Salesforce has updated several of its certification titles
Salesforce has recently updated the names of several of its certification titles to better align with its expanding product ecosystem and to clarify the skillsets they represent. One of the most notable changes is the renaming of the Salesforce Certified Administrator certification to Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator. This change reflects the broader scope of the role, emphasizing platform capabilities beyond traditional administrative functions.
The shift to "Platform Administrator" highlights the evolving nature of the administrator role, which now involves configuring, managing, and automating the Salesforce platform in more comprehensive ways. This change is intended to help both professionals and employers better understand the certification’s relevance to the platform’s capability as a whole, including newer tools and features that extend beyond basic administrative duties.
In addition to the Certified Administrator update, Salesforce has rebranded other certifications to align with platform growth and specialization trends. For example:
The Certified Advanced Administrator certification now appears as Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator ll, maintaining its emphasis on complex admin tasks but under the unified "Platform" branding.
Developer certifications have adopted the "Platform Developer" naming convention, such as Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I and Platform Developer II, to distinguish these credentials as focused on platform-specific development skills rather than generic coding proficiencies.
Architect certifications have also been updated, with titles adopting clearer distinctions, such as System Architect or Application Architect, to specify domain expertise.
These renaming efforts assist professionals with positioning their skills in a marketplace increasingly oriented toward integrated platform solutions rather than isolated product knowledge. The emphasis on "Platform" underscores Salesforce’s direction toward enabling users to build custom applications and workflows that leverage multiple clouds and technologies within its ecosystem.
For those currently holding certifications, Salesforce typically provides a transition period where older titles remain valid and are recognized alongside the updated names. It’s important for certification holders to review official Salesforce communications for timelines and any new exam requirements.
Understanding the new certification names is critical for both professionals pursuing credentials and employers evaluating candidate qualifications. This alignment promotes clear expectations around capabilities and reinforces the comprehensive skillsets needed in today's Salesforce environment.