Achieving Google Ads Certification is an excellent way to show a foundational understanding of PPC and Google Ads management.
Whether you’re fresh out of school, starting a role that involves Google Ads, or simply eager to learn, this certification is a great starting point.
For some jobs, it may be listed as a minimum requirement on applications, while others might include it in their onboarding or training processes. It’s also a valuable step in your self-directed learning journey, especially in less structured environments or if you’re independently advancing your skills.
Many agencies and organizations are part of the Google Partners program, which requires them to maintain specific standards, such as holding various badges or credentials. One of these standards includes having a required number of certified strategists in different specialty areas.
This article focuses on individual certification for professionals. If you’re becoming certified as part of your company’s Google Partner program, ensure that everything is properly linked with your company’s account.
What Is Google Ads Certification?
Google Ads certification is a way for Google to recognize marketers as experts in online advertising.
After passing the certification exams, individuals receive a personalized certificate and, if affiliated with a company, can contribute to the company’s Google Partner status.
Google Ads has undergone numerous changes recently. While the number of certification exam topics has expanded, the pace of updates in learning materials and exam content sometimes lags behind the platform’s rapid changes.
If you’re interested in pursuing Google Ads Certification, whether for personal growth or professional advancement, review the four steps involved in the process and be prepared to invest time in mastering them.
How To Earn Your Google Ads Certification
Step 1: Get Started In Skillshop
To start with Google Ads Certification, go to the Google Ads Certification platform on Skillshop.
Click “Log In” in the top right corner.
This is a crucial step: ensure that the account you use for certification is the correct one. If this is your first time using Skillshop, you’ll need to create a new account.
Before you start filling out forms or linking accounts, read through all the details for this step carefully.
If you already have an account, you might need to complete additional linking or migration steps due to Google’s transition from skillshop.exceedlms.com to skillshop.docebosaas.com.
If you work for an agency or company, it’s likely that you’ll need to use your work email address. To keep things organized, link your certification to the email address you use to manage Google Ads.
If you haven’t managed Google Ads before and don’t have an account, you can create one here to get started.
Returning users should ensure they access their existing Skillshop profile and verify that their Google account is correctly linked. This will help avoid accidentally taking exams with a new account instead of recertifying with your current one.
Be aware that you might need to complete additional linking and verification due to Google’s system migration. Account management can be tricky due to separate profiles and linked accounts between Skillshop and Google Ads.
If you want your certification to contribute to a Google Partners badge, make sure to use the company email address associated with managing ads for your Google Partner company.
For more information on the Google Partners program, including details, requirements, and setup logistics, consider researching further.
Remember, the certifications needed for Google Partners are more specific than those required for becoming a Google Ads Professional.
Step 2: Select Your Exam
If needed, navigate back to the Google Ads Certifications page on Skillshop to access the list of exam topics.
You’ll start on an introductory page that offers background information to help you choose the right certification and understand the different categories or tiers recommended by Google.
If your main objective is to get certified, proceed to the section focused on the certification exams.
Find the specific certification you want to pursue and click on it.
Read the overview provided for that certification, and when you’re ready to begin, click the “Get Started” button.
Step 3: Prepare For Exams
Google offers both basic educational resources and in-depth training content for Google Ads certifications. The available certifications are:
- AI-Powered Performance Ads Certification
- AI-Powered Shopping Ads Certification
- Google Ads – Measurement Certification
- Google Ads Apps Certification
- Google Ads Creative Certification
- Google Ads Display Certification
- Google Ads Search Certification
- Google Ads Video Certification
- Grow Offline Sales Certification
If you’re new to Google Ads and the certification exams, starting with the Google Ads Search Certification is recommended. Search ads are a foundational and traditional ad type within Google Ads.
However, if you have a specific focus, such as shopping ads, start with the relevant certification. For those interested in newer AI-powered ads and functionalities, you might choose the AI-focused certifications, but be prepared for a steeper learning curve as you’ll need to grasp both traditional concepts and new AI features.
Each certification has associated training content, which includes options to get started, such as quick knowledge assessments and additional resources. Plan to dedicate several hours to complete the specialized training content.
Even if you have experience managing Ads campaigns, it’s beneficial to go through the modules, even if more quickly. Sample questions are particularly useful as they mirror the format of the actual exams.
Be aware that due to recent rapid changes in Google Ads, some exam content may be slightly outdated compared to the latest platform features. Therefore, it’s crucial not to skip the training content unless you have significant previous certification or Ads experience.
Step 4: Pass The Assessment
To earn certification, you need to pass an assessment in one or more of the specified certification areas by achieving a minimum percentage of correct answers within the allotted time.
Remember, you cannot pause the timer, so make sure you can commit to the full duration of the exam without interruptions.
Upon passing, you will receive certification for that particular product focus area. You can choose to stop at one specialization or continue to pursue additional ones until you achieve all the relevant credentials for your goals.
If you’re ambitious or enjoy standardized tests, you’re welcome to attempt all available certifications.
If you don’t pass an exam, you’ll need to wait 24 hours before retaking it. This is the only consequence for not passing.
Once you pass an assessment, you’ll receive an email confirming your certification status. Previously, there were badges and certificates available for download, but as things evolve, it’s a good idea to keep a digital record of your certifications. You can always access your dashboard to verify your certification status if needed.
The Google Ads Platform Is Ever-Changing
Whether you’re new to Google Ads or have been managing campaigns for years and are now considering certification, I encourage you to explore the steps I’ve outlined. See if investing time in this process will enhance your learning and boost your credentials.
As noted earlier, be aware that there may be discrepancies between the exam content and the current platform features, due to the rapid pace of changes in Google Ads.
Regardless of your certification status, I wish you success on your Google Ads journey and hope for many profitable days ahead for your business or organization!
Original news from SearchEngineJournal