Salesforce Application Architect: The Path
Application Architect is not an exam you book. It is a credential Salesforce grants automatically the day you hold its four component certifications, in any order you like. Below is the full path, with real exam-condition preparation for each prerequisite.
How this credential works
The Application Architect credential proves you can design secure, scalable applications that make the most of the Lightning Platform: declarative-first design, a sound data model, and an airtight sharing architecture.
There is no Application Architect exam. Salesforce checks your certification record: once the four prerequisites below are all earned, the credential appears in your account automatically, at no extra cost. Order does not matter, so start with the exam closest to your current role.
The four prerequisite certifications
Earn all four, in any order. Each one is a standard proctored multiple-choice exam you can prepare for here.
- 01
Platform App Builder
Declarative application design: data model, business logic, UI, and deployment.
Prepare with real exam conditions - 02
Platform Developer I
Counts toward both tracksApex, Lightning Web Components, and programmatic customization fundamentals.
Prepare with real exam conditions - 03
Data Architect
Enterprise data modeling, large data volumes, migration, and governance.
Prepare with real exam conditions - 04
Sharing and Visibility Architect
Record access, sharing architecture, and platform security at scale.
Prepare with real exam conditions
Start with the prerequisite closest to you
Every component is a standard multiple-choice exam you can prepare for with real exam-condition mock exams, domain-by-domain scoring, and detailed explanations. Pass, or get refunded.
Browse the certificationsApplication Architect FAQ
What candidates ask before starting the Application Architect path.