Top 11 CRM Administrator Certifications

Certifications are an important tool for a CRM Administrator to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the job market. With certifications, employers can easily recognize the skills and qualifications of a candidate, as well as verify their experience level with specific software or technologies. A certification also shows that the candidate is willing to take initiative and go beyond basic job requirements to increase their employability. Certifications also provide employers with assurance that the candidate has the necessary skillset to effectively manage customer relationships, understand customer needs, and implement successful strategies.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the best certifications for CRM Administrators and how they can help advance a CRM Administrator's career.

What are CRM Administrator Certifications?

CRM Administrator Certification is a type of certification that focuses on the understanding and implementation of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. It provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage CRM systems and ensure their successful deployment. The certification also helps to ensure that individuals are up-to-date with the latest developments in CRM technology, trends, and best practices.

The benefits of obtaining a CRM Administrator Certification include improved job prospects, increased credibility in the workplace, greater confidence when dealing with customers, and better communication between departments within an organization. With this certification, professionals will have a better understanding of how to maximize the potential of their CRM system by creating more efficient processes for customer relations management. Additionally, it can help organizations save time and money by providing them with an effective way to track customer data and develop stronger relationships with customers. This certification can also be used as a tool for employees to demonstrate their commitment to professional development and staying current with industry standards.

Pro Tip: When considering a CRM Administrator Certification, make sure to research the prerequisites and requirements for each program you are considering. This will help you understand what knowledge and skills you need to have before taking the certification exam, as well as how long it will take to complete all of the necessary coursework.

Related: What does a CRM Administrator do?

Top 11 CRM Administrator Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to CRM Administrators today.

1. Salesforce Certified Administrator

Salesforce Certified Administrator is a certification program offered by Salesforce.com to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills to successfully administer and configure Salesforce applications. This certification is designed for individuals with experience in administering Salesforce applications and provides a way for them to demonstrate their expertise.

It typically takes about 6 months of studying and hands-on experience to prepare for the exam. The best way to get ready is to take an official training course from Salesforce, such as the Administrator Certification Course or the Advanced Administrator Certification Course. These courses provide comprehensive instruction on how to use and configure Salesforce applications.

The exam itself costs $200 USD, although there may be discounts available if you are part of a company that has purchased licenses for its employees. The exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions and must be completed within 90 minutes. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your official Salesforce Certified Administrator credential, which can be used as proof of your expertise in administering Salesforce applications.

2. Oracle Sales Cloud Certified Implementation Specialist

Oracle Sales Cloud Certified Implementation Specialist is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in implementing Oracle Sales Cloud solutions. It is designed to help professionals demonstrate their skills in the areas of sales force automation, customer relationship management, and analytics.

The Oracle Sales Cloud Certified Implementation Specialist (OCS-CIS) exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. The exam covers topics such as:

• Configuring Oracle Sales Cloud
• Managing users, roles, and profiles
• Creating dashboards and reports
• Integrating with other applications
• Working with data sources
• Developing customizations
• Troubleshooting and performance tuning
• Implementing security features
• Deploying Oracle Sales Cloud solutions

To become an Oracle Sales Cloud Certified Implementation Specialist, you must first pass the OCS-CIS exam. You can register for the exam on the Oracle website or through a Pearson VUE testing center. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges between $200-$400 USD. After passing the exam, you will receive a digital badge that you can use to demonstrate your certification status.

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement Core Solutions Certification

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement Core Solutions Certification is a certification program that validates an individual’s ability to configure, deploy, and manage Microsoft Dynamics 365. The certification focuses on the core features of the Dynamics 365 platform such as customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP).

The certification requires passing two exams: MB2-715 and MB2-716. The MB2-715 exam covers topics related to configuring, deploying, and managing Dynamics 365 applications while the MB2-716 exam focuses on customizing entities, fields, forms, views, dashboards, and reports. Both exams must be passed in order to receive the certification.

In terms of time commitment, it typically takes 6-8 weeks to study for both exams. It is recommended that individuals have at least one year of experience working with Microsoft Dynamics 365 prior to taking the exams.

The cost of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement Core Solutions Certification varies depending on where you take the exams. Generally speaking, each exam costs about $165 USD.

To get started with studying for the certification exams, individuals can access resources such as online tutorials and practice tests from Microsoft Learning Partners or from third-party vendors such as ExamCollection or PrepAway. Additionally, individuals can find study guides and other materials on websites like Amazon or eBay.

4. SAP Certified Application Associate - CRM Fundamentals with SAP C/4HANA

SAP Certified Application Associate - CRM Fundamentals with SAP C/4HANA is a certification program that validates an individual's skills and knowledge of the SAP C/4HANA suite of customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. The certification demonstrates an individual's ability to configure, deploy, and manage solutions using the SAP C/4HANA suite of products.

The certification exam takes about two hours to complete and consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. To be eligible for the exam, applicants must have at least six months of experience working with SAP C/4HANA or related software solutions.

To get the certification, applicants must register for the exam through the SAP Learning Hub and pay the associated fee. The cost of the exam varies depending on your country but typically ranges from $500 to $700 USD. After successfully passing the exam, you will receive your certificate in approximately four weeks.

5. SugarCRM Certified Administrator

SugarCRM Certified Administrator is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively administer SugarCRM. The certification program is based on the latest version of SugarCRM and covers topics such as system administration, user management, customization, security, reporting, and integration.

To become a SugarCRM Certified Administrator, you must pass an online exam that consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. The cost of the exam is $200 USD.

In order to take the exam, you must first register for an account at the SugarCRM Certification website. Once registered, you can purchase the exam and schedule your test date. After passing the exam, you will receive your official certificate and be listed in the SugarCRM Certified Administrators directory.

6. Zoho CRM Plus Administrator Certification

Zoho CRM Plus Administrator Certification is a certification program from Zoho that validates an individual’s knowledge and expertise in configuring and managing the Zoho CRM Plus platform. It is designed to help professionals demonstrate their skills and abilities to employers, partners, and customers.

The certification exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as user management, data management, automation, customization, reporting, and more. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.

To get the certification, individuals must pass the exam with a score of 65% or higher. The cost of the exam is $99 USD per attempt.

7. Infor CRM Certified Professional

Infor CRM Certified Professional is a certification program offered by Infor, an enterprise software company. This certification is designed to validate the skills and knowledge of professionals who work with Infor CRM (formerly known as SalesLogix) software.

The Infor CRM Certified Professional program consists of two exams: one on the fundamentals of Infor CRM, and one on advanced topics. The fundamentals exam covers topics such as system architecture, data management, user interface customization, integration with other systems, and more. The advanced exam focuses on areas such as customizing reports and dashboards, creating complex queries and scripts, using workflow tools to automate processes, and troubleshooting common problems.

The exams are administered online through Pearson VUE testing centers. It typically takes 3-4 hours to complete each exam. Candidates must achieve a passing score in order to become certified.

The cost for the certification program varies depending on the number of exams taken. For both exams it typically costs between $200-$400 USD.

To maintain certification status, professionals must renew their credentials every two years by taking an additional exam or completing certain training courses offered by Infor.

8. HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified Professional

HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified Professional is a certification program designed to help professionals gain the knowledge and skills needed to become successful inbound marketers. The certification is designed to provide an understanding of how to use HubSpot’s marketing tools, such as its email automation, content management system, and analytics platform, to create effective inbound marketing campaigns.

The certification consists of two parts: an online course and a proctored exam. The online course takes approximately 10 hours to complete and covers topics such as creating buyer personas, developing content strategies, optimizing websites for search engine optimization (SEO), using social media for marketing purposes, and analyzing performance data. The proctored exam is taken after the completion of the online course and tests your knowledge on the topics covered in the course.

To get certified as a HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified Professional you must first sign up for the program through HubSpot Academy. After signing up, you will be able to access all of the materials necessary for completing the course and taking the exam. Once you have completed both parts of the program successfully, you will receive your certificate from HubSpot Academy.

The cost of becoming a HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified Professional varies depending on which package you choose. The basic package costs $199 USD while the premium package costs $499 USD. Both packages include access to all of the materials needed for completing the course and taking the exam as well as one year of access to HubSpot Academy's resources.

9. Act-On Software Certified Professional

Act-On Software Certified Professional is a certification program designed to help professionals demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the use of Act-On’s marketing automation platform. This certification is designed to recognize those who have achieved a level of proficiency in using Act-On’s tools and features, as well as an understanding of how they can be applied to real-world marketing scenarios.

To obtain the Act-On Software Certified Professional certification, individuals must pass a two-part exam. The first part consists of multiple choice questions that test the candidate’s knowledge of the platform and its capabilities. The second part consists of practical application exercises that require the candidate to use Act-On’s tools and features to complete tasks related to setting up campaigns, creating content, segmenting audiences, and reporting on results.

The exam typically takes about 2 hours to complete, although this may vary depending on individual performance. To prepare for the exam, candidates are encouraged to review the official Act-On Certification Guide which provides an overview of key concepts and best practices for using the platform.

The cost for taking the exam is $150 USD per attempt. Once an individual has successfully passed both parts of the exam, they will receive their official certificate from Act-On Software.

10. Freshworks Admin Certification

Freshworks Admin Certification is an online certification program designed to help Freshworks administrators gain a better understanding of the platform and its features. The certification covers topics such as setup, configuration, customization, integration, security, and support. It also includes an assessment that verifies your knowledge and understanding of the platform.

The Freshworks Admin Certification takes approximately 4-6 hours to complete. To get certified you must first register for the program by providing your contact information and selecting the type of certification you would like to pursue (Admin or Support). Once registered, you will receive access to the course material which includes video tutorials and hands-on exercises. After completing all of the course material, you can take the assessment which consists of multiple choice questions about Freshworks.

The cost for Freshworks Admin Certification is $99 USD per person.

11. Insightly Advanced Administrator Certification

Insightly Advanced Administrator Certification is a professional certification program that validates an individual’s expertise in the use of Insightly, a popular customer relationship management (CRM) platform. The certification program is designed to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively manage and configure Insightly for their organization.

The certification exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. To qualify for the exam, applicants must have at least 6 months of experience using Insightly and demonstrate proficiency in the following areas: user setup, custom fields, data import/export, automation rules, reports & dashboards, API integration, security settings, and system administration.

To obtain the certification, applicants must pass the exam with a score of 80% or higher. The cost of taking the exam is $250 USD. Upon successful completion of the exam, participants will receive an official certificate from Insightly acknowledging their achievement as an Advanced Administrator.

Do You Really Need a CRM Administrator Certificate?

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) administrators are in high demand as businesses continue to expand their customer service and sales operations. A CRM administrator certificate can be beneficial to those looking to get into this field, but it is not necessary.

For starters, having a CRM administrator certificate is not a requirement for most jobs in the industry. Many employers prefer to hire candidates with experience in customer service or sales, rather than those with a formal education. That being said, having an understanding of how CRM systems work and how they can help improve customer relationships is invaluable.

Having a CRM administrator certification may also give you an edge over other job applicants when applying for positions. Having the knowledge and skills that come with such a certification can demonstrate your dedication to the field, as well as highlight your experience in working with CRM systems. Furthermore, many employers look favorably upon candidates who have taken the time to learn about the technology and understand its implications on the business world.

At the same time, there are many ways to gain knowledge of CRM systems without obtaining a certification. There are numerous online courses available that provide comprehensive instruction on how to use various platforms and software packages related to customer relationship management. Additionally, there are books and other resources available that offer detailed information on how these systems work and how they can be used effectively within an organization.

Overall, getting a CRM administrator certificate may be beneficial for those looking to enter this field; however, it is not essential for success in this type of position. Those who already have some experience in customer service or sales may find that they don’t need any additional training or certifications beyond what they already possess - especially if they have kept up with advancements in technology related to CRM systems.

Related: CRM Administrator Resume Examples

FAQs About CRM Administrator Certifications

Q1. What is a CRM Administrator Certification?

A1. A CRM Administrator Certification is a credential that demonstrates proficiency in managing customer relationship management (CRM) software and systems, such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or HubSpot.

Q2. What are the benefits of becoming a certified CRM Administrator?

A2. Becoming a certified CRM Administrator can help you demonstrate your knowledge and skills to employers, increase your job prospects, and qualify for higher salaries. It can also help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry and gain access to exclusive resources and support from vendors like Salesforce and Microsoft.

Q3. How do I become a certified CRM Administrator?

A3. To become a certified CRM Administrator, you must pass one or more exams offered by the vendor of the system that you want to manage (e.g., Salesforce Certified Administrator exam). You may also need to complete additional training courses or pass other requirements depending on the specific certification program.

Q4. How long does it take to get certified?

A4. The amount of time it takes to get certified depends on your existing experience with the software and how much studying you do for the exams. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to complete all of the necessary steps for certification.

Q5. Are there any prerequisites for becoming a certified CRM Administrator?

A5: Yes, most certification programs require some level of experience working with the system before taking an exam (e.g., at least 6 months of hands-on experience). Additionally, some programs may require that you have completed certain training courses or workshops prior to taking an exam as well.