The Salesforce AI Specialist certification is a deep-dive style certification into generative AI and its usage within Salesforce. Candidates will be expected to configure and apply Einstein AI tools in Salesforce and convey the features and benefits of the Einstein Trust Layer.
In this guide, we’ll explore what this certification entails, who should consider pursuing it, and the key topics you’ll need to master to succeed.
About the Salesforce AI Specialist Exam
- The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions.
- You’ll have 105 minutes to complete the exam.
- The passing score is 73%.
- The exam costs $200* and retakes are $100.
- The exam can be taken online or at a testing center.
- There are no prerequisites to take this exam.
*Following Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce has made the AI Specialist certification free until December 31, 2025.
Who’s the Ideal Candidate?
The Salesforce AI Specialist certification is designed for individuals who want to demonstrate their proficiency in the capabilities of AI and data as they apply to CRM. You should have a foundational understanding of the Salesforce platform and its capabilities. The Salesforce Associate certification can help you gain this knowledge, and therefore, it may be beneficial to complete that certification before the AI Specialist.
This certification tests your knowledge of Einstein’s capabilities, like Sales emails, Service replies, and Copilot Builder, as well as foundational AI concepts including machine learning and natural language processing.
You’ll need to know how to configure and customize these tools to meet specific scenarios and understand the importance of data quality and ethical AI practices. While deep technical knowledge of coding or external AI tools isn’t required, this exam is far more difficult than you may expect, and hands-on experience is essential to comfortably sit the exam!
No prerequisites are required, however, if you lack any foundational understanding of Salesforce or AI then the following certifications may be helpful:
- Salesforce Certified Associate
- Salesforce Certified AI Associate
- Salesforce Certified Administrator Exam
Key Topics
To successfully earn your Salesforce AI Specialist certification, you’ll need to master a range of key topics. Here’s an overview of what you can expect to encounter on the exam:
Einstein Trust Layer: 15%
- Identify the security, privacy, and grounding features of the Einstein Trust Layer.
- Implement and manage the Einstein Trust Layer.
You can expect scenario-based questions in this section to test your knowledge of the components of the Einstein Trust Layer, how to manage it, and processes that protect customer data.
Some of the key features of the Einstein Trust Layer are:
- Masks sensitive data, protecting personally identifiable information (PII) before it reaches the AI model.
- Ensures secure data retrieval from Salesforce, grounding prompts based on the user’s permissions.
- Screens for toxic output, filtering out bias, inappropriate language, and other offensive content.
- Prevents data leaks with a strict zero data retention policy.
- Maintains compliance with federal and state regulations for data usage.
- Generates audit trails to track and review how prompts are processed, with pre-built reports and dashboards for easy analysis.
Here are some key terms to familiarize yourself with before the exam:
- Dynamic Grounding
- Secure Data Retrieval
- Prompt Defense
- Hallucinations
- Toxicity Scoring
- Data Masking
- Zero-Data Retention Policy
Generative AI in CRM Applications: 17%
- Given a scenario, identify the correct generative AI feature in Einstein for Sales.
- Given a scenario, identify the correct generative AI feature in Einstein for Service.
This section will test your knowledge of the AI features within Salesforce, including:
- Einstein Lead Scoring
- Einstein Opportunity Scoring
- Einstein Activity Capture
- Einstein Sales Emails
- Einstein Service Replies for Email
- Einstein Call Explorer
- Einstein Call Summaries
- Einstein Case Classification
- Einstein Work Summaries
- Einstein Article Recommendations
Based on a scenario, you’ll be expected to choose the correct feature to support the requirements.
Prompt Builder: 37%
- Given business requirements, identify when it’s appropriate to use Prompt Builder.
- Identify the right user roles to manage and execute prompt templates.
- Identify the considerations for creating a prompt template.
- Given a scenario, identify the appropriate grounding technique.
- Explain the process for creating, activating, and executing prompt templates.
Prompt Builder allows you to create templated, reusable prompts that can be deployed across your entire org using functionality such as Custom Buttons and Flow.
- Prompt Template Workspace: Enter your natural language prompt.
- Resources: Select which resources you want your prompt to include.
- Resolution: View your prompt with record data selected by the user. The data replaces the placeholders initially created in the prompt, sourced from the chosen merge fields, flows, or Apex code.
- Response: Preview the response for selected records. Verify the output for accuracy and safety before using the template.
- Configuration: Select which model type to use for your prompt.
This is the highest-weighted section of the exam, so be sure to spend some time here. You should be able to identify when it’s appropriate to use Prompt Builder, the user roles to manage or execute prompts, prompt templates, how prompts are grounded, and how to create prompts.
If you fancy getting hands-on with prompts, the following article will guide you through five sample prompts.
Einstein Copilot: 23%
- Given business requirements, identify when it’s appropriate to use Einstein Copilot.
- Explain how the large language model (LLM) identifies and executes a copilot action.
- Leverage standard copilot actions and create custom copilot actions.
- Manage and monitor Copilot adoption.
Einstein Copilot allows you to customize the user-facing Einstein Copilot chatbot. By utilizing a set of tools, you can integrate Apex, Flow, and MuleSoft APIs, as well as generative AI components, to create custom functionality.
You should be aware of the standard copilot actions, how to create custom actions, how to group actions, how to test actions, and the implications of deactivating your copilot.
Model Builder: 8%
- Given business requirements, identify when it’s appropriate to use Model Builder.
- Configure standard, custom, and Bring Your Own Large Language Model (BYOLLM) generative models.
Model Builder gives you the flexibility to select a Large Language Model (LLM) tailored to your specific needs, unlike other options like ChatGPT. Salesforce anticipates that this will become increasingly important as AI models evolve and businesses start developing their own LLMs.
Since different scenarios or data residency requirements might call for different LLMs, the ability to choose the right model with Model Builder is crucial!
Study Strategy
Here’s a comprehensive study strategy to help you prepare effectively:
1. Start With the Official Exam Guide
Begin by checking out the official Salesforce Trailhead exam guide. This resource provides a detailed outline of all the concepts you need to be familiar with before taking the exam. Use this guide as your revision plan:
- Segment Your Study: Break down the guide into manageable sections.
- Track Your Progress: Tick off each section once you fully understand the concepts.
2. Utilize Trailhead for Learning and Practice
Salesforce’s online learning platform, Trailhead, is an invaluable tool for your study plan:
- Explore Relevant Modules: Engage with Trailhead modules related to the exam. These modules cover the features in depth and provide real-time feedback through challenges.
- Hands-On Practice: Beyond theoretical learning, test the features in a Developer Org or Trailhead Playground. Experiment with these features to understand their limitations and practical applications.
3. Follow Structured Learning Paths
For a comprehensive, hands-on experience, follow these recommended trails on Trailhead:
Specifically designed by Salesforce, these trails guide you through the most important topics covered in the exam.
4. Understand the Exam Structure
Familiarizing yourself with the exam structure is crucial for effective preparation:
- Multiple-Choice Format: Salesforce exams typically feature multiple-choice questions.
- Pattern Recognition: The exam usually includes one correct answer, an incorrect one, and one that seems correct but isn’t best practice. Recognizing this pattern will help you avoid common pitfalls.
- Practice Exams: Take practice exams to simulate the real test environment. These exams are designed to reflect the actual exam’s format and difficulty, helping you get accustomed to the question types and timing.
The Salesforce AI Specialist Certification consists of 60 multiple-choice/multiple-select questions, each with three possible answers. In this sense, it’s easier than other exams that typically have a minimum of four potential answers.
5. Continuous Review and Practice
- Revisit Difficult Topics: Regularly review sections you find challenging to reinforce your understanding.
- Join Study Groups: Collaborate with others preparing for the exam. Study groups can provide support, additional resources, and different perspectives on difficult concepts.
- Stay Updated: Salesforce updates its platform regularly. Ensure you stay current with any changes that might affect the exam content.
By following this structured strategy, you can approach your Salesforce AI Specialist certification exam with confidence. Remember to leverage the vast resources available through Trailhead, engage in hands-on practice, and familiarize yourself with the exam format to maximize your chances of success.
Exam Strategy
Before the Exam
- Review and Memorize Key Concepts
- Create a cheat sheet for any challenging concepts. Review and try to memorize these right before the exam to keep them fresh in your memory.
- Engage in last-minute cramming using topic-level practice exams, focusing on areas where you feel less confident. This targeted review can reinforce your knowledge.
During the Exam
- Carefully Read Each Question
- Pay particular attention to each question and read it multiple times. Scenario-based questions often contain key clues within the text that can guide you to the correct answer.
- Utilize Provided Tools
- If you’re taking the exam at a test center, make good use of the pen and paper provided. Drawing out data schemas, role hierarchies, or other diagrams can help you visualize and solve complex problems more effectively.
- Process of Elimination
- Use the process of elimination to discard answers that are definitely incorrect. Salesforce exams often include distractors that are either fictional features or incorrect interpretations of real features.
- Be cautious of curveballs – answers that seem correct but are not aligned with best practices. Focus on standard Salesforce features to determine the best solution. For example, while you can create a custom approval process with Process Builder, using the standard approval process feature is often the best practice.
- Mark for Review
- Take advantage of the “Mark for review” feature. If you’re unsure about a question or need more time to think, mark it for review and return to it later. This helps manage your time effectively and ensures you don’t get stuck on difficult questions.
After Completing the Exam
- Review Your Answers
- If time permits, review all your answers, not just the ones marked for review. This comprehensive review can help you catch mistakes and make necessary corrections.
- Pay special attention to the questions you marked for review. Re-evaluating these questions with a fresh perspective can lead to more accurate answers.
- If in doubt, stick with your initial answer (you probably know more than you think!).
Resources
- Trailhead Exam Guide
- Drive Productivity with Einstein AI
- Cert Prep: Salesforce AI Specialist
- Salesforce AI Specialist Practice Exams
Summary
The Salesforce AI Specialist certification is a valuable credential for anyone looking to advance their career in the Salesforce ecosystem and gain expertise in artificial intelligence, specifically as it applies to Salesforce.
Having taken the exam myself, I must confess that the certification is much harder than expected. My top piece of advice would be to get hands-on in an AI-enabled Trailhead playground before taking the exam. You need this hands-on practice to fully grasp the features and how each one slots together with the others.
Taken the exam? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share your tips!
