I remember when I was looking into getting a PMP certification and the application/eligibility process was the real deal.

4 year degree, 36 months of project experience or 35 hours of training.

or

HS diploma, associates degree, 60 months of project experience or 35 hours of training.

BUT, the biggest kicker (for audit purposes):

Signatures of supervisors or managers from the project verifying your experience

And

Copies of course completion certifications/letters from the training institutions

That’s just to be eligible to take the exam.

If you don’t comply, 1 year suspension from applying for any certifications.

As more certs are added each year, will quantity continue to outweigh the quality of the Salesforce Certification process?