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Discover the Salesforce Associate Certification: An Entry-Level Credential

Astro reading and Hootie holding a certification in a forest scene below the Salesforce Certified Associate logo.
Understand what a Salesforce Certified Associate is, how it differs from a Salesforce Certified Professional, and whether this certification is right for you.

Earn the Salesforce Associate certification to validate your foundational Salesforce knowledge.

According to the IDC, there’ll be 9.3 million new Salesforce jobs by 2026. Additionally, a prior study found that nearly half a million job openings required at least one Salesforce skill. We’re committed to supporting job seekers and helping them become Salesforce-certified professionals. With the Salesforce Associate certification, you’ll validate your understanding of Salesforce and learn the importance of CRM and the Customer 360 Platform.

Salesforce Associate Certification

An entry-level credential designed for Trailblazers who are new to Salesforce.

What is the Salesforce Associate certification?

The Salesforce Associate certification is an entry-level credential designed for those with 0-6 months of Salesforce experience. It is the perfect start for Trailblazers who are invested in understanding and using the Salesforce Customer 360 Platform.

How is a Salesforce Associate certification different from a Salesforce Professional certification?

Salesforce Professional certifications are designed for individuals with an extensive range of experience, knowledge, and skills in a specific Salesforce role. 

The Salesforce Associate validates foundational Salesforce knowledge and helps Trailblazers discover which Salesforce career path they want to follow.

Additionally, it doesn’t require maintenance as it is meant to be a starting point for Trailblazers offering an exploration of the Customer 360 Platform, and an opportunity to check out the Salesforce professional certification offerings.

How to become a Salesforce Certified Associate

A Certified Salesforce Associate has a fundamental understanding of how an integrated CRM platform solves the challenge of connecting departments and customer data. They have a working knowledge of reporting, user administration, sharing, customization, and data management at a foundational level. There’s no technical expertise required.

The Salesforce Associate certification exam demonstrates skills in the following areas:

  • How the CRM platform solves the challenge of connecting departments and customer data
  • How Salesforce Customer 360 can solve business challenges
  • Key Salesforce Platform terms
  • Salesforce functionality at a foundational level, such as requirements gathering, reporting, security, sharing, customization, and data management

Why this certification matters

If you’re new to Salesforce, it might be a challenge to identify which career path is right for you. The Salesforce Associate certification is a great way to build a foundation in Salesforce and begin your credentialing journey, without committing to a particular career path. By preparing for this exam, you’ll better understand how Salesforce works and which career path seems the most interesting to you.

Salesforce MVP Lizz Hellinga shared her excitement for a certification designed for those who are just starting their Salesforce journey. She sees value in this credential for two main reasons.

“Firstly, having an understanding of Salesforce is important for many jobs. By and large, not everyone is going to become a Salesforce Administrator but everyone needs Salesforce skills. This fills a gap that was missing.”

“Secondly, this is a great stepping stone for those planning to sit for the Salesforce Administrator exam one day. I teach an ‘Intro to Salesforce’ course at City Colleges, with Rebe de la Paz. This Associate exam will keep students engaged while they explore Salesforce careers. They might even be able to get a job using Salesforce in some capacity because of this cert.”

“The Salesforce Associate cert is a valuable first step for anyone looking to add Salesforce skills to their resume.” — Lizz Hellinga, Salesforce MVP

Which Salesforce career is right for you?

Discover your ideal career in the cloud.

Start today

Prove your skills, build confidence, and kickstart your certification journey as a Salesforce Certified Associate.

  • Prepare for your Salesforce Associate certification exam with the exam guide
  • Complete the Salesforce Associate certification preparation trailmix. Use this guided path to learn the key concepts you’ll need to prove your skills and earn your certification.
  • Join the Trailblazer Community, where you can collaborate with others and find support. Join a study group and connect with Trailblazers from around the globe to reach your goals together.
  • Finally, when you’re ready, schedule your exam at a test center or online. You’ve got this!

The Trailblazer Blog

Discover expert insights to help you develop your career, connect with Trailblazers, learn Salesforce, and earn certifications. Explore practical how-to guidance, authentic peer perspectives, and inspiring Trailblazer stories.

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Melanie Wachs
Melanie Wachs Former Senior Manager, Certification Development

Melanie has built a lasting career in learning management focused on certification development, instructional design, training, and collaborative facilitation. Besides lifelong learning, her passions include her family, getting lost in a great book, and traveling to new destinations.

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