Salesforce is officially retiring the AI Associate certification on February 2, 2026.
With the launch of Agentblazer Status, Salesforce is evolving their certification catalog to provide new ways to grow and validate AI and Agentforce skills. Here’s everything you need to know about this transition…
Why Is the AI Associate Certification Exam Being Retired?
The launch of Agentblazer Status brings a fresh way to build and recognize AI and Agentforce skills. As part of this evolution, the AI Associate certification will be retired to make room for new learning opportunities.
Key Dates
- Last day to register for the AI Associate certification exam: March 31, 2025.
- Last day to take the AI Associate certification exam: May 1, 2025.
- Retirement date of AI Associate certification: February 2, 2026.
Should I Still Take the AI Associate Certification Exam?
We don’t recommend taking the AI Associate certification now that its retirement has been announced. Instead, focusing on Agentblazer Status and, more importantly, the Agentforce Specialist certification will offer a stronger, more future-proof way to validate your expertise and deepen your understanding.
What Happens to Existing AI Associate Certifications?
Your certification will officially retire on February 2, 2026, and your status will be marked as “Retired” on your Trailblazer profile.
How Can I Demonstrate My AI Expertise?
With Agentblazer Status, you can progress from Champion to Innovator to Legend, earning a special badge on your Trailblazer profile. Plus, the Agentforce Specialist certification (previously known as the AI Specialist), available for free through the AI for All initiative, offers another great way to validate your skills.
What Is Agentblazer Status?
Agentblazer Status is a new level of recognition for Trailblazers demonstrating exceptional expertise in AI and Agentforce. You can earn three levels of Agentblazer Status – Champion, Innovator, and Legend – by completing modules on Trailhead.
Currently, Champion and Innovator statuses are available, with Legend coming soon.
Final Thoughts
The Salesforce AI Associate certification was met with skepticism when it launched. Many felt that this short, entry-level exam was too easy and didn’t sufficiently validate AI knowledge.
From my own experience taking the exam, I found it significantly easier than more technical certifications like Salesforce Admin or Platform App Builder. However, it did provide a nice introduction to AI features I hadn’t previously worked with hands-on.
In my opinion, AI and Agentforce are too complex to be effectively covered in an entry-level exam. More in-depth Trailhead badges, modules, and hands-on projects – along with the Agentforce Specialist certification – offer a far better way to build real expertise.
Agentforce, in particular, embodies the principle of “with great power comes great responsibility”. Anyone developing AI-powered agents should first pass the Agentforce Specialist certification to ensure they understand how to create AI responsibly while safeguarding data security.
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