About this Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board study guide
This page is your Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (exam code CTA Review Board) study guide. The certification validates skills that employers look for in Salesforce roles—whether you're an administrator, consultant, developer, or architect. It is designed for architects and solution designers who want to prove their knowledge with an industry-recognized credential.
Here you'll find section-wise exam weightage so you know exactly which topics carry the most questions, exam tips and prerequisites, a focused study plan, and sample practice questions with detailed explanations. All content on this page is original and unique—written specifically for this certification to help with both your preparation and search engine indexing. Use this page to align your study with the official outline and to gauge when you're ready to sit the exam. Many candidates use section weightage to prioritize high-value topics and practice questions to build exam-day confidence.
Passing this certification can support career progression, higher earning potential, and recognition in the Salesforce ecosystem. Salesforce exams are updated periodically, so we keep our materials aligned with current objectives.
Last reviewed: January 2025. Salesforce exam outlines may change; always check the official exam guide on Trailhead before booking.
Release compatible: Winter '26 — Study materials and objectives are aligned with the Winter '26 release (compared to Summer '25).
What's new in Winter '26:
- Agentforce and AI: New Agentforce for Service (IT Service), Agentic Commerce, and Agentforce Grid for low-code AI workflows—expect more AI-related objectives on Admin and Consultant exams.
- Data Cloud: Clean Rooms for privacy-safe data collaboration and zero-copy analytics; Data Cloud objectives may include new collaboration and governance topics.
- Automation & Platform: Enhanced automation capabilities and platform updates; Flow, Process Builder, and integration topics remain core—check the official outline for weightage changes.
- Tableau & Analytics: Tableau Next Concierge in Slack and conversational analytics; Tableau certs may reference new Slack and natural-language features.
- Security & Access: Continued focus on identity, access management, and secure data handling; relevant for Administrator and Architect tracks.
Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board) Study Guide
The Architect Review Board is the final step to become a CTA. You receive a scenario, design a solution, and present and defend it before a board of Certified Technical Architects. Success here earns the Certified Technical Architect credential.
Exam Weightage by Section
Exam Topics
Exam Tips
- 1Presentation and Design Defense are 70%—practice explaining and defending your designs.
- 2Know your solution inside and out—you will be asked "why did you choose X?"
- 3Practice handling tough questions and alternative approaches.
- 4Time your presentation—you have limited time to present and defend.
Prerequisites
- •Passed Technical Architect Evaluation
- •Strong communication skills
Focus Areas
- •Presentation
- •Design Defense
- •Board Q&A
Study Strategy
Practice presenting your designs to peers. Anticipate questions and prepare answers. Review CTA review board prep materials and practice sessions.
Sample Practice Questions
Practice thinking like a CTA and defending architecture decisions for the Review Board.
What does the CTA Architect Review Board exam primarily consist of?
What is typically required before attempting the Architect Review Board?
Which skills are most critical for the Review Board?
Start with the Architect Evaluation
The Review Board is taken after passing the Architect Evaluation. Prepare for Step 1 first if you haven't already.
CTA Architect EvaluationContact UsFrequently Asked Questions
- What is covered on the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board) exam?
- This page shows the section-wise exam weightage so you know exactly which topics carry the most weight. Use the exam topics and practice questions above to align your study with the official outline.
- What is Technical Architect Review Board?
- Technical Architect Review Board is the final step to become a CTA. You present and defend a solution design before a board of Certified Technical Architects.
- Do I need to pass Technical Architect Evaluation before Review Board?
- Yes, you must pass the Technical Architect Evaluation first. The Review Board tests your communication skills and ability to defend architectural decisions.
- How do I prepare for the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board) certification?
- Use the exam tips, prerequisites, and study strategy on this page. Focus first on the highest-weighted sections, then take the sample practice questions. Schedule the exam when you consistently score well on practice tests.
- Where can I find the official exam outline for Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board)?
- Salesforce publishes exam guides and outlines on Trailhead (trailhead.salesforce.com). This page's section weightage and topics are aligned with those outlines to help you prepare.