Salesforce Retires 24 Certifications and Renames 16 in 2026: Complete Guide for Salesforce Candidates

Salesforce has announced a major update to its certification portfolio as part of its ongoing effort to align credentials with the latest Salesforce products, AI capabilities, and market demands. Starting in 2026, 24 Salesforce certifications will be retired, while 16 certifications will receive new names to better reflect Salesforce’s AI-first strategy, especially the expansion of Agentforce across the platform.

For Salesforce professionals, administrators, consultants, developers, and partners, this change is important because it affects certification planning, career roadmaps, and resume profiles. Candidates who are currently preparing for impacted exams should understand the deadlines, certification validity, and recommended next steps before making their study decisions.

Key Dates for Salesforce Certification Changes

Salesforce has provided the following timeline for the retirement and renaming process:

Candidates who successfully pass a retiring certification exam before August 31, 2026 will still earn the certification. The credential will remain visible on their Trailblazer Profile, although it will be marked as retired after February 1, 2027.

Why Is Salesforce Retiring These Certifications?

Salesforce explained that certification updates are designed to:

● Keep certifications aligned with current Salesforce technologies and products.

● Focus more on role-based skills rather than narrow product-specific knowledge.

● Reflect emerging AI capabilities, especially Agentforce.

● Ensure certifications continue to represent skills valued by employers.

Many of the retiring certifications are highly specialized Accredited Professional credentials or certifications connected to legacy product-focused areas. Salesforce is moving toward a certification structure that better matches modern Salesforce implementation roles.

Complete List of 24 Salesforce Certifications Retiring in 2027

The following certifications will officially retire on February 1, 2027.

What Should Candidates Do If Their Certification Is Retiring?

1. If You Are Already Certified

There is no need to panic.

A retired Salesforce certification:

● Remains valid.

● Remains visible on your Trailblazer Profile.

● Continues to represent your previous achievement.

● Does not mean Salesforce product support is discontinued.

However, professionals should consider adding newer certifications that represent current Salesforce technologies and customer demand.

2. If You Are Preparing for a Retiring Exam

Candidates should evaluate their current progress.

Consider taking the exam before retirement if:

● You are already close to exam-ready.

● Your company requires the specific credential.

● The certification is important for your current Salesforce role.

● You work with a product area directly related to the retiring certification.

Remember:

● Registration deadline: July 24, 2026

● Exam deadline: August 31, 2026

3. Consider Moving Toward Newer Salesforce Certifications

Salesforce’s future certification direction is clearly moving toward:

● Agentforce

● AI-powered automation

● Data-driven customer experiences

● Business transformation roles

Candidates should focus on certifications that align with Salesforce’s evolving ecosystem instead of only collecting legacy product badges.

Salesforce Certification Name Changes: 16 Certifications Updated

Salesforce is also renaming 16 certifications effective July 24, 2026. These changes mainly align certification names with current Salesforce product branding and the Agentforce strategy.

Candidates do not need to retake exams. Existing certifications will automatically receive the updated names on Trailblazer Profiles.

How This Change Impacts Salesforce Career Planning

This certification update shows Salesforce’s strategic shift from traditional cloud-focused roles toward AI-powered business solutions.

For example:

● Sales Cloud Consultant → Agentforce Sales Consultant

● Service Cloud Consultant → Agentforce Service Consultant

● Field Service Consultant → Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant

These changes indicate that Salesforce professionals will increasingly need knowledge of:

● AI agents

● Automation

● Data integration

● Customer experience transformation

● Business process optimization

The future Salesforce ecosystem will likely place more emphasis on professionals who can combine Salesforce platform skills with AI-driven solution design

Final Thoughts: Salesforce Certifications Are Entering an AI-First Era

The retirement and renaming of Salesforce certifications reflect a broader shift toward an AI-driven ecosystem. As Agentforce, Data Cloud, and automation become increasingly important, Salesforce professionals should focus on certifications that align with future technology trends.

Candidates should review their certification plans, complete retiring exams if needed, and continue building skills in AI-powered Salesforce solutions to stay competitive in the evolving Salesforce ecosystem.