Have you been tirelessly searching the web for terms like “Salesforce Career Administrator,” only to come up with confusing results? Are you interested in obtaining your Salesforce admin certification, but you’re not sure where to begin? Do you want to start an exciting new career in project management and CRM?

If so, then you have come to the right place. Our experts will give you a crash course on the Salesforce Career Administrator certificate in this article.

We cover everything from what a Salesforce Administrator does to what you can expect during the exam. If you are serious about becoming Salesforce certified, we can help you achieve your goals.

What does a Salesforce Administrator do?

Salesforce administration is the process of defining system requirements and customizing the CRM platform for an organization. A Salesforce administrator is responsible for maintaining the CRM platform and making it more user-friendly. They must stay up to date on any new tools, updates, or capabilities of the platform.

Depending on the size of the company and its marketing cloud, they may only employ a single Salesforce Administrator. This individual may have other responsibilities besides maintaining the Salesforce platform.

For instance, the organization might task the Salesforce Administrator (Admin) to provide project management services from time to time or employ them as a business analyst.

However, larger organizations may hire a dedicated Salesforce Administrator to ensure they get an optimal ROI from the dynamic platform. They might employ more than Salesforce Administrator if the company has multiple office locations.

Before becoming a Salesforce Admin, one must obtain a Salesforce Career Administrator certificate.

How do I start a career as a Salesforce Administrator?

While the process may sound daunting, becoming a certified Salesforce Administrator is very straightforward.

You do not need prior knowledge or experience with the Salesforce platform to become an administrator. If you have a reliable internet connection and a working computer, you have all of the tools needed to start your career.

To start as a Salesforce admin, you must familiarize yourself with the platform and take the official exam.

The Salesforce Certified Administrator exam is offered via Salesforce Trailhead. The Trailhead platform is home to Salesforce’s training resources and exams. This user-friendly platform contains modules and other learning tools that you can use to prepare for the exam.

However, these tools alone may not be enough to prepare you for the exam, especially if you are brand-new to Salesforce. Many individuals sign up for more comprehensive Salesforce Administrator programs. These courses include interactive projects, personalized feedback, and career support.

When searching for a Salesforce Administrator Career Certificate program, select one that Salesforce consultants created in partnership with Salesforce Trailhead. Otherwise, you may waste your hard-earned money on an illegitimate or ineffective training course.

How long does it take to become a Salesforce Administrator?

Contrary to popular belief, you will not need to accumulate years of experience to become part of the Salesforce ecosystem. You can become a Salesforce Administrator in as little as 18 weeks.

The self-paced program requires a commitment of approximately 10 to 15 hours per week. You will receive instructor feedback and support throughout the program, which is designed to reinforce the materials you are presented with.

The Salesforce Administrator Career Certificate program is divided into three six-week courses, which are as follows:

Course 1

During the first three 6-week courses, you will receive business customer relationship management (CRM) instruction. This course covers the basic principles of CRM, including what these systems are and what they are used for.

During this course, you will also create your Trailhead account and manage Trailhead Playground.

By the conclusion of the course, you will be able to identify relevant business and stakeholder information. You will also be able to configure reports and dashboards to capture relevant information. This course will teach the importance of tracking data and maintaining good “data hygiene” as well.

Like courses 2 and 3, course 1 will incorporate several hands-on labs. These labs are designed to teach you how to use Salesforce for real-world applications. Labs are an excellent way of helping you retain key information which you will need to pass the Salesforce Administrator exam.

Course 2

Course 2 serves as your introduction to Salesforce administration. You will identify key ways to enforce data security within the Salesforce platform. This identification is a vital skill for administrators as cyber crimes have increased over the last few years.

In addition, you will learn the difference between standard and custom fields. You will also be tasked with creating a new Lightning App with a custom brand and logo. These skills will be invaluable when you step into your first Salesforce Administrator role.

By the conclusion of course 2, you will know how to use Salesforce reporting tools, create Lightning Apps, and conduct a security requirements analysis.

Course 3

Course 3 is where the rubber meets the road. During this 6-week block of instruction, you will learn advanced Salesforce administration skills. The course will teach you how to differentiate between Lightning Experience and Salesforce Classic. You will also learn how to create Lead queues and generate a sales path within the CRM platform.

To complete the final training phase, you must demonstrate that you can create dynamic dashboards, implement process automation, and perform data management.

You will have access to experienced instructors every step of the way. They will provide feedback, guide you through difficult modules, and help you grasp the core concepts of Salesforce administration.

Which certification is best for Salesforce Administrator?

There are two Salesforce Administrator certifications available:

Salesforce Certified Administrator

The Salesforce Certified Administrator credential is the first certification many professionals pursue. It is a good option for individuals with a fair amount of experience with the Salesforce platform and who are passionate about helping companies get the most out of their CRM software.

Professionals who acquire this credential will be able to apply for roles as Salesforce Administrators. They will possess the knowledge to create custom configurations, use the various applications of the platform, and facilitate an enjoyable experience for end-users.

You should pursue the Salesforce Certified Administrator credential if you are new to the industry. The Salesforce Administrator Career Certificate program will prepare you for this exam by providing you with the skills and experience necessary to obtain a passing score.

Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator

The Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam is designed for professionals with significant experience as an admin. Specifically, candidates will need a wealth of hands-on experience applying the core concepts and skills of Salesforce administration. They should be able to:

  • Define record and field data access
  • Create custom objects within the platform
  • Understand Salesforce’s forecasting capabilities
  • Configure Salesforce applications
  • Move data between environments
  • Use dynamic dashboards and dashboard filters

An advanced administrator candidate must be able to demonstrate a mastery of the full set of Salesforce features. They should be able to leverage the full capabilities of Salesforce to solve complex challenges for their organization.

You will likely need to accumulate a few years of experience as a Salesforce Administrator before sitting for the Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator exam.

What to expect From the Salesforce Administrator exam?

The Salesforce Administrator exam is a timed test that includes 65 total questions. You will have a time allotment of 105 minutes to complete the assessment. Sixty of the questions are in a multiple-choice format. The exam also includes five non-scored questions that require you to demonstrate a working knowledge of Salesforce.

To pass, you must obtain a minimum score of 65%. The initial exam fee is $200. If you fail to get the minimum score during your first attempt, you can schedule a retake for $100. You may take the exam in an online proctored environment or onsite at a registered testing center.

Salesforce does not allow you to use any reference materials during the exam. They do not have any prerequisites for taking the exam. However, you should consider participating in the Salesforce Administrator Career Certificate program, as this course is a great way of preparing for the exam.

Once you obtain your Salesforce Administrator certificate, ensure you participate in maintenance exams. If your certificate expires, you will have to take the full certification exam again.

Become a Salesforce Administrator with Pathstream

If you want to obtain your Salesforce career administrator certificate, Pathstream can help. We offer a comprehensive certificate program that is 100% online. You can connect with experienced instructors who will guide you on your path to a new and exciting career. Contact us to prepare yourself with the education you need for a career path in Salesforce administrator jobs.

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