Career Ladder

Salesforce Administrator (ADM-201)
Certificate Exam

The Salesforce Administrator (ADM-201) Exam is for the ones who have experience with the Salesforce platform and want a certification to showcase their skills to the companies. The exam includes the topics like features and functions available to the end-user and the topics related to the configuration and management options available to an administrator.

Why should you learn Salesforce?

3.3 million jobs are expected in the Salesforce ecosystem by 2022

More than 200k companies have switched to the Salesforce

Annual growth of the platform is expected to be 65 percent.

Acc to IDC, Salesforce ecosystem leads the market with 20% of the total market share.

Source: IDC

Why should I get Salesforce certified?

According to a recent Salesforce survey, 77% of Salesforce professionals have at least one Salesforce certification, and 39% of Salesforce professionals reported an increment in the salary after becoming Salesforce certified. Being Salesforce certified helps in going ahead of the competitors and improves your career in the domain.

Source: Salesforce

What is expected from a certified candidate?

After clearing the Salesforce Administrator (ADM-201) exam, the candidate is expected to:

  • Have good knowledge of the features available to end-users and the configuration options available to a Salesforce Administrator.
  • Be able to maintain a Salesforce organization
  • Respond to everyday business requirements
  • Perform administrative functions using current Salesforce features

About the Exam

Read on for details about the Salesforce Administrator exam.

  • Content: 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions and 5 non-scored questions
  • Time allotted to complete the exam: 105 minutes
  • Passing score: 65%
  • Registration fee: USD 200 plus applicable taxes as required per local law
  • Retake fee: USD 100 plus applicable taxes as required per local law
  • Delivery options: Proctored exam delivered onsite at a testing centre or in an online proctored environment.
  • References: No hard-copy or online materials may be referenced during the exam.
  • Prerequisite: None; program attendance highly recommended

Source: Salesforce

Exam Outline

The exam is designed in such a way where it tests the practical application knowledge of your learning in the program. The Salesforce Administrator exam measures a candidate’s knowledge and skills related to the following objectives.

A candidate should have hands-on experience as a Salesforce Administrator (where CL’s internship program is beneficial) and have demonstrated the application of each of the features/ functions below.

Describe the information found in the company settings (for example, fiscal year, business hours, currency management, default settings).

Distinguish between the various UI features that an administrator controls, including the implications (for example, UI settings, search settings, list views, homepage layouts).

Identify the steps to set up and/or maintain a user (for example, assign licenses, reset passwords, and resolve locked user accounts).

Understand the implications of activating, deactivating, or freezing a user.

Explain the various organization security controls (for example, passwords, IP restrictions, identity confirmation, network settings).

Given a user request scenario, apply the appropriate security controls based on the features and capabilities of the Salesforce sharing model (for example, organization-wide defaults, roles and the role hierarchy, manual sharing, sharing rules, and public groups).

Given a scenario, determine the appropriate use of a custom profile or permission set using the various profile settings and permissions.

Describe how folders can be used to organize and secure communication templates, dashboards, and reports.

Describe the standard object architecture and relationship model.

Explain how to create, delete, and customize fields and page layouts on standard and custom objects, and understand the implications of deleting fields.

Given a scenario, determine how to create and assign page layouts, record types, and business processes for custom and standard objects.

Given a scenario, identify the capabilities and implications of the sales process.

Given a scenario, identify the appropriate sales productivity features using opportunity tools, and know when products and Price Books should be used.

Describe the capabilities of lead automation tools and campaign management.

Describe the capability of Salesforce Content.

Describe the capabilities of case management (for example, case processes, case settings, and case comments).

Given a scenario, identify how to automate case management (for example, case assignment, auto-response, escalation, web-to-case, email-to-case, case teams).

Describe the capabilities of Salesforce Knowledge.

Describe the capabilities of the Salesforce Communities

Describe the capabilities of activity management (for example, manage tasks, events, public calendars, multi-day events.

Describe the features of Chatter (for example, feed, groups, following, security).

Describe the considerations when importing, updating, transferring, and mass deleting data (for example, CSV files, data quality, field mapping, record IDs, external IDs, duplicate records).

Given a scenario, identify tools and use cases for managing data (for example, dataloader, data import wizard).

Describe the capabilities and implications of data validation tools.

Describe the different ways to backup data (for example, data export service, exports, dataloader).

Describe the options available when creating or customizing a report (for example, report type, report format, fields, summarizing data, filtering data, charting, scheduling, and conditional highlighting).

Describe the impact of the sharing model on reports.

Describe the options available when creating and modifying dashboards (for example, dashboard components, data sources, chart types, subscribing, and running user).

Describe the capabilities of custom report types.

Given a scenario, identify the appropriate automation solution based on the capabilities of workflow/process.

Describe capabilities and use cases for the approval process.

Describe the capabilities of the Salesforce Mobile App.

Describe the installation and synchronization options of Salesforce Lightning for Outlook.

Identify use cases for AppExchange applications.

Source: Salesforce

How to give the Salesforce Administrator (ADM-201) Certificate exam?

  • The first step is to register yourself for the exam, which is to be done online Salesforce portal.
  • The second step is to choose the mode of examination – Salesforce provides the below-mentioned options
  • On-site proctored examThis option lets you give the exam at a local testing center at your chosen date and time. Salesforce has partnered with Kryterion, which has testing centers worldwide, making the examination process more convenient for the candidates looking to get certified.
  • Online proctored exam This option lets you give your exam remotely, even from your home. An examiner will monitor and proctor the exam through the webcam, and you will also have to download software to allow the examiner to view your screen as you work through the exam.

You may register and take the exam on the same day. However, it is suggested that you register for the exam one week prior to your examination date.

Maintaining Your Salesforce Certification

Holding a Salesforce certificate is a benefit but keeping it updated is an added advantage. We should always keep our Salesforce certificates up-to-date on new product releases (updates).

Salesforce requires you to complete the certification maintenance modules on Trailhead once per year.

Your certificate can get expired if you do not complete all maintenance requirements by the due date.