Updated for Winter '26
New to Salesforce admin? Our Salesforce Administrator (ADM-201) exam prep is the usual first step. See our ADM-201 vs App Builder comparison to choose the right certification order. Ready to book? Read our DEV-402 exam tips and study plan.
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Exam Fees & Registration
Exam Fee
$200
One-time registration fee
Retake Fee
$100
If you need to retake the exam
Comparing certs? View all Salesforce exam fees in one place →
Certification Validity
Your Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder certification is valid for 3 years from the date you pass the exam. You'll need to maintain your certification through continuing education or retake the exam.
How to Register
Register for the Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402) exam through the official Salesforce certification portal.
Register for ExamSalesforce Certified Platform App Builder – Complete Winter '26 Guide
The Platform App Builder certification validates your skills in designing, building, and deploying custom applications on the Salesforce platform.
Recommended Prerequisites
We recommend completing this certification first to prepare you better.
Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder Exam Weightage by Section
Exam Topics
Exam Tips
- 1Data Modeling and User Interface are ~42% combined—master relationships, page layouts, record types.
- 2Business Logic and Process Automation is the largest section; know Flow and validation rules well.
- 3Understand when to use Master-Detail vs Lookup and cascade delete behavior.
- 4Practice creating apps with Lightning App Builder and assigning to profiles.
Prerequisites
- •Platform experience
- •Administrator cert recommended
Focus Areas
- •Data Modeling
- •User Interface (Lightning)
- •Business Logic and Process Automation
- •Reports and Dashboards
Study Strategy
Focus on declarative development: no code.
Build a small app end-to-end (objects, relationships, automation, reports, dashboard).
Align each piece with the exam outline.
Exam Format and First-Attempt Readiness
Most Salesforce exams test scenario-based decisions. For Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder, focus on when to use each feature, not just terms.
- Do timed question sets. Build pacing and confidence.
- Review why wrong answers are wrong. It improves scenario reasoning.
- Study high-weight topics first. Then close gaps.
- Book the exam when your mock scores are steady.
How to Pass the Platform App Builder Exam (DEV-402)
The DEV-402 exam is scenario-based — most questions describe a business requirement and ask which declarative tool or configuration best meets it. Understanding when to use each Salesforce feature matters more than memorising field limits.
Data Modelling Scenarios
When a question asks about relationships: use Master-Detail when child records only make sense in the context of the parent (cascade delete, roll-up summaries). Use Lookup when the child can exist independently. Junction objects solve many-to-many — always two Master-Detail relationships, not two Lookups. Roll-up summary fields only work on Master-Detail relationships.
Automation Decision Tree
For most automation questions, the answer is Flow. Record-Triggered Flows handle field updates, record creation, and cross-object automation. Approval Processes handle multi-step human approvals with rejection paths. Workflow Rules and Process Builder are legacy — do not choose them unless the question specifies a constraint preventing Flow use.
Security and Visibility Layering
The DEV-402 tests the Salesforce security model in sequence: OWD (baseline record access) → Role Hierarchy (opens up) → Sharing Rules (grants access to groups) → Manual Sharing → Field-Level Security → Page Layouts. Permission Sets grant additional permissions beyond profiles. Record Types control picklist values and page layout assignment — not field visibility.
App Design and Lightning App Builder
Know the difference between App Page, Record Page, and Home Page in Lightning App Builder. Dynamic Forms move fields out of page layouts onto the Lightning Record Page directly, enabling visibility rules per field. Custom tabs, apps, and navigation items are all configured declaratively — no code required for standard app design.
Exam Strategy
Read every scenario for the constraint: “without code” means declarative only; “most efficient” usually means the native feature over a custom-built solution. Watch for “administrators only” (profile-based) vs “certain users” (permission sets or sharing rules). Passing score is 66% (40/60 questions) — aim for 76%+ on full mocks before booking.
Platform App Builder: Key Concepts for the Exam
Data Modeling: Objects, Fields, and Relationships
Custom Objects extend Salesforce to store your business-specific data. Master-Detail relationships create tight parent-child bonds (child inherits sharing, supports roll-up summaries). Lookup relationships are looser — the child can exist without the parent. Junction Objects implement many-to-many relationships using two master-detail relationships. Schema Builder provides a visual data model canvas. The exam presents a business requirement and asks which relationship type and object design is appropriate — know when to choose M-D vs Lookup based on cascade delete, sharing, and roll-up needs.
Business Logic and Process Automation
Flows are the primary automation tool for App Builders. Record-Triggered Flows replace Workflow Rules (retiring) and Process Builder (retiring). Screen Flows provide guided multi-step experiences for users. Scheduled Flows run on a time-based schedule. Approval Processes handle multi-step human sign-off with defined approvers and entry criteria. The exam tests which automation tool handles a given scenario — know that Flow replaces Workflow Rules for field updates and email alerts, and Approval Processes are for structured multi-person sign-off.
User Interface: Lightning App Builder and Page Layouts
Lightning App Builder lets admins compose pages by dragging standard and custom components onto a canvas — for Record Pages, Home Pages, and App Pages. Dynamic Forms move fields from traditional page layouts into the page itself, enabling conditional field visibility based on record values. Path provides stage guidance. Dynamic Actions control button visibility. List Views filter and display records without reports. The exam tests the difference between page layouts (profile/record type-based) and Dynamic Forms (component-level conditions).
Mobile Design: Compact Layouts and Navigation
Salesforce Mobile App uses Compact Layouts to determine which fields appear in record highlights, related list previews, and push notifications — the top fields in the layout appear first. Mobile Navigation defines which items appear in the mobile sidebar. Quick Actions appear in the action bar on mobile. The exam tests how to configure the mobile experience and which settings affect which mobile surfaces.
Analytics: Reports, Dashboards, and AppExchange
Report Types determine which objects and relationships are available in a report. Tabular reports list records in rows; Summary adds grouping and subtotals; Matrix adds two dimensions of grouping; Joined combines up to 5 report blocks. Dashboards display visual components (charts, gauges, tables) from report data. AppExchange provides pre-built apps, components, and flows — always install in a sandbox first, review required permissions, and check for governor limit implications.
Exam Section Difficulty Heatmap
Which sections are a gimme vs which ones trap confident candidates. Use this to prioritise your final-week revision.
| Exam Section | Difficulty | Study Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Data Modeling and Management | Moderate | OWD inheritance in Master-Detail relationships is frequently tested in scenarios. |
| User Interface | Moderate | Lightning App Builder vs Classic App Builder differences and component visibility rules. |
| Business Logic and Process Automation | Trap ⚠ | Declarative-first principle: if Flow can solve it, that is the exam answer even if Apex would also work. |
| Reports and Dashboards | Easy | Report types, joined reports, and dashboard filter limitations (equality-only) are the key sub-topics. |
| Deployment | Moderate | Change Sets vs Metadata API vs Packages — know which to recommend for each deployment scenario. |
| Mobile and Lightning | Hard | Salesforce Mobile App navigation is separate from Lightning App navigation — this distinction appears in several questions. |
Difficulty based on analysis of common candidate errors across each exam section.
Get the Full DEV-402 Question Bank
Most candidates book the exam after scoring 75%+ on full mocks.
If you're planning to test this quarter, aim to complete full mocks at least 10–14 days before your exam date.
Candidates who complete full mock exams report strong first-time pass rates. For pricing and access, use the contact form below or kindly reach out to km.krishnamohan25@gmail.com—mention DEV-402.
Get Full Question BankAfter App Builder: Where to Go Next
Most admins take App Builder after ADM-201, then move into cloud-specific consultant roles. If you enjoy designing data models and automation, consider specialising as a consultant on the clouds your org uses most.
- For sales-heavy orgs, the natural next step is Sales Cloud Consultant.
- If you spend most of your time on support queues and case workflows, look at Service Cloud Consultant.
- Working with Experience Cloud sites or portals? The Experience Cloud Consultant certification is a strong follow-on once you're comfortable with App Builder page design.
Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402) Exam FAQs
- What is covered on the Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402) exam?
- The Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402) exam—formerly Salesforce Certified App Builder— covers section-wise weightage as shown above. Use the exam topics and practice questions on this page to align your study with the official outline.
- What is the difference between Platform Administrator and Platform App Builder certifications?
- Platform Administrator focuses on day-to-day administration, security, and user management. Platform App Builder focuses on declarative development—building custom applications using clicks, not code. App Builder is ideal for those who want to build custom apps without programming.
- What is the DEV-402 exam fee and passing score in Winter '26?
- The Platform App Builder (DEV-402) exam fee is generally $200 USD with a typical retake fee of $100 USD, and the passing score is 63%. Always verify the latest fee and policy details in your Salesforce certification account before booking.
- How many questions are on the DEV-402 App Builder exam?
- The DEV-402 exam has 60 multiple-choice questions, with 5 unscored pilot questions. You have 105 minutes, and you need 63% to pass (approximately 38 correct answers out of 60).
- What topics are covered in Platform App Builder (DEV-402)?
- The exam covers Data Modeling (20%), Process Automation (25%), User Interface (20%), Testing, Debugging & Source Control (10%), and Security & Deployment (25%). Focus on hands-on experience with Lightning Pages, Flows, and Formula/Rollup Fields.
- Do I need Platform Administrator before taking Platform App Builder?
- There is no official prerequisite, but Salesforce strongly recommends having Platform Administrator certification and solid admin experience first. App Builder builds on admin concepts, and you'll be much better prepared with admin knowledge.
- What is the difference between a formula field and a rollup summary field?
- A Formula Field calculates values based on fields within the same record (e.g., quantity × price = total). A Rollup Summary Field summarizes values from related records in a master-detail relationship (e.g., sum of opportunities on an account). Choose rollup for cross-record calculations.
- What is a Lightning Page and how is it different from a custom Visualforce page?
- Lightning Pages (declarative) are built by dragging and dropping components—no coding needed. Visualforce pages (coded) require programming knowledge. Lightning Pages are the modern approach; Salesforce is moving away from Visualforce.
- What is the difference between a regulated field and a standard field in Salesforce?
- Standard fields are created by Salesforce and cannot be deleted or renamed. Custom fields (including regulated fields) are created by you and can be modified. You can create custom fields but pay attention to field types (text, number, picklist, etc.) since some cannot be changed after creation.
- How do Flows work and when should I use them instead of Workflows?
- Flows are a visual, no-code tool that automate complex business processes. They can handle multiple decision branches, involve multiple objects, and trigger on various events. Workflows are deprecated—Salesforce recommends Flows for all new automation.
- What are the best practices for DEV-402 exam preparation?
- Practice in a real Salesforce org (use free Developer Edition). Build sample apps with custom objects, flows, and Lightning Pages. Study high-weight topics (Process Automation 25%, Security & Deployment 25%). Take practice exams to identify weak spots and aim for 75%+ before booking.
- What is the Platform App Builder (DEV-402) exam passing score and how many questions are on it?
- The Platform App Builder (DEV-402) exam has 60 multiple-choice questions and 105 minutes. The passing score is 63% (approximately 38 correct answers). The exam fee is $200 USD (retake $100 USD). There is no formal prerequisite, but Salesforce strongly recommends holding the Platform Administrator certification first.
- What is the hardest section of the DEV-402 Platform App Builder exam?
- Most candidates find the Security and Access section (22%) and Process Automation (24%) the hardest — together they account for nearly half the exam. Security questions require understanding the full sharing model stack: OWD → roles → sharing rules → field-level security → page layouts. Automation questions require knowing when to use Flow vs Approval Process vs legacy Workflow. The key trap: choosing legacy tools (Workflow, Process Builder) over Flow.
- Are there free practice questions for the Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402) exam?
- Yes. This page includes 15 free sample practice questions with explanations. Use them to test your knowledge before booking the exam.
- How do I prepare for the Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402) certification?
- Use the exam tips, prerequisites, and study strategy on this Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402) study guide—formerly Salesforce Certified App Builder— Focus first on the highest-weighted sections, then take the sample practice questions. Schedule the exam when you consistently score well on practice tests.
- Where can I find the official exam outline for Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (DEV-402)?
- Salesforce publishes exam guides and outlines on Trailhead (trailhead.salesforce.com). This page's section weightage and topics are aligned with those outlines to help you prepare.