# Pausing, editing and restarting engagement programs

*Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Specialist Study Guide · Engagement Studio · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-account-engagement-specialist/engagement-studio/pausing-editing-and-restarting-engagement-programs*

The pause, edit, test and resume cycle for a running engagement program: who can edit, the editing lock, what pauses do to waits and scheduled sends, how added and deleted steps, list changes and mailability changes affect prospects, and how assets, versions and troubleshooting fit in.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Specialist
- Exam section: Engagement Studio
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-account-engagement-specialist

**Official exam objective:**

> Explain the process of updating an engagement program including its assets.

## What the exam expects

- Describe the pause, edit, test and resume process, who can do it, and how the editing lock works.
- Predict where waiting prospects go when a program is paused, edited and resumed, including scheduled sends, time zone changes and removed waits.
- Predict the effect of added steps, deleted steps and branches, end steps, and recipient or suppression list changes.
- Diagnose an edited program that seems not to send email, including mailability changes, operational email and resent templates.
- Plan program assets, testing and version reporting around an update.

Key terms:
- **Pause**: stops a program so its Build tab can be edited; prospects keep their place.
- **Editing lock**: only one user edits a program at a time.
- **End step**: a permanent stopping point on a path.
- **Version**: the copy of a program saved before a pause.
- **Mailability**: whether a prospect can receive marketing email.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | Pause first; resume picks up where it left off | [Edit Engagement Programs](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_edit_engagement_programs.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Roles | Account Engagement Administrator or Marketing | [Edit Engagement Programs](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_edit_engagement_programs.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Editing lock | One editor; released after 15 minutes of inactivity | [Considerations for Using Engagement Studio](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_considerations_for_engagement_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Inactive program | No new or moving prospects for 30 days | [Considerations for Using Engagement Studio](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_considerations_for_engagement_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Ordinary pause | Wait is paused; prospect finishes the rest | [How Wait Periods Work](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_how_does_time_work_in_engagement_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Deleted step | Waiting prospects move to the next step on resume | [Engagement Studio FAQ](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_engagement_studio_faq.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| New step | Never applied to prospects already past it | [Not sending emails or applying actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000274976&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Re-added to recipient list | Starts where they left off | [Engagement Studio FAQ](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_engagement_studio_faq.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Template resend, units before Dec 5, 2012 | Once per prospect across programs; Drip/Engagement Programs option | [Email Template More Than One Time](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_emails_same_email.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Versions | Saved from before each pause; one per report view | [Engagement Program Reporting](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_engagement_program_reporting.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Assets | Needed only at start; safety checks flag missing ones | [Create an Engagement Studio Program](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/pardot-engagement-studio-lightning/create-an-engagement-studio-program-lightning) |

## Check yourself

- When a business unit was created before December 5, 2012, can a prospect in two programs get the same template from both?
- When the Operational Email setting is disabled while a program keeps running, what happens on those steps?
- Why can a dismissed warning still matter before you start a program?
- What does a program's Activity view track?

## Sources

- [Edit Engagement Programs](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_edit_engagement_programs.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Engagement Studio Overview](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_engagement_studio_overview.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Considerations for Using Engagement Studio](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_considerations_for_engagement_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [How Wait Periods Work in Engagement Programs](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_how_does_time_work_in_engagement_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Engagement Studio FAQ](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_engagement_studio_faq.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Engagement Studio program is not sending emails or applying actions as expected](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000274976&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Test and Start Engagement Programs](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_test_engagement_programs.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Create an Engagement Studio Program (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/pardot-engagement-studio-lightning/create-an-engagement-studio-program-lightning)
- [Engagement Studio Best Practices (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/pardot-engagement-studio-lightning/engagement-studio-best-practices-lightning)
- [Operational Emails in Engagement Studio Limitations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mcae_operational_emails_engagement_studio.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [When Prospects Can Receive an Email Template More Than One Time](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_emails_same_email.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Engagement Program Reporting](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_engagement_program_reporting.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 25 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Specialist pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams