What is Salesforce Platform App Builder?

Table Of Contents

• Who is an Ideal Candidate for Salesforce App Builder Certification?
• How to Pass the Salesforce App Builder Certification Exam on the First Attempt?
• Salesforce Platform App Builder Exam Syllabus

Salesforce has revolutionized the way businesses build and customize apps with its declarative, point-and-click tools. Among these tools, the Lightning App Builder stands out as one of the most popular and user-friendly options. With this tool, business users can create fully functional apps quickly—often in a matter of hours or days—without needing to write a single line of code. This has drastically shortened app-building timelines and made it easier for non-developers to create applications tailored to their business needs.

The term Platform App Builder refers to individuals who excel in using Salesforce’s declarative tools to design, develop, and deploy custom apps on the Salesforce platform. These tools empower users to build apps that cater to specific business requirements without needing to delve into programmatic development. If you aspire to work with Salesforce tools or already do, earning the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification is an excellent way to validate your skills.

Salesforce is known for its out-of-the-box features that meet typical business needs like sales management and customer support. However, businesses often have unique requirements that can’t always be met with these standard features. This is where the power of Salesforce’s flexibility comes into play, allowing users to customize the platform to meet their specific needs. By becoming a Salesforce Platform App Builder, you are equipping yourself with the skills to unlock the full potential of Salesforce’s customization options.

In fact, the Salesforce Economy is expected to create around 4.2 million jobs between 2019 and 2024, underscoring the growing demand for skilled Salesforce professionals. If you’re looking to make the most of this opportunity, it’s crucial to stay updated on the latest Salesforce features and toolkits. Upskilling in business process automation and app-building tools is a step in the right direction, especially if you’re looking to deploy apps on Salesforce’s Lightning platform.

Become a Salesforce Certified Professional today and stay ahead of the competition!

Who is an Ideal Candidate for Salesforce App Builder Certification?

The Salesforce Platform App Builder certification is designed for individuals who have experience working with Salesforce’s Lightning Platform and are eager to validate their skills in app building. The ideal candidate for this certification should meet the following criteria:

• Experience: At least six months of hands-on experience working with the Lightning Experience platform is recommended. The candidate should be familiar with creating custom apps and using the strategies outlined in the certification exam.
• Skillset: A typical Salesforce Platform App Builder has anywhere between six to twelve months of experience on the platform or with a similar technical environment.

The key competencies expected from the ideal candidate include:

• In-depth knowledge of Lightning Platform features.
• Familiarity with Salesforce licensing types and associated elements.
• Proficiency in creating apps to support business processes.
• A clear understanding of the tools used to enhance the mobile user experience.
• Working knowledge of Salesforce development environments and app deployment.

Additionally, candidates should have experience managing Sales Cloud or Service Cloud and a basic understanding of programmatic development (Apex, Visualforce, etc.). While familiarity with programmatic development tools is helpful, it’s important to note that this certification does not require in-depth knowledge of creating custom Visualforce interfaces or building apps using Apex or JavaScript.

How to Pass the Salesforce App Builder Certification Exam on the First Attempt?

Passing the Salesforce Platform App Builder exam can be challenging, but with the right preparation, you can increase your chances of success. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you pass the exam on your first attempt:

1. Get Certification Preparation Training

One of the most effective ways to ensure success is to invest in certification preparation training. Simply reading materials or watching videos is not enough to fully grasp the concepts. Interactive, structured training will help you build a strong foundation and apply your knowledge practically.

Key Steps for Preparation:

• Enroll in Online Training: Choose a platform that offers Salesforce-certified trainers who can provide expert guidance. Platforms like Trailhead (Salesforce’s own training site), Udemy, and Pluralsight offer comprehensive courses that cover all topics of the Salesforce App Builder exam. These courses often break down complex concepts into easily digestible modules.
• Live Classes & Webinars: Some training platforms offer live classes, allowing you to interact with trainers and other professionals. These sessions are great for real-time clarifications and hands-on practice.
• Join Salesforce Developer Groups: Join communities like the Salesforce Developer Community or Salesforce Trailblazer Community to engage with other learners and professionals. These groups are excellent for discussing challenges and gaining insights from others’ experiences.

2. Take Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most crucial steps in exam preparation. Mock exams simulate the actual test environment, allowing you to gauge your readiness and identify areas for improvement.

Why Practice Tests are Important:

• Reinforce Learning: Practice exams reinforce concepts and help retain information.
• Familiarize with Exam Format: The Salesforce App Builder exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. Practicing with mock exams helps you become familiar with the question format and time constraints.
• Identify Weak Areas: Through practice tests, you can pinpoint topics where you are lacking and need further study. Focus on areas where you consistently score poorly.
• Example: If you’re consistently struggling with data modeling, take more practice tests related to this topic, and review the concepts in Salesforce related to Object relationships, Schema Builder, and Custom Fields.

Tip: Keep taking practice tests until you are consistently scoring 90% or above. This ensures you have a solid understanding and confidence going into the exam.

3. Identify the Exam Objective Weightings

Each section of the Salesforce Platform App Builder exam is weighted differently. Understanding these weightings is essential for prioritizing your study efforts.

Exam Objective Weightings:

• Business Logic and Process Automation (28%): This section has the highest weightage. Focus on mastering tools like Process Builder, Flow, Approval Processes, and Workflow Rules.
• Salesforce Fundamentals (20%): Understand the core concepts of Salesforce, such as Salesforce architecture, Lightning Experience, and Data Model.
• Data Modeling and Management (20%): This section covers data relationships, schema design, and field types. Pay attention to the correct usage of Master-Detail, Lookup, and Many-to-Many relationships.
• User Interface (18%): This section evaluates your understanding of page layouts, Lightning pages, and Record Types. Learn how to customize the UI for a better user experience.
• App Deployment (14%): This involves understanding change sets, Salesforce DX, and deployment strategies.

Action Steps:

• Study heavily weighted topics first. For example, spend extra time mastering business logic automation, as it makes up a significant part of the exam.
• Don’t ignore low-weighted topics completely. Ensure you have at least a basic understanding of every section, even if it carries a lower weight.

4. Understand the Exam Format

Being familiar with the exam format will help you manage your time and answer questions more effectively during the test.

Details of the Salesforce Platform App Builder Exam:

• 60 Multiple-Choice Questions: These questions cover the entire syllabus. Some questions might include multiple correct answers, so read each one carefully.
• Time Duration: You have 105 minutes to complete the exam. This gives you roughly 1 minute 45 seconds per question.
• Passing Score: The passing score is 63%. This means you need to answer at least 38 out of 60 questions correctly to pass.
• Cost: The exam costs $200, and if you fail, the retake fee is $100.
• Exam Topics: As mentioned earlier, the exam covers five main topics: Business Logic and Process Automation, Salesforce Fundamentals, Data Modeling and Management, User Interface, and App Deployment.

Tip: In the exam, it’s essential to manage your time wisely. Don’t spend too much time on any one question. If you’re unsure about an answer, mark it and move on. You can return to it later if time permits.

5. Use Salesforce Documentation & Trailhead

Salesforce’s official documentation and Trailhead are invaluable resources for understanding specific topics in depth.

• Salesforce Documentation: Salesforce provides comprehensive, up-to-date documentation that covers all aspects of the platform. Whenever you feel uncertain about a concept, consult the official documentation.
• Trailhead: Salesforce’s free learning platform, Trailhead, is designed to guide learners through the practical use of Salesforce tools. It includes modules on everything from data modeling to business automation. Working through these modules will give you hands-on experience with the tools that will be covered in the exam.

Example: To master business logic, you can follow the Process Automation Specialist trail on Trailhead, which covers everything from creating flows to automating business processes with Process Builder.

6. Focus on Business Logic and Process Automation

Since Business Logic and Process Automation accounts for 28% of the exam, this is an area you should prioritize. The concepts related to this topic are key for creating effective apps on the Salesforce platform.

Important Tools to Focus On:

• Flows: Learn how to create and manage Record-Triggered Flows, Screen Flows, and Scheduled Flows.
• Process Builder: Understand how to use Process Builder to automate tasks, such as creating records or sending emails based on certain conditions.
• Approval Processes: Know how to create and configure Approval Processes for automating business workflows.
• Example: You might be asked to automate the approval of a discount request in Salesforce. Here, using Process Builder and creating a custom approval process will be necessary.

7. Understand the Exam Objectives in Detail

The Salesforce Platform App Builder exam is built on a clear set of objectives. Go through each objective carefully and ensure you understand the associated concepts.

Key Objectives to Focus On:

• App Deployment: Get hands-on experience with change sets, Sandboxes, and Salesforce DX to deploy apps in the production environment.
• Data Modeling: Understand the use of Custom Objects, Relationships, and Schema Builder.
• User Interface: Learn how to design page layouts, Lightning pages, and Lightning components.

Salesforce Platform App Builder Exam Syllabus

To pass the Salesforce Platform App Builder exam, candidates must be well-versed in various concepts, including:

• Designing data models for custom applications.
• Implementing business logic and automation processes.
• Securing and customizing the user interface.
• Understanding app deployment strategies.
• Customizing apps for mobile use.

You should also be prepared to work with tools like Reports and Dashboards, which are crucial for creating insightful analytics within apps.

Summing Up

To succeed in the Salesforce Platform App Builder exam, you need a clear understanding of concepts such as data modeling, business logic, user interface design, and app deployment. Gaining experience with the Salesforce Lightning Platform, practicing with mock exams, and staying up to date with the latest features will significantly improve your chances of passing the exam and achieving certification.

Becoming a Salesforce Certified Professional will open up countless opportunities in the fast-growing Salesforce ecosystem. The time to start preparing is now!