Salesforce Administrator Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the Salesforce Administrator, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$200
Provider
Salesforce
Validity
Annual maintenance
Available
Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
6-12 months of relevant experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- None. The Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator exam guide states that no prerequisite credential, degree or course is required to register.
- Salesforce recommends, without requiring, six or more months of experience as a Salesforce Platform Administrator, plus general knowledge of the features available to end users.
- A Trailblazer account is needed to register through Trailhead Academy and to view results afterwards.
- A valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches the booking exactly is required on exam day, in both test-center and online modes.
- For online delivery, a private room, a computer running Windows 10 or macOS 14 or higher with administrator rights, a single display, a webcam, microphone and speaker, and a wired connection of at least 6 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up.
- USD 200 plus applicable taxes for the first attempt. Certification exams are taxable according to local law, so the charged amount can exceed the list price.
Number of Questions
60 scored multiple-choice questions, plus up to 5 unscored questions that Salesforce seeds for research. That means up to 65 items appear on screen and only 60 of them count, with no marking to tell you which is which.
Duration
105 minutes of exam time. Pearson VUE asks online candidates to begin check-in 30 minutes before the appointment, and testing centers ask candidates to arrive early for the same identity and workspace checks, so the appointment block is longer than the exam itself.
Question Format
Multiple choice with a single correct answer, Multiple select, where the stem states how many options to choose, Scenario stems describing a business requirement, asking which declarative feature meets it, Comparative items asking which of several automation or sharing tools fits a stated constraint, Up to 5 unscored pretest items indistinguishable from the scored ones
Passing Requirement
68 percent for the English exam, which is 41 of the 60 scored questions. The Japanese exam passes at 65 percent. Individual sections do not have to be passed.
How It Is Delivered
Proctored through Pearson VUE, either onsite at a testing center or online through OnVUE. No reference materials are permitted in either mode. Online testing requires Windows 10 or macOS 14 or higher, a single display, a webcam, microphone and speaker, a wired connection with at least 6 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up, and administrator rights on the machine. Virtual machines, VPNs and secondary monitors are barred.
Languages Offered
English, with a 68 percent passing score, Japanese, with a 65 percent passing score. Section-level feedback on the score report is currently generated only for exams taken in English.
Visit the official Salesforce certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
A single overall percentage of correct answers across the 60 scored questions, reported as pass or fail, accompanied by a percentage for each of the eight exam sections that is diagnostic feedback only.
Score You Need
68 percent for the English exam, which is 41 of the 60 scored questions. The Japanese exam passes at 65 percent. Individual sections do not have to be passed.
How It Is Calculated
Scoring is compensatory: one overall percentage decides the result, and strength in a heavy section offsets weakness in a light one. Wrong answers carry no penalty and unanswered questions carry no penalty, so a blank and a wrong answer are identical. Up to five unscored pretest items are seeded among the 60 scored questions and excluded from the calculation. Questions can be flagged and revisited before submission. Salesforce sets each credential's passing percentage and states it can change over time.
When You Get Results
There is no waiting period. An onscreen score report appears at the end of the session with the pass or fail outcome and a percentage for each exam section, and the identical report is emailed. Results are also stored under Past Exams in My Dashboard in Trailhead Academy. Section-level feedback is produced only for exams taken in English.
In raw terms: 68 percent of 60 scored questions means 41 correct answers to pass in English, leaving a margin of 19 wrong answers. The exam guide gives a comparable worked example for another credential, where a 67 percent bar equals 40 of 60 questions correct.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the Salesforce Administrator?
None. The Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator exam guide states that no prerequisite credential, degree or course is required to register.. Salesforce recommends, without requiring, six or more months of experience as a Salesforce Platform Administrator, plus general knowledge of the features available to end users.. A Trailblazer account is needed to register through Trailhead Academy and to view results afterwards.. A valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches the booking exactly is required on exam day, in both test-center and online modes.. For online delivery, a private room, a computer running Windows 10 or macOS 14 or higher with administrator rights, a single display, a webcam, microphone and speaker, and a wired connection of at least 6 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up.. USD 200 plus applicable taxes for the first attempt. Certification exams are taxable according to local law, so the charged amount can exceed the list price..
How much does the Salesforce Administrator cost?
The Salesforce Administrator exam costs $200. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the Salesforce Administrator?
Visit the official Salesforce certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the Salesforce Administrator?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for Salesforce Administrator?
Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.
View Salesforce Administrator Guide