The Salesforce ecosystem is evolving at lightning speed, and keeping your skills validated is more critical than ever.

Mark your calendars! On Friday, August 21st, Salesforce is expanding its credentialing catalog by launching two brand-new certifications on Trailhead Academy:

1. Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Next Consultant
2. Salesforce Certified Tableau Next Consultant

Whether you are deep in the marketing automation space or driving data-driven business intelligence, these new credentials offer an incredible opportunity to stand out and prove your expertise.

Here is a breakdown of what you need to know about each new certification and how to start preparing today.

1. Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Next Consultant

This certification is built specifically for practitioners working hands-on with the latest innovations in Marketing Cloud.

• Who it’s for: Consultants, implementation specialists, and technical leads responsible for designing, deploying, and optimizing solutions using Marketing Cloud Next.
• What it validates: Your ability to configure advanced marketing workflows, integrate marketing data effectively, and deliver high-impact customer journeys in an advisory or implementation capacity.
• 📖 Get the Exam Guide: Review the official topics, breakdown, and objectives in the Marketing Cloud Next Consultant Exam Guide.

2. Salesforce Certified Tableau Next Consultant

As analytics and CRM continue to merge, the demand for experts who can unlock actionable insights is reaching an all-time high.

• Who it’s for: Data practitioners, architects, and consultants who design, build, and maintain scalable analytics and visualization solutions natively within the Salesforce ecosystem.
• What it validates: In-depth knowledge of analytics architecture, data modeling, dashboard lifecycle management, and embedding business intelligence directly into Salesforce business workflows.
• 📖 Get the Exam Guide: Check out the prerequisites and domain weightings in the Tableau Next Consultant Exam Guide.

Registration Opens Friday, August 21st!

Registration for both exams officially opens on Friday, August 21st. Full instructions on how to book your slot will be made available via the community and Trailhead Academy.

How Should You Prepare?

If you are planning to be among the first in the ecosystem to earn these badges, here’s what you should do right now:

1. Review the Exam Guides: Read through the Tableau Next and Marketing Cloud Next guides to evaluate where your knowledge currently stands.
2. Identify Your Gaps: Focus your study time on domains with the highest exam weighting where you have the least hands-on exposure.
3. Set a Date: Once registration goes live this Friday, schedule your exam to give yourself a clear, focused target.

Are you planning to take one of these new exams? Let me know in the comments or reach out—I’d love to hear your thoughts and preparation strategies!