Top 11 Sales Specialist Certifications

Certifications for sales specialists are important for several reasons. First, they demonstrate a level of expertise in the area of sales, which is beneficial when competing for jobs. They also provide potential employers with an understanding of the individual’s qualifications and capabilities. Finally, certifications can open up opportunities to work with larger companies or organizations that require specific credentials. In addition, they can increase career prospects by providing access to professional networks and resources that may not be available to those without certifications.

The purpose of this article is to review top certifications for Sales Specialists and explain how they can help advance their career.

What are Sales Specialist Certifications?

Sales specialist certification is a type of professional certification that provides training and education in the sales field. It can be useful for anyone looking to improve their knowledge and skills in this area.

The certification focuses on topics such as customer service, product knowledge, sales strategies, negotiation tactics, and more. By completing the certification program, individuals will gain a better understanding of the sales process and how to effectively close deals. Additionally, they will learn how to develop relationships with customers and use technology to increase their chances of success.

Having a sales specialist certification can also help individuals stand out from other job applicants and make them more competitive in the job market. Companies are always looking for candidates who have experience and knowledge in sales so having this type of certification can give you an edge over those without it. Furthermore, the certificate may provide access to higher-level positions or increased salary potential.

Overall, sales specialist certification can be a great way for individuals to gain new skills that will help them succeed in their current role or advance their career. With the right training and education, anyone can become an effective salesperson and make a positive impact on their organization.

Pro Tip: When considering a sales specialist certification, make sure to research the program thoroughly and look for courses that focus on current industry trends and best practices. Additionally, look for certifications that offer continuing education opportunities so that you can stay up to date with any changes in the field.

Related: What does a Sales Specialist do?

Top 11 Sales Specialist Certifications

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

1. Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant

Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant is a certification that validates an individual’s ability to design, configure, and implement Salesforce solutions for sales organizations. It demonstrates the knowledge and skills needed to develop a successful Sales Cloud implementation and manage the ongoing maintenance of the system.

It usually takes around 6-8 months to study for and pass the exam, depending on your background and experience with Salesforce. To get certified, you must pass the Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant exam, which is administered by Pearson VUE. The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as sales process automation, lead management, reporting & analytics, security & access control, data management & integration, and more.

The cost of the exam varies from country to country but typically ranges from $200-$400 USD.

2. Oracle Sales Cloud Certified Implementation Specialist

Oracle Sales Cloud Certified Implementation Specialist is a certification program designed to recognize professionals who have demonstrated their ability to successfully implement Oracle Sales Cloud. The certification is offered by Oracle and is valid for two years.

To become an Oracle Sales Cloud Certified Implementation Specialist, you must pass the Oracle Sales Cloud Implementation Exam. The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. It covers topics such as product configuration, data migration, user setup, integration, reporting, analytics, and security.

The exam fee for the Oracle Sales Cloud Implementation Exam is $245 USD. It can be taken at any authorized testing center or online through Pearson VUE.

Once you have passed the exam and received your certification, you will be able to demonstrate your expertise in implementing Oracle Sales Cloud solutions and provide value to customers as an implementation specialist.

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Professional

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Professional is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) solution that helps sales teams improve customer relationships, boost sales productivity, and increase revenue. It provides easy-to-use tools for managing leads, contacts, accounts, opportunities, activities, and more. It also integrates with other Microsoft products like Office 365 and Outlook to streamline workflows.

It takes just minutes to get started with Dynamics 365 Sales Professional. All you need to do is sign up for an account on the Microsoft website and follow the steps to set up your account. You can then start using the software immediately.

The cost of Dynamics 365 Sales Professional depends on the number of users you have in your organization. The pricing starts at $65 per user per month for up to 5 users, and increases as you add more users. There are also discounts available for larger organizations or those who purchase an annual subscription.

4. SAP Certified Application Associate - Sales & Distribution

SAP Certified Application Associate - Sales & Distribution is a certification that validates the knowledge and skills of individuals in SAP’s Sales & Distribution (SD) module. This certification demonstrates that an individual has a comprehensive understanding of the SD module and its application in various business scenarios.

The certification exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions and takes about 180 minutes to complete. To get certified, you must pass the exam with a minimum score of 65%. The cost for the exam varies depending on your location, but typically ranges from $500 to $700 USD.

To prepare for the exam, it is recommended that you have at least three years of experience working with SAP SD or have completed an SAP training course related to SD. Additionally, there are many online resources available to help you study for the exam such as practice tests, study guides, and tutorials.

5. HubSpot Inbound Sales Certification

HubSpot Inbound Sales Certification is a certification program that provides sales professionals with the skills and knowledge to effectively apply inbound sales principles. It is designed to help sales teams increase lead conversion, close more deals, and build relationships with customers.

The certification consists of two parts: the online course and an online exam. The online course takes approximately 4-5 hours to complete, while the exam takes another 45 minutes. The course covers topics such as creating buyer personas, developing effective content strategies, understanding customer journeys, and using HubSpot's tools for inbound sales success.

To get certified, you must first purchase the Inbound Sales Certification Course from HubSpot Academy. This costs $99 USD per person. Once you have completed the course, you can take the exam at any time by logging into your account on HubSpot Academy. You will need to score at least 80% on the exam in order to receive your certification.

Once you have passed the exam, you will be issued a digital badge that can be displayed on your website or other digital platforms as proof of your certification status. You will also receive a certificate of completion that can be used for professional development purposes or as part of job applications.

6. Zendesk Sell Certification

Zendesk Sell Certification is a program designed to help sales professionals become more effective and successful in their roles. The certification program consists of four courses that cover topics such as customer service, sales process, selling techniques, and product knowledge. Each course includes an exam that must be passed in order to receive the certification.

The certification program takes approximately 10 hours to complete, depending on the individual’s learning style and pace. To get the certification, individuals need to register for the course online and pay a one-time fee of $99 USD. Once registered, they will have access to all four courses and can work through them at their own pace. Upon completion of all four courses, individuals will receive an official Zendesk Sell Certification badge which they can use to demonstrate their expertise in the field.

7. Google Ads Search Advertising Exam

Google Ads Search Advertising Exam is an online exam that tests your knowledge of Google Ads. It covers topics such as campaign structure, targeting, optimization, and reporting. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and takes about two hours to complete. To get certified, you must score 80% or higher on the exam.

The cost of taking the exam varies depending on where you take it. In the United States, it costs $50 USD to take the exam at a testing center or $100 USD if taken online through Google's Certification Platform. The fee includes access to study materials and practice exams.

To get started with the exam, you need to create a Google Ads account and sign up for the certification program. Once registered, you can access study materials and practice exams that are available in various languages. After studying for the exam, you can schedule an appointment at a testing center or take it online through Google's Certification Platform.

Once you have completed the exam successfully, you will receive a certificate from Google that verifies your knowledge of Google Ads Search Advertising Exam and allows your profile to be featured in their Certified Professionals directory.

8. LinkedIn Sales Solutions Certification

LinkedIn Sales Solutions Certification is a professional certification program designed to help sales professionals increase their knowledge and skills in leveraging LinkedIn’s sales solutions. The certification is offered by LinkedIn Learning, a division of LinkedIn, and consists of two courses: “Sales Navigator Foundations” and “Advanced Selling with LinkedIn Sales Solutions.”

The Sales Navigator Foundations course covers the basics of using the platform to find leads, build relationships, and close deals. It takes approximately four hours to complete. The Advanced Selling with LinkedIn Sales Solutions course dives deeper into the platform’s features for researching prospects, creating content to engage them, and measuring success. This course takes approximately six hours to complete.

To get certified, you must pass both courses with a score of 80% or higher. Once you have completed both courses and passed the assessments, you will receive an official certificate from LinkedIn Learning that can be used to demonstrate your expertise in using the platform for sales success.

The cost for the certification depends on which plan you choose: either an annual subscription or a one-time fee. With an annual subscription, you pay $59.99 per month for access to all of LinkedIn Learning's courses; with a one-time fee, you pay $299 for access to both courses required for certification plus any other courses you may want to take during the year.

9. Marketo Certified Expert in Revenue Cycle Management

Marketo Certified Expert in Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) is a certification program designed to help marketers gain expertise in the field of revenue cycle management. RCM is a process that involves managing and tracking all revenue-related activities from lead generation to customer payment. The Marketo Certified Expert in Revenue Cycle Management certification provides marketers with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to effectively manage their organization’s revenue cycle.

The Marketo Certified Expert in Revenue Cycle Management certification consists of two parts: an online course and an exam. The online course covers topics such as lead generation, customer segmentation, pricing strategies, billing processes, collections management, and more. It takes approximately 8 hours to complete the online course.

To become a Marketo Certified Expert in Revenue Cycle Management, you must pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher. The exam consists of multiple choice questions and is administered online through the Marketo Learning Center. It takes approximately 90 minutes to complete the exam.

The cost for the Marketo Certified Expert in Revenue Cycle Management certification is $499 USD. This fee includes access to the online course material and one attempt at the exam.

10. Adobe Target Business Practitioner

Adobe Target Business Practitioner is a certification program designed to help digital marketers and web professionals understand the fundamentals of Adobe Target. It is a self-paced, online course that covers topics such as personalization, targeting, segmentation, optimization, and analytics. The program consists of two parts: an online course and an exam.

The online course takes approximately 8 hours to complete and consists of 10 modules covering the basics of Adobe Target. The modules include an introduction to Adobe Target, setting up a test, creating audiences, using activities and offers, analyzing results, optimizing campaigns, and more. After completing the coursework, you must pass the exam in order to receive your certification.

The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. To pass the exam you must score at least 70% or higher. Once you pass the exam you will receive your Adobe Target Business Practitioner certificate which is valid for one year from the date of completion.

The cost of the program varies depending on where you purchase it from but typically ranges from $400-$600 USD.

11. IBM Watson Customer Engagement Solutions Professional

IBM Watson Customer Engagement Solutions Professional is an AI-driven customer service solution that enables businesses to provide personalized, proactive customer service experiences. It helps organizations to engage customers in meaningful conversations, build loyalty and trust, and drive greater customer satisfaction.

The IBM Watson Customer Engagement Solutions Professional program includes a suite of tools and services designed to help organizations better understand customer needs, improve customer experience, and increase sales. The program includes:

• A comprehensive set of AI-powered customer engagement tools such as chatbots, natural language processing (NLP), sentiment analysis, data mining, and more.
• An analytics platform that provides insights into customer behavior and preferences.
• A suite of cloud-based applications for managing customer relationships.
• Access to IBM's global network of partners for additional support.

The IBM Watson Customer Engagement Solutions Professional program takes about 4-6 weeks to complete depending on the complexity of the project. To get started with the program, you will need to contact an IBM representative who can provide you with more information on the program and its requirements. You will also need to purchase a subscription plan from IBM in order to access the full suite of tools and services offered by the program. The cost of the subscription plan varies depending on your organization’s needs but typically starts at around $2,000 per month.

Do You Really Need a Sales Specialist Certificate?

Whether you need a Sales Specialist Certificate or not depends on your individual career goals and objectives. If you want to become a professional sales specialist, having a certificate can help validate your skills and knowledge and give you an advantage over other job applicants. It can also provide proof of your ability to work in the field of sales and increase your chances of landing the job or promotion you are seeking.

In addition, having a Sales Specialist Certificate may be necessary for some positions in certain organizations. For example, if you are applying for a job with an organization that requires its employees to have specific qualifications, such as certification in sales, then having this type of certificate can be extremely beneficial.

In conclusion, whether or not you need a Sales Specialist Certificate will depend on your individual career goals and objectives. If you feel that having a certificate would be beneficial for either landing the job or advancing within an organization, then obtaining one could be well worth the effort.

Related: Sales Specialist Resume Examples

FAQs About Sales Specialist Certifications

1. What is a Sales Specialist Certification?

A Sales Specialist Certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates expertise in the sales field. It indicates mastery of core concepts and skill sets necessary for successful sales performance, such as communication, customer service, product knowledge, and more.

2. What are the benefits of obtaining a Sales Specialist Certification?

The benefits of obtaining a Sales Specialist Certification include gaining credibility in the industry, expanding career opportunities, increasing pay potential, and enhancing skills to make you a more competitive candidate for job openings.

3. How do I become certified as a Sales Specialist?

To become a certified Sales Specialist, you must first complete an accredited training program or course offered by an educational institution or professional organization. You may also need to pass an exam to prove your knowledge and expertise in the field.

4. How long does it take to complete a Sales Specialist Certification?

The time it takes to complete a Sales Specialist Certification will vary depending on the type of program or course you choose to pursue. Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from several months up to one year or longer depending on the amount of experience and education required for certification.

5. Is there any way to get my Sales Specialist Certification faster?

Yes! Many educational institutions and professional organizations offer accelerated programs that allow students to obtain their certification in less time than traditional programs require. Additionally, there are often options for online courses that can be completed at your own pace from home or work.