Administration
For people who manage access, data, configuration and everyday platform operations.
Certification guide
Salesforce certifications: tracks and costs in 2026
Salesforce certifications assess knowledge for specific platform roles, from administration and development to consulting and architecture. Choose a credential that matches the work you plan to do, then check its current exam guide. This ForceFolks guide separates current credentials, retired exams, fees and practical hiring checks.
What changed in this certification guide?
- Use the current credential name and exam guide, not an old course label.
- AI Associate retired on February 2, 2026. It is not an exam you can book now.
- Exam fees apply to a particular credential and currency. They are not one price for every Salesforce exam.
- A credential is a hiring signal, not evidence of a salary increase or a completed project.
Sources checked October 6, 2026: Salesforce credential catalog and AI Associate retirement notice.
Which Salesforce certifications match your role?
Start with the work you need to perform. These role groups are a selection aid, not a complete credential catalog.
Development
For people who build and maintain custom logic, interfaces and integrations.
Consulting
For people who turn business requirements into a product-specific implementation plan.
AI and agents
For people who configure and manage Agentforce. Check the exam scope against the proposed role.
Agentforce Specialist. Agentblazer learning status is a separate learning path.
Architecture
For people who design systems across data, security, integration and delivery constraints.
Marketing
For people who work with campaign data, journeys and marketing-platform delivery.
Marketing Cloud consultant paths and Marketing Cloud developer paths.
Compare selected Salesforce credentials
Use the official source to check prerequisites, exam details and current status. The table does not rank credential quality.
| Credential | Role focus | Practical fit | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Administrator | Administration | Configuration, data and user access | Administrator credential |
| Platform Administrator II | Advanced administration | More complex configuration and operational needs | Administrator catalog |
| Platform App Builder | Configuration | Custom applications using declarative tools | App Builder listing |
| Platform Developer | Development | Custom business logic and interfaces | Developer catalog |
| Agentforce Sales Consultant | Sales processes | Sales Cloud implementation work | Sales consultant listing |
| Agentforce Service Consultant | Service processes | Service Cloud implementation work | Service consultant listing |
| Data 360 Consultant | Customer data | Data-platform consulting and implementation | Data 360 listing |
| AI Associate | Retired credential | Historical record only; not a current exam option | Retirement notice |
| Agentforce Specialist | Agentforce | Agent configuration and management | Specialist credential |
| Certified Technical Architect | Architecture | Cross-system design and technical decisions | Architect catalog |
Names follow Salesforce's current listings. Search terms such as Advanced Administrator, Platform Developer I and Data Cloud Consultant may still appear in older role descriptions.
How much do Salesforce certifications cost?
Check the fee for the exact exam and booking location. Do not reuse a fee from a different credential.
The Platform Administrator exam guide lists US$200 for registration and US$100 for a retake, plus applicable taxes. This is an exam-specific price, checked October 6, 2026, not a catalog-wide average. Salesforce's Administrator exam guide is the source.
Keep training, practice time, travel and any retake separate when setting your budget. Our Administrator certification guide covers that exam's format and preparation. Use the official booking page for the final payable amount.
Does certification prove delivery experience?
No. Certification and project experience answer different questions. A candidate should be able to explain both the platform knowledge and the work delivered.
- Check the current credential and its maintenance status.
- Ask for a relevant example with the candidate's own responsibilities.
- Discuss an access-control, data or failure-handling scenario from your project.
- Review how the candidate tests changes and hands work to the operating team.
Use our Salesforce interview question bank to build that discussion. The salary source comparison reports pay observations by source; it does not measure a certification premium.
How do we collect this certification information?
We checked Salesforce's credential catalogs, Administrator exam guide and AI Associate retirement notice on October 6, 2026. The comparison records selected roles and status, not every exam. Fees come from the named exam guide and retain their currency and tax conditions.
Check Salesforce's maintenance requirements before relying on a credential. The catalog and exam objectives can change between updates. This guide does not promise a job, a pay increase or a passing result.
Salesforce certification questions
Which Salesforce certification should I take first?
Choose the credential closest to your intended work. Administration, development and consulting require different skills, so an exam should follow the role rather than a popularity claim. Read the official audience description, assess your hands-on experience and build a study plan around gaps in the exam objectives.
Is AI Associate still available?
No. Salesforce retired AI Associate on February 2, 2026. Its retirement notice points learners to Agentblazer Status and Agentforce Specialist as separate options. A learning status is not the same as an exam credential. Check the current path and its requirements before buying preparation materials.
Do all Salesforce certification exams cost the same?
No. Use the fee shown for the specific exam, currency and booking location. Registration and retake fees can differ, and tax may apply. Include optional training and preparation time separately. The Administrator fee example on this page should not be used as a quote for another credential.
Do Salesforce certifications expire?
Active credentials can have maintenance requirements, and Salesforce can retire a credential. Check the official maintenance trail and your credential record for the applicable tasks and deadlines. Do not assume that passing once guarantees permanent active status. Follow the instructions for each credential you hold.
Does a certification guarantee a higher salary?
No. A credential alone does not establish a pay increase. Salary observations reflect role, location, experience, employer and pay definition, among other factors. Compare similar jobs and distinguish base salary from total pay. Use certification as evidence of assessed knowledge, alongside delivery experience and the actual job requirements.
How should buyers assess a certified Salesforce specialist?
Check the credential, then ask how the specialist would handle work similar to your project. Review relevant delivery examples, testing practice and communication responsibilities. ForceFolks can help scope the role and provide Salesforce specialists. Agree the work and acceptance criteria instead of selecting only by certificate count.
Continue your Salesforce research
- Administrator exam requirements and study planner
- Role-specific interview questions
- Source-by-source Salesforce salary observations
- Salesforce terminology
- Dated Salesforce market statistics
- Find the Salesforce role your project needs
- Salesforce conferences and community events for learning opportunities; confirm each session with its organizer.
- Dreamforce planning guide and trip calculator for conference preparation.
For project owners
Match the Salesforce role to the work
Share your systems, delivery gaps and ownership needs with ForceFolks. We can discuss the skills and responsibilities needed for the scope.