Salesforce Platform Developer II Exam Guide

Salesforce Platform Developer II Exam and Program Overview

The Salesforce Platform Developer II exam and program are designed for individuals who want to demonstrate their advanced programmatic skills and knowledge on the Lightning Platform. This program is ideal for developers who have experience in developing custom applications and want to showcase their expertise in complex business logic and interfaces. By earning the Salesforce Platform Developer II credential, candidates validate their ability to design, develop, test, and deploy maintainable and reusable programmatic solutions that follow best practices and object-oriented programming principles.

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The Salesforce Platform Developer II program consists of the Platform Developer II exam and three superbadges: Apex Specialist, Data Integration Specialist, and Advanced Apex Specialist. These superbadges can be completed in any sequence and upon completion, candidates automatically earn the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer II certification. The exam evaluates candidates' knowledge and application of various objectives, such as advanced developer fundamentals, process automation, logic, and integration, user interface development, testing, debugging, deployment, and performance optimization.

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To prepare for the Salesforce Platform Developer II exam, candidates are recommended to combine hands-on experience, training courses, Trailhead trails, and self-study using the provided resources. The program requires a solid understanding of Salesforce data modeling, user experience design, Apex development, Lightning Web Components, Aura Components, security concerns, error handling, deployment tools, and integration techniques. By successfully completing the exam and superbadges, candidates can demonstrate their proficiency in advanced programmatic capabilities on the Lightning Platform and set themselves apart as skilled Salesforce Platform Developers.

Who is it for

The Salesforce Platform Developer II credential is designed for individuals who have advanced programmatic skills and knowledge in developing custom applications on the Lightning Platform. This certification is suitable for developers who want to showcase their expertise in developing complex business logic and interfaces. It requires practical experience in designing, developing, testing, and deploying programmatic solutions that follow best practices, design patterns, and object-oriented programming principles.

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The Salesforce Platform Developer II certification is intended for developers with two to four years of experience, including at least one year of design, implementation, and deployment experience on the Lightning Platform. Candidates should have a deep understanding of Salesforce data modeling, user experience design, code development, and testing. They should be proficient in developing scalable Apex code, building custom user interfaces using Lightning Web Components and Aura Components, and implementing complex sharing models. Additionally, candidates should possess knowledge of security concerns, error handling, deployment tools, and integration techniques.

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To earn the Salesforce Platform Developer II credential, candidates must pass the Platform Developer II proctored multiple-choice exam and complete three superbadges: Apex Specialist, Data Integration Specialist, and Advanced Apex Specialist. These superbadges can be completed in any order and automatically earn the certification. It is recommended to combine hands-on experience, training courses, Trailhead trails, and self-study using the provided resources to adequately prepare for the exam and succeed in earning the credential.

Key capabilities expected from the candidate include:

Candidates for the Salesforce Platform Developer II certification are expected to possess several key capabilities. These capabilities demonstrate their expertise in advanced programmatic capabilities on the Lightning Platform and their ability to develop complex business logic and interfaces. Here are some of the key capabilities expected from candidates:

1. Proficient in Salesforce Development: Candidates should have a strong understanding of Salesforce development concepts, including data modeling, user experience design, code development, and testing. They should be able to apply these principles in real-world development environments and demonstrate knowledge of declarative and programmatic features of the Lightning Platform.

2. Apex Development Skills: Candidates should have advanced skills in Apex development. They should be capable of developing scalable Apex code that can handle large data sets and have a good understanding of platform behaviors, limits, and performance considerations. They should also be familiar with Apex features for error handling, maintaining transactional integrity, and asynchronous programming.

3. User Interface Development: Candidates should be proficient in developing custom user interfaces to display and interact with Salesforce data. They should have experience in building Lightning Web Components, Aura Components, and Visualforce pages using Apex controllers. They should understand best practices for displaying errors, creating responsive UIs, and communicating events within components.

4. Testing, Debugging, and Deployment: Candidates should have expertise in testing and debugging Apex classes, triggers, Lightning Web Components, Aura Components, and Visualforce controllers. They should be familiar with advanced techniques and tools for testing and debugging, such as mocks, stubs, and isolating and identifying root causes of issues. They should also have knowledge of the deployment process, supporting tools, and mechanisms for source-driven development.

5. Performance Optimization: Candidates should be able to identify common performance issues in user interfaces and demonstrate knowledge of techniques and tools to mitigate them. They should understand query optimization, handling large data volumes, and maximizing application performance. They should also have an understanding of code reuse and implementing performance improvements with asynchronous callouts.

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By possessing these key capabilities, candidates can showcase their expertise in advanced programmatic development on the Lightning Platform and demonstrate their ability to develop robust and efficient solutions that meet specific business requirements.

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Purpose of this Exam Guide

The purpose of the Salesforce Platform Developer II Exam Guide is to provide candidates with a comprehensive resource to prepare for the Salesforce Platform Developer II certification exam. This guide outlines the target audience for the certification program, recommended training and references, and a detailed exam outline with objectives.

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The guide serves as a roadmap for candidates, helping them understand the knowledge and skills required to successfully complete the exam. It provides information on the content and structure of the exam, including the number of questions, time allocation, passing score, and registration details.

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Additionally, the guide emphasizes the importance of a combination of hands-on experience, training courses, Trailhead trails, and self-study to maximize the chances of passing the exam. It recommends specific resources, such as Trailmixes and superbadges, to help candidates prepare effectively.

About the Exam

This section provides you with important details about the Salesforce Platform Developer II exam and program. Here is an overview of the key features:

• Exam Content: The Salesforce Platform Developer II exam consists of 60 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, along with up to 5 non-scored questions. These questions are designed to assess your knowledge and skills in advanced programmatic capabilities of the Lightning Platform, data modeling, and development best practices.

• Time Allotted: You will have a total of 120 minutes to complete the exam. It is important to manage your time effectively to read and respond to all the questions within the given timeframe.

• Passing Score: To successfully pass the exam and earn the Salesforce Platform Developer II certification, you need to achieve a minimum passing score of 70%. This score reflects your ability to demonstrate proficiency in developing complex business logic, interfaces, and programmatic solutions using the Lightning Platform.

• Registration Fee: The registration fee for the exam is USD 200, plus applicable taxes as required per local law. This fee covers the administrative costs associated with the exam registration process.

• Retake Fee: If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, a retake fee of USD 100, plus applicable taxes, will be applicable for subsequent attempts. It is important to thoroughly prepare for the exam to increase your chances of passing on the first try.

• Delivery Options: The exam can be taken either in a proctored setting at a designated testing center or in an online proctored environment. Both options ensure a secure and reliable testing experience.

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Understanding these important details about the Salesforce Platform Developer II exam will help you prepare effectively and increase your chances of success. Take note of the exam content, time constraints, passing score, registration and retake fees, and delivery options to ensure a smooth exam experience.

Recommended Training and References

As part of preparing for the Salesforce Platform Developer II exam, Salesforce recommends a combination of hands-on experience, training courses, Trailhead trails, and self-study. Here are some recommended training resources and references:

1. Trailmix: Prepare for Your Salesforce Platform Developer II Credential: This Trailmix on Trailhead provides a curated set of modules, projects, and superbadges specifically designed to help you prepare for the Platform Developer II certification. It covers various topics and objectives of the exam, allowing you to learn and practice key skills.

2. Superbadge: Apex Specialist, Data Integration Specialist, and Advanced Apex Specialist: These three superbadges available on Trailhead are part of the Platform Developer II program. Each superbadge provides hands-on challenges and scenarios to test your skills in specific areas such as Apex development, data integration, and advanced Apex programming. Completing these superbadges will contribute to earning the Platform Developer II certification.

3. Documentation and Guides: Salesforce recommends consulting various technical resources and guides to deepen your understanding of the topics covered in the exam. Some recommended references include the Apex Developer Guide, Lightning Web Components Developer Guide, SOAP API Developer Guide, Visualforce Developers Guide, and more. These resources provide detailed information and best practices for developing on the Salesforce platform.

4. Salesforce Help: Salesforce Help provides access to documentation, tip sheets, and user guides that cover various aspects of the Lightning Platform. You can search for specific topics related to the exam objectives and study the information related to those topics. Salesforce Help can be a valuable resource for reviewing online documentation and understanding specific features and functionalities.

5. Trailhead Academy: Trailhead Academy offers expert-led courses and workshops that can further enhance your skills and knowledge as a Salesforce developer. These courses provide in-depth training on specific topics and may be helpful in preparing for the exam.

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Remember, combining hands-on experience with training courses, Trailhead trails, and self-study is key to maximizing your chances of success in the Platform Developer II exam. Utilize these recommended resources to build your knowledge and proficiency in advanced programmatic capabilities of the Lightning Platform.

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Exam Outline

The Salesforce Platform Developer II exam evaluates the knowledge and skills of candidates in various areas of advanced Salesforce development. Successful candidates should have hands-on experience as a Salesforce developer and demonstrate practical application of the features and functions outlined below:

Advanced Developer Fundamentals (15%):

• Demonstrate knowledge of localization and multi-currency features and their impact on coding.

• Justify the use of sharing objects and Apex managed sharing in a given scenario.

• Identify best practices for custom metadata and custom settings and implement required solutions.

Process Automation, Logic, and Integration (27%):

• Understand the considerations of interactions between multiple processes, both declarative and programmatic.

• Propose and justify the optimal programmatic or declarative solution in a given scenario.

• Apply best practices for writing Apex triggers.

• Handle errors and maintain transactional integrity using Apex features.

• Utilize advanced keywords in SOQL queries.

• Analyze requirements and evaluate the benefits of asynchronous Apex coding.

• Identify and apply the appropriate dynamic Apex feature for a solution.

• Implement publish/subscribe logic for platform events.

• Apply programmatic integration techniques for inbound and outbound communication.

User Interface (20%):

• Analyze and make necessary changes to Apex controller classes for Lightning Web Components or Aura Components based on requirements and code snippets.

• Use Visualforce for actions, partial page refreshes, and asynchronous operations.

• Apply best practices for displaying errors in the user interface.

• Select the appropriate Lightning Web Component, Aura Component, or Visualforce solution based on requirements and describe its benefits.

• Implement responsive design in Lightning Web Components or Aura Components based on a device's form factor.

• Communicate events through Lightning Web Components or Aura Components.

• Understand the purpose and benefits of static resources in Visualforce, Lightning Web Components, and Aura Components.

Testing, Debugging, and Deployment (20%):

• Use advanced techniques and tools for testing Apex classes and triggers, such as mocks and stubs.

• Test and debug Lightning Web Components, Aura Components, Visualforce controllers, and JavaScript.

• Identify and isolate the root cause of issues in Apex code, Apex triggers, or Apex tests that are not executing as expected.

• Formulate the deployment process, supporting tools, and mechanisms for source-driven development.

Performance (18%):

• Identify common performance issues in user interfaces and apply techniques and tools to mitigate them.

• Choose the appropriate logic and query structure to maximize application performance and handle large data volumes.

• Determine performance improvements that can be achieved with asynchronous callouts in a given scenario.

• Implement code reuse in applicable scenarios and resolve inefficiencies in sample code.

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By understanding and demonstrating proficiency in these areas, candidates can successfully pass the Salesforce Platform Developer II exam and showcase their expertise in developing custom applications on the Lightning Platform. Thorough preparation and practical experience in these topics will contribute to a successful exam experience.