# Static, dynamic, public and test lists

*Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Specialist Study Guide · Lead Management · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-account-engagement-specialist/lead-management/static-dynamic-public-and-test-lists*

When to build a static or a dynamic list, how each is created and maintained, and what the list options (Email Test List, Public List, Archive Date, CRM Visible) plus copy, convert and split do to membership.

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

**Official exam objective:**

> Distinguish between the capabilities of, use cases for, and how to create different types of lists.

## What the exam expects

- Choose a static or a dynamic list from how membership must behave over time.
- Create each list type in the Lightning App and pick the right list options (Email Test List, Archive Date, Public List, CRM Visible).
- Predict dynamic list membership from its criteria, including account, opportunity and Salesforce campaign criteria.
- Keep a snapshot of a dynamic list, split a list at random, and clean up dynamic lists without losing what you need.
- Explain what prospects can do with public static and public dynamic lists on the email preference center.

Key terms:
- **Static list**: a list built once and changed by hand or by automations.
- **Dynamic list**: a rule-based list that adds matching prospects and removes those who stop matching.
- **Public list**: a list shown on the email preference center.
- **Email Test List**: the option that marks a list for internal test sends.
- **Archive Date**: the option that hides a list from tables and picklists while automations keep working.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Static vs dynamic | Static is built once and edited; dynamic is rule-based and updates automatically | [Static and Dynamic Lists](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_vs_static_lists.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Manual changes | Possible on static lists, not on dynamic lists | [Static and Dynamic Lists](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_vs_static_lists.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Lightning path | Prospects, then Segmentation, then Segmentation Lists, + Add List | [Create a Dynamic List](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_create_dynamic_list.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Archived list | No new prospects, no list emails, automations still work | [Archive a List](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_archive_list.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Deleted list | Goes to the recycle bin; prospects aren't deleted | [Segmentation](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_overview.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Split | Random division; a split dynamic list yields static lists, original unchanged | [Split a List](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_split_list.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Convert or split | Can't be restored to dynamic | [Dynamic List Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_list_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Recommended maximum | No more than 1,000 dynamic lists | [Dynamic List Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_list_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Campaign field change | Dynamic list isn't recalculated until the prospect record updates | [Dynamic List Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_list_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Dynamic list opt-out | Prospect stays on the list but gets no emails sent to it | [Email Preference Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_emails_preference_center_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- When a dynamic list is the recipient list of a scheduled send, which prospects receive the email?
- Why wait before sending to a dynamic list you restored from the recycle bin?
- Which list option lets sales users edit a list from Salesforce?
- When does a dynamic list built on Prospect email status match a prospect for soft bounces?

## Sources

- [Static and Dynamic Prospect Lists](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_vs_static_lists.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Considerations for Using Dynamic Lists](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_list_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Create a Dynamic List](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_create_dynamic_list.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Create a Static List](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_create_a_list.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Segmentation](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_overview.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Dynamic List Rule Criteria](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_dynamic_list_criteria.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Convert Dynamic Lists to Static](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mcae_optimizer_convert_static.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Split a List](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_split_list.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Archive a List](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_archive_list.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Managing Prospect List Membership](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_segmentation_adding_prospects_to_lists_overview.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Considerations for Using Email Preference Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_emails_preference_center_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 10 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