Written & verified by Krishna Mohan
5× Salesforce Certified · 12+ years in data engineering & Salesforce · Updated for Summer '26
Administrator Certifications
9 certifications in this role. Pick one for practice questions and study materials.
Each certification has its own study guide, exam weightage, and practice questions. Start with the one that matches your goal. Each cert page has exam weightage and practice questions.
How to Use This Administrator Certification Hub
This page is designed as a role-level decision guide, not just a directory. Start by choosing the certification that matches your current work: daily configuration, implementation consulting, custom development, architecture, marketing operations, analytics, or industry-cloud delivery. Then open the certification page to review exam weightage, format, official source references, and free practice questions.
If two certifications look similar, use the decision cards below before committing study time. They point to the best first exam for common candidate profiles and connect this role hub to deeper study guides, comparison pages, exam tips, and certification-path resources. That internal path helps you move from broad research to a specific exam plan without bouncing between unrelated pages.
Which Administrator certification should you take first?
Use this quick decision table before opening every exam page. Google searchers usually want a next step, not just a catalog.
New to Salesforce admin work
Administrator (ADM-201)
Best first credential for user setup, security, automation, reports, and platform operations.
Already passed ADM-201
Advanced Administrator
Deepens security, automation, data management, and troubleshooting skills for senior admin roles.
Declarative builder path
Platform App Builder
Validates app design, data model decisions, automation, and UX configuration without Apex.
High-Intent Administrator Resources
Salesforce Administrator Career Overview
Entry Salary
$65,000–$95,000
Senior Salary
$90,000–$130,000
Time to First Cert
3–6 months
Typical Career Path
ADM-201 → Advanced Administrator or App Builder → Sales/Service Cloud Consultant → Senior Admin or Functional Consultant
Each step below is a real credential or role milestone — most candidates spend 6–18 months at each stage before advancing to the next.
Top Skills Required
What Does a Salesforce Administrator Do Day-to-Day?
- 1Managing user accounts, profiles, permission sets, and login access
- 2Building and maintaining automation (Record-Triggered Flows, approval processes)
- 3Creating reports and dashboards for business stakeholders
- 4Data quality management: imports, deduplication, and validation rules
- 5Troubleshooting user issues and managing change requests
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the first Salesforce certification for an administrator?
- The Salesforce Administrator (ADM-201) is the recommended first certification for anyone on the admin track. It covers the full platform — security model, automation, data management, reports, and dashboards. All other admin certifications (Advanced Administrator, App Builder) build on ADM-201 knowledge.
- How long does it take to get the Salesforce Administrator certification?
- Most candidates with no prior Salesforce experience pass ADM-201 in 8–12 weeks of part-time study. Candidates with existing CRM or Salesforce user experience often pass in 4–6 weeks. The exam is 60 questions, 105 minutes, and requires a 68% score.
- What admin certifications come after ADM-201?
- After ADM-201, the most common next certifications are Platform App Builder (declarative customisation), Advanced Administrator (advanced security and automation), and Salesforce Business Analyst. Admins who want to move into consulting typically take Sales Cloud Consultant or Service Cloud Consultant.