex business processes through the creation of flows, workflow rules, approval processes, and formula fields.

 

Purpose of this Exam Guide

This guide serves as a valuable resource to assess your readiness for the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam. Its primary objective is to provide you with essential information about the certification program, including the intended audience, recommended training and documentation, and a comprehensive list of exam objectives. By utilizing this guide, you will be well-equipped to achieve a passing score on the exam.

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The Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam is a challenging assessment that evaluates your proficiency in advanced Salesforce administration skills. To ensure your success, Salesforce strongly advises a holistic approach that combines on-the-job experience, participation in relevant courses, and self-study. This multi-faceted preparation strategy will greatly enhance your chances of excelling in the exam.

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Within this guide, you will find detailed insights into the target audience for the certification program. This information will help you gauge whether you possess the requisite knowledge and expertise to pursue the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator credential. Additionally, the guide highlights the recommended training courses and documentation that are crucial for your exam preparation. These resources will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in advanced Salesforce administration.

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Lastly, the exam guide presents a comprehensive list of exam objectives. This detailed breakdown serves as a roadmap for your preparation, enabling you to focus on key areas and ensure you are adequately prepared for each topic covered in the exam. By aligning your study efforts with the exam objectives, you will be well-prepared to demonstrate your proficiency and achieve a passing score.

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Remember, this exam guide is a valuable tool in your journey towards becoming a Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator. Make the most of the information provided, leverage the recommended resources, and invest time and effort into your preparation. Good luck as you embark on this rewarding certification path!

 

About the Exam

This section provides you with important details about the exam that will help you prepare effectively.

The Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam consists of the following key features:

• Content: The exam includes a total of 60 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, along with 5 non-scored questions. These questions are designed to assess your knowledge and skills in advanced Salesforce administration.

• Time Allotted: You will have a total of 105 minutes to complete the exam. It is essential to manage your time effectively to ensure you can thoroughly review and respond to all the questions within the given timeframe.

• Passing Score: To successfully pass the exam and earn the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator certification, you need to achieve a minimum passing score of 65%. This score reflects your ability to demonstrate proficiency in the advanced concepts and tasks covered in the exam.

• Registration Fee: There is a registration fee of USD 200 for the exam, which is subject to applicable taxes as required by local law. This fee covers the administrative costs associated with the exam registration process.

• Retake Fee: In the event that you do not achieve a passing score on your first attempt, a retake fee of USD 100, plus applicable taxes as required per local law, will be applicable for subsequent attempts. It is important to thoroughly prepare for the exam to minimize the need for retakes.

• Delivery Options: The exam can be taken in either of two delivery options. The first option is a proctored exam delivered onsite at a designated testing center. The second option is an online proctored environment, allowing you to take the exam remotely from the comfort of your own location. Both options ensure a secure and reliable testing experience.

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As you prepare for the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam, be sure to familiarize yourself with these important details. Understanding the exam format, time constraints, passing score, fees, and delivery options will contribute to a smoother and more successful exam experience.

 

Recommended Training and References

To ensure your success in the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam, we highly recommend a comprehensive approach that combines hands-on experience, training courses, Trailhead trails, and self-study. By utilizing these resources, you can effectively prepare yourself for the exam and enhance your skills in the specific areas outlined in the exam guide.

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Here are the self-study materials that we recommend for your exam preparation:

1. Trailmix: This Trailmix provides a curated collection of learning modules, trails, and resources specifically designed to help you prepare for the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator credential. It covers various topics and concepts essential for advanced administration.

2. Superbadge: Process Automation Specialist: This Superbadge focuses on developing your expertise in process automation within the Salesforce platform. It provides hands-on challenges and scenarios that allow you to apply your knowledge and skills in automating complex business processes.

3. Superbadge: Lightning Experience Reports & Dashboards Specialist: This Superbadge is dedicated to improving your proficiency in creating reports and dashboards using the Lightning Experience interface. Through practical exercises, you will gain insights into advanced reporting and dashboarding techniques.

4. Superbadge: Business Administration Specialist: The Business Administration Superbadge is designed to enhance your understanding of business administration principles within Salesforce. It covers topics such as managing users, optimizing workflows, and implementing best practices for efficient operations.

5. Superbadge: Security Specialist: This Superbadge focuses on reinforcing your knowledge of Salesforce security measures and best practices. It explores topics like data security, user access management, and implementing secure authentication methods.

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These self-study materials provide a valuable opportunity for you to dive deeper into the subject matter and reinforce your understanding of advanced Salesforce administration concepts.

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Remember, alongside these resources, gaining hands-on experience, completing training courses, and exploring Trailhead trails related to the exam objectives will significantly contribute to your exam readiness.

 

Exam Outline

The Salesforce Advanced Administrator exam evaluates the knowledge and skills of candidates in various areas. Successful candidates should possess hands-on experience as a Salesforce Administrator and demonstrate the practical application of the features and functions outlined below.

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Security and Access: 20%

• Analyze the implications of record and field data access in a given scenario.

• Compare and contrast the capabilities of custom profiles, permission sets, and delegated administration.

• Evaluate the implications of user authentication in a given scenario.

• Compare and contrast the capabilities of a complex business model.

 

Objects and Applications: 19%

• Determine the appropriate solution to enhance or extend objects in a given scenario.

• Determine the appropriate solution to enhance or extend the user interface and user experience (UI/UX) using applications in a given scenario.

 

Auditing and Monitoring: 10%

• Identify the appropriate tools for monitoring and troubleshooting system activity in a given scenario.

• Explain how to configure sensitive data to support business, legal, and compliance requirements in both production and sandbox environments.

• Review and troubleshoot security settings, including pending updates that may impact system access.

 

Cloud Applications: 11%

• Describe the features of Salesforce that facilitate the sales process, including products, price books, schedules, orders, and quotes.

• Understand the implications and capabilities of Forecasting and Territory Management.

• Explain the creation and maintenance of Salesforce Knowledge.

• Explain the creation and maintenance of service entitlements and entitlement processes.

• Describe the features of Salesforce that enable interaction between support agents and customers.

• Understand the standard Salesforce suite of products that extend the core platform in a given scenario.

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Data and Analytics Management: 13%

• Explain the tools and best practices for assessing, improving, and enriching data quality.

• Identify the appropriate analytic tools to meet complex reporting requirements in a given scenario.

• Understand methods for connecting to, accessing, backing up/restoring, or archiving data outside of the Salesforce platform.

• Identify the appropriate tools and methods for importing data into Salesforce in a given scenario.

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Environment Management and Deployment: 7%

• Describe the options available for moving metadata between environments.

• Describe the capabilities and best practices for using change sets to move metadata between environments.

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Process Automation: 20%

• Determine the solution using the most suitable tool or combination of tools to solve a business problem in a complex scenario.

• Identify the appropriate tool or method for troubleshooting declarative automation in a given scenario.

• Explain the capabilities and limitations of each declarative automation tool.

• Understand the implications of the order of execution when using automation tools.

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By understanding and demonstrating proficiency in these areas, candidates can successfully pass the Salesforce Advanced Administrator exam and showcase their expertise in advanced Salesforce administration.