Salesforce Certified Technical Architect: The Path
CTA is the pinnacle of the Salesforce certification program, and it is not a multiple-choice exam. You first earn the two domain architect credentials, then present and defend a complete architecture before a panel of CTA judges at a live review board.
How this credential works
The Certified Technical Architect credential proves you can own the end-to-end architecture of the most complex Salesforce programs: solution design, integration, identity, data, governance, and the trade-offs between them, articulated under pressure.
The path has two stages. First, earn both composite domain credentials: Application Architect and System Architect (eight component certifications in total, Platform Developer I counting toward both). Second, pass the review board: a live session where you receive a hypothetical customer scenario, design a full solution, present it to a panel of CTA judges, and defend it in Q&A.
The two prerequisite credentials, then the board
Both domain architect credentials are required before you can register for the review board.
- 01
Application Architect
Composite credential: Platform App Builder, Platform Developer I, Data Architect, and Sharing and Visibility Architect.
Prepare with real exam conditions - 02
System Architect
Composite credential: Platform Developer I, Development Lifecycle and Deployment, Identity and Access Management, and Integration Architect.
Prepare with real exam conditions - 03
CTA Review Board
A live board: hypothetical scenario, timed solution design, formal presentation, and Q&A defense before CTA judges.
Preparation coming soon
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 certificationsTechnical Architect FAQ
What candidates ask before starting the Technical Architect path.