Top 5 Salesforce Architect Certifications You Should Know About

Are you ready to take your Salesforce career to the next level? If you’re aspiring to become a Salesforce Architect, you’re on the right path to becoming a sought-after expert in the Salesforce ecosystem. 

Salesforce Architects are the maestros behind designing and implementing complex solutions that drive business success. A study by Mason Frank reveals that technical architect is the highest-paid job in Salesforce, with an earning amount of $174,000 per annum on average.

So, in this blog, we’ll explore the top 5 Salesforce Architect certifications, helping you choose the best certification for your career. 

Let’s get started!

Before we begin, it’s crucial to understand your goals. So, are you more inclined towards the technical nitty-gritty? Because your aspirations will shape your certification journey.

Salesforce Architect pyramid is a framework that helps in grasping the difference between various certifications available for Salesforce Architects.

Now come to the point and talk about the certifications required to upgrade your skills.

Salesforce Architect Certifications

Now, let’s uncover the top 5 Architect certifications that can propel your career forward:

1. Salesforce Certified Technical Architect (CTA)

The CTA is the apex of Salesforce certifications, meant for those who want to design and oversee complex, scalable solutions. It’s a gruelling process that includes a review board exam where you’ll present real-world scenarios and defend your architectural choices.

Candidates are required to hold both System Architect and Application Architect certifications to attempt for the position of Technical Architect. 

2. Salesforce Application Architect

If you’re passionate about creating streamlined and efficient solutions using declarative tools and design patterns, this certification is your ticket. It’s an ideal choice for professionals who want to architect solutions within the Salesforce platform.

Candidates looking for this certification need to be equipped with both Sharing and Visibility Designer along with Data Architecture and Management certifications. 

3. Salesforce System Architect 

For those who want to dive deep into the technical aspects of Salesforce, the System Architect certification is a perfect fit. You’ll become the go-to expert for building secure, high-performance systems.

It is mainly designed for domain architects who specialize in integration, identity management, and lifecycle management. To achieve this certification, the candidate needs to have Integration Architecture Designer, Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer, and Identity and Access Management Designer certifications. 

Learn more about Salesforce Coding Languages

4. Salesforce Certified Data Architecture and Management Designer

If data modeling and governance are your strengths, this certification is invaluable. You’ll learn to design scalable data models, ensuring data quality and integrity. It is for professionals looking to be specialists in designing and implementing scalable data models, data management practices, and data-sharing strategies. It is ideal for candidates with a background in database design, data modeling, and data management. 

5. Salesforce Certified B2B Solution Architect

It is called Salesforce B2B architect certification short and is targeted by candidates focused on business-to-business (B2B) solutions; this certification equips you with the skills to design and implement solutions that drive success in the B2B space. Before candidates attempt for this certification, it is required that you have Application Architect certification in hand. 

Paths to Become an Architect

Every fresher pursues their path from fresher to becoming a Salesforce architect. Depending upon the prior experience, knowledge, and future aspirations, the choice may vary. 

Here are some paths that experts usually take to go for Salesforce architect certification:

1. From Admin to Application Architect

If you are an Admin who prefers to stay on the declarative side of Salesforce, then you may be inclined to design, build, and manage low-code solutions. Such candidates choose to go for the path of becoming an Application Architect.

On this path, you will gain deep domain knowledge and experience in enterprise data management, as well as sharing and visibility of security to build scalable as well as high-performing solutions. 

2. From Developer to Technical Architect

In case you are a developer who prefers to develop and deploy custom business logic and interfaces using the programming abilities of Salesforce. Then, you can take the path of becoming a Technical Architect. You may get attracted towards end-to-end integrations in the later stage, thus bringing you to specialize as a Salesforce Integration Architect. 

3. Generalist to Specialist

If you have experience in data migration projects, then Salesforce Data Architect is a good path. In case you are already a DevOps manager, then it is possible to move towards Salesforce Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect. 

It is important to understand that your experiences and work history can lead you to become a Salesforce Architect from many different points. For more detailed info on how to become a Salesforce Architect, check this video:

In a Nutshell

There you have it! After knowing all the future scope and growth opportunities in a career as a Salesforce Architect, you might be convinced to pursue your exciting journey. By choosing the right certifications and continually expanding your knowledge and skills, you’ll be well-prepared to make your mark as a Salesforce Architect. 

You will achieve this by gaining skills from the right certifications. Always remember that Salesforce Architect Certification is a committed way to your professional development, and it will need time, financial investment, and effort to be successful.

So, dream big, study hard, and master the skills of Salesforce to become a professional architect!