This week, I hit a milestone I’ve been working toward for a while: I passed the Salesforce Platform App Builder certification! The exam requires a 63% passing score, and while that number might sound straightforward, the journey to get there was anything but simple. It took years of building skills, solving problems, and learning how to connect technical solutions with real business needs.
My Journey to This Point
I didn’t start out as a “Salesforce person.” My background has always been about automation, optimization, and making processes repeatable. Over the years, I’ve worked extensively with:
- Power Automate to streamline workflows and reduce manual effort
- SharePoint document libraries for structured, scalable content management
- Excel automation with advanced formulas, table design, and structured references
- PowerShell and CMD scripting for troubleshooting, monitoring, and backend automation with tools like Python
These experiences taught me how to think in terms of systems, error handling, and scalability—skills that translated directly into the Salesforce world. When I started exploring Salesforce, I realized that the declarative tools (Flows, validation rules, Lightning pages) felt like a natural extension of the automation mindset I’d already been living in.
Preparing for the Exam
The exam itself is 60 multiple-choice questions, timed at 105 minutes, with a passing score of 63%. To prepare, I leaned on:
- Trailhead modules and Trailmixes designed for the App Builder exam
- Hands-on practice in sandbox environments, building Flows and experimenting with custom objects
- My own background in structured problem-solving, which helped me break down complex scenarios into manageable steps
Honestly, the most valuable preparation wasn’t just studying—it was the years of building reusable templates, troubleshooting scripts, and designing workflows that could stand up to real-world use. That foundation gave me confidence when tackling Salesforce’s exam scenarios.
Why This Certification Matters to Me
For me, this certification isn’t just a badge. It’s proof that the skills I’ve been honing—automation, scalability, and bridging technical and business communication—are transferable across platforms. It shows that the way I approach problems (persistent, detail-oriented, solution-focused) works whether I’m in Excel, Power Automate, or Salesforce.
Looking Ahead
Passing this exam is a milestone, but it’s also a launchpad. I’m excited to keep building on this foundation—exploring advanced automation patterns, integration strategies, and ways to empower teams with tools that are easy to use, refresh, and share.
Final Thought: This certification journey reminded me that success isn’t just about hitting 63% on an exam. It’s about the years of experience, persistence, and curiosity that make those answers possible.
