Platform Foundations
The Salesforce Certified Platform Foundations credential is the entry point for anyone curious about Salesforce. It does not require hands-on experience or configuration knowledge. It tests whether you understand what Salesforce is, what its core products do, how to navigate Lightning Experience, how the standard data model fits together, and what reports and dashboards are for. If you are brand new to Salesforce and wondering where to start, this is your cert. It is also a solid warm-up if you are working toward the Platform Administrator.
3-Step Path to Passing
- 1
Complete the Platform Foundations Prep Trail
Salesforce built this trail specifically for this exam. Work through it in order and pay special attention to the Salesforce Ecosystem section, which is the largest topic at 32% of the exam. - 2
Attempt Practice Exams
I recommend my own practice exams, but I have linked other options in the Study Resources section below. This exam is conceptual and recognition-based, so practice questions are especially effective preparation. - 3Exams run every day at all hours. There is no need to book far in advance. Schedule when you feel ready and treat it like a focused two-hour study sprint.
Core Resources
Exam Overview
Questions
45
40 scored + 5 unscored
Duration
70 min
1 hour 10 minutes
To Pass
65%
Minimum Score
Question Format
Scored
89%40questions
Unscored
11%5questions
Exam Details
Pricing
$75 registration · $75 retake
Delivery
Online proctored or at a testing center
Experience
No prior Salesforce experience required
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required
Exam Topics
Each topic section shows the topic weight, learning objectives, and links to study resources.
Salesforce Ecosystem32%
Salesforce Customer 360 product families, AppExchange, Trailhead learning resources, Trailblazer Community, and Salesforce career roles.
- Given a scenario, describe various resources available to learn and apply in-demand Salesforce skills.
- Given a use case, identify which Salesforce Customer 360 product offerings could be used.
- Describe how companies use Salesforce.
- Differentiate between various job roles and career paths in the Salesforce ecosystem.
Resources
Navigation28%
Lightning Experience UI elements, App Launcher, navigation bar, utility bar, global search, list views, record pages, related lists, and the difference between Setup and end-user navigation.
- Given a scenario, identify how a user can locate and access necessary information.
- Given a scenario, identify where Salesforce customization takes place.
Resources
Data Model25%
Core standard objects (Account, Contact, Lead, Opportunity, Case) and their relationships, org-wide defaults for data visibility, and data integrity tools including validation rules, required fields, and picklists.
- Explain the relationship between the core standard objects (Account, Contact, Lead, Opportunity, Case).
- Given a scenario, determine which feature to use to ensure data visibility.
- Given a scenario, determine which tool to use to ensure data integrity.
Resources
Reports & Dashboards15%
Report types (tabular, summary, matrix, joined), report builder, dashboard components, running user concept, and the relationship between reports and dashboards.
- Describe reports on Salesforce.
- Describe dashboards on Salesforce.
Resources
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