# User territories versus service territories for access

*Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant Study Guide · Permissions and Sharing · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/agentforce-field-service-consultant/permissions-and-sharing/user-territories-versus-service-territories-for-access*

Service territory members place resources where they work; User Territory records give dispatchers and call center reps access through each territory's public group. Covers user territory sharing settings, the User Territory job and its time horizons, and the traps that break territory sharing.

- Certification: Salesforce Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant
- Exam section: Permissions and Sharing
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/agentforce-field-service-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Understand the differences between user territories and service territories.

## What the exam expects

- Distinguish a User Territory record (record access) from a service territory member (where a resource works and is scheduled).
- Configure user territory sharing in Field Service Settings and predict what it creates for territories, appointments and parent records.
- Set up the User Territory job: territories per job, forward and backward time horizons, and run frequency.
- Diagnose broken territory sharing: duplicate group names, territories created before Private sharing, owner changes and missing primary-territory access.

Key terms:
- **Service territory:** a region where field service work is performed; resources join it as primary, secondary or relocation members.
- **User Territory record:** links a user, typically a dispatcher or call center rep, to a service territory and adds them to its public group.
- **Territory public group:** the group created with the territory's name that receives the territory's shared records.
- **User Territory job:** the scheduled job that adds and removes service resources from public groups based on their membership dates.
- **Field Service Default group:** the public group for appointments created without a territory.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New service territory | Creates a same-name public group the territory is shared with | [Limit Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| New User Territory record | Adds the user to the territory's public group | [Limit Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Appointment with a territory | Shared with that territory's public group | [Limit Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Appointment without a territory | Field Service Default public group | [Limit Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Territories per User Territory job | Fewer than 200 | [Limit Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Dispatcher managing a schedule | Needs sharing for the resource's primary territory | [Limit Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Match Territory | Primary or relocation memberships only | [Territory Guidelines](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.fs_territory_guidelines.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Territory created before Private sharing | Sharing records must be created manually | [Limit Access](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why should dispatchers get Read/Write rather than Read Only under customized sharing logic?
- When does a departed resource disappear from a dispatcher's Gantt with Time Horizon in days (Backwards) set to 7?
- Which group gives users access to appointments created without a service territory?
- What does Run now do on the User Territory job?

## Sources

- [Limit Access to Field Service Records](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fs_sharing.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Guidelines for Creating Service Territories for Field Service](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.fs_territory_guidelines.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Agentforce Field Service and Operations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.fs_overview.htm&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 6 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams