The Salesforce platform is constantly evolving. More than a decade of innovation, development, and change under our belt means the skills required of a Platform Developer are very different now than they were when the Salesforce Certified Force.com Developer and Advanced Developer credentials were first created. Over the years, they have served the industry well by validating the skills of our developer community, giving them the prestigious right to say they were among the first to be certified to develop for the cloud. But as of April 6, 2018, those Force.com credentials will retire and take their place in the Salesforce Hall of Fame.

Now what?

In 2015, we announced the new Platform App Builder, Developer I and Developer II credentials as well as a special transition path for Force.com Developers and Advanced Developers to earn these new credentials. This transition path allows existing Force.com Developer credential holders to take advantage of a shorter exam to earn the Platform App Builder credential. Then, in late 2016, we informed you that we will be officially retiring the Force.com Developer and Advanced Developer credentials in 2018.

1. The credentials are officially retiring.

Just in case you missed the message above, as of April 6, 2018, the Salesforce Certified Force.com Developer and Advanced Developer credentials will no longer exist or be recognized as valid Salesforce credentials.

2. You don’t want to lose your hard-earned credential!

We know you are passionate about being a Salesforce-certified professional; after all, you worked hard to achieve and maintain your status. That’s why we have developed an expedited transitional certification path for you to earn the new Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (Declarative) and/or Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I or II (Programmatic) credentials. You can learn more about the transition path here.

• We have given you the option to maintain your Force.com Developer credential since we announced the retirement. But don't worry, even if you're no longer maintaining it and your Force.com Developer credential and it has expired, you will still be able to transition to Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder.

• If you are a Salesforce Certified Force.com Advanced Developer, or are in the process of earning your Force.com Advanced Developer credential, you'll maintain your status until you transition to the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I & II credentials.

• The transition exams are available until April 6, 2018, giving you a chance to earn the new Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder and/or Platform Developer I & II credentials before the retirement date.

• Full details of your exclusive transition path options can be found here.

Heard enough? Ready to study? Check out the transition exam guides—which are available at the transition path option link above.

3. We’ve made it easy and cost-effective for you to transition.

The transition exams are a condensed version of the certification exams. We are offering the Platform App Builder transition exam at the reduced cost of $100 USD until the April 6, 2018 retirement date.

This means that for the same price of maintaining your Force.com Developer credential, you can transition to the Platform App Builder credential.  

If you already hold the Force.com Advanced Developer credential, or are in the process of earning your Force.com Advanced Developer credential, you can register for the Platform Developer I and II transition exams for free, and these can be taken any time up until the retirement date.

For more information on how to register for an exam, click here.

4. It’s better to transition sooner, rather than later.

Once the April 6, 2018 retirement date hits, the Salesforce Certified Force.com Developer and Advanced Developer credentials will no longer exist. Transitioning early has three distinct advantages:

1. You can take the short transition exam (10-20 questions), rather than having to study and sit for the full exam (60 questions).
2. You receive transition exam pricing ($0 or $100 USD, depending on the exam), rather than paying the full exam price ($200 USD).
3. You’ll earn a new certification that validates that you have the current, key skills and knowledge to effectively manage the latest Salesforce technology advances.

Still have questions?

Check out the Q&A transition article on our certification website for all the details you need to know around eligibility, prerequisites, exam guides, costs, and maintenance requirements.

Salesforce is evolving, and our certification program is evolving along with it. Don’t delay—take the journey and expand your skills today.   

Good luck!