Top 10 Sales Administrator Certifications

Certifications are essential for a sales administrator in the job market because they demonstrate a level of knowledge, skill and expertise that employers value. They can also help to differentiate you from other applicants and give you an edge over the competition. Certifications show prospective employers that you have invested time and resources into learning more about your profession and have taken steps to stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices. They also provide proof of your commitment to professional development, which is highly valued by employers.

The purpose of the article is to review top certifications for Sales Administrators and explain how they can help to further a sales administrator's career.

What are Sales Administrator Certifications?

Sales Administrator Certification is a professional certification program designed to equip sales administrators with the knowledge and skills needed to manage sales operations effectively. It provides an in-depth understanding of effective sales management processes, including customer relations, order processing, territory management, lead tracking, data analysis, forecasting, budgeting and reporting. The certification also covers topics such as product knowledge, communication and negotiation strategies, market research and digital marketing.

The certification can help sales administrators become more effective in their roles by providing them with the tools and skills they need to succeed. With the certification, they can develop their knowledge of the sales process from start to finish and be better equipped to identify opportunities for improvement. They will also gain a better understanding of how technology can be used to streamline sales operations. Additionally, having a Sales Administrator Certification may give them an edge over other candidates when applying for jobs or promotions within their organization.

Pro Tip: When considering a sales administrator certification, make sure to research the program thoroughly. Look for programs that are recognized by industry experts and have a track record of producing successful graduates. Additionally, consider if the program offers any additional resources to help you stay up-to-date on current trends and best practices in the field.

Related: What does a Sales Administrator do?

Top 10 Sales Administrator Certifications

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

1. Certified Sales Administrator (CSA)

A Certified Sales Administrator (CSA) is a certification program that recognizes sales professionals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in their field. It is designed to help sales professionals develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in today’s competitive market.

The CSA certification program consists of two components: a written exam and an online course. To become certified, you must successfully complete both components. The written exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as customer service, sales strategies, product knowledge, and industry trends. The online course covers topics such as marketing, customer service, and sales techniques.

It typically takes between six months to one year to complete the CSA certification program. During this time, you will need to study for the written exam and complete the online course. You can find study materials for both components on the CSA website or through other sources such as books or websites dedicated to sales training.

The cost of obtaining your CSA certification varies depending on which provider you choose and where you take your tests and courses from. Generally speaking, it can range anywhere from $500-$2,000 USD for all required materials and testing fees combined.

Overall, becoming a Certified Sales Administrator (CSA) is an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise in the field of sales and give yourself an edge over other job applicants or potential customers.

2. Certified Professional in Sales Management (CPSM)

Certified Professional in Sales Management (CPSM) is a professional certification program offered by the Institute for Professionals in Sales and Marketing (IPSM). It is designed to recognize sales professionals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in sales management. The certification requires candidates to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities related to sales management. This includes topics such as strategy development, customer relationship management, sales process optimization, sales team leadership, and analytics.

It typically takes 12-18 months to complete the CPSM program. Candidates must first complete an online application and submit their resume and transcripts. After that, they must pass three exams: Foundations of Professional Selling; Professional Selling Strategies; and Professional Selling Applications. Once all three exams are passed, candidates will receive their CPSM certification.

The cost of the CPSM program varies depending on the provider but typically ranges from $1,500 - $2,500 USD for all materials including books, study guides, practice tests, and exam fees.

3. Certified Salesforce Administrator (CSA)

A Certified Salesforce Administrator (CSA) is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and skills in administering the Salesforce platform. This certification validates an individual’s ability to configure, manage, and maintain a Salesforce organization.

The CSA exam typically takes around two hours to complete and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. In order to pass the exam, individuals must score at least 65% or higher. The exam covers topics such as user management, security and access, data management, automation processes, custom objects and fields, reports and dashboards, mobile administration, AppExchange apps and more.

In order to become a Certified Salesforce Administrator (CSA), individuals must first register for the exam through the Salesforce website. The cost of the exam is $200 USD. After registering for the exam, individuals should prepare by studying materials related to the topics covered on the exam. Once they feel ready to take the test, individuals can schedule their exams at a testing center near them or take it online from home using a webcam proctoring service.

Once an individual passes their CSA exam they will receive their official certification badge which can be added to their resume or LinkedIn profile as well as other job applications. This certification will demonstrate that they have obtained a specialized skill set in administering Salesforce organizations which can help them stand out from other candidates when applying for jobs or promotions within their current organization.

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales Administrator Certification

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales Administrator Certification is an official certification program offered by Microsoft that demonstrates a person's expertise in the administration of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales. This certification validates a person’s ability to configure, manage, and maintain the customer relationship management (CRM) software.

The certification exam consists of 40-60 multiple choice questions and takes about 2 hours to complete. To earn the certification, you must pass one exam: MB-200T00: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Core. The cost of this exam is $165 USD.

To get certified, you must first register for the exam and then prepare for it using study materials such as books, online courses, practice tests and other resources available from Microsoft or third parties. After passing the exam, you will receive your certification from Microsoft.

5. Oracle E-Business Suite 12 Sales Administrator Certification

Oracle E-Business Suite 12 Sales Administrator Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s proficiency in the use of Oracle E-Business Suite 12 Sales Administration. It is designed for professionals who are responsible for managing and administering the sales process within an organization.

The certification exam covers topics such as product setup, pricing, order management, customer setup, and sales analysis. The exam also tests the candidate’s understanding of sales cycle processes and their ability to configure and customize Oracle E-Business Suite 12 Sales Administration.

The certification exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete and consists of 60 multiple choice questions. Candidates must achieve a score of 70% or higher in order to pass the exam.

In order to get certified, candidates must first purchase an Oracle E-Business Suite 12 Sales Administrator Certification Exam voucher from Oracle University. The cost of the voucher is $245 USD (as of 2021). After purchasing the voucher, candidates can register for the exam at Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.

Once a candidate has passed the certification exam, they will receive an official certificate from Oracle that verifies their achievement.

6. SAP Certified Application Associate - Sales and Distribution (SD)

SAP Certified Application Associate - Sales and Distribution (SD) is a certification program designed to prove a candidate’s knowledge of the fundamentals of SAP's Sales and Distribution (SD) module. The certification covers topics such as sales order management, pricing, delivery, billing processes, and customer service.

It typically takes around 30 hours of study time to prepare for the exam. Candidates can use online courses, instructor-led training courses, or self-study materials to prepare for the exam.

The exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 180 minutes. It costs $550 USD to take the exam. To get certified, candidates must pass with a minimum score of 65%.

7. IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Sales & Distribution V8.0

IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Sales & Distribution V8.0 is a certification program designed to help professionals demonstrate their expertise in the IBM Maximo Asset Management Suite of products. This certification validates a professional’s ability to configure, implement and maintain the Maximo Sales & Distribution module.

To get this certification, you must first complete an online course which takes approximately 10 hours to complete. After completing the course, you must then pass a proctored exam with a minimum score of 70%. The exam consists of 65 multiple choice questions and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete.

The cost for the course and exam is $700 USD.

8. Oracle Siebel CRM 8 Sales Administrator Certification

Oracle Siebel CRM 8 Sales Administrator Certification is an Oracle certification program that validates a candidate’s skills and knowledge in the area of Siebel CRM 8 Sales Administration. The certification is designed to help individuals demonstrate their proficiency in the areas of sales order management, customer service, product configuration, pricing and promotions, and more.

The certification exam typically takes about two hours to complete. Candidates must have a minimum of three years of experience with Siebel CRM 8 Sales Administration before they can take the exam. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as installation, configuration and administration; data modeling; workflow; security; reporting; and integration.

To obtain the Oracle Siebel CRM 8 Sales Administrator Certification, candidates must pass the corresponding exam with a score of at least 65%. The cost for taking the exam varies depending on location but generally ranges from $125 to $250 USD.

9. Oracle Fusion CRM 11g Sales Administrator Certification

Oracle Fusion CRM 11g Sales Administrator Certification is a professional certification program designed to validate the skills and knowledge of sales administrators who use Oracle Fusion CRM 11g. This certification is designed to demonstrate the individual’s ability to configure, manage, and maintain Oracle Fusion CRM 11g.

The Oracle Fusion CRM 11g Sales Administrator Certification exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. To earn this certification, you must pass the exam with a score of at least 70%.

To get certified as an Oracle Fusion CRM 11g Sales Administrator, you must first register for the exam through the Oracle University website. The cost for the exam is $245 USD. Once registered, you can take the exam at any Pearson VUE testing center worldwide.

In order to prepare for the exam, it is recommended that you take an official training course from Oracle University or attend self-study courses offered by third-party providers. Additionally, there are several practice exams available online that can help you prepare for the real thing.

10. CompTIA A+ Certification

CompTIA A+ certification is an industry-recognized credential that validates the knowledge and skills of IT professionals. It is a vendor-neutral certification that covers a wide range of topics, including hardware, software, networking, security, troubleshooting and customer service.

It typically takes about three to six months to prepare for the CompTIA A+ exam. To get certified, you must pass two exams: Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002). The cost of these exams varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $200 to $300 USD.

To get started with the CompTIA A+ certification process, you will need to create an account on the CompTIA website. Once you have done this, you can purchase vouchers for each exam and schedule your tests at a Pearson VUE testing center near you. You will also need to pay any applicable taxes or fees associated with taking the exams.

Once you have passed both exams, you will be awarded the CompTIA A+ certification which is valid for three years. After this time period has elapsed, you will need to retake the exams in order to maintain your certification status.

Do You Really Need a Sales Administrator Certificate?

Whether or not you need a sales administrator certificate depends on your individual goals and the requirements of the job you're seeking. In some cases, having a certificate may be necessary in order to qualify for a position, while in other cases it may be beneficial but not essential.

If you want to work in sales administration but don't have any prior experience, a sales administrator certificate could provide the knowledge and skills necessary to land the job. A good program will teach you how to use various tools and software programs, understand customer needs and preferences, and develop relationships with clients. It can also help you learn how to create effective marketing plans and develop strategies for increasing sales.

On the other hand, if you already have experience in sales administration or are currently employed in this field, a certificate may not be necessary. Employers are often more interested in seeing that someone has relevant experience than they are in whether or not they have a formal certification. However, if your goal is to move up within your organization or apply for higher-level positions at other companies, obtaining a certification could be valuable as it demonstrates that you have taken extra steps to improve your knowledge and skillset.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if getting a sales administrator certificate is worth the effort and expense. If it is something that will help take your career further or give you an edge over other applicants for jobs, then it may be worthwhile.

Related: Sales Administrator Resume Examples

FAQs About Sales Administrator Certifications

Q1. What is a Sales Administrator Certification?

A1. A Sales Administrator Certification is a professional credential that demonstrates an individual’s ability to effectively manage sales operations, including customer service, sales data analysis and reporting, order fulfillment, and more.

Q2. What are the benefits of having a Sales Administrator Certification?

A2. Benefits of having a Sales Administrator Certification include increased job security, improved career prospects, higher pay scales, greater credibility among colleagues and customers, and better access to resources for developing skills in the field.

Q3. Who should pursue a Sales Administrator Certification?

A3. Professionals who work in sales administration or related roles such as customer service managers or order fulfillment coordinators should consider pursuing a certification to demonstrate their abilities and knowledge in this field.

Q4. How long does it take to earn a Sales Administrator Certification?

A4. The length of time required to obtain a Sales Administrator Certification varies depending on the provider; however, most programs require between 6 months and 1 year of study before passing the final exam.

Q5. Are there prerequisites for obtaining a Sales Administration Certification?

A5: Generally speaking, most providers require applicants to have at least 2 years of experience in sales administration or related fields before applying for certification. Additionally, some providers may require applicants to hold certain other certifications or complete specific courses prior to being eligible for their program.