Salesforce has a formal Salesforce Developer certification process. This is to ensure developers have the skills required to be able to customise applications on the Salesforce platform. Having this credential allows professionals to demonstrate they have the ability to understand business logic, create data models, build user interfaces, and ensure the security of applications.

However, becoming certified is not for everyone. There are many benefits to becoming certified but also a few aspects of the process that people should be aware of.

The benefits of being certified

Job opportunities

One immediate benefit is the job opportunities open to those certified. The popularity of Salesforce continues to increase so Salesforce developers are in high demand, however, many employers will only hire you if you have at least one or sometimes all three certification levels.

Salary

Salesforce developers also enjoy high salaries, with the average salary for a Salesforce Developer being over $110,000 per year in Australia. Being certified additionally gives you greater leverage in your salary negotiations.

Other factors to consider

Do you have the time?

The Salesforce certification process takes time and involves sitting a roughly two hour exam that has a set passing grade. Even for developers that have been using Salesforce for many years, passing the exam is no easy task so in order to achieve the certification you will be required to put in the hours of study to make sure you pass. Relying on experience alone won’t get you over the line.

Do you have the money?

Investing in your own learning to further yourself is usually a good idea but keep in mind that the certification exams aren’t free. They are at least USD $200 per exam and if you don’t pass you have to pay to re-sit the exam also. In many cases however, your employer may be willing to cover the cost of you sitting the exam.

Are you willing to continually maintain your knowledge?

The certification process isn’t a one and done type of process. Changes to the platform are regularly made meaning that maintaining your knowledge is crucial. Salesforce also has a requirement that you re-sit the exam every three years to make sure you stay up to date on your knowledge if you want to retain your certification.

Are you willing to continually upskill?

There are three levels of salesforce developer credentials:

• Salesforce Certified Commerce Cloud Digital Developer
• Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I, and
• Salesforce Certified Platform Developer II

While having a single certification helps, you will always be competing with other people who have multiple certifications. So in order to remain competitive, you will need to be continually completing certifications to expand your skills and knowledge base.

Making the grade

Becoming Salesforce Developer Certified clearly brings with it tangible benefits that will enhance your knowledge and career prospects. But it’s important to remember that certification should be viewed more as a long term commitment rather than a one off event or a tick the box type of exercise.

To find out more about whether becoming certified is the right choice for your career goals or how you can otherwise improve your career prospects, FinXL would be happy to help.