Policy and pricing change—verify on official Salesforce pages before paying.

Salesforce certification retake policy and costs

Failing an exam is frustrating, but the next registration is governed by specific waiting periods. According to Salesforce’s current certification retake policy, candidates receive up to three attempts for the same exam within a release cycle.

Waiting periods after a failed attempt

• After the first failed attempt, wait 24 hours before registering for attempt two.
• After the second failed attempt, wait 14 days before registering for attempt three.
• After the third failed attempt, wait until the next release cycle.
• Attempt counts reset when a new release cycle begins.

Salesforce publishes release-cycle dates and notes that they can change. Check the official policy instead of calculating eligibility from an old blog post.

What does a retake cost?

Salesforce says the general retake price is 50% of the original exam price, and Pearson applies the adjusted price automatically. Important exceptions include:

• Foundations exams currently have no retake fee.
• Accredited Professional retakes are listed at the same USD 150 price as the first attempt.
• CTA evaluation and review-board pricing is substantially different from standard multiple-choice credentials.
• Local taxes may apply.

Use these rules for planning, but treat the amount shown during official registration as the final price.

Do not book the next attempt immediately

The minimum waiting period is not a study recommendation. Before registering again:

1. Write down the domains that felt uncertain before looking at notes.
2. Separate knowledge gaps from question-reading and pacing problems.
3. Rebuild weak topics in a practice environment.
4. Use new scenarios; repeated questions mostly measure memory.
5. Require a stronger readiness signal than the one used before attempt one.

If an exam is near retirement, compare the available retake window with its last testing date. A technically permitted wait does not extend a retirement deadline.

Protect the exam appointment

Salesforce’s current reschedule policy requires at least 24 hours’ notice for an online-proctored exam and 48 hours for a testing-center exam. A no-show can forfeit the full fee or voucher. CTA appointments have different rules. Read the official reschedule and cancellation policy for exceptions and current instructions.

Use the Salesforce certification study-plan template to structure the next attempt around evidence rather than urgency.

Policy checked July 19, 2026.