As the world’s top customer relationship management platform, Salesforce has a massive ecosystem of Developers, Administrators, and Architects. While this means that there is plenty of talent available when you need a specialized project completed, there are also hundreds of Salesforce professionals that don't yet have the 'real world experience' or certifications to provide the level of support a business needs from their Salesforce Consultant.

It is vital to verify a Freelancer’s Salesforce Certifications before partnering with them. Fortunately, verifying someone else’s status or your own is a simple process. Below, we discuss why verifying a Salesforce candidate’s credential is important. We’ll also give you a step-by-step guide to the certification verification process so that you can verify skills and credentials before engaging with an outside Consultant.

Verifying Salesforce Certification Status

Salesforce is an excellent CRM platform that can seamlessly integrate with a variety of other technologies. However, the deployment of Salesforce should only be conducted by Certified Architects, Developers, and Administrators. This certification process allows Salesforce to maintain the quality of its product while also protecting its customers by preventing unqualified individuals from partaking in projects.

With that being said, it is the responsibility of the end client to verify a candidate’s Salesforce certification status.

Importance of verifying a Salesforce Consultant's Credentials

There are several reasons why it is important to verify a Salesforce candidate’s credentials.
First, it prevents unqualified individuals from 'learning on the job' and incorrectly setting up or customizing a company's Salesforce instance. A Freelancer without proper training could deploy features incorrectly or make recommendations that won't scale with the business and only set them back in the future. Developers receive credential numbers when they pass requisite exams.

However, just because they have a credential number does not mean that they possess a certification. Fraudulent or dishonest individuals may present an outdated certification number or one that was assigned to someone else.By verifying a Salesforce candidate’s credentials independently, businesses can guard against dishonesty, protect their CRM platform, and avoid wasting thousands of dollars on unqualified Freelancers.

How to Verify Salesforce Certification Status

You can quickly verify Salesforce credential status in a few easy steps.
Step 1: Visit Salesforce Trailhead’s verification page
‍Step 2: Input the full name or email of the Salesforce Consultant
Step 3: Click the “Search” button
Step4:  Review the results

All of the individual’s current certifications should populate on the results page. If no certifications are visible (or some are missing from the list on their resume / LinkedIn), then the person does not hold those active credentials at this time. We always recommend cross-checking the Certifications that people have listed on their LinkedIn profile with the official Trailhead database - unfortunately, many individuals claim credentials they haven't actually earned and the one source of truth is Trailhead, maintained by Salesforce itself.

How Do I Verify My Own Certification Status?

Salesforce certification verification is not just important for businesses, but it is also a useful function for freelancers as well. If you perform independent Salesforce work, ensure that your certifications are up to date before applying for projects.

In order to verify your own certification status, simply:
1) Visit the Trailhead Verification Page
‍2) Enter your Webassessor email in the right “Certification Holders” status box
3) Click “Request” and follow any additional prompts
4) Your current credential status will be forwarded to your email address

Make sure to keep track of your certification status and the expiration date of each credential. You will need to complete maintenance exams before these certifications expire.
Otherwise, you may have to take the entire certification exam again and pay another $200.

Staying Salesforce Certified

Once you obtain a Salesforce Certification, it is important that you do not let it lapse. If a certification is out of date for too long, you will have to retake the exam and pay another fee.

Performing regular “maintenance” on your current credentials is much easier and more cost-effective. The reason maintaining certifications is required is because new features are being released across the platform constantly and ensuring the ecosystem stays updated on the platform is vital to Salesforce's success.

How Do I Maintain My Salesforce Certification Credentials?

Since the Spring of 2020, Salesforce has required one maintenance module for every certification. These modules must be completed annually to avoid a lapse in certification. If you obtain more advanced certifications, you still have to complete entry-level maintenance modules to keep all of your credentials current.Salesforce has a detailed maintenance cycle.

Specific modules are published seasonally and are displayed here. It is vital to have your Webassessor and Trailhead accounts linked. Otherwise, your certification statuses may not be updated when you complete maintenance modules.
The modules are designed to serve as a refresher on certain skills while also updating users on new functionalities or best practices. Many of these modules include exams, but some do not. You will have to view the specific requirements of your certification(s) to learn more.

How Do I Access the Salesforce Maintenance Exams?

You can gain access to your Salesforce maintenance exams via Trailhead as well.
Simply go to the verification page and perform the following steps:
1) Enter your Webassessor email in the box on the right
2) Click on the “Request” button
3) Check your inbox and locate the message from certification@salesforce.com
4) Review the status of your current credentials
5) If any exams are overdue, the email will include a direct link to them
6) Click on the link and follow the prompts to complex maintenance modules

Congratulations, you have successfully performed “maintenance” on your Salesforce Certifications!

To avoid any lapses, we recommend checking your certification status quarterly or even monthly. This will ensure that you never miss out on an opportunity to apply for an exciting Salesforce project due to credentialing issues.

How to Learn Salesforce and Get Certified

If you are interested in learning Salesforce, then the Trailhead platform is the place to go. Salesforce Trailhead is a comprehensive training solution that includes online tutorials. The lessons are curated and presented in specific sequences, so developers of all skill levels can obtain certifications for this popular CRM.

To get started, simply create a Trailhead account and choose your “path.” A few examples include Salesforce Administrator, Architect, Developer, or Marketer. After completing select modules, you will need to take and pass certification exams. Approximately 48 hours after passing an exam, your new certification will show up on the Salesforce verification page.

If you are a new Salesforce Freelancer, an established Architect, or a business owner that needs to find qualified candidates to work on your latest project, FoundHQ can help. Our platform connects companies with a network of 800+ pre-vetted, Certified Salesforce Contractors. Contact us today or sign up for a free account to get started.