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Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I

The Salesforce Platform Developer I credential is intended for individuals who have knowledge, skills, and experience in building custom applications on the Lightning Platform.

This credential encompasses the fundamental programmatic capabilities of the Lightning Platform to develop custom business logic and interfaces to extend Salesforce using Apex, Visualforce, and basic Lightning Components. To achieve this credential, a candidate must successfully pass the Salesforce Platform Developer I exam. This exam is also a prerequisite to the Salesforce Platform Developer II Multiple Choice exam.

Audience Description: Salesforce Platform Developer I

The Salesforce Platform Developer I exam is intended for an individual who has experience developing and deploying basic business logic and user interfaces using the programmatic capabilities of the Lightning Platform, including practical application of the skills and concepts noted in the exam objectives below.

The Salesforce Platform Developer I generally has one to two years of experience as a developer and at least six months of experience on the Lightning Platform and has invested time in studying the resources listed in this exam guide.

The Salesforce Platform Developer I candidate has the experience, skills, and knowledge outlined below:

  • Has experience with data-driven applications and relational databases.
  • Has experience with object-oriented languages such as Apex, JavaScript, Java, C#, and Ruby.
  • Is familiar with governor limits and their implications.
  • Has experience with Model View Controller (MVC) and component-based architectures.
  • Knows the capabilities of the core objects in the Salesforce schema.
  • Knows the capabilities and use cases for formula fields and roll-up summary fields.
  • Knows when to use declarative vs. programmatic methods to solve business requirements.
  • Can leverage relevant declarative capabilities of the platform, where appropriate.
  • Knows the Apex programming language and can use Apex best practices to customize Salesforce.
  • Can extend the Lightning Platform using Apex, Visualforce, and basic Lightning Components.
  • Can use fundamental programmatic capabilities of the Lightning Platform to develop custom interfaces to extend Salesforce capabilities and develop custom business logic.
  • Is familiar with testing, debugging, and deploying code and knows the available environments.
  • A candidate for this exam is not expected to administer any standard Salesforce applications, develop mobile apps, develop and publish managed products on the AppExchange, perform tuning or design integrations such as callouts, APIs, and email services.

Purpose of this Exam Guide

This exam guide is designed to help you evaluate if you are ready to successfully complete the Salesforce Platform Developer I exam. This guide provides information about the target audience for the certification exam, recommended training and documentation, and a complete list of exam objectives—all with the intent of helping you achieve a passing score. Salesforce highly recommends a combination of on-the-job experience, course attendance, and self-study to maximize your chances of passing the exam.

About the Exam

Read on for details about the Salesforce Platform Developer I exam.

  • Content: 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions and up to 5 non-scored questions
  • Time allotted to complete the exam: 105 minutes
  • Passing score: 68%
  • Registration fee: USD 200, plus applicable taxes as required per local law
  • Retake fee: USD 100, plus applicable taxes as required per local law
  • Delivery options: Proctored exam delivered onsite at a testing center or in an online proctored environment. Click here for information on scheduling an exam.
  • References: No hard-copy or online materials may be referenced during the exam.
  • Prerequisite: None; course attendance highly recommended

Note: Exam takers now have the opportunity to provide comments and feedback for individual questions on the Platform Developer I exam.