Do I Need a Certification to be a Gainsight Admin?

A lot of aspiring Gainsight admins wonder if they really need a certification. It’s not required, but getting certified can boost your career and show off your skills.

If you're eyeing a career as a Gainsight Admin, you might be wondering if certification is a must. The short answer is no—you don't need a certification to land the role. However, as Customer Success becomes increasingly vital, having a certification can give you a competitive edge. It not only boosts your resume but also validates your expertise and skills. Whether you're just starting out or aiming to advance, understanding the value of certification can help you make the best decision for your career.

Why Should I Get a Certification?

A Gainsight admin certification can benefit your career in several ways:

1. Professional Development: Preparing for and maintaining your certification encourages learning and professional growth, keeping you updated with the latest changes in the product.

2. Professional Credibility: Obtaining a Gainsight certification establishes your expertise and dedication to the field. It signals to employers that you possess a solid understanding of Gainsight's capabilities and best practices.

3. Career Opportunities: Being certified may open up more job opportunities. Many organizations look for certified professionals when hiring to ensure candidates meet a certain standard of expertise and proficiency.

For example, I looked at some recent job postings for Gainsight administrators and found the following:

• “3 years of Gainsight administration experience, or Gainsight Administrator (Level 3) Certification”
• “Gainsight NXT Certification preferred”
• “3+ years of experience with Customer Success Software administration experience (Certified Gainsight Administrator preferred)”

The good news is that most job postings list these certifications as a preferred skill, so it’s not a dealbreaker if you don’t have one. However, having a certification is a good way to stand out against other applicants.

Which Certifications Can I Get?

You can find the most up-to-date information on the certifications Gainsight offers here: Gainsight Certification Programs

Gainsight offers a variety of certifications. For admin-specific certifications, there are three levels:

Gainsight Admin Certifications

Level 1 Gainsight NXT Associate Admin Certificate

The entry-level admin certificate, ideal for new admins or those looking to understand Gainsight administration.

• 36 multiple-choice questions
• Requires 85% or higher to pass
• Online, not proctored

Level 2 Topic-Specific Certificates

Certification focused on specific areas of Gainsight, great for admins specializing in one area like Journey Orchestrator.

• Practical exam within Gainsight
• Requires 85% or higher to pass
• Online, not proctored

Level 3 Gainsight NXT Admin Certificate

The highest-level admin certification, recommended for those with at least six months of hands-on Gainsight admin experience.

• 60 multiple-choice questions
• Requires 70% or higher to pass
• Online, proctored through Kryterion

Bonus: Non-Admin Certifications

If you’ve already earned a Gainsight admin certification and want to expand your expertise, consider these options:

Other Gainsight Certifications

• Gainsight End User Certificate – Tests knowledge from the user perspective.

Pulse+

• Annual training subscription, often purchased by companies for their teams.
• Includes the Certified Customer Success Operations Professional, focused on CS Ops.

Salesforce Certifications

Many Gainsight-using companies also use Salesforce, making these certifications valuable, particularly the Salesforce Administrator certification.

Other Useful Certifications

Depending on your role, these may be beneficial:

• Support Software (e.g., Zendesk)
• Data Platforms (e.g., Snowflake)
• Data Visualization (e.g., Tableau)
• CRMs (e.g., HubSpot)
• Technical Skills (SQL, HTML/JavaScript, Project Management)

While none of these are required to be a successful Gainsight admin, they can be helpful, especially if your company offers a learning and development budget.