‎The Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I (CRT-450) certification validates fundamental skills in building custom applications on the Salesforce Platform using programmatic capabilities. This credential is intended for developers with knowledge of Apex, Visualforce, Lightning components, and declarative development tools who want to demonstrate their ability to extend Salesforce beyond standard functionality.

‎The exam assesses a candidate’s understanding of core programming concepts, object-oriented design, and the Salesforce data model. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in writing Apex classes and triggers, managing execution order, and handling exceptions. Knowledge of governor limits, SOQL and SOSL queries, and effective data handling is critical to building scalable and performant applications.

‎Another focus area is user interface development. Developers are expected to understand Visualforce fundamentals and have working knowledge of Lightning Web Components (LWC). They must be able to build responsive, reusable, and maintainable components that integrate seamlessly into Salesforce apps.

‎Candidates are also tested on declarative development features such as process automation, validation rules, and workflows. This ensures that developers can recommend when to use clicks versus code to meet business requirements. Familiarity with Salesforce security features, including sharing rules and field-level security, is also important.

‎The exam is multiple-choice and scenario-based, requiring candidates to apply knowledge to real-world use cases. Topics such as testing strategies, deployment practices, and application lifecycle management are included to ensure developers can build solutions that are not only functional but also maintainable and secure.

‎Achieving the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I credential establishes credibility as a developer capable of delivering customized Salesforce solutions. It serves as a foundation for more advanced certifications like Platform Developer II and is highly regarded by employers seeking skilled Salesforce developers.