Salesforce Admin study guide · 2026

The 8 Salesforce Admin domains, explained

8 domains and 28 official objectives. Data and Analytics Management carries the most weight at 17%. Each guide explains what the domain covers, how its questions are framed and where candidates lose marks.

Start with Domain 6 See all domains
Questions
60 scored multiple-choice (plus up to 5 unscored)
Time
105 minutes
Passing score
68%
Outline
Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator Exam Guide, refreshed 15 December 2025 (questions align to the Summer '25 release; current as of October 2026)

Exam blueprint

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

  1. 1 15%
  2. 2 15%
  3. 3 10%
  4. 4 10%
  5. 5 10%
  6. 6 17%
  7. 7 15%
  8. 8 8%
  1. 1 Configuration and Setup
  2. 2 Object Manager and Lightning App Builder
  3. 3 Sales and Marketing Applications
  4. 4 Service and Support Applications
  5. 5 Productivity and Collaboration
  6. 6 Data and Analytics Management
  7. 7 Automation
  8. 8 Agentforce

All 8 domains

28 official objectives 120–160 hrs suggested study

  1. Domain 01 15%

    Configuration and Setup

    Configuration and Setup decides who can log in, what they can do, and which records they can see. Most admin scenarios on the exam assume you can reason through licenses, profiles, permission sets and the sharing model without hesitation.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the information found in the company settings (for example: company settings fiscal year, business hours, currency management, default settings).
    • Distinguish and understand the administration of declarative configuration of the user interface (UI) (for example: UI/UX settings, app menu, list views, global actions, Lightning App Builder).
    • Given a scenario, demonstrate the proper setup and maintenance of users (user name is unique, locales, working hours, how to distribute licenses, types of licenses, not deleting a user, implications of making inactive, override, assigning feature licenses, management of users with various login methods).
    • Explain the various organization Security Controls (for example: Identity verification, Setup Audit Trail, Login Hours, Session Settings, agent access).
    • and 2 more objectives

    Watch for Loosen the OWD

    Objectives
    6
    Questions est.
    ~9
    Study time est.
    20–25 hrs
  2. Domain 02 15%

    Object Manager and Lightning App Builder

    This section tests how you shape objects for different teams: which relationship to build, what breaks when a field is deleted, and how record types, business processes, page layouts and Lightning pages combine to give each user the right screen.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the standard object architecture and relationship model (for example: standard object, parent/child, master detail/lookup/junction relationships, record types, Schema Builder).
    • Explain how to create, delete, and customize fields and page layouts on standard and custom objects, and know the implications of deleting fields (roll-up summaries, cross object formulas, picklist dependencies, relationship fields).
    • Given a scenario, determine how to create and assign page layouts, visibility on Lightning page layouts, record types, and business processes for custom and standard objects (quick actions and global actions).

    Watch for Layout for values

    Objectives
    3
    Questions est.
    ~9
    Study time est.
    20–25 hrs
  3. Domain 03 10%

    Sales and Marketing Applications

    Sales and Marketing Applications checks whether you can configure the lead-to-opportunity cycle end to end: how leads are captured, assigned and converted, how opportunities move through stages and forecasts, and how campaigns measure marketing impact.

    Inside this domain

    • Given a scenario, identify the capabilities and implications of the sales process (for example: leads, opportunities, path).
    • Given a scenario, apply the appropriate sales productivity features using opportunity tools (for example: dashboards, lead scoring, Einstein for Sales, opportunity scoring, grading, and home page assistant, forecasting, territory management).
    • Describe the capabilities of lead automation tools and campaign management (for example: leads, lead convert, lead assignment rules, campaign, and campaign members).

    Watch for Custom automation for conversion data

    Objectives
    3
    Questions est.
    ~6
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs
  4. Domain 04 10%

    Service and Support Applications

    Service and Support Applications tests whether you can configure the life of a case: how it arrives, who owns it, what the customer hears back, and what happens when nobody acts in time. Each rule type does one job, and the exam checks you know which.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the capabilities of case management (for example: case, case assignment rules, and queues).
    • Given a scenario, identify how to automate case management (for example: support process, case auto-response rules, case escalation, Einstein for Service).

    Watch for Assignment for aging cases

    Objectives
    2
    Questions est.
    ~6
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs
  5. Domain 05 10%

    Productivity and Collaboration

    Productivity and Collaboration covers the everyday tools users live in: tasks and events, Chatter, the Salesforce mobile app and apps installed from AppExchange. Questions test whether you can configure each one and know its limits.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the capabilities of activity management (tasks, events).
    • Describe the features of Chatter (groups, accessibility to groups, internal/external users).
    • Describe the capabilities of the Salesforce mobile app (Lightning page, modifying the app, browser, app menu, visibility, branding mobile app, build launchpad).
    • Identify use cases for AppExchange applications (awareness of managed or unmanaged packages, who is allowed to publish, prompts on AgentExchange, flows).

    Watch for Profile fix for missing activities

    Objectives
    4
    Questions est.
    ~6
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs
  6. Domain 06 17%

    Data and Analytics Management

    Data and Analytics Management is the heaviest section of the Platform Administrator exam. It tests how you move and protect data, keep it clean with duplicate and validation rules, and turn it into reports and dashboards that show each user the right rows.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the considerations when importing, updating, transferring, mass deleting, exporting, and backing up data (Archival, Apex data loader, Import Wizard).
    • Describe the capabilities and implications of data validation tools (duplicate and matching rules, validation rules).
    • Describe the options available when creating or customizing a report or report type (join objects together, with or without records, renaming the fields, formulas, bucket, join reports, chart settings, hide details, grouping totals, troubleshooting fields at a high level).
    • Describe the impact of the sharing model on reports (visibility, understand folder structure, sharing fields).
    • and 1 more objectives

    Watch for Import Wizard for everything

    Objectives
    5
    Questions est.
    ~10
    Study time est.
    20–25 hrs
  7. Domain 07 15%

    Automation

    Automation tests whether you can pick the right declarative tool for a business rule and configure it well: the correct flow type and trigger, where it runs in the save order, and when an approval process or a standard rule is the better fit.

    Inside this domain

    • Given a scenario, identify the appropriate automation solution based on the capabilities of the tool (escalation rules, case assignment rules, lead assignment rules, default automation user, AI).
    • Describe capabilities, use cases, and configuration for Flow (screen flows, record-triggered flows, autolaunched flows, order of execution).
    • Describe capabilities, use cases, and configuration for the approval process (criteria for approvers, rejections, approvals).

    Watch for After-save for same-record updates

    Objectives
    3
    Questions est.
    ~9
    Study time est.
    20–25 hrs
  8. Domain 08 8%

    Agentforce

    Agentforce is the newest section of the Platform Administrator exam. It tests whether you can judge when an AI agent is the right tool, keep it secure, fix its permissions, and maintain its topics, instructions and prompts in Agent Builder.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the capabilities and use cases of Agentforce (scenarios about use cases, when it's appropriate to use AI, security, troubleshooting agent permissions).
    • Explain how to maintain, update, or install prompts and instructions in Agent Builder (light testing, conversation preview).

    Watch for Prompt fix for a permission problem

    Objectives
    2
    Questions est.
    ~5
    Study time est.
    10–15 hrs

Study the heaviest domains first

Marks follow weight. This order puts the most marks behind you first, across about 120–160 hrs of study.

  1. 6 Data and Analytics Management 17% · 20–25 hrs
  2. 1 Configuration and Setup 15% · 20–25 hrs
  3. 2 Object Manager and Lightning App Builder 15% · 20–25 hrs
  4. 7 Automation 15% · 20–25 hrs
  5. 3 Sales and Marketing Applications 10% · 10–15 hrs
  6. 4 Service and Support Applications 10% · 10–15 hrs
  7. 5 Productivity and Collaboration 10% · 10–15 hrs
  8. 8 Agentforce 8% · 10–15 hrs

Try one

Practice questionDomain 6: Data and Analytics Management

A sales VP wants one dashboard for eight regional managers. Each manager must see only the opportunities they can access, and the VP does not want to maintain separate dashboards. The dashboard currently runs as the VP. What should the administrator do?

One trap from every domain

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

  • Domain 1

    Loosen the OWD

    Clue The scenario says other users' access should not change, or that some data is confidential.

  • Domain 2

    Layout for values

    Clue The requirement names different picklist values, stages or statuses.

  • Domain 3

    Custom automation for conversion data

    Clue The scenario says lead data is missing after conversion and asks for the most efficient fix.

  • Domain 4

    Assignment for aging cases

    Clue The requirement includes a time threshold such as after four hours.

  • Domain 5

    Profile fix for missing activities

    Clue Activities work on standard objects but not on one custom object.

  • Domain 6

    Import Wizard for everything

    Clue The record count exceeds 50,000 or the object is not on the wizard's list.

  • Domain 7

    After-save for same-record updates

    Clue The only change is to a field on the same record.

  • Domain 8

    Prompt fix for a permission problem

    Clue Conversation preview shows correct topic and action selection but the action fails.

Other CRM & Business Applications certifications

Study guides for exams that overlap with Salesforce Admin.

Practise what you read

Salesforce Admin domains: common questions

How many domains are in the Salesforce Admin exam?

Salesforce Admin has 8 domains with 28 official objectives between them: Configuration and Setup, Object Manager and Lightning App Builder, Sales and Marketing Applications, Service and Support Applications, Productivity and Collaboration, Data and Analytics Management, Automation and Agentforce.

Which Salesforce Admin domain carries the most weight?

Data and Analytics Management is the heaviest at 17%, followed by Configuration and Setup (15%). The lightest is Agentforce (8%). Weights come from Salesforce's official outline.

What is the Salesforce Admin exam format?

Questions: 60 scored multiple-choice (plus up to 5 unscored). Time allowed: 105 minutes. Passing score: 68%.

How long should I study for Salesforce Admin?

Our planning estimate is 120–160 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 Data and Analytics Management, 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 Platform Administrator Exam Guide, refreshed 15 December 2025 (questions align to the Summer '25 release; current as of October 2026), published by Salesforce. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Domain names, weights and objectives come from Salesforce's official outline (Salesforce Certified Platform Administrator Exam Guide, refreshed 15 December 2025 (questions align to the Summer '25 release; current as of October 2026)). Question counts and study hours are editorial planning estimates, not official figures. Last reviewed October 2026.