Salesforce regularly updates its platform (typically three times a year in the Winter, Spring, and Summer releases), so certifications require ongoing maintenance to stay valid. Trailhead now handles all maintenance requirements through short online modules. These maintenance exams are free, open-book quizzes on Trailhead that you can complete to demonstrate you understand the latest platform changes. In fact, since 2018 Salesforce has moved certification maintenance into Trailhead: you now only need one maintenance module per certification per year. Completing these modules keeps your credentials active and ensures you stay up to date with Salesforce’s evolving features and best practices.

All professional-level Salesforce certifications follow this maintenance process. (The recent entry-level Associate certifications have no maintenance requirement. In general, every Salesforce credential that once required a proctored maintenance exam now has a Trailhead module so this guide applies to Admin, Dev, Consultant, Architect, Marketing Cloud, CPQ, and all other official Salesforce certifications. (Architect and Designer certifications are special: they share a combined maintenance module that covers multiple related certs, so you don’t have to do one per sub-specialty.

Salesforce Certifications Maintenance

Why Maintenance Matters?

Salesforce certifications aren’t “set and forget.” Each major release adds new features and deprecates older ones, so your certification must be updated to reflect that knowledge. Maintenance exams ensure your skills stay current and your certification stays valid. In other words, they protect the value of your credential as Salesforce changes. For example, if you earned a Salesforce Administrator or Developer certification, you must complete one maintenance module each year on Trailhead to incorporate the latest updates. If you skip these maintenance modules and let the deadline pass, your certification will expire. An expired certification is no longer active – you lose that credential until you retake the full exam and pay the exam fee again. In short, maintenance keeps you up to date (the “carrot”) and prevents certification expiration (the “stick”).

Salesforce’s move to Trailhead based maintenance has made this easier. Since the change:

  • One module per year: Instead of multiple WebAssessor exams, you do just one Trailhead module (quiz) per certification each year.
  • Free and open-book: These modules are free of charge (no $100 fee). They’re open-book, meaning you can use Salesforce docs and resources while you answer questions. In practice, you’ll read a short update module on Trailhead and then take a quiz using that content.
  • Trailhead badges available: Each maintenance exam comes as a Trailhead module (often with a badge reward). Salesforce even releases optional “low-code” and “code” versions of many exams to suit different skill tracks. Beyond the required exam, exploring these badges is a great way to deepen your knowledge.
  • Single Trailblazer profile: You manage all your certs (and see maintenance status) in one place – your Trailblazer.me profile. You must link your Trailhead account to Webassessor so Salesforce knows which certs you hold.

In short, Trailhead handles everything. New maintenance modules appear on Trailhead after each Salesforce release, you log in to Trailhead, find your module, and complete it. It’s streamlined and integrated with the learning platform you already use.

Which Certifications Need Maintenance?

This guide applies to essentially all Salesforce credentials that once required maintenance. Most professional Salesforce certifications require one maintenance challenge per year. The main exception is the newer Associate-level (entry-level) exams: Salesforce confirms that Associate certifications have no maintenance exams. Similarly, for 2024 all existing MuleSoft certs (now part of Salesforce’s program) were not forced to do any extra maintenance.

By contrast, if you hold an Administrator, Developer, Consultant, Architect, Marketing Cloud, CPQ Specialist, Einstein, Tableau, or any other standard Salesforce certification, you will see a maintenance requirement each year. For example, “Administrator” certs, Sales Cloud Consultant, Service Cloud Consultant, Platform Developer, Marketing Cloud Admin, etc., all require an annual update on Trailhead. (Salesforce Ben’s maintenance schedule is a useful reference: in 2024, Spring ’24 maintenance modules were due Apr 11, 2025 for Admin, CPQ, Marketing Cloud Email, B2C Commerce Dev, CRM Analytics, and a few others.

Special note on Architect/Designer paths: If you hold any Architect (or Designer) certifications, Salesforce provides combined maintenance modules. For example, the “Architect Maintenance Module” covers Data Architect, Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect, Identity and Access Management Architect, Integration Architect, and Sharing & Visibility Architect all at once. You complete one Architect-level update module rather than separate ones for each specialty.

How Trailhead Handles Maintenance Exams?

Every maintenance exam is delivered as a Trailhead module (or set of units) on the Salesforce Trailhead site. These modules walk you through the latest release highlights and then quiz you on them. Here’s how it works:

  • Link your accounts: First, make sure your Trailhead and Salesforce (Webassessor) accounts are connected. On Trailhead, go to your profile ⚙ Settings ➔ Connected Accounts, and link the email you use for Webassessor. Without this link, Trailhead cannot show your maintenance requirements. Once linked, you’ll see your active certifications on your Trailblazer.me profile.
  • Find your maintenance module: Visit Trailblazer.me and scroll to Certifications. For each cert, you’ll see a green “Active” or a red “Maintenance Due” icon. Click the certification name (or the icon) to jump to its Trailhead maintenance module. Alternatively, you can search on Trailhead for “Maintenance” plus your cert name (e.g. “Maintenance Administrator Summer ’25”). Salesforce also maintains a Certification Maintenance Schedule page that lists all modules and due dates.

Trailhead Handles Maintenance Exams

When you take a Trailhead maintenance exam, it’s an open-book quiz. You can use Salesforce help and your own notes while completing the module. The focus is on learning, not memorizing answers.

  • Complete the module: The maintenance module will guide you through what’s new in the current release (often Summer, Winter, etc.). It usually includes a short reading section or video, then a few multiple-choice questions, and sometimes a hands-on challenge. Think of it as a mini self-paced lesson. There is no extra cost or proctoring – it’s just like earning a Trailhead badge. Take your time to read the content carefully so you learn the new features.
  • Pass the exam: Since it’s open-book, you can use the Trailhead content itself (and other Salesforce documentation) while answering the questions. You’ll typically need a passing score (often 75%-80%) to earn the badge. If you don’t pass on your first try, you can usually retry the quiz. (Trailhead modules often allow multiple attempts; just make sure to review the material again between tries.)
  • Check your status: After completing the module, wait a short while and then refresh your Trailblazer.me profile. The red “Maintenance Due” icon should turn green to show your cert is Active again. The change can take up to a day to appear, so don’t panic if it doesn’t update instantly. You can also use Salesforce’s Certification Status Request feature to email yourself a report of which certs are up to date.

By following these steps, you maintain each cert via Trailhead. It really is straightforward: find the module for your cert, finish it, and confirm your status.

Release Cycle and Deadlines

Salesforce maintenance exams are tied to the three major Salesforce releases each year (Winter, Spring, Summer). New maintenance modules are typically published shortly after a release. For example, a Winter ’24 maintenance module might become available in early December 2023, and a Spring ’24 module in April 2024. Each maintenance “window” stays open for about a year. In practice, you usually have about 12 months from module release to complete maintenance.

Salesforce and Trailhead will notify you via email when a new cycle’s exams are available. You’ll also see the new modules on Trailhead and on your certification status list. The exact due dates vary by cert and release. For example, Salesforce Ben reports that the Spring ’24 maintenance was available April 18, 2024 and due by April 11, 2025. These dates can shift slightly each year, so always check the official Trailhead Certification Maintenance Schedule page or your Trailblazer profile for the latest deadlines. In short, plan to complete each year’s module well before its deadline – a good rule is to finish each at least a few months early.

Step-by-Step: Taking Your Maintenance Exam

Here’s a concise how-to:

  1. Log in to Trailhead: Go to Trailblazer and sign in with your Trailhead account. Ensure it’s linked to your Webassessor (Salesforce) account.
  2. Locate your module: Under your profile’s Certifications section, click the certification that’s marked with “Maintenance Due” (red icon).  This will open the Trailhead module for that cert’s maintenance. If you prefer, you can also search Trailhead for “Maintain YourCert (Season ’YY)”. Salesforce often publishes each cert’s module with a title like “Maintain Your [Cert Name] Certification (summer ’25)”.
  3. Take the module: Read through the “What’s New” content and complete any interactive challenges. Then take the short exam questions at the end of the module. Remember, it’s open-book: you may use the content you just read and other resources to answer the questions. Aim to pass (most modules require a high passing score, such as 80%). If you don’t succeed on the first attempt, review the material and try again.
  4. Verify your completion: Once finished, you should immediately earn the Trailhead badge for that maintenance. Then check your Trailblazer profile (it may take up to 1 business day) to see your cert status flip to Active. You’ll also get email confirmation that the maintenance is complete. If for some reason your status doesn’t update, contact Salesforce Support or use the “Certification Status Request” email feature to verify your certification list.

By following these steps for each of your certifications, you’ll meet all maintenance requirements.

Consequences of Missing a Maintenance Deadline

It’s crucial to meet maintenance deadlines. If you miss the deadline for a maintenance module, Salesforce will mark your certification as inactive or expired. This has serious consequences: an expired certification is essentially lost. To regain it, you must retake the full proctored certification exam (the one you originally passed) and pay the exam fee again. In other words, if you let a certification lapse, you “lose” the credential and have to start over as if you never earned it.

For context, a Salesforce certification exam fee is typically $200-$400, plus any retake fees. So skipping one maintenance module can become expensive in terms of lost time and money. It can also impact your career or current role if an employer expects your cert to remain valid. As Salesforce Ben warns: “Failing to complete the necessary maintenance modules by the deadlines will result in your certifications expiring (gasp!)”

Bottom line: Don’t risk it. Keep an eye on deadlines and do maintenance on time to avoid having to re-certify from scratch.

Tips for Staying Organized

Tips for Staying Organized

Keeping up with multiple certifications can be challenging, so here are some student-friendly tips:

  • Use calendar reminders: As soon as you pass a certification, block out that time of year for maintenance each year. Mark your calendar (or a task app) for the maintenance deadline (roughly 12 months from the release following your exam). For example, if you passed Admin in Spring 2023, expect a Spring 2024 maintenance module around April 2024 and a deadline in April 2025. Setting repeating reminders will alert you well before it’s due.
  • Check Trailhead regularly: Make it a habit to glance at your Trailblazer.me profile or the Trailhead maintenance schedule page every few months. Trailhead will flag any due maintenance with a red icon. This way you won’t be caught off-guard when a new release happens.
  • Subscribe to notifications: In your Trailhead Settings, enable email notifications for certification updates. Salesforce sends clear emails when new maintenance modules are available and when deadlines approach.
  • Tackle it early: Don’t wait until the last week! Once a maintenance module appears on Trailhead, you can do it any time before the deadline. Finishing it early avoids last-minute stress. If you can, set aside 15–30 minutes when the release notes are fresh.
  • Keep learning materials handy: Bookmark the Salesforce release notes or Trailhead release highlights trail. Since maintenance is open-book, having the release documentation easily accessible can make the quiz smoother.

By staying proactive (alerts, calendars, routine checks), you’ll maintain all your certifications without the crunch. Remember: “set reminders” and “regularly check Trailhead” are simple habits that make all the difference.

FAQ: Common Certification Maintenance Questions

Do I need to retake my entire certification exam?
No – you only need to complete the Trailhead maintenance module. The full exam is only required if you let your certification expire (i.e. miss the maintenance deadline). As long as you do the annual maintenance on time, you keep your original certification intact.

Is there a cost to do maintenance?
No. Maintenance modules on Trailhead are completely free. Salesforce eliminated the old $100 fee; now you can update each cert at no charge. (By contrast, if you have to retake the full certification exam, that costs the standard exam fee, usually a few hundred dollars.

How often do maintenance exams come out?
Salesforce issues maintenance modules after each major release (Winter, Spring, and Summer). In practice, you can expect about three maintenance “waves” per year. The module for a given cert is usually available soon after the release notes (for example, within a few weeks of Winter ’25). You then have until roughly the same time next year to finish it.

What happens if I miss the deadline?
If you don’t finish a maintenance module by the deadline, your certification will expire. In that case, the only way to restore it is to retake the full certification exam and pay the exam fee again. So missing maintenance essentially forces you to recertify from scratch. It’s a hassle and can be costly, so it’s best to avoid that by staying on top of deadlines.

How do I check if my certification is up-to-date?
Go to your Trailblazer profile (after logging into Trailhead). Under “Certifications,” each cert will show an “Active” or “Maintenance Due” status. Active (green) means no pending maintenance; Maintenance Due (red) means you need to complete this year’s module. You can also email Salesforce using the “Certification Status Request” form, which will send you a list of all your certs and whether they’re current.

These answers should help demystify the process. Remember, maintenance is just one short Trailhead module per year, and its well worth doing to keep your hard-earned certifications valid. Stay proactive, finish those Trailhead modules on time, and enjoy the peace of mind that your Salesforce certifications remain current!