#Certifications195 discussing

@riad bouchenak You do not need to wait for a certification to start getting real Salesforce experience. If your goal is Salesforce Admin specifically, I would focus on building proof of hands-on work first. The best starting point is a Trailhead Playground and a free Developer Edition org, because both let you practice in a real Salesforce environment instead of only reading theory. Trailhead’s own guidance for Playground Management is literally to create hands-on orgs and practice your Salesforce skills, and Salesforce Developers also offers free trial orgs for testing and development.  

Check this Trail: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/trails/learn_salesforce_with_trailhead

A practical path would be this. Start with Salesforce Fundamentals and the Salesforce Admin Career Path, then build things that look like real admin work: create users, profiles, permission sets, custom objects, page layouts, validation rules, reports, dashboards, list views, flows, and basic automation. Salesforce positions Career Paths as guided, role-specific learning with hands-on practice, and the Admin path is specifically built around the Salesforce Admin role.  

Check for reference: https://www.salesforce.com/learningprograms/

Then make your practice look like experience. Do not just say “I completed badges.” Build 2 or 3 small portfolio projects in your org, for example:

•  a help desk org with cases, queues, assignment rules, and dashboards 
•  a sales pipeline org with leads, opportunities, approval flow, and reports 
•  a nonprofit donor tracking org with contacts, campaigns, and automation 

That matters because Salesforce’s Trailblazer Career Marketplace lets you showcase projects

, work history, and additional career details through Career Mode, not just certifications. Employers can search based on skills, products, and profile details.  

For reference: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/trailhead-career-marketplace-quick-look/learn-about-the-trailblazer-career-marketplace

For real-world exposure, volunteering is one of the most legitimate paths when you are new. Salesforce has an official Trailhead trail called Volunteer Your Salesforce Expertise, and it is specifically about helping nonprofits and education organizations through pro bono Salesforce work. It also covers project scoping, sustainable solution design, deployment, and handoff, which is exactly the kind of experience beginners usually lack.  

For reference: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/trails/volunteer-your-salesforce-expertise

I would also actively plug into the community, not passively wait for opportunities. Join the Admin Trailblazer Community, local Trailblazer Community Groups, and mentorship spaces. Salesforce’s Admin Career Path links directly to the Admin community, and Salesforce’s learning programs also point beginners toward community and mentorship opportunities. 

Reference: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/career-path/admin

Don't worry, you will get there! I highly recommend reviewing the sections you didn't do as well on in the last takes of the exam (you usually get this breakdown after the exam), since it helps target any areas you might need more time on. Focus on developing a thorough understanding of the basics, but don't beat yourself up; the admin exam is intentionally broad! 

When taking the exam, I find it easier to focus on the question before looking at the options. Once I review the possible answers, I use a process of elimination, removing the ones I think are absolutely wrong, then choose from the remaining options. They can trip you up, so be careful. 

If you want practice sets of the exams, I highly recommend focus on force as well.  

Best of luck in your next take, you got this! 

Hi @Shweta D.

Salesforce Support should get back to you in a few days.

In the meantime, just double-check that your profile is fully filled out—things like address, phone, and name can sometimes cause issues if they’re missing.

I ran into something similar last year while registering for an exam on Safari, and switching to Chrome fixed it. You could also try logging out and back in again.