A PPC marketing certification demonstrates your expertise in pay-per-click advertising strategies, platforms, and best practices.
It validates your ability to create, manage, and optimize campaigns across search engines, social media, and other channels, making you more attractive to potential employers or clients and enhancing your credibility as a digital marketing professional.
In this post, you'll find the most popular and highly rated PPC courses with certificates to help you build your PPC skills.
10 Top PPC Marketing Certifications
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- Google Ads Search Certification
- Reliablesoft Marketing Certification
- Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate
- Microsoft Advertising Certified Expert
- Simplilearn Advanced PPC Certification Training
- Amazon Sponsored Ads Certification
- Semrush PPC Fundamentals Certification
- Google Ads Display Certification
- Coursera Digital Advertising Strategy Certification
- Google Ads Video Certification
1. Google Ads Search Certification
- Best For: Getting certified in Google Ads.
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Self-Paced
- Certification: Google Ads Search Certification
The Google Ads Search Certification is the official certification for getting certified in Google Ads and one of the most valuable PPC certifications you can get.
It focuses exclusively on how to plan, implement, and optimize your Google PPC search campaigns.
Who is this for?
This is a good starting point if you want to become a Google Ads Specialist. It's suitable for anyone wishing to learn how to run paid campaigns on Google and is a requirement for agencies that want to become an official Google Partner.
What you’ll learn?
This course provides an end-to-end view of the Google Search ads platform and will show you how to develop Google search campaigns to serve different goals, like increasing leads, sales, or web traffic.
The Google Search certification also covers important topics like budgeting, understanding the Google Ads auction, and getting users' attention with optimized text ads. Other topics include:
- Google audience research and building
- Performance boosting with optimization score
- Increasing conversions with Performance Planner
- Making ads relevant with Search Ad extensions
- Boosting efficiency with automated bidding
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
The certification is completely free and available to take at your own pace. You can use free resources in Google Skillshop or other Google Ads courses to prepare for the certificate exam.
For more information, read our guide on how to get certified in Google Ads.
2. Reliablesoft Marketing Certification
- Best For: Learning Google Ads and Facebook Ads.
- Cost: $149
- Duration: Self-Paced
- Certification: Digital Marketing Certification
Another option to consider is the Digital Marketing Certification from Reliablesoft Academy. This certification covers everything you need to know about PPC campaigns, including Google Ads (search and display campaigns), Facebook Ads, and Retargeting ads.
It's a highly actionable course built from our 15+ years of experience running PPC campaigns worth millions of dollars.
Who is this for?
This certificate is for everyone who wishes to learn the exact steps to run highly profitable PPC campaigns. Instead of trying to figure out the winning formula yourself by performing endless tests, we'll give you a proven blueprint to follow and get results faster.
We did numerous tests to develop a plan of action that works for all kinds of businesses and niches. It's proven tested and can generate a good return from every dollar you spend on paid ads.
What you'll learn?
This certificate includes 14 courses covering all digital marketing concepts, not just PPC marketing. Through the courses, you'll learn how to design and execute campaigns to combine one or more marketing channels to get the best possible outcome.
In particular, when it comes to PPC, you'll be able to:
- Set up a Google Ads account from scratch and optimize the important settings
- Run different kinds of campaigns on the Google Search and Display Network, including Google Discover
- Optimize your Google ads campaigns using proven techniques and practices
- Create high-converting ads to engage with your customers
- Learn how to structure your Facebook Ads campaigns (including Instagram) to target the right audience on Facebook
- Learn how to create different Facebook campaigns to simulate the steps of a sales funnel
- Learn how to reduce your Facebook advertising costs
- How to run retargeting ads on Google, Facebook, and Instagram
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
The total cost of this certification is $149. It's a once-off cost and not a monthly subscription. With your registration, you get lifetime access to the online learning platform. All courses are updated frequently, and you get new updates for free.
While this is a self-paced learning course, meaning you can follow the lessons at your own pace and time, most students can complete the lessons and get the Digital marketing certification in about two weeks.
You can view hundreds of five-star course reviews to understand whether this certification fits your PPC training needs.
3. Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate
- Best For: Getting a certification from Meta.
- Cost: $245
- Duration: 5 months
- Certification: Meta Social Media Marketing Certification
The Social Media Marketing Certificate by Meta will help you leverage social media platforms to capture traffic and leads.
This comprehensive certificate takes you from beginner to professional in social media marketing with all the skills you need, delivered over 6 expert courses.
Who is this for?
The course will prepare you for an entry-level role in social media marketing.
No background knowledge is necessary, but a basic understanding of the Meta landscape (previously Facebook) is helpful.
After achieving your certification, you’ll also have access to the Meta Career Programs board, making this an ideal learning opportunity for anyone looking for a new career.
What you’ll learn?
The course consists of six courses. It starts with a basic introduction to digital marketing and building an online presence, followed by tips on building marketing plans to achieve different goals.
It introduces the concepts of social media management, how to create a strong brand, and when to schedule your posts for the best results.
You’ll look at channels like Instagram and Facebook Ads for effective advertising and examine concepts like ad objectives and target audience.
Other topics covered include:
- Measuring and analyzing social media campaigns
- Examining budget and ad placement
- Cross-channel social media marketing
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
This course will take around 5 months to complete at a rate of 10 hours of study per week. Your certificate costs $49 per month, which brings the total cost to $245.
This certification also prepares you for the Meta Digital Marketing Associate exam, so you'll ultimately achieve two Meta Certifications.
For more information, read our comprehensive review of the Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate.
4. Microsoft Advertising Certified Expert
- Best For: Learning how Microsoft Advertising Works.
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 20 hours
- Certification: Microsoft Advertising Certification
The Microsoft Advertising Certified Expert is the official advertising certification offered by Microsoft. To get certified, you need to pass 4 other certifications:
- Microsoft Search Certification
- Microsoft Display & Video Certification
- Microsft Retail Certification
- Microsoft Retail Media Certification
It's the equivalent of Google Ads certification but geared towards Microsoft products.
Who is this for?
Any marketer who wants to become an expert on using the Microsoft ecosystem to reach audiences on Bing, Bing Ads, Bing shopping, and other Microsoft products.
What you’ll learn?
- Understand the Microsoft advertising ecosystem and effectively use the Microsoft Advertising platform.
- Utilize Display & Video advertising and leverage Microsoft Audience Ads to achieve marketing objectives.
- Implement best practices for product ads and Microsoft Advertising shopping campaigns.
- Optimize retail media campaigns, make data-driven decisions, and onboard new brands efficiently using the Microsoft Retail Media platform.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
The Microsoft PPC certifications are free to take at your own pace. Each course will take around 5 hours to complete, and you can take all the lessons through the Microsoft Learning Lab.
5. SimpliLearn Advanced PPC Certification Training
- Best For: Getting a PPC Certification.
- Cost: $999
- Duration: 50 hours
- Certification: Advanced PPC Certification
The Advanced Pay Per Click (PPC) Certification Training by Simplilearn is ideal for anyone wishing to become a PPC expert.
It provides students with the knowledge, tools, and resources to pursue an entry-level job in PPC marketing.
Who is this for?
The course is designed to help students master PPC advertising across platforms like Google and Bing Ads. It focuses on hands-on learning and covers campaign optimization, ad testing, keyword strategies, and advanced PPC features.
To register, you need a high school diploma or undergraduate degree in any discipline to ensure you have the learning skills to follow the lessons successfully.
Additionally, the course prepares students for the Google Ads and Bing Ads certifications.
What you’ll learn?
This PPC certificate takes a comprehensive approach to paid marketing, starting with the psychology of search and the buying funnel. You also get a complete insight into keyword usage, match types, negative keywords, and tips on keyword research.
Throughout a series of 32 lessons, you’ll learn:
- How to create a PPC strategy
- Campaign setup, bidding, and budget management
- Analyzing the buying funnel
- Audience targeting and remarketing
- Ad extensions and campaign types
- Different methods of targeting (location and language)
- Reporting and AB testing
- Working with quality score diagnosis
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
With an all-in-one price of $999, you can get lifetime access to the course lessons, including hands-on projects for perfecting your new skills and simulation exams for self-assessment.
You’ll need around 50 hours to consume all the content, but you can spread this out at your own pace.
6. Amazon Sponsored Ads Certification
- Best For: Learning Amazon Ads
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Self-Paced
- Certification: Amazon Sponsored Ads Certification
The Sponsored Ads Certification from Amazon provides a foundational understanding of managing campaigns through Amazon’s advertising console.
The course covers ad setup, targeting methods, budget management, and core policies for advertisers.
Who is this for?
Marketers interested in working with eCommerce brands and advertising experts who frequently list products on Amazon will definitely benefit from this PPC course.
The lessons focus exclusively on the Amazon ecosystem, helping students build essential skills to manage ad campaigns effectively and achieve business goals on Amazon.
If you’re hoping to drive more attention to product listings on Amazon or work with a wider range of sellers in this space, this is the PPC certification for you.
What you’ll learn?
This course starts simple, with insights into how to set your business goals, optimize your product pages for advertising, and create promotional messages for sponsored ads. You’ll also learn:
- Which guidelines to follow for ad acceptability
- How to use reports for campaign insights
- How to understand sales attribution
- How to set up and manage Sponsored Ads campaigns
- Effective targeting strategies
- Bidding and budget management techniques
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
The Amazon Sponsored Ads certification is a free, self-paced course that can be taken at your own pace. You’ll need a few hours to cover all of the content and at least two hours to take the Sponsored Ads certification assessment.
7. Semrush PPC Fundamentals Certification
- Best For: Getting a Free PPC Certification.
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 5 hours
- Certification: PPC Fundamentals Certification
The Semrush PPC Fundamentals Course provides a step-by-step overview of PPC through 36 lessons of valuable, in-depth content. It includes videos, extra reading resources, and quizzes to test your knowledge.
Who is this for?
This PPC certificate is great for marketers who want to showcase their PPC skills to potential clients.
The course is designed for beginners and focuses on core PPC concepts like campaign setup, keyword strategies, ad testing, and optimization across search and display platforms.
What you’ll learn?
The course starts with an overview of Pay Per Click and how to design a strategy. It then includes a full guide to finding keywords for your search campaigns, creating shopping campaigns, and mastering display advertising.
Other topics include:
- How to track conversions along the funnel
- Which ad formats to use for each campaign
- The basics of multi-touch conversions and remarketing
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
This PPC certificate is free to access, with 5 hours of content to explore. You can take the courses at your own pace and access the PPC fundamentals exam when ready.
8. Google Ads Display Certification
- Best For: Advertising with Google Display Ads
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Self-Paced
- Certification: Google Ads Display Certification
Google Display Advertising Certification is one of the most crucial Google certifications for any PPC expert to master. It looks at an essential part of the Google ecosystem: display advertising.
This course teaches you how to build a comprehensive display advertising strategy in the Google Network.
Who is this for?
If you’re keen to expand your knowledge of PPC advertising beyond Google search, the Google Ads Display certification will give you a complete overview of the display network. You’ll learn how to use Google display ads alongside other marketing campaigns to give your message a broader reach.
What you’ll learn?
The Google Ads Display Certification equips learners with the knowledge to create, manage, and optimize Display campaigns on Google Ads. It covers audience targeting, ad formats, and strategies to maximize campaign performance.
Other topics covered include:
- How to grow a business with Google ads
- Different campaign types within Google display ads
- How to boost efficiency with automated bidding
- Increase conversions with the Performance planner
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
The Google Ads Display certification is a free, self-paced course that should only take a few hours to complete. You must set aside at least 1.3 hours to complete the Google Ads Display assessment to receive your certification.
9. Coursera Digital Advertising Strategy Certification
- Best For: Getting an overview of all PPC platforms (besides Google and Facebook).
- Cost: $49
- Duration: 1 month
- Certification: Digital Advertising Strategy Certification
The Digital Advertising strategy certification goes beyond the basics of PPC to ensure you have a complete guide to making an impact online.
This is an extremely comprehensive PPC course that covers all the major advertising tactics, including video, display, native, sponsored, search, social media, and programmatic.
Who is this for?
Designed for students hoping to develop a career in digital advertising, this course covers everything you need to know about the different kinds of PPC ads and how to use them in your marketing strategies.
The content is beginner-friendly, but basic knowledge of digital ads is recommended.
What you’ll learn?
You’ll learn how to create tailored advertising campaigns for different platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Taboola, Twitter, and Google Ads. Other topics covered include:
- The complete guide to search advertising and how to choose keywords
- How to target specific customers on social media
- What native advertising means and how to use it
- How to use programmatic advertising
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
Coursera recommends assigning around 10 hours a week to this course to complete it within 1 month. The total cost is $49.
You'll receive a certificate from the University of Colorado Boulder.
10. Google Ads Video Certification
- Best For: Video PPC Marketing
- Cost: Free
- Duration: Self-Paced
- Certification: Google Ads Video Certification
The Google Ads Video certification from Google Skillshop highlights everything you need to know about capturing your audience with engaging video content.
Certified users will be able to demonstrate a complete understanding of how to use platforms like YouTube to drive brand growth.
Who is this for?
PPC specialists who want to build video marketing skills.
Google’s step-by-step instructions are easy to follow, even for a beginner, and they provide insights into running successful video campaigns.
What you’ll learn?
This Google course starts with an introduction to YouTube's value for content creators, advertisers, and users alike. You’ll learn how to create a YouTube strategy to deliver the right message to the correct customer at each buyer journey stage.
Other topics include:
- Understanding and using different video ad formats
- The creative essentials for advertisers on YouTube
- Leveraging YouTube to encourage action
- Evaluate campaign performance
How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?
The Google Ads video certification is free to take at your own pace. You’ll be able to complete the course content and take the exam in less than 3 hours.
Compare PPC Marketing Certification Courses
The table below compares the most popular PPC courses' cost, duration, and certification.
| Course | Cost | Duration | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Ads Search Certification | Free | Self-Paced | Yes |
| Reliablesoft Marketing Certification | $149 | Self-Paced | Yes |
| Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate | $245 | 5 months | Yes |
| Microsoft Advertising Certified Expert | Free | Self-Paced | Yes |
| Simplilearn Advanced PPC Certification Training | $999 | 50 hours | Free |
| Amazon Sponsored Ads Certification | Free | Self-Paced | Yes |
| Semrush PPC Fundamentals Certification | Free | 5 hours | Yes |
| Google Ads Display Certification | Free | Self-Paced | Yes |
| Coursera Digital Advertising Strategy Certification | $49 | 1 month | Yes |
| Google Ads Video Certification | Free | Self-Paced | Yes |
Are PPC Marketing Certifications Worth It?
Earning a PPC certification shows your clients and potential employers you have the skills to use PPC ads across different platforms to help businesses fulfill their marketing goals.
PPC ads are among the most important components of digital marketing campaigns. Often used alongside SEO campaigns and organic social media strategies, PPC ads help companies gain the attention they need to make sales in a competitive environment.
With the right PPC certification, you can:
- Develop your skills in specific areas of PPC advertising, like leveraging Google Ads, the display network, or video marketing strategies.
- Highlight your potential value to clients and demonstrate an ability to make the most of the top PPC marketing platforms.
- Separate yourself from other competing PPC advertising agencies and professionals.
- Keep your knowledge of PPC up-to-date as algorithms and trends change.
Our Certificate Review Process
To help you find worthy PPC certifications, we’ve looked at courses from trusted training providers. We included PPC training options from companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon, which are the leaders in PPC advertising.
An experienced PPC expert and trainer performed the review.
Related Courses and Certifications
Getting a PPC certification is a great step for beginners but it is not the end of your learning journey. To open up new career opportunities, you should consider a career in digital marketing, which covers areas beyond PPC ads.
- Digital Marketing Certifications - a review of the best certifications to consider covering a wide range of digital marketing channels.
- Best Digital Marketing Courses - a comprehensive walkthrough of the most useful digital marketing courses for beginners. Some include lessons on PPC marketing.
