Salesforce Administrator → Salesforce Developer

A realistic transition from Salesforce Administrator to Salesforce Developer: transferable skills, the gaps to close, a step-by-step learning plan and alternative routes. Estimated skill overlap 24%. Difficulty: Easy.

Difficulty: Easy6 stepsDuration: 4 to 8 monthsOverlap: 24%

Transition from Salesforce Administrator to Salesforce Developer.

Transferable skills

  • Salesforce integrations
  • Documentation

Skills to learn

  • Apex development
  • Lightning Web Components
  • API design
  • Testing
  • CI/CD (sfdx)
  • Governor limits

Step-by-step learning plan

  1. 1. Build on your Salesforce Administrator experience

    2–4 weeks

    Leverage

    • Salesforce integrations
    • Documentation

    Map transferable skills — Salesforce integrations, Documentation — against what a Salesforce Developer needs.

  2. 2. Learn the core of the Salesforce Developer role

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Apex development
    • Lightning Web Components
    • Governor limits

    Technologies

    ApexLWCVisualforce

    Cover the biggest gaps first: Apex development, Lightning Web Components, Governor limits.

  3. 3. Master advanced Salesforce Developer skills

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Testing
    • API design
    • CI/CD (sfdx)

    Technologies

    Salesforce DXGitHubAzure DevOps

    Handle the advanced topics: Testing, API design, CI/CD (sfdx).

  4. 4. Get productive with the Salesforce Developer toolchain

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    ApexLWCVisualforceSalesforce DXGitHubAzure DevOpsPostmanVS Code

    Be hands-on with Apex, LWC, Visualforce and the rest of the target stack.

  5. 5. Practise Salesforce Developer work in real conditions

    4–8 weeks

    Ship a portfolio project or take on Salesforce Developer tasks at work.

  6. 6. Get certified and position yourself as a Salesforce Developer

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    Salesforce Platform Developer ISalesforce Platform Developer IIJavaScript Developer I

    Update your CV and LinkedIn around Salesforce Developer, then apply to target roles.