# Send classifications, sender profiles and delivery profiles

*Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist Study Guide · Content Creation and Delivery · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-specialist/content-creation-and-delivery/send-classifications-sender-profiles-and-delivery-profiles*

What each send setting owns: the send classification bundles a sender profile, a delivery profile and the Commercial or Transactional choice; the sender profile sets From details, dynamic From addresses and sender headers; the delivery profile sets the IP address, header and footer; plus overrides and the transactional opt-out switch.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist
- Exam section: Content Creation and Delivery
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-specialist

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a customer scenario, configure send settings to meet the customer requirements.

## What the exam expects

- Recommend a send classification to define send parameters once, and name what each of its three components controls.
- Classify an email as Commercial or Transactional, and decide whether a transactional classification honors the opt-out list.
- Configure a sender profile for static, personalized or AMPscript From details and a sender header.
- Configure a delivery profile's IP address, header and footer, and override either profile for one interaction.
- Key terms: **send classification** (reusable bundle of delivery profile, sender profile and CAN-SPAM classification); **sender profile** (the From name and address, plus reply settings); **delivery profile** (sending IP address, header and footer); **opt-out list** (the list or publication list whose unsubscribes a transactional send can honor); **sender header** (a stored name and address for sending on someone else's behalf).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Send classification components | Delivery profile, sender profile, CAN-SPAM classification | [Send Classifications](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_classifications.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Unsubscribe link check | Commercial checked; Transactional not checked | [Send Classifications](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_classifications.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Unsure of classification | Choose Commercial and provide an unsubscribe link | [Send Classifications](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_classifications.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Transactional, opt-out not honored | Emails carry no unsubscribe link | [Send Classifications](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_classifications.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Triggered send without a list | Can't track or exclude unsubscribes | [Send Classifications](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_classifications.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| AMPscript From email | Needs Enhanced Sender Profile and a verified fallback | [Create a Sender Profile](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_create_sender_profile.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Sender header values | Static or personalization strings | [Send Classifications](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_classifications.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| One chosen dedicated IP | Multiple dedicated IPs: select Private and the address | [Delivery Profiles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.mc_es_delivery_profiles.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Header and footer options | None or Account Default; Library content is listed on the Delivery Profiles page but retired with Classic Content | [Classic Content Retirement](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000352265&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Footer None | Body must carry the unsubscribe link and address | [Delivery Profiles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.mc_es_delivery_profiles.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Header scope | Web-page link text, not the template's header graphic | [Delivery Profiles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.mc_es_delivery_profiles.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Interaction overrides | Override Sender Profile, Override Delivery Profile | [User-Initiated Email Messages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.mc_es_email_messages.htm&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- When is a message commercial under CAN-SPAM?
- Which unsubscribes don't affect the publication list for transactional sends?
- When does a sender profile's From status change to verified without manual action?
- When is a custom sender profile name rejected?

## Sources

- [Send Classifications for Email Studio](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_send_classifications.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Create a Sender Profile](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_create_sender_profile.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Delivery Profiles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.mc_es_delivery_profiles.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [User-Initiated Email Messages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.mc_es_email_messages.htm&language=en_US)
- [Marketing Cloud - Classic Content Retirement](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000352265&language=en_US&type=1)

## 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 Engagement Specialist pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams