SF AI Associate study guide · 2026

The 4 SF AI Associate domains, explained

4 domains and 8 official objectives. Ethical Considerations of AI carries the most weight at 39%. Each guide explains what the domain covers, how its questions are framed and where candidates lose marks.

Start with Domain 3 See all domains
Questions
40 multiple-choice/multiple-select
Time
70 minutes
Passing score
65%
Outline
Salesforce Certified AI Associate Exam Guide, final published version (exam withdrawn 1 May 2025; credential retired 2 February 2026)

Exam blueprint

Bar widths follow the official weights. Weight ranges are drawn at their midpoint.

  1. 1 17%
  2. 2 8%
  3. 3 39%
  4. 4 36%
  1. 1 AI Fundamentals
  2. 2 AI Capabilities in CRM
  3. 3 Ethical Considerations of AI
  4. 4 Data for AI

All 4 domains

8 official objectives 21–27 hrs suggested study

  1. Domain 01 17%

    AI Fundamentals

    AI Fundamentals covers what AI is, how machine learning learns from data, and how to tell predictive, generative and other AI types apart. The exam is retired, but this vocabulary underpins every Salesforce AI credential.

    Inside this domain

    • Explain the basic principles and applications of AI within Salesforce.
    • Differentiate between the types of AI and their capabilities.

    Watch for Generative for everything

    Objectives
    2
    Questions est.
    ~7
    Study time est.
    4–5 hrs
  2. Domain 02 8%

    AI Capabilities in CRM

    AI Capabilities in CRM asks you to recognize the AI features Salesforce builds into sales, service and marketing work, and to explain the business benefits they deliver. It is the smallest section of the outline.

    Inside this domain

    • Identify CRM AI capabilities.
    • Describe the benefits of AI as they apply to CRM.

    Watch for Bot for agent productivity

    Objectives
    2
    Questions est.
    ~3
    Study time est.
    2–3 hrs
  3. Domain 03 39%

    Ethical Considerations of AI

    Ethical Considerations of AI was the largest section. It covers bias, transparency, privacy and accountability risks in AI, and how to apply Salesforce's trusted AI principles to concrete CRM scenarios.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the ethical challenges of AI (e.g. human bias in machine learning, lack of transparency, etc.).
    • Apply Salesforce's trusted AI principles to given scenarios.

    Watch for Delete the protected field

    Objectives
    2
    Questions est.
    ~16
    Study time est.
    8–10 hrs
  4. Domain 04 36%

    Data for AI

    Data for AI covers why data quality decides how well AI performs, and the elements that make data fit for AI: accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness, uniqueness and governance in a Salesforce org.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the importance of data quality.
    • Describe the elements/components of data quality.

    Watch for Upgrade the model

    Objectives
    2
    Questions est.
    ~14
    Study time est.
    7–9 hrs

Study the heaviest domains first

Marks follow weight. This order puts the most marks behind you first, across about 21–27 hrs of study.

  1. 3 Ethical Considerations of AI 39% · 8–10 hrs
  2. 4 Data for AI 36% · 7–9 hrs
  3. 1 AI Fundamentals 17% · 4–5 hrs
  4. 2 AI Capabilities in CRM 8% · 2–3 hrs

Try one

Practice questionDomain 3: Ethical Considerations of AI

A service team uses generative AI to draft replies. An agent notices a draft confidently quotes a refund policy the company does not have. Which action best applies Salesforce's generative AI guideline on accuracy?

One trap from every domain

The answer that looks right, and the clue that gives it away.

  • Domain 1

    Generative for everything

    Clue The scenario asks for a score, ranking or likelihood.

  • Domain 2

    Bot for agent productivity

    Clue The struggling user is an internal employee.

  • Domain 3

    Delete the protected field

    Clue The model still shows uneven results after the change.

  • Domain 4

    Upgrade the model

    Clue The scenario mentions blank, duplicated or outdated records.

Other Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning certifications

Study guides for exams that overlap with SF AI Associate.

Practise what you read

SF AI Associate domains: common questions

How many domains are in the SF AI Associate exam?

SF AI Associate has 4 domains with 8 official objectives between them: AI Fundamentals, AI Capabilities in CRM, Ethical Considerations of AI and Data for AI.

Which SF AI Associate domain carries the most weight?

Ethical Considerations of AI is the heaviest at 39%, followed by Data for AI (36%). The lightest is AI Capabilities in CRM (8%). Weights come from Salesforce's official outline.

What is the SF AI Associate exam format?

Questions: 40 multiple-choice/multiple-select. Time allowed: 70 minutes. Passing score: 65%.

How long should I study for SF AI Associate?

Our planning estimate is 21–27 hrs across all domains, split by weight. It is an editorial estimate, not an official figure, so adjust it to your experience and to how you score on practice questions.

Where should I start?

Start with Ethical Considerations of AI, because it carries the most marks, then work down by weight. Use the checklist on each domain page to confirm you can do what the domain asks before moving on.

Which outline is this guide based on?

This guide follows Salesforce Certified AI Associate Exam Guide, final published version (exam withdrawn 1 May 2025; credential retired 2 February 2026), published by Salesforce. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Domain names, weights and objectives come from Salesforce's official outline (Salesforce Certified AI Associate Exam Guide, final published version (exam withdrawn 1 May 2025; credential retired 2 February 2026)). Question counts and study hours are editorial planning estimates, not official figures. Last reviewed October 2026.