What is Salesforce Platform Developer 1 Certification? and How to Get Certified? Exam costs and full information

Table Of Contents

• Who is a Salesforce Developer?
• Who should go for the Platform Developer 1 exam? 
• About the Salesforce Admin Certification exam costs: 
• Topics Weightage 
• Process Automation and Logic
• Testing Debugging and Deployment
• Data Modeling and Management
• FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
• Who should pursue this certification?
• Is there a code sample for Apex programming?
• What is the importance of testing in Salesforce development?

Who is a Salesforce Developer?

A Salesforce Developer is a technical expert. They focus on building and customizing applications on the Salesforce platform. Their job is to meet the specific needs of an organization.

To do this, they use special languages made by Salesforce. One of these languages is Apex, which is used on the server side. Another language is Visualforce, which helps create user interfaces.

Salesforce Developers also use tools like Lightning Web Components (LWC). They use Salesforce APIs to connect Salesforce with other systems.

They help automate business processes and make sure users have a smooth experience.

Their role is very important. They help match Salesforce features with business goals. They also make sure the system can grow and improve workflows for better productivity.

See also: Array methods in Salesforce Apex

The tasks of a Salesforce Developer look like:

• Customization and Development: A Salesforce developer customizes the Salesforce platform to meet business requirements by writing Apex classes, triggers, and Visualforce pages, or developing using Lightning Web Components (LWC) to build dynamic user interfaces.
• Integration: They work on integrating Salesforce with other systems using Salesforce APIs such as REST and SOAP. This allows seamless data flow between Salesforce and external applications.
• Automation: Salesforce developers are responsible for automating business processes using flows, process builders, and Apex triggers to reduce manual efforts and improve efficiency.
• Testing and Debugging: They write and execute unit tests to ensure the quality and reliability of their code, as well as debug and troubleshoot issues within the Salesforce environment.
• Collaboration: Developers collaborate with business stakeholders, project managers, and other team members to understand requirements and provide technical expertise in designing solutions that meet organizational goals.
• Data Management: Salesforce developers handle data migrations, write SOQL and SOSL queries for data manipulation, and ensure data integrity within the platform.
• Maintenance and Updates: They maintain existing Salesforce applications, perform regular updates, and ensure compatibility with new Salesforce releases to keep the system up-to-date and secure.

Collection is one of the important concept, checkout: Collections in Salesforce Apex

Who should go for the Platform Developer 1 exam? 

The Platform Developer 1 exam is ideal for individuals who have foundational knowledge and experience with the Salesforce platform and are looking to enhance their development skills. Specifically, the exam is suited for:

1. Aspiring Salesforce Developers: Those who want to kickstart their career as a Salesforce Developer by demonstrating their ability to build custom applications using Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning Web Components.
2. Salesforce Administrators: Admins who wish to transition into a more technical role by learning how to develop customized solutions that go beyond declarative capabilities, such as using coding to implement complex business logic.
3. Software Developers: Individuals with experience in programming languages like Java or C# who want to extend their skills into Salesforce development, where they can leverage their coding experience in the Salesforce ecosystem.
4. IT Professionals: Those looking to expand their skill set within cloud computing and Salesforce to increase their marketability and proficiency in building cloud-based applications.

If you are interested to join our real-time project based Salesforce Certification Course, contact us today!

Why should you pursue certification? 

Getting a Salesforce Developer certification has many important benefits.

Career Advancement: When you are certified, it shows that you are skilled in building custom solutions using Salesforce technologies. This includes tools like Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning Web Components. Being certified helps you stand out from people who are not certified. This can lead to better job opportunities, promotions, and higher salaries.

Skill Validation and Confidence: The certification proves that you know a lot about Salesforce development. It gives you the confidence to handle difficult projects. It also shows that you understand Salesforce’s best practices and object-oriented programming. You can create and implement custom solutions effectively.

Industry Demand: Many businesses around the world use Salesforce. Because of this, Salesforce developers are in high demand. Having a certification makes you more credible in a competitive job market. This can help you get jobs in companies that use Salesforce for their customer relationship management (CRM) and business operations.

Access to a Growing Community: When you become a certified Salesforce Developer, you join a large community of professionals. This community offers chances to network and share knowledge. You can also access resources like developer forums, trailheads, and mentorship. These connections can help you grow your career even faster.

See also: Strings in Salesforce Apex

About the Salesforce Admin Certification exam costs: 

1. Content: There are 60 multiple-choice questions and 5 non-scored questions in the exam.
2. Time: The user is given 105 minutes to complete the exam, after which the exam automatically submits.
3. Passing Score: You need to provide at least 65 % correct answers to be able to clear the exam.
4. Costing: The Salesforce Platform Developer 1 exam costs 200$ + taxes. If you fail the first attempt, re-attempt costs 100 $ + taxes teach going forward.
5. Maintenance: After clearing the examination, you must complete the Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification Maintenance module on trailhead once a year to maintain the certification; on failing to do so, your certification will expire.

Topics Weightage 

Here’s a table outlining the topic weightage for the Salesforce Platform Developer I (PD1) certification exam:

Developer Fundamentals

• Salesforce Platform Basics: Understand the architecture of Salesforce, including MVC (Model-View-Controller) design pattern.
• Multi-Tenant Environment: Knowledge of multi-tenancy and its implications on Salesforce development, including governor limits and best practices for writing efficient code.
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Concepts: Basic understanding of OOP concepts such as classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation in the context of Apex.

Process Automation and Logic

• Apex Programming: Understand the use of Apex to build complex business logic, including the creation and invocation of classes, methods, and triggers.
• Triggers: Learn when to use triggers and best practices for trigger development, including avoiding recursion and bulkifying code.
• SOQL and SOSL: Write queries using Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) and Salesforce Object Search Language (SOSL) to retrieve and manipulate data efficiently.
• DML Operations: Learn to perform Data Manipulation Language (DML) operations like insert, update, delete, and upsert in Apex.
• Order of Execution: Understand the order of execution in Salesforce and how to work with declarative and programmatic automation tools together.
• Declarative Automation: Knowledge of when and how to use declarative tools such as Flows, Process Builder, and Validation Rules in combination with Apex for automation.

User Interface

• Standard and Custom Controllers: Learn how to work with Salesforce’s built-in controllers or create custom ones for managing Visualforce or Lightning component data.
• Visualforce Pages: Learn how to create custom user interfaces using Visualforce and how it works with Apex Controllers.
• Lightning Components: Introduction to Lightning Web Components (LWC) and Aura Components to build modern, responsive UI applications in Salesforce.
• SLDS (Salesforce Lightning Design System): Understand the usage of SLDS to style custom components and maintain consistency with Salesforce’s look and feel.
• Component and Application Events: Knowledge of event-driven architecture in LWC and Aura Components, including component communication via events.

Testing Debugging and Deployment

• Apex Testing: Understand the importance of writing unit tests and achieving code coverage in Salesforce using Apex test classes.Test Data Management:
• Knowledge of using test setup methods and creating test data with best practices, ensuring no reliance on org data.System Debugging:
• Learn to debug using System.debug statements, logs, and Developer Console to troubleshoot issues in Apex code.Deployment:
• Familiarity with Salesforce deployment tools such as Change Sets, ANT Migration Tool, and Salesforce DX for moving code from sandbox to production.

Data Modeling and Management

• Objects and Fields: Understand the creation and usage of Standard and Custom Objects, Fields, and Field Types in Salesforce.
• Relationships: Knowledge of Lookup and Master-Detail Relationships between objects and how to implement Schema Builder to visualize data models.
• Field-Level Security: Learn about FLS (Field-Level Security), Sharing Rules, and Record-Level Access to ensure secure data access.
• Schema and Metadata Management: Use Schema.getGlobalDescribe() and other metadata-related methods to interact with object definitions dynamically.
• Data Import/Export: Understand tools like Data Loader and Data Import Wizard for managing bulk data import/export operations.

Checkout: Data types in Salesforce Apex

FAQs

1. What is the Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification?

The Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification shows that you can design, develop, test, and deploy applications using the Salesforce Platform.

It focuses on important programming skills needed to build apps that use Salesforce features like Apex and Lightning.

Getting this certification is a key step for developers who want to grow their careers in Salesforce development.

To earn this certification, you must pass a tough exam. This exam checks your knowledge of many concepts, such as data modeling, process automation, user interface design, and security in Salesforce applications.

Having this certification helps you stand out in a competitive job market. It shows that you have the skills employers are looking for.

See also: Methods in Salesforce Apex

2. Who should pursue this certification?

The Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification is great for developers who know how to code and want to focus on building applications for Salesforce.

It’s especially useful for people working in jobs that need a strong understanding of Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning components.

This certification is also good for beginners in Salesforce. If you have a solid background in programming, you can use this certification to grow your career in cloud computing.

By getting this certification, you show that you are committed to learning and improving your skills. This can lead to better job opportunities and higher pay.

Organizations like to hire certified professionals. They help create strong applications that meet business needs.

3. What topics are covered in the exam?

The Salesforce Platform Developer I exam covers several key topics essential for building applications on the Salesforce platform. These include:

• Apex Programming: Understanding the syntax, structure, and use of Apex to write custom business logic.
• Data Modeling: Designing and implementing data models using Salesforce objects, fields, and relationships.
• User Interface (UI) Development: Building user interfaces with Visualforce and Lightning components.
• Testing and Debugging: Writing test classes and methods in Apex, understanding best practices for testing.

Each topic is crucial for creating scalable and maintainable applications on Salesforce, ensuring that candidates are well-equipped to handle real-world development scenarios.

4. What is the format of the exam?

The Salesforce Platform Developer I exam has 60 multiple-choice questions. You have 105 minutes to finish the exam.

The exam tests your knowledge and practical skills in Salesforce development. To pass, you need to score at least 65%.

The questions cover different topics, such as Apex, Visualforce, Lightning, and best practices for Salesforce.

The exam format is meant to check if you can use your knowledge in real-life situations. This way, those who pass can truly develop applications on the Salesforce platform.

See also: SOSL Query in Salesforce

5. What are the prerequisites for the certification?

You don’t need any formal requirements to take the Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification. However, it’s a good idea to understand basic programming concepts.

Having some hands-on experience with Salesforce development is also important. Knowing how to use Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning components can really help you do well on the exam.

It’s also helpful to take official training courses from Salesforce. Courses like “Apex Specialist” and “Lightning Web Components” provide valuable knowledge and hands-on experience. This will be very useful when you take the certification exam.

6. How can I prepare for the certification exam?

Preparation for the Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification can be approached through various methods. Here are some effective strategies:

• Official Salesforce Training: Enroll in courses offered by Salesforce, such as “Platform Developer I Certification Prep,” which covers the exam’s topics comprehensively.
• Trailhead: Utilize Salesforce Trailhead, a free online learning platform with modules specifically designed for Platform Developer I. It offers interactive lessons and hands-on challenges.
• Practice Tests: Taking practice exams can help familiarize candidates with the exam format and question types, boosting confidence and readiness.

Using a combination of these resources will provide a well-rounded preparation strategy, increasing the likelihood of passing the exam.

Checkout: DML statements in Salesforce

7. Is there a code sample for Apex programming?

Certainly! Here’s a simple code snippet demonstrating a basic Apex class that calculates the total price of items in a cart:

public class ShoppingCart {
    public List<Decimal> itemPrices { get; set; }
    
    public ShoppingCart() {
        itemPrices = new List<Decimal>();
    }

    public void addItem(Decimal price) {
        itemPrices.add(price);
    }

    public Decimal calculateTotal() {
        Decimal total = 0;
        for (Decimal price : itemPrices) {
            total += price;
        }
        return total;
    }
}

This example showcases how to create a basic class with methods to add items and calculate the total price. Understanding how to implement similar classes is crucial for Salesforce developers.

8. What is the importance of testing in Salesforce development?

Testing is very important in Salesforce development. It helps make sure that the code works as it should and meets all the requirements.

Salesforce has a rule. It says you need at least 75% code coverage for Apex classes and triggers before you can use them. This means you need to write good tests.

When developers write test classes and methods, they can find bugs early. This helps improve the quality of the code. It also makes sure that changes in the future don’t break anything that already works.

A well-tested application is more reliable. This leads to better experiences for users. Good testing is important for keeping customers happy.

9. What resources are available for study materials?

There are many resources to help you prepare for the Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification.

Salesforce Documentation: This is the official guide from Salesforce. It has detailed information about important tools like Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning components.

Online Courses: Websites like Udemy and Pluralsight offer courses that focus on Salesforce development and how to prepare for the certification.

Salesforce Community: You can join the Salesforce Developer Community. This is a place where you can connect with other developers. You can ask questions and share knowledge and resources.

Using these resources will help you get ready for the certification.es can enhance understanding and provide additional support during the preparation process.

10. How does this certification impact career growth?

Getting the Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification can really help your career. It boosts your technical skills and shows employers that you are dedicated to Salesforce development.

When you are certified, employers often prefer you for jobs that involve building Salesforce apps. This can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries.

Also, this certification is a stepping stone to more advanced ones, like the Platform Developer II. This helps you learn even more skills and knowledge.

In the end, having this certification can open up new opportunities in a fast-growing job market. It’s a valuable asset for anyone wanting to be a Salesforce developer.

Conclusion

The Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification is important for people who want to build apps using Salesforce. This certification shows that you know how to use key tools like Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning components. By getting certified, you can prove your skills and improve your chances of getting a good job.

To get certified, start by learning about the exam topics. These topics include things like data modeling, user interfaces, and testing. You can use Salesforce’s free training platform called Trailhead to practice. Taking official Salesforce courses can also help you get ready. Practice exams are a great way to see what the real test will be like.

The cost to take the exam is usually around $200. If you need to retake it, the fee is $100. Be sure to check the Salesforce website for the latest prices and any discounts they might have.

In short, the Salesforce Platform Developer I Certification opens up many opportunities for those interested in cloud development. By preparing well and using the available resources, you can successfully earn this certification and take a big step toward your goals in Salesforce development.