Be a Google Ads certified PPC manager
The Google Ads certification is a professional credential that Google offers to people who are proficient in both basic and advanced aspects of Google Ads. Today, there are six Google Ads certifications: Search, Display, Video, Shopping Ads, Apps, and Google Ads Measurement.
Keep in mind that the Google Ads Measurement certification does not count for the Google Partners badge.
With the Google Ads certification, people can show that they are recognized by Google as online advertising specialists. You can see the Google Ads certifications on the Google Ads Certification page in Skillshop.
In this tutorial, you will learn the benefits of certifications, what you need to do to get them, and how to share your certification status with your clients and prospects.
Create a Skillshop account
If you don’t have a Skillshop account, you’ll need to create one to access the Google Ads assessments required for certification. Learn how to create a Skillshop account.
Advantages of being certified
Demonstrate your expertise. Show current and potential customers that you’re a certified online advertising professional with your personalized certificate, available for printing.
Help your company become a Google Partner or Premier Partner in the Google Partners program. See details about the requirements here. Find out how to make your certification count towards your business’s Partner status here.
Google Partners certification
Certifications are one of three categories required for someone to become a Partner or Premier Partner. The certifications below are considered in the requirements:
- Search
- Display
- Video
- Shopping Ads
- Google Ads Apps.
Keep in mind that the Google Ads Measurement certification does not count towards the Google Partners badge. See more details about these certifications on the Google Ads Certifications page in Skillshop.
Google Ads certification
When you create your Skillshop account, you’ll have access to free Google Ads certification assessments and related learning programs that can be used as a reference for the assessments.
To get certified in a Google Ads product area, you need to pass the specific assessment available in Skillshop. Certifications are available for the following Google Ads product areas:
- Search advertising
- Display advertising
- Video advertising
- Shopping ads
- Google Ads Measurement.
Available Certifications in Skillshop
Google Ads Search Certification
Demonstrate your knowledge in creating and optimizing Google Search campaigns. To get certified, users need to show the ability to use automated solutions like Smart Bidding and Audience Solutions to improve campaign performance and thus achieve specific marketing goals.
Google Ads Display Certification
Demonstrate your ability to use Google Display campaigns to achieve results that generate the maximum return on investment in display advertising. To get certified, users need to show skill in developing efficient display strategies and campaigns to achieve specific marketing goals.
Google Ads Video Certification
Demonstrate your ability to achieve results with YouTube and Google video advertising solutions. To get certified, users need to show that they know how to tell stories on YouTube that reach potential customers throughout the purchase journey.
Google Ads Shopping Ads Certification
Use and optimize Shopping ads to validate your proficiency. To get certified, users must also show that they know how to create and optimize Shopping campaigns that maximize reach and conversions.
Google Ads Apps Certification
Demonstrate your knowledge in creating campaigns for apps that have a positive impact on businesses. To get certified, users must show that they understand the basics of advanced optimization and app campaign creation strategies.
Google Ads Measurement Certification
Demonstrate your ability to measure and optimize the performance of digital ads with Google measurement solutions. To get certified, users need to show that they understand the most important metrics and can turn valuable insights into actions to improve performance in Google Ads and have a positive impact on businesses. This certification is not considered for the Google Partners badge.
Languages
Google Ads certifications are available in 22 languages: German, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Slovak, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, French, Dutch, Indonesian, US English, UK English, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Czech, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
Preparation for Google Ads certifications
It is recommended that you have practical experience with Google Ads. It is important to know the basics of online advertising and best practices, as well as experience managing different types of Google Ads campaigns. You can also prepare by taking courses in Skillshop.
Approval grades and assessment time limits
You must score a minimum of 80% on the certification assessment. You will have 75 minutes to complete it. If you do not pass, you can retake it after one day.
A countdown will be displayed when you start the assessment. Once the clock starts counting, you will not be able to pause it. If you leave the assessment (e.g. if you close the browser or if the computer shuts down) the timer will expire immediately. You will have to wait one day to retake the assessment.
How to keep your certification
Your Google Ads certification will be valid until the product area certificate expires. Certifications are valid for one year. To renew it, you need to retake the assessment and pass it.
Guidelines for communicating certification status
Your Google Ads certifications show that you are a certified digital advertising professional. Here is what you can say to current and potential customers about your certification:
- According to your Google Ads certification, you are recognized as a certified online advertising professional.
- You received the certification after passing the Google Ads certification exam.
What you can say about your status
Example:
“Google has recognized me as a certified professional in Google Ads, which means I have taken many exams that tested my knowledge. I have the necessary qualifications to help you expand your business online using Google Ads.”
More ways to communicate your certification
- You can only say that you are a certified professional if you have been approved in the certification assessments. It is not enough for a colleague to be certified or for your agency to have the Partners badge.
- You can only say that you are a certified professional as long as your certification is valid. After the expiration date, you will not be able to refer to yourself as “certified” until you pass the exams again.
- You are authorized to mention your certification on your resume, business cards, LinkedIn profile, and other social media. Note: Google Partners logos can only be displayed according to Google’s usage guidelines.
Google Ads certifications vs. Google Partners badge
- Individuals can be certified. As a certified online advertising professional, you can showcase your achievement with a certificate issued by Google.
- Companies can become a Google Partner or a Premier Partner by joining the Google Partners program. A company that meets the requirements to become a Google Partner can promote itself as a Google Partner. A company does not automatically become a Google Partner just by joining the program.