Experience Cloud Consultant Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Your complete roadmap to passing the SALESFORCE-18 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 7 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 7 domains to pass the SALESFORCE-18 exam
Experience Cloud Basics
Sharing, Visibility, and Licensing
Branding, Customization, and Content Management
User Creation and Authentication
Adoption and Analytics
Templates and Site Setup
Declarative Development and Integration
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your Experience Cloud Consultant exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- Experience Cloud Basics
- Sharing, Visibility, and Licensing
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Branding, Customization, and Content Management
- User Creation and Authentication
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
- Adoption and Analytics
- Templates and Site Setup
- Declarative Development and Integration
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the Experience Cloud Consultant exam
Complete Study Guide for Salesforce Experience Cloud Consultant Certification
The Salesforce Experience Cloud Consultant certification validates your ability to design, build, and implement digital experiences using Salesforce Experience Cloud (formerly Community Cloud). This certification demonstrates expertise in creating portals, websites, and communities that connect employees, partners, and customers with the data, processes, and expertise they need.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Salesforce Administrators looking to specialize in Experience Cloud
- Consultants implementing customer or partner portals
- Digital experience designers working with Salesforce
- Business analysts focused on community engagement
- Developers transitioning to declarative community development
Prerequisites
- Salesforce Administrator certification (recommended)
- 6+ months hands-on experience with Experience Cloud
- Understanding of Salesforce security model and sharing rules
- Familiarity with Lightning components and page layouts
- Knowledge of user authentication and SSO concepts
Official Resources
Experience Cloud Consultant Exam Guide
Official exam guide with objectives, sample questions, and recommended training
View ResourceExperience Cloud Trailmix
Curated collection of Trailhead modules specifically for exam preparation
View ResourceExperience Cloud Basics Module
Foundational module covering Experience Cloud fundamentals
View ResourceBuild Communities with Experience Builder
Learn to build and customize communities using Experience Builder
View ResourceExperience Cloud Security and Sharing
Deep dive into sharing sets, external access, and community security
View ResourceExperience Cloud Implementation Guide
Comprehensive documentation on implementing Experience Cloud solutions
View ResourceExperience Cloud Developer Guide
Technical documentation for customizing and developing Experience Cloud sites
View ResourceExperience Cloud Licenses Overview
Detailed breakdown of different license types and their capabilities
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Prepare for Your Salesforce Experience Cloud Consultant Credential
Salesforce Trailhead • 30+ hours
View CourseRecommended Books
Salesforce Community Cloud Consultant Certification Guide
by Various Authors
Comprehensive guide covering all exam objectives with practice questions and hands-on scenarios
View on AmazonSalesforce Experience Cloud Implementation Handbook
by Salesforce Community
Practical guide to implementing and customizing Experience Cloud solutions
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
Salesforce Developer Edition Org
Free practice environment with Experience Cloud functionality enabled for hands-on learning
View ResourceTrailhead Playground
Pre-configured Salesforce org for completing Trailhead modules and hands-on challenges
View ResourceExperience Cloud Superbadge Challenge
Advanced hands-on scenario testing real-world implementation skills
View ResourceSalesforce Certification Practice Exams
Official practice questions similar to actual exam format
View ResourceFocus on Force Practice Exams
Third-party practice exams with detailed explanations for Experience Cloud Consultant
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
Salesforce Trailblazer Community
Official community with study groups, exam tips, and experience sharing from certified professionals
Join Communityr/salesforce
Active Reddit community discussing certifications, exam experiences, and study strategies
Join CommunitySalesforce Stack Exchange
Technical Q&A platform for specific Experience Cloud implementation questions
Join CommunitySalesforce Admins Community Group
Official admin community with certification guidance and study resources
Join CommunitySalesforce Ben Blog
Popular blog with Experience Cloud tips, exam guides, and implementation best practices
Join CommunitySalesforce Certification Study Group (Facebook)
Large Facebook group for sharing study materials and exam experiences
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Hands-On Practice Strategy
- Create at least 3 different community types (Customer, Partner, Employee) in your developer org
- Practice configuring sharing sets with different scenarios - this is heavily tested
- Build custom registration and login flows multiple times until comfortable
- Experiment with all available templates to understand their differences
- Configure guest user access and test visibility restrictions thoroughly
Exam-Specific Focus Areas
- Memorize the capabilities and limitations of each license type - this appears frequently
- Understand the exact difference between sharing sets and criteria-based sharing rules
- Know when external OWD overrides internal OWD and vice versa
- Study the authentication flow diagrams for SSO and SAML
- Learn the specific features included in each template (Customer Service vs. Partner Central)
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't confuse Experience Cloud with Sites - know the key differences
- Understand that guest users have different access rules than authenticated users
- Remember that some standard Salesforce features don't work the same in Experience Cloud
- Know which automation tools (Flow, Process Builder) are supported for external users
- Be aware of API limitations for different license types
Effective Study Techniques
- Create comparison matrices for templates, licenses, and sharing mechanisms
- Build flashcards for license capabilities - this is high-yield for the exam
- Document every configuration step in your practice org for later review
- Join study groups to discuss complex sharing scenarios with peers
- Take notes while completing Trailhead modules - don't just click through
Week Before Exam
- Review all sharing and security configurations one final time
- Take at least two full-length practice exams under timed conditions
- Focus on your weakest domain based on practice exam results
- Review the exam guide objectives and ensure you can explain each one
- Get adequate rest and avoid cramming the night before
Exam Day Tips
- 1Read each question carefully - look for keywords like 'most efficient', 'best practice', or 'least effort'
- 2For sharing questions, mentally map out the sharing model before selecting an answer
- 3Eliminate obviously wrong answers first to improve your odds on difficult questions
- 4Watch your time - aim for 1.5-2 minutes per question maximum
- 5Flag uncertain questions and return to them after completing easier ones
- 6If stuck between two answers, choose the one that follows Salesforce best practices
- 7Don't second-guess yourself too much - your first instinct is often correct
- 8For scenario-based questions, identify the business requirement before considering technical solutions
- 9Remember that 'custom code' is rarely the best answer - prefer declarative solutions
- 10Take a deep breath if you encounter a difficult section - the next questions may be easier
Study guide generated on January 8, 2026
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete Experience Cloud Consultant Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the SALESFORCE-18 certification exam offered by Salesforce. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 7 exam domains in detail:
- Experience Cloud Basics (14%)
- Sharing, Visibility, and Licensing (23%)
- Branding, Customization, and Content Management (15%)
- User Creation and Authentication (12%)
- Adoption and Analytics (10%)
- + 2 more domains
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the Experience Cloud Consultant exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.