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Salesforce · Business Platforms · Associate

Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator exam guide

Exam Platform Administrator (formerly ADM-201)

Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator validates the ability to configure and maintain a Salesforce org: users and security, objects and Lightning apps, sales and service features, data and reports, automation with Flow, and Agentforce basics. It remains the most requested Salesforce credential and the prerequisite for most consultant exams in 2026.

Questions60
Time limit105 minutes
Passing score68%
Exam fee$200 USD
Valid forSee official page
DeliveryProctored at a testing center or online; registered through Trailhead Academy

Format: Multiple choice and multiple select (60 scored + up to 5 unscored items); no references allowed. Fee note: Retake $100.

Who it's for

New and working Salesforce admins, and business users moving into a Salesforce administration role.

What the exam covers

Data and Analytics Management17%
Configuration and Setup15%
Object Manager and Lightning App Builder15%
Automation15%
Sales and Marketing Applications10%
Service and Support Applications10%
Productivity and Collaboration10%
Agentforce8%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None.

Recommended: About 6 months of hands-on Salesforce administration is typical; Salesforce provides a free Trailhead trailmix for exam preparation.

Keeping it active

No fixed expiry while maintained: complete the free annual maintenance module for the credential on Trailhead by the deadline. Missing the deadline expires the credential and you must pass the exam again.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • User management, profiles, permission sets and sharing
  • Custom objects, fields and page layouts
  • Flow automation
  • Reports and dashboards
  • Data import and data quality
  • Sales and Service Cloud configuration
  • Agentforce setup basics

Job roles

Salesforce AdministratorCRM AdministratorSalesforce Business AnalystJunior Salesforce ConsultantSales Operations SpecialistRevenue Operations Analyst

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Weeks 1-2: Configuration and security: org setup, users, profiles, permission sets, role hierarchy and sharing rules in a free Developer Edition org.
  2. Weeks 3-4: Object Manager, Lightning App Builder, record types, page layouts; sales and service features (leads, opportunities, cases, knowledge).
  3. Week 5: Data and analytics (17%): data import tools, validation, duplicate rules, reports, report types and dashboards.
  4. Week 6: Automation with Flow (record-triggered, screen, scheduled) and Agentforce basics.
  5. Week 7: Two or three timed practice exams; revisit Trailhead modules for weak topics.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Sharing and visibility questions are common across domains; know the order org-wide defaults, roles, sharing rules and manual sharing are applied.
  • Flow is the automation tool tested; Workflow Rules and Process Builder are retired.
  • Agentforce is now 8% of the exam; know how agents, topics and actions are set up at a basic level.
  • With 105 minutes for 65 items you have time to re-read; flag scenario questions and come back.

Key terms for this exam

All 166 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Platform Administrator exam cost?

$200 plus applicable taxes; a retake costs $100.

What is the passing score for Platform Administrator?

68%. The exam has 60 scored questions plus up to 5 unscored items.

Does the certification expire?

Not if you complete the free annual Trailhead maintenance module by its deadline; if you miss it, the credential expires.

Is ADM-201 still the exam code?

Salesforce now calls it the Platform Administrator exam; ADM-201 is the older name many people still search for.

How long should I study?

Most candidates with some hands-on org time need 6-8 weeks of part-time study.

Official page: trailhead.salesforce.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.