Salesforce Certified Administrator
Overview
The Salesforce Certified Administrator credential is designed for those who have experience as a Salesforce Administrator. Candidates should possess broad knowledge of Salesforce applications, regularly configure and manage Salesforce, and continuously look for ways their companies can get even more from additional features and capabilities. This QAForce blog post will provide a brief insight into preparing for the exam.
About the Certified Administrator Exam
- 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions* (5 unscored items will be added).
- 105 minutes allotted to complete the exam (time allows for unscored questions).
- 65% is the passing score.
Certified Administrator Exam Outline
- Describe the information found in the company information (e.g., fiscal year, business hours, currency management, default settings).
- Distinguish between the various UI features that an administrator controls, including the implications (e.g., UI settings, search settings, list views, home page layouts)..
- Identify the steps to set up and/or maintain a user (e.g., 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 (e.g., 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 (e.g., 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 (e.g., case processes, case settings, and case comments).
- Given a scenario, identify how to automate case management (e.g., case assignment, auto-response, escalation, web-to-case, email-to-case, case teams).
- Describe the capabilities of solution management and Salesforce Knowledge.
- Describe the capabilities of the Community application (e.g. Ideas, Answers).
- Describe the capabilities of activity management (e.g., manage tasks, events, public calendars, multi-day events.
- Describe the features of Chatter (e.g., feed, groups, following, security).
- Describe the considerations when importing, updating, transferring, and mass deleting data (e.g., CSV files, data quality, field mapping, record IDs, external IDs, duplicate records).
- Given a scenario, identify tools and use cases for managing data (e.g., dataloader, data import wizard).
- Describe the capabilities and implications of data validation tools.
- Describe the different ways to back up data (e.g., data export service, exports, dataloader).
- Describe the options available when creating or customizing a report (e.g., 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 (e.g., dashboard components, data sources, chart types, scheduling, 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.
Studying Experience
Like with all exams I take, I draw up a rough study plan and a timeline in which I wish to cover all the topics that I need to in order to be ready for the exam. I tend to take a day or to amalgamate a list of useful documents, videos, blogs and mock exam questions and these will then form part of my study plan. The majority of my studying will take place in the evening after work and family time has finished for approx 1.5-2 hours each night.
Study Plan | Timeline – 8 Weeks – 115 to 125 Hours
- DAY 1 – Review Exam Guide to identify high percentage areas – these will be my priority areas to understand.
- WEEK 1 – Watch Webinars for an overview of Social Studio.
- WEEK 1 – Review any Study Notes/Blog posts.
- WEEK 2 – Preparing for Your Salesforce Administrator Certification (CRT-101) course. Take mock exam at the end of the week to determine current knowledge gaps.
- WEEK 3 – Start the Administrator Certification Trailmix.
- WEEK 4 – Complete the Administrator Certification Trailmix. Take mock exam to determine current knowledge level and identify areas to concentrate on.
- WEEK 5 – Complete the Administrative Essentials for New Admins in Lightning Experience (ADX-201) course. Take mock exam at the end of the week to determine current knowledge gaps.
- WEEK 6 – Watch the The Complete Salesforce Administrator Udemy Course. Take a mock exam at the end of the week to determine current knowledge gaps.
- WEEK 7 – Review Udemy video sections where additional knowledge is needed. Take as many Practice Exams as possible.
- WEEK 8 – Review my own Study Notes and brush up on any high percentage areas that I feel I need to.
- WEEK 8 – Sit Exam.
Exam Day
I always aim to take my exams online as I find that these immediately removes any additional nerves/stress from travelling to and from a Test Centre and allows for maximum amount of time to study on exam day. Being based in the UK, most of the suitable exam times are in the afternoon, so that means I can spend the morning revising prior to the exam with hopefully little or no distractions.
Remember online proctored exams require a webcam and a clear distraction-free area. The Proctor may contact you before or during the exam to request you adjust the webcam, or clear the desk you are sitting at, so again to remove any unwanted nerves / stress be sure to set everything up in advance.
The Salesforce Certified Administrator is no different, it is essential to plan not only your study but also your Exam Day. If you are not taking it online, then be sure to know how to get to the Exam Centre, keep checking the traffic/transport delays and routes.
I had booked my exam for a Sunday afternoon, ensured that I would be distraction free and set my desk and webcam up extra early. I felt a bit of pressure as I really wanted to be pass the exam but kept focused and down some quick fire Quizlet questions as well as taking two quick mock papers that morning.
Post Exam Review
At the beginning of the exam I had to adjust my webcam for the Proctor which was not the ideal start as I just wanted to get on with the exam, but after a minute or so I received the thumbs-up and started. The first few questions went (in my opinion) well and I was fairly confident but then I started to get into the ‘mark for review’ territory, but made sure to use the process of elimination to at least be half confident on my selection – sometime there is a pressure to rush through the questions you are not sure on and come back to them later but this is a mistake, you should always take the time to read through the question and answers – if you are pushed for time later on, then your rushed selection could be the all important question that you get wrong.
Personally, although I felt fairly confident, there were still a number of questions that I was quite unsure on and although I had time to run through the questions fully twice, there is always that point where you are just unable to do anymore and you are left with hitting the submit button. I would describe the exam as a tough, there is a lot to cover and especially if you are new to Salesforce it is certainly a difficult task. That said, I am extremely happy that I passed the exam and cannot wait to figure out which one to take next.
I think anyone who is currently studying or due to study to become a Salesforce Certified Administrator really needs to have a study plan so that you can avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed with exam and struggling to prioritise, and help them focus on the actual studying – the Exam Guide give you a great basis of what is required to pass the exam and your studying and knowledge should mirror this. Hand-on experience is also a must, some of the questions in the exam I only knew the answers to because I had actually used the area of Salesforce.
5 Top Tips to Passing
- Organise a study plan. This is a tough exam, so planning study it essential.
- Embrace Trailhead, the projects allow you to gain experience.
- Use Flashcards to test your knowledge, do this often to help identify gaps in your knowledge.
- Identify the high scoring areas an ensure that you are getting 80-90% of mock questions correct in these areas.
- Get Hand-On. Experience is needed to answer some of the questions.
Resources
- Salesforce Administrator Exam Guide.
- Preparing for Your Salesforce Administrator Certification (CRT-101) course.
- Administrative Essentials for New Admins in Lightning Experience (ADX-201) course.
- Administrator Certification Trailmix.
- The Complete Salesforce Administrator Udemy Course
A Certified Salesforce Administrator, Salesforce Einstein Analytics and Discovery Consultant, ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level, Jitterbit Foundations and Jitterbit Core Certified QA Test Automation Manager who is also an experienced creative all-rounder with enthusiasm and the proven ability to understand client needs and deliver satisfying solutions. A thirst for new technology and modern Quality Assurance and Testing techniques keeps me aspiring to learn at every opportunity. My current role is at Publicis Sapient who are an official Salesforce Platinum Partner. Publicis Sapient provide Salesforce expertise and strategic thinking that enables organisations to transform their business to Cloud-based technology.