Demystifying Salesforce Certification names and numbers in job postings

I’ve noticed a LOT of job postings that still use outdated names and numbers for required and/or preferred certifications. Learning this system will help you make sure you aren’t skipping past an opening because you think it’s asking for different certs than you have.

First isn’t a change. Admin 201 is the good ol’ Salesforce Certified Administrator. The one we all know and love. Admin Certified? Check this one off. Boom.

2nd is just a number change. Advanced Admin was previously 301 and is now 211. You’ll see both numbers used in job postings.

The next ones are where things get interesting:

Previously there was a set of Certifications called Force(dot)com Developer and Force(dot)com Advanced Developer. These were 401 and 501 respectively. Often in postings these are referred to as Dev 401 and Dev 501. These are NOT the Dev 1 and Dev 2 we know today…at least 401 isn’t.

Dev 401 was retired and replaced with Platform App Builder, which is 402. It is essentially the same cert with the same subject matter. In fact, some courses will reference the old name throughout if it was originally made under the old and gradually updated for the new. If you see Dev 401 or 402 on a job post, treat it as PAB. If you have the PAB you have fulfilled the Developer 401 requirement! Don’t skip this job posting over the Developer requirement!

Advanced Dev 501 was retired and replaced with both Platform Developer 1 (450) and Platform Developer 2. Treat Dev 501 on job posts as Platform Dev 1. The posting will likely reference Apex and Visualforce. If you aren’t familiar with either, this isn’t for you.

This should open up more opportunities for your job hunt if you are actively applying. Get after it.