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Cert++

  1. Home
  3. Study Resources
  5. Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer
Resource Pack
·Study Checklist

Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer

4-Step Path to Passing

  1. 1
    Complete the
    Developer Fundamentals Trail
  2. 2
    Look at the
    Study Checklist
    Every concept you need to know for your exam, available for free to check off as you learn.
  3. 3
    Attempt
    Practice Exams
  4. 4
    Schedule Your Exam

Core Resources

  • Cert++ Practice Exam (1 free exam per cert, then paid)

    Free practice questions with detailed explanations. $10/mo for access to all questions, features, and certifications.

    certplusplus.com

  • Daily Certle Game (3 free questions per day)

    Practice your Salesforce certification knowledge daily with a challenge inspired by Wordle. Topics might not perfectly align with your preferred exam, but there's a lot of overlap between the certs.

    certplusplus.com

  • Focus on Force (Paid)

    Paid study guides and practice exams for Salesforce certifications, including Marketing Cloud.

    focusonforce.com

  • Developer Fundamentals Trail

    Salesforce's official study trail for this credential: developer basics, contact management, data management, security, and contact deletion.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Official Exam Guide

    Official exam outline with topic weights, objectives, and exam format details.

    help.salesforce.com

  • Marketing Cloud Developer Center

    Official developer hub with REST and SOAP API reference docs, AMPscript function reference, and code samples.

    developer.salesforce.com

  • AMPscript Guide (Community Reference)

    Community-maintained AMPscript reference with function signatures, argument lists, examples, and best practices.

    ampscript.guide

  • r/salesforce

    Salesforce subreddit for discussions, career questions, certification tips, and community support.

    reddit.com

  • Cert++ Discord

    The Cert++ community discord for Salesforce professionals. Exam prep, resource sharing, study groups, and more. Free and open to all.

    discord.gg

  • Trailblazer Community

    Connect with other Salesforce learners for peer support, mentoring, and study groups.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • SFXD Discord

    Large Salesforce developer community discord server with channels for Marketing Cloud, career advice, and technical help.

    discord.gg

  • Salesforce Certification Score Calculator

    Check your exam score based on section results. Estimates your total score from category percentages (community-maintained third-party tool).

    scuvanov.github.io

Exam Overview

From the official exam guide

Questions

65

60 scored5 unscored

Duration

105 min

1h 45m

To Pass

65%

Min. score

Pricing

$200 registration · $100 retake

Delivery

Online proctored or at a testing center

Experience

Some experience with Marketing Cloud Engagement development

Prerequisites

No prerequisites required

Exam Topics

Each topic section shows the topic weight, learning objectives, and links to study resources.

Data Modeling14%

Contact Builder architecture, Contact Key vs. Subscriber Key, data extensions vs. lists, Attribute Groups, synchronized data sources, and the Contact Delete process.

  • Configure account Contact model in Marketing Cloud.
  • Given a scenario, differentiate the various types and uses of data extensions in Marketing Cloud.
  • Describe how contact records relate across channels.
  • Explain the Contact Delete process.

Resources

  • Marketing Cloud Engagement Contact Management

    Contact Builder navigation, Contact Key, Attribute Groups, data extensions, and synchronized data sources.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Understand Contacts and Contact Model Relationships

    Two Contact models, Contact Key vs. Subscriber Key, and how contacts span business units.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Configure Contact Models

    Selecting and configuring the Simple and Enterprise contact models in Contact Builder.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Learn About Data Extensions

    Data extension types, field types, sendable vs. non-sendable, and retention settings.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Manage Contact Data

    Attribute Groups, linking data extensions to contacts, and population entry points.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Contact Builder Implementation

    Creating a unified customer data model, connecting data sources, and organizing contact records.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Contact Deletion in Marketing Cloud Engagement

    Contact Delete process, suppression timeline, REST API deletion, and data retention implications.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Delete Contacts in Contact Builder

    Step-by-step Contact Builder deletion, the 30-day suppression window, and the irreversibility of deletes.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Follow Best Practices for Deleting Contacts

    GDPR compliance, when to use deletion vs. suppression, and audit considerations.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Build Your Data Model

    Structuring data extensions, relating records across channels, and building out the Contact data model.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

Programmatic Languages35%

AMPscript syntax and functions, SSJS Platform.Load and Core library, AMPscript server-side rendering vs. SSJS block scope, subscriber exclusion at send time, and programmatic development best practices.

  • Given a scenario, demonstrate knowledge of AMPscript and SSJS language syntax and functions.
  • Implement standard development best practices using Marketing Cloud programming languages.
  • Describe how Marketing Cloud handles AMPscript processing.
  • Given a customer scenario, determine how to programmatically exclude a subscriber at email send time.

Resources

  • Marketing Cloud Engagement Programmatic Languages

    Overview of AMPscript and SSJS: syntax, use cases, and when to use each language.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer Basics

    Developer tools overview, admin basics for developers, environment setup, and first API request.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • AMPscript for Marketers

    AMPscript variables, conditional logic, Lookup functions, and inline personalization syntax.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Explore AMPscript

    AMPscript fundamentals: syntax rules, function calls, variable declaration, and attribute references.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Learn About Server-Side JavaScript

    SSJS platform differences, Platform.Load(), Core library objects, and block-scope execution context.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Write Your Best Scripts with Programmatic Languages

    Best practices: code organization, performance, error handling, and choosing AMPscript vs. SSJS.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • AMPscript Solutions

    AMPscript basics review, personalization with Lookup, birthday emails, loyalty emails, and data-driven sends.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Code with AMPscript

    End-to-end AMPscript trail: programmatic language overview, Lookup functions, personalization, and Journey Builder splits.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Use Developer Languages in Marketing Cloud Engagement

    Comprehensive developer language trail covering APIs, programmatic languages, and AMPscript solutions.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Custom Preference Center Development

    Building a CloudPages preference center with AMPscript: data collection, subscriber exclusion, and CloudPage deployment.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Engagement Splits in Journey Builder using AMPscript

    AMPscript in Journey Builder decision splits, link tracking, and SQL queries for multi-journey routing.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

API22%

REST vs. SOAP API architecture, OAuth 2.0 client credentials and authorization code flows, access token lifecycle, key REST endpoints for transactional sends and contact management, and API response handling.

  • Given a scenario, describe API objects, methods, and routes.
  • Describe the OAuth authentication flow and how an access token is used in SOAP and REST headers.
  • Given a scenario, evaluate the significance of response handling.

Resources

  • Marketing Cloud Engagement APIs

    REST and SOAP API overview, access token authentication, REST routes, SOAP for Email Studio, and integration best practices.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Get to Know Marketing Cloud Engagement APIs

    REST vs. SOAP distinction, when to use each, available API families, and the developer center resources.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Stay Secure with Access Tokens

    OAuth 2.0 flows, installed package setup, client credentials vs. authorization code grants, and token expiry.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Use REST API Across Marketing Cloud Engagement

    REST API structure, Authorization Bearer header, key endpoints for contacts and transactional sends.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Use SOAP API in Email Studio

    SOAP API objects, creating triggered send definitions, XML envelope structure, and legacy use cases.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Make the Most of Your API Integrations

    Error handling patterns, response codes, retries, rate limits, and debugging failed API calls.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Set Up Your Developer Environment

    Creating installed packages, API Integration components, OAuth scope configuration, and obtaining client credentials.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Create an API Request

    Constructing REST requests with access tokens, testing with Postman, and validating response payloads.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Transactional Messaging

    Transactional vs. promotional messaging, /messaging/v1/email/messages/ REST endpoint, and when to use the Transactional Send journey.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Trigger Automations via API

    Triggering Automation Studio workflows via REST API calls, payload structure, and scheduling automation runs.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

Data Management22%

Import Activity file formats and field mapping, SQL in Automation Studio Query Activities, data extract methods, send log best practices, and Contact Delete data effects.

  • Configure import activity using various file formats within Marketing Cloud.
  • Given a scenario, apply SQL to produce the desired results.
  • Given a scenario, explain the different ways to extract data from Marketing Cloud.
  • Describe SQL best practices for managing data in Marketing Cloud.
  • Given a scenario, apply best practices for send logs.
  • Given a scenario, describe how data is affected by the Contact delete process.

Resources

  • Marketing Cloud Engagement Data Management

    Data model design, importing data, moving data, send logs, and SQL queries in Automation Studio.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Design Your Data Model

    Data extension types, relational data modeling, and planning your Marketing Cloud data architecture.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Move Your Data

    Import Activity configuration: CSV, tab-delimited, and fixed-width formats, field mappings, and FTP setup.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Collect Data with a Send Log

    Send log data extension setup, capturing send-time attributes, and retention best practices.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Query Data with SQL

    SQL syntax in Marketing Cloud Query Activities: SELECT, FROM, WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, and ROWCOUNT.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Automation Studio Activities

    Automation Studio task types: SQL Query, Data Extract, Import, File Transfer, and API trigger activities.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Run SQL Queries in Automation Studio

    SQL Query Activity setup, overwrite vs. append modes, source and target data extension configuration.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Delete Contacts with the REST API

    REST API contact deletion endpoint, payload structure, and handling deletion in automated workflows.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Complete Developer Tasks in Marketing Cloud Engagement

    Custom content blocks, Automation Studio SQL and API activities, and custom Journey Builder activities.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

Security7%

API credential storage, installed package OAuth scopes, TLS for SFTP, IP whitelisting, encryption key management, and security best practices for Marketing Cloud integrations.

  • Identify different options to secure data in Marketing Cloud.
  • Describe security best practices in Marketing Cloud.

Resources

  • Marketing Cloud Engagement Security

    Security overview, encryption key management, securing CloudPages, and data protection settings.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Get to Know Marketing Cloud Engagement Security

    Security features overview: multi-factor authentication, IP whitelisting, and security settings.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Manage Your Encryption Keys

    Key management for data-at-rest encryption, SFTP key pairs, and encryption configuration.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Secure Your Web and Landing Pages

    TLS setup for CloudPages, custom domains, and preventing data exposure on landing pages.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Keep Your Data Safe

    Data access controls, least-privilege principle for installed package scopes, and audit logging.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

  • Learn Developer Fundamentals in Marketing Cloud Engagement

    Developer fundamentals trail with security module coverage: encryption keys, landing page security, and data protection.

    trailhead.salesforce.com

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