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# Admin Certification Guide: Get Started

Being an admin is exciting. You get to control the destiny of Salesforce implementation through more than a few tasks -

  • Manage data security
  • Make life easier for everyone through automation
  • Enforce business validation
  • Manage reporting
  • Help users maximise benefits by monitoring usage patterns and identifying things that work good or otherwise
  • Monitor system health

# Prerequisites

To be an admin is not just about technology, but also about being the person ever ready to help! There are not many prerequisites except basic knowledge about computers and Internet.

So.. anyone can do this!

  • Ability to work through a browser
  • Analytical skills will certainly help
  • Willingness to explore 😃
  • Able to spend at least 1-2 hours a day for a month

From a system perspective, you need to have the following -

  • Stable Internet connection and a laptop/desktop
  • Standards compliant browser. Chrome recommended (of course!)
  • Water to help you stay hydrated

# Objective

The objective of this course is to outline Salesforce capabilities that you need to know in order to become an admin. Since Admin Certification (ADM201) is a quantifiable measure of admin knowledge, we use that as a reference point.

Note that Salesforce recommends actual experience as an admin to attempt ADM201 exam. In our experience though - you stand an excellent chance to complete the exam successfully even with lesser experience "iff" -

  • you start with some application knowledge
  • go through a structured learning process
  • apply your knowledge in workshops
  • solve case studies
  • get mentored by admins / Salesforce professionals in the process

# Duration

This course has been split into ~15 lessons. There are no strict guidelines on the number of days, but we have typically seen the lessons taught at an average rate of 0.5 to 1 lesson per day. This includes -

  • Teaching a class of ~10-15 students for 2 hours / day. Note that these students would typically have a strong technical background before they begin, so your mileage may vary a bit
  • Let students apply their knowledge during rest of the time

It is not uncommon to see people not being able to complete their assignments (what we call ALWs = Applied Learning Workshops), but they tend to catch up as we progress.

# That's sounds all fun, but do I really want to be an admin?

Well, it depends.

You get to do quite a lot to your salesforce ecosystem and enable your business to benefit from your salesforce implementation. You will also benefit from the rapidly growing salesforce ecosystem.

But, at the same time - it will be great to know where an admin stops -

  1. As more and more stuff becomes configurable and becomes "easily configurable", it pushes more things to what users/power users do and commoditise the job. You have to move up the value chain if you want to stay relevant
  2. Customisation of UI and creating new functionality is not considered under admin functions, but that is where specialisation is headed and you want to be there too
  3. It may be exciting for core business groups to lean on you to get things done, but you are not a pointy-click person to not be made part of the actual business

We have this pointer for all future admins -

"Decide on whether you enjoy technology more or doing business more".

That decision may not be made today, and not set in stone. But you should have a vision for yourself in the future.

Once that decision is taken, here's how the future should look -

  1. If you are a business person: do admin stuff - sure, but never be involved in doing business activities, doing business process support, or taking business decisions. Technology is meant to be deployed to advance business interests and you will be in the right boat by, uh.. , being on both boats

  2. If you are a technology leaning person (high-five!): look at admin as the first step in your salesforce journey. Depending on your interests, you would want to be a developer, consultant or an architect (or everyone?)

We don't enjoy saying "don't learn stuff". But we believe it will be far more enjoyable if "the stuff" helps you monetarily, philosophically, and/or spiritually (!?).

# Let's Get Started

All set? Get going with the course structure by clicking on the link below!

Course Structure →