Is This Coursera Specialization Enough to Pass the Salesforce Admin Exam?

Salesforce jobs are on the rise; the company reports that more than 150,000 businesses worldwide utilize its CRM.

But is the Coursera Salesforce Administrator certification course enough to help you pass the certification exam?  

Let's look at some real data and firsthand experiences.

Understanding the Exam

The Salesforce Certified Administrator exam has 60 multiple-choice questions, and you have 105 minutes to complete it. To pass, you need to get 65%, which means you get 39 of the questions right.  

What Coursera's Salesforce Admin Course Offers?

The Coursera Salesforce Admin Certification Course teaches users the basics of Salesforce, including how to navigate, model data, set up security, make reports and screens, and do basic automation. People who want to learn work hands-on in a Salesforce Developer Edition setting that matches the topics on the exams.

Its good points are:

• Structured introductions to admin tools
• Real-world configuration exercises
• Alignment with exam objectives

Is This Enough to Pass the Salesforce Admin Exam?

The quick answer is that it's almost there, but not quite.

The Coursera Salesforce admin course by Learnkarts does a good job of covering the basics. However, the Salesforce Certified Administrator exam is recognized for being quite broad and difficult.

The exam covers topics such as setup and configuration, object manager, automation, app exchange, and user permissions. These are all areas that need both theoretical and practical knowledge.

Most people who want to get the SFDC admin certification will need to:

• Spend some time in a real Salesforce organization, like the Developer Edition or Trailhead Playground.
• Take more practice tests to become used to the types of questions that will be on the test.
• Use Trailhead modules to help you learn more, especially the ones with the "Prepare for Admin Certification" badge.
• Get advice and recommendations from other people in study groups or forums like the Salesforce Trailblazer Community.

The Coursera Salesforce Admin Certification Course is a great place to start because it teaches you the "what" and "why." But to pass the SFDC certified administrator exam, you'll also need to know "how," which you may learn by using the platform more and more and practicing.

Why is Practicing More Important?

Even though it's a good start, real preparation needs more:

• Real-world experience

Salesforce recommends at least 6–12 months of administrative work to gain a sense of how it works in the real world.

• Practice Tests

Mock tests help you get used to the pace and types of questions on the real test. Someone on Reddit wrote, "I studied like a crazy person..." got more than 70–80% on the Focus on Force practice tests... The real test is tougher... surprisingly, I scored 65% on the practice test. The real test has words that aren't needed on purpose to throw you off.

• Review with a focus

Someone else on Reddit who had failed more than once said, "The admin cert covers a ton of information... 70% of the test is made up of 4 groups!!!! Pay attention to these groups and become familiar with them.

• Several attempts

Many students require at least two attempts to pass. Approximately 40% fail the first time, which is why practice and self-reflection are crucial.

Peers' Schedules for Preparation

Lessons from Reddit are useful benchmarks:

• "I studied for about a month, three to four hours a day... passed," said one student who passed after only one month of hard work.
• Another person worked hard every day for two months: "Passed my admin exam after two months of intense studying!!"

This means that studying hard for 4 to 8 weeks, utilizing Coursera material, Trailhead courses, practice tests, and sandbox time, may be sufficient.

In short: Mastery vs. Foundation

The Coursera lesson on Salesforce administration gives you a solid base:

• Covers all the important areas of the exam
• Allows for organized, hands-on learning in Developer settings
• Gives an overview of exam structure and question types

But there is more you need to do to pass the SFDC certified administrator exam. It is very important to use Trailhead practice, mock exams, study groups, and real-life sandbox use in addition to what you are learning.

Most people who are effective combine formal training (such as Coursera) with practical experience and real-world preparation.

In conclusion

The Coursera Salesforce Admin Certification Course is a great place to start. Still, you'll need more practice and experience in the real world to pass the exam and get your Salesforce Admin Certification.

Do you want to meet your goal with great training, regular hands-on practice, and practice tests? Enroll now!