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SaaS sales certifications are for professionals in the SaaS industry looking to sharpen their sales skills, boost career opportunities, and validate their expertise in selling software-as-a-service solutions effectively.

I've outlined the best SaaS sales certifications with insights into who each is ideal for and what it offers, helping you choose the perfect certification to advance your career.

Best Saas Sales Certifications Shortlist

  1. Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL) - Best for leadership development in sales teams
  2. Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP®) - Best for foundational sales skills enhancement
  3. Certified Sales Executive® - Best for executive-level sales management
  4. Certified Strategic Account Manager (CSAM) - Best for managing strategic accounts
  5. Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant - Best for Salesforce CRM expertise
  6. Sandler Sales Certification - Best for advanced sales techniques
  7. Winning by Design - SaaS Sales Methodology Certification - Best for SaaS sales strategies
  8. MEDDIC Certified™ - Best for complex sales processes
  9. ValueSelling Framework Certification - Best for value-based selling skills
  10. LinkedIn Sales Navigator Certification - Best for leveraging LinkedIn in sales
  11. B2B SaaS Sales: Open Certification Course for Graduates - Best for graduates entering B2B SaaS sales

Overview of the Best SaaS Sales Certifications

Below are my detailed summaries of the best SaaS sales certifications on my shortlist.

1. Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL) - Best for leadership development in sales teams

NASP The Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL) screenshot
The Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL)

The Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL®) certification enhances the skills of sales leaders and is designed to improve sales leadership approaches, influence team behavior, and increase performance and revenue. It teaches learners to transform their relationships with their sales team and adopt modern leadership strategies. The program emphasizes leadership’s emotional and psychological aspects, helping leaders reach their full potential in a modern sales environment.

Issued by: National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)

Focus:

  • Modern leadership strategies
  • Effective communication
  • Building high-performing sales teams
  • Emotional aspects of leadership
  • Developing success habits

Prerequisites:

  • Work Experience: Ideal for sales leaders, including Presidents, VPs, Directors, Managers, aspiring professionals, and small business owners
  • Exam: Required with a passing grade of 80% and completion of daily modules
  • Other Certifications Required: Not required

Price: $895

Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for sales leaders looking to enhance their leadership skills.

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2. Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP®) - Best for foundational sales skills enhancement

NASP The Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP®) screenshot
The Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP®)

The Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP®) certification is a six-week online program that enhances sales skills through modern strategies and effective communication techniques. Offered by the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP), this certification focuses on the emotional and psychological aspects of selling, and encourages learners to engage in daily activities to develop communication styles, build trust, and manage the customer’s buying journey. 

Issued by: National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)

Focus:

  • Modern sales strategies
  • Effective communication
  • Emotional aspects of selling
  • Building successful sales habits
  • Navigating the client purchase cycle

Prerequisites:

  • Work Experience: Ideal for sales professionals, executives, CEOs, business owners, and anyone looking to get into sales
  • Exam: Required, with a passing grade of 80% and completion of daily modules
  • Other Certifications Required: None

Price: $795

Who It’s For: Aimed at sales professionals, executives, CEOs, and business owners who seek to enhance their sales skills and strategies, making them more effective in understanding and meeting the emotional needs of today's buyers.

3. Certified Sales Executive® - Best for executive-level sales management

Certified Sales Executive® screenshot
The Certified Sales Executive®

The Certified Sales Executive® (CSE®) program is a self-paced certification that enhances sales professionals’ leadership and management expertise. It consists of three modules and covers sales strategy, business development fundamentals, team leadership, performance management, qualifying SaaS companies, Salesforce training, and utilizing sales technology. Learners have up to one year to complete the program and have a digital badge that can be added to professional profiles.

Issued by: SMEI

Focus:

  • Sales management
  • Leadership in sales
  • Strategic sales planning
  • Advanced sales techniques

Prerequisites:

  • Work Experience: At least 3 years of business experience, must have profit and loss responsibilities, must manage at least 2 people, and must be employed at the time of the application
  • Exam: Required
  • Other Certifications Required: None

Renewability: Yes, it is required. Renewal must be made with 12 hours of professional development during certification. 

Price: Starts at $300

Who It’s For: The certification is ideal for sales professionals who aim to enhance their leadership skills and strategic capabilities in sales management. 

4. Certified Strategic Account Manager (CSAM) - Best for managing strategic accounts

Certified Strategic Account Manager (CSAM) screenshot
The Certified Strategic Account Manager (CSAM)

The Certified Strategic Account Manager (CSAM) program equips learners with essential skills, mindset, and behaviors necessary to foster long-term growth with strategic customers. The program includes coaching from SAMA faculty, access to specialized tools, and emphasizes the importance of a coaching mentality within organizations. 

Issued by: Strategic Account Management Association (SAMA)

Focus:

  • 360º competency assessment
  • CORE curriculum
  • Elective training units
  • Personalized coaching
  • Executive-level briefing

Prerequisites:

  • Work Experience: Must be employed as an account manager and actively managing a strategic account
  • Exam: No exams, but requires mid-term review, competency assessment, and presentation of learned behaviors
  • Other Certifications Required: None
  • Others:
    • Must have the sponsorship of a direct manager or leader within your organization

Who It’s For: For strategic account managers to enhance their capability to drive significant growth and improve customer satisfaction, making them invaluable in roles that require managing key accounts.

5. Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant - Best for Salesforce CRM expertise

Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant screenshot
The Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant

The Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant certification assesses a learner’s practical application of Sales Cloud expertise. It validates expertise in designing and deploying scalable solutions that align with business requirements as well as the professional’s capabaility to leverage Sales Cloud features to drive business success and meet organizational goals. Key topics include sales practices, implementation strategies, product knowledge, integration, data management, and analytics. 

Issued by: Salesforce

Focus:

  • Practical application of Sales Cloud expertise
  • Sales lifecycle
  • Implementation strategies
  • Data management
  • Consulting practices

Prerequisites:

  • Work Experience: At least 2 years of professional experience using Salesforce, working with sales processes, and developing business solutions.
  • Exam: Yes, it is required with a 69% passing score
  • Other Certifications Required: Salesforce Administrator credential

Renewability: Yes, it is required to take the Salesforce Administrator certification once a year to maintain certification. 

Price: $200

Who It’s For: This certification is valuable for those seeking advanced qualifications in Salesforce consultancy, enhancing career prospects in a high-demand area. 

6. Sandler Sales Certification - Best for advanced sales techniques

The Sandler Sales Certification screenshot
The Sandler Sales Certification

The Sandler Sales Certification is a professional certificate that validates expertise in the Sandler Selling System, focusing on the practical application of advanced sales strategies. It supports sales reps in building a strong sales career by progressing through multiple levels, starting with the Essentials level, which covers foundational principles. The Application Expert level emphasizes implementing strategies within roles and industries, while the Expert level ensures the correct application of Sandler strategies across diverse organizational contexts, including customer success.

Issued by: Sandler

Focus:

  • Foundational principles of the Sandler Selling System
  • Application of Sandler strategies
  • Advanced sales techniques
  • Sales psychology
  • Client relationship management
  • Objection handling

Prerequisites:

  • Other Certifications Required: None

Who It’s For: This certification is for business owners, sales managers, and sales teams looking to enhance their sales skills and apply advanced sales techniques effectively in their roles.

7. Winning by Design - SaaS Sales Methodology Certification - Best for SaaS sales strategies

Winning by Design - SaaS Sales Methodology Certification screenshot
The Winning by Design - SaaS Sales Methodology Certification

The SaaS Sales Methodology Certification focuses on equipping customer-facing employees with essential skills and processes to enhance their sales effectiveness. The methodology emphasizes the importance of consistently discovering, communicating, and delivering business impact throughout the customer journey. The certification aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these principles to drive revenue growth in SaaS organizations.

Issued by: Winning by Design

Focus:

  • Equipping customer-facing employees with essential sales skills
  • Enhancing sales effectiveness
  • Discovering, communicating, and delivering business impact
  • Driving revenue growth in SaaS organizations

Prerequisites:

  • Other Certifications Required: None

Who It’s For: Ideal for those aiming to enhance their ability to drive revenue growth and improve sales effectiveness within SaaS organizations.

8. MEDDIC Certified™ - Best for complex sales processes

MEDDIC Certified™ screenshot
The MEDDIC Certified™

The MEDDIC Certified™ certification validates expertise in the MEDDIC sales qualification methodology, essential for complex enterprise sales. It assesses competencies such as integrating MEDDIC into existing sales campaigns, effectively communicating with economic buyers, and understanding customer decision criteria and processes.

The certification is available in three levels: Introduction to MEDDIC, Full MEDDPICC, and Advanced MEDDPICC, each requiring different levels of training and assessment.

Issued by: MEDDIC Academy

Focus:

  • Metrics
  • Economic buyer
  • Decision criteria
  • Decision process
  • Identify Pain
  • Champion

Prerequisites:

  • Work Experience: Familiarity with sales processes is highly beneficial
  • Exam: Required with a passing score of 50%
  • Other Certifications Required: None

Renewability: No, it does not expire. 

Price: $3,950

Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for sales professionals looking to validate their proficiency in handling complex sales processes, showcasing their ability to effectively leverage the MEDDIC methodology.

9. ValueSelling Framework Certification - Best for value-based selling skills

ValueSelling Framework Certification screenshot
The ValueSelling Framework Certification

The ValueSelling Framework Certification provides a comprehensive sales training methodology that enhances sales roles in tech sales by focusing on value and improving customer experience (CX). The framework covers foundational workshops, prospecting strategies, account planning, and marketing alignment to drive sales performance and retention. It also offers tools for leaders and managers to coach their teams effectively, along with technology solutions like ValueCoach AI and eValuePrompter™ to facilitate collaboration and efficiency.

Issued by: ValueSelling Associates

Focus:

  • Sales training methodology
  • Customer experience enhancement
  • Prospecting strategies
  • Account planning
  • Marketing alignment
  • Coaching tools for leaders
  • Technology solutions for sales efficiency

Prerequisites:

  • Work Experience: Experience in sales or customer-facing roles is beneficial
  • Other Certifications Required: None

Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for sales professionals who aim to enhance their ability to engage and close sales through value-based selling strategies. 

10. LinkedIn Sales Navigator Certification - Best for leveraging LinkedIn in sales

LinkedIn Sales Navigator Certification screenshot
The LinkedIn Sales Navigator Certification

The LinkedIn Sales Navigator Certification is a comprehensive sales training course designed to enhance the skills of sales professionals. It includes SaaS sales training and sales coaching to help users effectively utilize LinkedIn's Sales Navigator platform. With guidance from mentors, the certification focuses on building and managing a high-quality pipeline, leveraging advanced search, and improving customer relationship management to engage with prospects and clients more effectively.

Issued by: LinkedIn

Focus:

  • Utilizing LinkedIn Sales Navigator tools
  • Engaging with prospects using data insights
  • Increasing sales effectiveness through LinkedIn

Prerequisites:

  • Exam: An assessment with a passing score of 80%
  • Other Certifications Required: None

Renewability: No, it does not expire. 

Price: Free

Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for sales professionals seeking to enhance their skills in using LinkedIn for sales engagement and lead generation. 

11. B2B SaaS Sales: Open Certification Course for Graduates - Best for graduates entering B2B SaaS sales

B2B SaaS Sales: Open Certification Course for Graduates screenshot
The B2B SaaS Sales: Open Certification Course for Graduates

This free, interactive online training program helps graduates develop essential sales skills for a career in the Software-as-a-Service industry. Graduates will learn key concepts such as pipeline generation, understanding leads, and delivering persuasive software demos. Participants who complete the course receive a certificate, with top performers potentially securing a job offer from SAASCollective and a €1000 signing bonus. 

Issued by: SAASCOLLECTIVE

Focus:

  • Pipeline generation
  • Understanding leads
  • Delivering software demos

Prerequisites:

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Exam: Free
  • Other Certifications Required: None

Renewability: No, it does not expire. 

Price: Free

Who It’s For: This certification is ideal for recent graduates looking to break into the B2B SaaS sales industry, validating their skills and boosting their employability with potential job offers and bonuses.

FAQs About SaaS Sales Certifications

What are SaaS sales certifications?

SaaS sales certifications validate an individual’s skills and knowledge in selling Software as a Service (SaaS) products. They often cover sales strategies, customer engagement, SaaS product knowledge, and sales process optimization.

Why should sales professionals pursue SaaS sales certifications?

These certifications can enhance a sales professional’s credibility, demonstrate expertise in the SaaS domain, and potentially lead to career advancement by making them more attractive to employers in the tech industry.

How long does it typically take to complete a SaaS sales certification?

The duration varies depending on the certification provider and program structure. Some certifications take a few weeks, while others can span several months, requiring a commitment to study and coursework.

Are there any prerequisites for enrolling in SaaS sales certification programs?

Prerequisites differ by program. Some may require prior sales experience or a basic understanding of SaaS products, while others are open to all individuals seeking to enhance their sales skills.

Can SaaS sales certifications be completed online?

Yes, many SaaS sales certifications offer online courses and exams, providing flexibility for professionals to complete the certification at their own pace and convenience.

Other Useful Resources

Here are a few other useful resources to check out:

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Phil Gray

Philip Gray is the COO of Black and White Zebra and Founding Editor of The RevOps Team. A business renaissance man with his hands in many departmental pies, he is an advocate of centralized data management, holistic planning, and process automation. It's this love for data and all things revenue operations landed him the role as resident big brain for The RevOps Team.

With 10+ years of experience in leadership and operations in industries that include biotechnology, healthcare, logistics, and SaaS, he applies a considerable broad scope of experience in business that lets him see the big picture. An unapologetic buzzword apologist, you can often find him double clicking, drilling down, and unpacking all the things.

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