Salesforce Certified Developer Certification Guide
Salesforce Certified Developer Certification Guide
About the Certification
The Salesforce Certified Developer certification evaluates expertise in developing applications on the Salesforce platform. This advanced-level certification confirms high-level programming competencies required for developing custom applications.
This certification validates development capabilities on the Salesforce platform. It evaluates abilities in Apex programming, Visualforce development, Lightning Web Components, API integration, and trigger and class development to build custom solutions using the Salesforce platform. It recognizes the practical abilities that developers creating custom applications matching business requirements must possess.
Job Application Guide
The Salesforce Certified Developer certification is useful for Salesforce developer-related positions.
Salesforce Developer: Suitable for positions developing custom applications on the Salesforce platform. Requires Apex and Visualforce development skills.
Lightning Developer: Helpful for positions developing modern web applications using the Salesforce Lightning platform. Lightning Web Components development skills are important.
API Integration Developer: Advantageous for positions handling data integration between Salesforce and external systems. Requires REST API and SOAP API utilization skills.
Customization Developer: Suitable for positions developing custom features matching business processes. Trigger and workflow development skills are important.
Consultant: Helpful for consulting positions supporting Salesforce development projects. Requires platform development understanding and practical experience.
Required Knowledge
Apex Programming
- Apex class and trigger development
- Controller and extension development
- Asynchronous processing (Future, Queueable, Batch)
- Test class creation
Visualforce Development
- Visualforce page creation
- Controller integration
- Component utilization
- Custom controller development
Lightning Web Components
- LWC component development
- JavaScript and HTML utilization
- Event handling
- Salesforce data integration
API Integration
- REST API usage
- SOAP API usage
- Custom REST API development
- External system integration
Data Management
- SOQL and SOSL queries
- DML operations
- Data integrity assurance
- Transaction management
Debugging and Testing
- Debug log analysis
- Unit test creation
- Code coverage achievement
- Performance optimization
Security and Permissions
- Apex security best practices
- Sharing rule understanding
- Field-level security
- Code access permissions
Preparation Methods
Stage 1: Apex Fundamentals (2-3 months)
Learn basic syntax and concepts of the Apex programming language. Master variables, classes, methods, control statements, etc.
Stage 2: Visualforce Development (2-3 months)
Learn how to develop Visualforce pages and controllers. Practice by creating actual pages.
Stage 3: Lightning Web Components (2-3 months)
Learn LWC component development methods. Learn modern web development using JavaScript and HTML.
Stage 4: API Integration (2-3 months)
Learn data integration methods using REST API and SOAP API. Practice integration with external systems.
Stage 5: Trigger and Class Development (2-3 months)
Learn advanced techniques for developing triggers and Apex classes. Practice implementing business logic.
Stage 6: Testing and Debugging (1-2 months)
Learn unit test creation and debugging techniques. Practice achieving code coverage of 75% or higher.
Stage 7: Practice Exams (2-3 months)
Take practice exams multiple times 2-3 months before the exam. Practice time management and focus on strengthening weak areas.
Recent 5-Year Pass Rates
| Year | Test Takers | Passers | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,456 | 4,234 | 34.0% |
| 2023 | 13,782 | 4,723 | 34.3% |
| 2022 | 11,923 | 4,089 | 34.3% |
| 2021 | 10,891 | 3,734 | 34.3% |
| 2020 | 9,456 | 3,223 | 34.1% |
The average pass rate is approximately 34.3%, an advanced-level certification. Having programming experience makes learning easier.
Practical Tips
Strengthen Apex Fundamentals: Firmly establish Apex programming language fundamentals. Similar to Java but has Salesforce-specific aspects.
Real Project Experience: Building experience by working on actual projects in a development environment is important.
Master Trigger Patterns: Understand best practices like bulk patterns and ball patterns when writing triggers.
Understand API Limits: Clearly understand Salesforce API call limits and restrictions. Frequently tested on exams.
Write Test Code: Unit test writing ability is important. Learn methods to meet code coverage requirements.