# Flow elements for branching, waiting and handoffs

*Marketing Cloud Next Consultant Study Guide · Campaign Design, Flow Orchestration & Content · Last updated November 6, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-next-consultant/campaign-design-flow-orchestration-and-content/flow-elements-for-branching-waiting-and-handoffs*

Which marketing flow element to use for branching, waiting, experimenting, removing people or handing them to another flow or journey, plus exit rules, completion actions, Send Email settings and element permissions.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Next Consultant
- Exam section: Campaign Design, Flow Orchestration & Content
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-next-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, identify the appropriate flow elements, logic, and configuration required to automate business processes and messaging activities.

## What the exam expects

- Choose between a Decision, Wait Until Event, Path Experiment and Determine CRM Record for Individual element from the routing requirement.
- Configure Decision outcome order and aggregate conditions.
- Remove people with exit rules, API-triggered exit rules or Exit from a Flow, and tell those apart.
- Hand people to on-demand flows or Engagement journeys, and automate follow-up with completion actions.
- Configure Send Email Message settings and identify element-level permissions.

**Key terms.** *Outcome*: one path of a Decision element. *Exit rule*: a filter in the Start node that identifies people to remove from the flow. *Timeout path*: the route taken when a Wait Until Event's maximum time passes. *Fallback behavior*: what an automated experiment does without a winner. *Completion action*: a routine follow-up task such as a lead assignment.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome evaluation | In listed order; first match wins | [Flow structure and logic](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_flow_elements_add_move.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Exit rules per flow | Up to 10 | [Flow structure and logic](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_flow_elements_add_move.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Decision permission | Add Decision Element to Flows | [Flow structure and logic](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_flow_elements_add_move.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Wait Until Event placement | Immediately after the monitored element | [Wait Until Event](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_wait_until_event.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Path Experiment paths | Up to 10, totaling 100% | [Path Experiment](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_path_experiment.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Automated winner threshold | 95% confidence of beating all other paths | [Path Experiment](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_path_experiment.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Conclusive experiment | At least 300 audience members per path, except Best Performer | [Path Experiment](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_path_experiment.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Determine CRM Record | Segment-triggered flows only | [Determine CRM Record](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_mktg_determine_crm_record.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Send to a Flow target | On-demand flows | [Send to a Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_send_to_a_flow.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Journey listing | Mapped business unit, active, API Event entry | [Send to a journey](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mke_flow_send_journey.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- Why can a 10-person experiment with an 80% test group show nine people in the test?
- When can you add a send after Determine CRM Record for Individual?
- Who receives the in-app notification when a path experiment completes?
- How can you test one specific path during debugging?

## Sources

- [Add Structure and Logic to a Marketing Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_flow_elements_add_move.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Flow Builder Elements for Marketing Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_mktg.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Wait Until Event Element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_wait_until_event.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Path Experiment Element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_path_experiment.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Remove Individuals from Flows Externally via API](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=release-notes.rn_automate_flow_marketing_cloud_remove_individuals_via_api.htm&type=5&language=en_US&release=260)
- [Exit from a Flow Marketing Flow Element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_mktg_exit_from_a_flow.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Send to a Flow Marketing Flow Element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_send_to_a_flow.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Determine CRM Record for Individual Marketing Flow Element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_mktg_determine_crm_record.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Marketing Completion Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_mktg_completion_actions.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Send Flow Members to a Journey](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mke_flow_send_journey.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Orchestration: Trigger Journeys with a Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mke_start_flow_journeys.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Send Email Message Marketing Flow Element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_mktg_send_email_message.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Set Up Flow Performance](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_admin_flow_performance.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 14 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Marketing Cloud Next Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams