Maintain Your Platform Developer Certification for Winter ‘26

Salesforce certifications are designed to validate real-world expertise, and maintaining them is just as important as earning them. If you hold the Salesforce Platform Developer I or II certification, the Winter ’26 release brings important updates you must understand to keep your credential active. Salesforce evolves rapidly, and the maintenance process ensures certified developers stay aligned with the latest platform capabilities, best practices, and security standards.

This guide explains what the Platform Developer Certification Maintenance for Winter ’26 involves, why it matters, and how you can prepare efficiently.

Why Certification Maintenance Matters

Salesforce releases three major updates every year: Spring, Summer, and Winter. Each release introduces enhancements across Apex, Lightning Web Components (LWC), integrations, security, DevOps, and automation. Certification maintenance ensures developers remain current with these changes.

Failing to complete the maintenance requirements can result in:

• Certification suspension

• Loss of professional credibility

• Reduced job opportunities or client trust

Maintaining your certification confirms that your development skills match Salesforce’s latest standards and that you can build scalable, secure, and future-ready applications.

Who Needs to Complete Winter ’26 Maintenance?

You must complete the Winter ’26 maintenance module if you hold:

• Salesforce Platform Developer I

• Salesforce Platform Developer II

Even experienced developers need to complete maintenance, regardless of how long they’ve held the certification. Salesforce applies these requirements globally, making them mandatory for all certified professionals.

What’s New in Winter ’26 for Platform Developers?

The Winter ’26 release continues Salesforce’s focus on performance, security, and modern development practices. Key areas emphasized in this maintenance cycle include:

1. Apex Enhancements and Performance Optimization

Salesforce continues improving Apex execution efficiency. Winter ’26 highlights:

• Governor limits awareness and optimization

• Asynchronous processing improvements

• Best practices for bulkification and error handling

Developers are expected to write clean, scalable code that performs well even with large data volumes.

2. Lightning Web Components (LWC) Updates

LWC remains the preferred UI framework for Salesforce development. Winter ’26 reinforces:

• Component reusability and modular design

• Improved event handling

• Secure data access patterns

Understanding how LWCs interact with Apex and Salesforce data securely is a core focus of this release.

3. Security and Compliance Best Practices

Security is a major priority in Winter ’26. Maintenance content emphasizes:

• Secure coding practices in Apex

• Field-level and object-level security enforcement

• Protection against SOQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS)

Salesforce expects developers to proactively design applications with security in mind, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

4. API and Integration Improvements

Modern Salesforce applications often rely on integrations. Winter ’26 highlights:

• REST and SOAP API usage best practices

• Error handling in integrations

• Efficient data synchronization techniques

Developers must understand how to build reliable, maintainable integrations with external systems.

5. DevOps and Deployment Awareness

Salesforce continues to promote structured DevOps practices. Winter ’26 maintenance touches on:

• Source-driven development

• Change sets vs. modern deployment tools

• Version control best practices

This ensures developers can work effectively in team-based, enterprise-scale environments.

How to Complete the Winter ’26 Maintenance

Salesforce provides a Trailhead maintenance module specifically for Platform Developer certifications. Here’s how to complete it:

1. Log in to Trailhead using the same email associated with your certification.

2. Search for Platform Developer Certification Maintenance (Winter ’26).

3. Review the release highlights and learning content.

4. Complete the short quiz at the end of the module.

5. Pass the quiz to automatically extend your certification validity.

The module is concise, typically taking 30–45 minutes to complete if you’re familiar with Salesforce development.

Deadline and Important Notes

• Maintenance must be completed before the Winter ’26 deadline set by Salesforce.

• Missing the deadline can cause your certification to become inactive.

• Salesforce sends reminder emails, but it’s best not to rely solely on notifications.

Completing maintenance early gives you peace of mind and ensures uninterrupted certification status.

Tips to Prepare and Succeed

To complete maintenance confidently:

• Review Winter ’26 Release Notes for developers

• Practice Apex and LWC concepts on Trailhead playgrounds

• Stay updated with Salesforce blogs and official documentation

• Focus on security-related topics—they often carry more weight

If you work on Salesforce projects regularly, most of the concepts will feel familiar.

Career Benefits of Staying Certified

Maintaining your Platform Developer certification offers long-term career advantages:

• Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning

• Increases trust with employers and clients

• Improves eligibility for higher-paying roles

• Keeps your skills aligned with Salesforce’s roadmap

In competitive markets, an active certification can be the deciding factor during hiring or promotions.

Key Takeaway:

The Platform Developer Certification Maintenance for Winter ’26 is not just a formality—it’s an opportunity to refresh your skills and stay ahead in the Salesforce ecosystem. By completing the maintenance module on time, you ensure your certification remains active and relevant while strengthening your understanding of modern Salesforce development practices.

Whether you’re building enterprise applications, integrations, or custom user experiences, staying current with Winter ’26 updates helps you deliver better, more secure, and scalable Salesforce solutions.