2026/2027 Salesforce Certification Roadmap & Agentforce Branding Changes
Hello Trailblazers!
The Salesforce ecosystem moves fast, and staying ahead means keeping our skills aligned with where the technology—and the market—is heading. Recently, Salesforce announced major updates to its credentialing roadmap, including retirement plans for several exams and updates to existing certifications to better align with current branding, like the incorporation of Agentforce.
Whether you are a seasoned CTA, an aspiring Architect, or just starting your Salesforce journey, here is everything you need to know about these changes, why they matter, and how to plan your certification strategy for the months ahead.
Why Are These Changes Happening?
Salesforce is reshaping the credential program to ensure our hard work carries maximum impact. The decision to retire and rename certain exams boils down to three main goals:
- Maximizing Certification Value: Aligning credentials directly with the precise skills, expertise, and roles that hiring managers are actively looking for in today’s market.
- Staying Current with the Product Landscape: As AI, data strategies, and platforms evolve, the credential program needs to mirror the tools and features professionals use on a daily basis.
- Focusing on High-Impact Skills: By trimming older or overlapping paths, Salesforce is doubling down on building certifications around the latest job roles, products, and features—giving you the most relevant, in-demand credentials available today.
Key Dates to Mark in Your Calendar
If you are currently studying or planning your next certification goals, keep a close eye on these dates (all set to 12:00 a.m. UTC):
- Friday, July 24, 2026:
- The last day to register for any of the retiring exams.
- The official go-live date for all 16 renamed certifications.
- Tuesday, August 31, 2026: The final day to sit and take any of the retiring exams.
- February 1, 2027: The official retirement date for all impacted certifications.
The Complete List of 24 Retiring Certifications
(Official Retirement Date: February 1, 2027)
The retirements cover a significant cleanup of aging product lines (like legacy CPQ and older Marketing Cloud architectures) and a heavy trimming of the partner-focused Accredited Professional (AP) catalog.
| Track / Category | Impacted Certification / Exam Name |
| Core Certifications (9 Exams) | • Salesforce Certified CPQ Administrator • Salesforce Certified Industries CPQ Developer • Salesforce Certified B2B Solution Architect • Salesforce Certified B2C Commerce Architect • Salesforce Certified Education Cloud Consultant • Salesforce Certified Nonprofit Success Pack Consultant • Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Consultant • Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Catalyst Consultant • Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Hyperautomation Developer |
| Accredited Professionals (15 Exams) | • Advanced Field Service Accredited Professional • Consumer Goods Cloud: Trade Promotion Management AP • Contact Center Accredited Professional • CPQ and Billing Consultant Accredited Professional • Energy and Utilities Cloud Accredited Professional • Heroku Developer Accredited Professional • Loyalty Management Accredited Professional • Marketing Cloud Advanced Cross Channel AP • Marketing Cloud Intelligence Accredited Professional • Marketing Cloud Personalization Accredited Professional • Media Cloud Accredited Professional • Net Zero Cloud Accredited Professional • Order Management Administrator Accredited Professional • Order Management Developer Accredited Professional • Process Automation Accredited Professional |
The Complete List of 16 Renamed Certifications
(Taking Effect: July 24, 2026)
These changes are structural and cosmetic. The core exam content and your existing credentials remain fully valid, but the nomenclature is shifting rapidly away from “Clouds” and pivoting directly toward Agentforce branding.
(Note: As a quick architecture reminder when building out your roadmap, Agentforce extensions refer specifically to the installable, custom partner and builder solutions available via the AppExchange).
| Current Certification Name | New Certification Name |
| Sales Cloud Consultant | Agentforce Sales Consultant |
| Service Cloud Consultant | Agentforce Service Consultant |
| Sales Representative (Sales Foundations) | Agentforce Sales Foundations |
| Field Service Consultant | Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant |
| Nonprofit Cloud Consultant (NPC) | Agentforce Nonprofit Consultant |
| Public Sector Solutions AP | Salesforce Accredited Agentforce 360 for Public Sector Professional |
| Communications Cloud AP | Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Communications Professional |
| Consumer Goods Cloud AP | Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Consumer Goods Professional |
| Financial Services Cloud AP | Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Financial Services Professional |
| Health Cloud AP | Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Health Professional |
| Manufacturing Cloud AP | Salesforce Accredited Agentforce Manufacturing Professional |
| B2B Commerce for Administrators AP | Salesforce Accredited B2B Commerce Administrator Professional |
| B2B Commerce for Developers AP | Salesforce Accredited B2B Commerce Developer Professional |
| Marketing Cloud Email Specialist | Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist |
| Revenue Cloud Consultant | Salesforce Certified Revenue Management Consultant |
| B2C Commerce Developer | Salesforce Certified B2C Commerce Cloud Developer |
What This Means For You & Next Steps
1. If you already hold a retiring certification:
Don’t worry—your hard work still counts. Your certification will remain fully valid through the official retirement date of February 1, 2027, and you will not have any maintenance requirements for it in the meantime. Even after retirement, these credentials will remain visible on your Trailblazer profile as an important part of your professional history.
2. If you are currently studying for a retiring certification:
You need to move quickly but deliberately. Ensure you are registered by July 24, 2026, and schedule your exam attempt on or before August 31, 2026. Evaluate whether the credential aligns with your long-term goals or if your time might be better spent focusing on the newer, refreshed learning paths (like the core platform replacements for NPSP or Revenue Cloud alternatives).
3. If you hold a certification that is being renamed:
No action is required on your part! The certification title on your Trailblazer profile will automatically update on July 24, 2026. The biggest task here is tactical: make sure to update your LinkedIn profile, resumes, and email signatures once the switch happens so you stay easily searchable to recruiters looking for the modern Agentforce terminology. If you want a fresh copy of your certificate with the updated branding to display, you can request a new one via Trailhead Academy.
Final Thoughts: Share Knowledge, Keep Growing
An evolving ecosystem means endless opportunities to learn, grow, and inspire others to join the community. While certification shifts can require a quick pivot in our study plans, they ultimately ensure that the badges we display on our profiles carry real weight with clients and employers.
What are your thoughts on the new branding updates and the heavy inclusion of Agentforce? Are any of your upcoming certification goals impacted? Let’s discuss in the comments below or connect with me on social media!
Keep learning, and keep blazing your trail!
Sources:
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=005360289&type=1
https://trailhead.salesforce.com/help?article=Salesforce-Certification-Name-Changes-FAQ