Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification: A Complete Guide

The Salesforce Platform App Builder certification is one of the most well-known credentials showing the IT professionals’ ability to declaratively modify standard applications or create a completely custom application.

Declaratively is a term that Salesforce uses to differentiate between building applications using ‘point and click’ and ‘programmatic,’ meaning using Visualforce and Apex coding.

The Platform App Builder certification does not need detailed knowledge and skills in programming. Still, it does need to know when it is suitable or necessary to use coding to accomplish an objective. Once you pass this certification, you will be a Certified Platform App Builder.

What is the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification?

The Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam is designed for IT professionals to show their ability to design, build, and deploy custom applications with the Lightning Platform. The candidate can create, manage, and update data models, application security, business logic, and process automation.

To pass the exam, you should know how to: Create and secure data models, user interfaces, and business logic for custom applications, build mobile-friendly applications, design reports and dashboards, and deploy custom applications.

About the exam

Here’s what you need to know about the Salesforce Platform App Builder exam. You will have to answer 60 questions that are either multiple-choice or multiple-select and 5 questions that are not scored. You will have 105 minutes to finish the exam. You must get at least 63% of the questions correct to pass. You have to pay USD 200 to register for the exam, plus any taxes that apply in your area.

Target audience

If you have experience developing custom applications on the Lightning Platform, you can get the Salesforce Platform App Builder credential to show your skills and knowledge. The exam will test you on the topics listed below. Before taking the exam, you should have at least 6 months to 1 year of experience working with the Lightning Platform or a similar technology platform.

To get the Salesforce Platform App Builder credential, you should have the following experience, skills, and knowledge: 

• You know what the Lightning Platform can do and how to use it. 
• You understand the different types of Salesforce licenses and how they affect your applications. 
• You can design applications that support your business processes and reporting needs. 
• You know how to make your applications mobile-friendly and customized. You know how to use the Salesforce development environments, deploy applications, and manage changes on the Lightning Platform. 

Exam outline

The exam tests how well you know and use the following objectives. You should have practical experience developing custom applications on the Lightning Platform and show how you have used each of these features/functions.

Salesforce Fundamentals: 23%

• Given a scenario, identify the boundaries of declarative customization and the use cases for programmatic customization.
• Identify common scenarios for extending an org using the AppExchange.
• Apply features and capabilities to restrict and extend object, record, and field access.
• Given a set of business requirements, determine the appropriate sharing solution.
• Identify the features and capabilities available when creating reports, report types, and dashboards.
• Given requirements, determine the appropriate global, object-specific actions and layouts to optimize the Salesforce mobile user experience.
• Describe the customizations and use cases for Chatter. 

Data Modeling and Management: 22%

• Given a scenario, determine the appropriate data model.
• Given a scenario, explain the capabilities of the various relationship types and the implications of each on record access, user interface, and reporting.
• Given a scenario, determine the considerations when selecting or changing a field data type.
• Explain the capabilities and considerations of the schema builder.
• Given a scenario, determine the options and considerations when importing and exporting data, including the capabilities of external data sources.

Business Logic and Process Automation: 28%

• Given a scenario, demonstrate using formula fields to meet stated business requirements.
• Given a scenario, determine the capabilities, use cases, and implications of roll-up summary fields.
• Given a scenario, demonstrate using validation rules to meet stated business requirements.
• Given a scenario, determine the capabilities and use cases for approval processes.
• Given a scenario, determine the capabilities and use cases for workflow, Flow, and Process Builder.
• Given a set of business requirements, recommend a solution to automate business processes while avoiding errors in automation.

User Interface: 17%

• Describe the user interface customization options.
• Demonstrate the capabilities and use cases for custom buttons, links, and actions.
• Given a scenario, determine the declarative options for incorporating Lightning Components in an application.
• Describe the programmatic customizations available for incorporating custom Lightning Components in an application.

App Deployment: 10%

• Given a set of business requirements, recommend a solution for critical milestones and considerations when managing the application lifecycle and various types of Sandboxes.
• Given a use case, demonstrate knowledge, viability, and troubleshooting when using change sets. 
• Describe the use cases and considerations when using unmanaged and managed packages.
• Given a scenario, determine the appropriate deployment plan.

How to Become a Salesforce Developer?

The following are some areas that you need to specialize in to become a highly successful Salesforce professional:

• Lightning framework
• Data management, security, and modeling
• Apex object-oriented programming language
• Salesforce app customization
• Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL)
• Salesforce Developer Console
• Visualforce basics
• Search solutions basics

How the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam can benefit you?

The Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam is a great way to prove your abilities and expertise in customizing your organization's Salesforce mobile apps and desktop sites. You will have more chances to advance your career as many organizations seek App builders. The Salesforce Platform App Builder certification can help you land many high-paying job opportunities.

Some of the main benefits of taking the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam are:

Learn about user interface: You will gain basic knowledge of User interface and how to customize the application according to end-user needs. 

Boost your app development skills: You will improve your skills in app development by taking the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam.

The final say

If you can build, integrate, and launch custom applications that use the platform’s great customization features, you must consider earning the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification. The Salesforce market is expected to grow a lot by 2024. So, if you know how to automate business processes and make and use custom applications on the lightning platform, you can grab this fantastic opportunity.

With enough preparation and guidance, anyone can pass the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam on their first try. If you want to know how, click the chat button below, and one of our consultants will contact you shortly.

FAQs

Q: How much does the Salesforce Platform App builder certification exam cost? A: The exam fee is USD 200, plus any taxes that apply in your area according to local law.

Q: What questions are in the Salesforce Platform App builder certification exam? A: The exam has multiple-choice and multiple-select questions.

Q: How long is the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam? A: You have 105 minutes to complete the exam.

Q: What score do I need to pass the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam? A: You must get at least 63% of the questions right to pass the exam.

Q: Is there any prerequisite to take the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification exam? A: No, there are no prerequisites to take the Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification exam. You can take this Salesforce certification exam without any prerequisites.