Ads certifications are professional accreditations that Google offers to individuals who demonstrate proficiency in basic and advanced aspects of Google Ads.
A Google Ads certification allows you to demonstrate that Google recognizes you as an expert in online advertising. You can access Google Ads certifications on the Skillshop Google Ads Certification page.
There are 11 Google Ads certifications currently available:
- Google Ads Search
- Google Ads Display
- Google Ads Video
- Shopping ads
- Google Ads Apps
- Google Ads Measurement
- Google Ads Search Professional
- Google Ads Display Professional
- Google Ads Video Professional
- Google Ads Creative
- Grow Offline Sales
This article explains the benefits of getting certified, how to get certified, and how to communicate your certification status with others.
Before you begin
If you don't have a Skillshop account, you need to create one to access the Google Ads assessments that are required to become certified. Learn how to set up your Skillshop account
Benefits
- Demonstrate your expertise. Show current and prospective clients that you're a certified online advertising professional with a personalized certificate that you can print.
- Help your company become a Google Partner or Premier Partner in the Google Partners program. Learn more about the requirements
Learn how to make your certification count toward your company's Google Partner status
Google Partners certifications requirement
Certifications are one of the 3 requirement categories to be a Partner or Premier Partner. The following certifications count toward the certifications requirement:
- Google Ads Search
- Google Ads Display
- Google Ads Video
- Shopping ads
- Google Ads Apps
Note: The following Google Ads certifications don’t count toward the Partners badge:
- Google Ads Measurement
- Google Ads Search Professional
- Google Ads Display Professional
- Google Ads Video Professional
- Google Ads Creative
- Grow Offline Sales
You can access these certifications in the Skillshop Google Ads Certifications page.
How Google Ads certification works
When you set up a Skillshop account, you get access to the free Google Ads certification assessments and related learning paths that you can use to study for the assessments.
To become Google Ads certified in a Google Ads product area, you need to pass the product area assessment that is available through Skillshop. The certifications are available for the following Google Ads product areas: Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, Google Ads Video, Shopping ads, Google Ads Apps, Google Ads Measurement Certification, Google Ads Search Professional, Google Ads Display Professional, Google Ads Video Professional, Google Ads Creative, and Grow Offline Sales.
Available certifications
Certification | Description |
Google Ads Search Certification | Demonstrate your mastery of building and optimizing Google Search campaigns. Certified users will exhibit the ability to leverage automated solutions like Smart Bidding and Audience Solutions to boost campaign performance for specific marketing objectives. |
Google Ads Display Certification | Validate your expertise using Google Display to deliver results that get the most from your display advertising investment. Certified users will demonstrate their ability to develop effective Display strategies and campaigns that achieve specific marketing goals. |
Google Ads Video Certification | Showcase your ability to get results from YouTube and Google Video advertising solutions. Certified users will demonstrate an understanding of how to tell effective stories on YouTube to reach potential customers along the entire purchase journey at scale. |
Shopping ads Certification | Validate your proficiency with using and optimizing Shopping ads. Certified users will also demonstrate knowledge of how to create and optimize Shopping campaigns that maximize reach and conversions. |
Google Ads Apps Certification | Demonstrate your mastery of creating Google App campaigns to deliver business impact. Certified users will show they understand the fundamentals of campaign creation and advanced optimization strategies. |
Google Ads Measurement Certification | Demonstrate your ability to measure and optimize digital ad performance using Google’s measurement solutions. Certified users will show they understand the metrics that matter and can turn key insights into action to improve Google Ads performance and make an impact on their business. Note: The Google Ads Measurement certification does not count toward the Google Partner badge. |
Available languages
Google Ads certifications are available in 22 languages.
Available languages: Czech, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Dutch, English (UK), English (US), French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Spanish (Latin America), Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese
Prepare for your Google Ads certifications
We recommend that you have on-the-job experience using Google Ads. You should be familiar with online advertising concepts and best practices, and should have experience managing different types of Google Ads campaigns.
You can also prepare by accessing courses in Skillshop.
Assessment passing scores and time limits
You will need to have a score of 80% or greater on the certification assessment. You will have 75 minutes to take an assessment. If you don't pass an assessment, you can retake it one day later.
There's a timer that will start to count down when you begin the assessment. You won't be able to pause the timer once it starts. If you leave the assessment, for example, if you close your browser or your computer shuts down, the timer will immediately expire. You'll have to wait one day to take the assessment again.
How to stay certified
Your Google Ads certification will remain valid until the product area certification expires (one year). You’ll need to retake and pass the certification assessment in the respective product area to renew your certification.
Guidelines for communicating your certification status
Your Google Ads certification demonstrate that you're a certified online advertising professional. Here's what you can say to current and prospective clients about this recognition:
- Your Google Ads certification recognizes that you're a certified online advertising professional.
- You received this accreditation after successfully passing the Google Ads certification assessment administered by Skillshop.
Example
Here's an example of what you can say about your certification status:
“Google has recognized me as a Google Ads certified professional, meaning that I’ve passed multiple assessments that assess my product expertise. I’m qualified to help you grow your business on the web using Google Ads.”
Here are some additional guidelines about communicating your certification:
- You may only refer to yourself as certified if you, personally, have passed the certification assessments. It's not enough for a co-worker to be certified or for your agency to be badged.
- You can refer to yourself as "certified" as long as your certification remains in effect. After the expiration date, you won't be able to refer to yourself as "certified" until you pass the assessments again.
- You're allowed to mention your certification on your resume, business cards, LinkedIn profile, and other social media profiles. Keep in mind that Google Partners logos can only be used in accordance with our usage guidelines.
The difference between Google Ads certifications and the Google Partner badge
- Individuals can earn Google Ads certifications. As a certified professional, you can demonstrate your achievement with a personalized certificate issued by Google.
- Companies can become a Google Partner or Premier Partner through the Google Partners program. A company that meets the requirements to become a Google Partner will be allowed to promote itself as a company with Google Partner status. Note that a company doesn't become a Google Partner simply by joining the program.
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FAQs
Is Google Ads certification worth it? ›
Getting a Google Ads Certification won't make you a Google Ads expert. Further, it's unlikely you'll get paid more because of the certificate, and it doesn't prepare you to deal with actual challenges that a Google Ads manager faces. But there are a few cases where it might be a good idea to get that certification.
What is Google Ads certification good for? ›Ads certifications are professional accreditations that Google offers to individuals who demonstrate proficiency in basic and advanced aspects of Google Ads. A Google Ads certification allows you to demonstrate that Google recognizes you as an expert in online advertising.
Is the Google Ads certification test hard? ›Overall, the Google Ads certifications are well-known to not be too difficult to pass, especially because you can Google answers to the questions while taking the test. However, because of the time limit, you'll still want to understand a wide range of definitions, concepts, and basic strategy/use cases.
What do you learn from Google Ads display certification? ›Validate your proficiency in using and optimising Shopping ads. Certified users will also demonstrate knowledge of how to create and optimise Shopping campaigns that maximise reach and conversions. Demonstrate your mastery of creating Google app campaigns to deliver business impact.
How much can you make with a Google Ads certification? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $98,500 and as low as $24,000, the majority of No Experience Google Adwords Specialist salaries currently range between $38,500 (25th percentile) to $58,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $75,000 annually across the United States.
How many hours is Google Ads certification? ›There are free Google Ads training classes available, too. Experts say it takes three or four hours to get started with keyword-based search advertising, but mastering Google Ads can take as much as 100 hours or more.
Can I get a job with just a Google certificate? ›While Google Career Certificates will not land you a job on their own, they will improve your resume, give you specific skills recruiters are looking for, and help you stand out to employers with industry-specific training.
What skills are required for Google Ads? ›In-depth knowledge of Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising (formerly Bing Ads), and Google Analytics. An understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) Google Ads certification. Competency with using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to produce reports and presentations for clients.
How do Google Ads specialist make money? ›If you own that site, you get paid every time someone clicks on one of those ads. This is usually called Cost Per Click (CPC) advertising.
What Google Ads certification should I get first? ›If you're brand new to Ads and the certification exams, I recommend starting with the Google Ads Search Certification first. Search ads are typically the most common type of ads a company will run. But if you are more focused on something like just shopping, then start there.
What if I fail the Google certification test? ›
- If you don't pass an exam, you can take it again 14 days after the date of your exam. If you don't pass a second time, you must wait 60 days before you can take it a third time. If you don't pass the third time, you must wait a year before taking it again.
How do I pass Google Ads test? ›- Step 1: Get On-the-Job Experience. This is the first thing Google recommends to prepare for their certification: ...
- Step 2: Choose Your Google Ads Certification Exam. ...
- Step 3: Study, Study, Study. ...
- Step 4: Practice! ...
- Step 5: Take the Test.
For the Video Advertising, Shopping Advertising, and Mobile Advertising you have 90 minutes to answer roughly 70 questions. *NOTE that there's no option to pause once you've started the exam. The test will time you until the end even if you shut your computer down so make sure you mark off the time to focus on passing.
Why do you want to be Google certified? ›As a Google Certified Trainer, you can help teachers learn how to use Google tools meaningfully in the classroom, provide support to those less familiar with its powerful suite and prepare students for future. Becoming a Google Certified Trainer is an effort to create a community of Google-savvy educators.
Which Google certification pays the most? ›The Professional Cloud Architect certification offered by Google Cloud is designed for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in designing, developing, and managing robust and scalable cloud solutions using Google Cloud technologies. It's one of the highest-paying IT certifications overall in the U.S.
What is the highest salary in Google Ads? ›Average starting Salary for Google Adwords in India is around ₹0.9 Lakh per year (₹7.5k per month). No prior experience is required to be a Google Adwords. What is the highest salary for a Google Adwords in India? Highest salary that a Google Adwords can earn is ₹4.6 Lakhs per year (₹38.3k per month).
How much does an entry level Google Ads specialist earn? ›An Entry Level Google Adwords Specialist in your area makes on average $28 per hour, or $0.40 (1%) less than the national average hourly salary of $28.78. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Entry Level Google Adwords Specialist salaries.
How much does the Google certification exam cost? ›These certifications require at least three years of cloud industry experience and one year working on Google Cloud. All Google Cloud Professional Certificate exams cost $200 plus tax where applicable [4]. The Google Cloud Professional Certificates are: Cloud Architect.
How much does it cost to be Google certified? ›There is no cost associated with taking the final assessment or applying for certification.
Are Google certifications free? ›Google offers many online courses with free certificates and badges.
Do Google certifications expire? ›
All Professional Google Cloud certifications are valid for two years from the date an individual certifies. The Cloud Digital Leader and the Associate Cloud Engineer certifications are valid for three years from the date an individual certifies.
Do companies hire people with Google certificates? ›“Employers are super keen on Google certificates because they know they're getting high-quality talent,” Gevelber says. “They also know they're getting more non-traditional talent, and that's really important to a lot of people who are hiring today.”
Which Google certificate gets you a job the fastest? ›The Google Project Management Professional Certification class by Coursera takes our top spot because learners with no prior experience can acquire the skills necessary to succeed in an entry-level project management role in six months or less. This course is perfect for those who are looking to pursue a new career.
Is Google Ads easy to learn? ›There are many challenges to learning Google Ads and creating a successful campaign. Some of the more common problems are failure to determine your audience and keywords correctly, difficulty describing what makes your business unique, missing information, and a website that doesn't work well on mobile devices.
Does Google Ads pay well? ›How much does AdSense pay per 1000 views? Roughly $0.2 – $2.5 per 1,000 views. Although it depends on many factors including the content of your site, location of your users, time on site and device breakdown. Use our AdSense revenue calculator above to find out how much you could earn with your website.
Is doing Google Ads easy? ›It is a massive industry and if you haven't tapped into its potential, I bet you'd love to. Be warned though: Google Ads is straightforward, but not easy. It takes time to master and most companies lose money on it, because they're not patient enough to get results from pay-per-click advertising.
How many views do you need to make money on Google Ads? ›You would need minimum blog traffic of 600,000 visitors per month, but likely much more. You can make money blogging in many ways and if you've reached this level of traffic, you should have several other streams of revenue, as well.
How can I earn from Google at home? ›- Ad Manager API. The Google Ad Manager API provides methods for managing Ad Manager inventory, creating orders, pulling reports, and more.
- AdMob. ...
- Google Ads. ...
- Google Ads API. ...
- AdSense Custom Search Ads. ...
- AdSense for Shopping. ...
- AdSense Host API. ...
- AdSense Management API.
Your Google Ads account is organized into 3 levels: account, campaigns, and ad groups.
What are the levels of Google certification? ›- Level 1 certification is based on knowing the fundamentals of Google tools.
- Level 2 certification is for the advanced user, with requirements to implement tools on a deeper level.
- Google Certified Trainers are qualified to provide training to schools and districts.
Is Google Ads Specialist in demand? ›
Overall, the demand for Google Ads specialists in India is high, and salaries are competitive. With the right skills and experience, you can build a successful career as a Google Ads specialist and earn a competitive salary in the digital marketing industry.
What happens if you fail Google Ads certification? ›You will need to have a score of 80% or greater on the certification assessment. You will have 75 minutes to take an assessment. If you don't pass an assessment, you can retake it one day later.
What is the salary of Google Ads strategist? ›Job Title | Salary |
---|---|
Google Ads Account Strategist salaries - 2 salaries reported | $44,166/yr |
Google ads strategist salaries - 1 salaries reported | $40,000/yr |
There are many challenges to learning Google Ads and creating a successful campaign. Some of the more common problems are failure to determine your audience and keywords correctly, difficulty describing what makes your business unique, missing information, and a website that doesn't work well on mobile devices.
Can anyone make money from Google Ads? ›Google AdSense provides a way for publishers to earn money from their online content. AdSense works by matching ads to your site based on your content and visitors. The ads are created and paid for by advertisers who want to promote their products.
How many questions are on the Google Ads certification? ›Questions: The assessment is made up of 63 multiple choice questions. Time limit: You'll have 90 minutes to complete the assessment. Passing score: You need to get a score of 80% or higher to pass. Retake period: If you don't pass the assessment, you can take it again after 1 day.