A Google Ads certification is a free credential from Google that shows you understand how to run Google Ads campaigns. You earn it by passing an online exam on Google Skillshop.
Google has created the Google Ads certification program to help advertisers understand the platform and create more effective campaigns.
In this post, we will examine how Google Ads certifications work, which one to take first, whether they’re worth it, and the steps you can take to get certified quickly.
What is a Google Ads Certification?
A Google Ads certification is awarded by Google to individuals who successfully pass one or more Google Ads exams. Google Ads certification holders demonstrate basic and advanced Google Ads skills.
Google currently offers nine Google Ads certifications:
Google Ads Search Certification, Google Ads Display Certification, Google Ads Video Certification, AI-Powered Shopping Ads Certification, Google Ads Apps Certification, Google Ads Measurement Certification, Grow Offline Sales Certification, Google Ads Creative Certification and AI-Powered Performance Ads Certification.
Google also offers two more advanced Professional certifications, for Search and Video (see step 2).
The Google Ads certifications are available in 22 languages.
Benefits of Google Ads Certifications
The most important reasons for getting a Google Ads certification are:
Become a Google Ads Certified Professional
Getting certified is an effective way to learn the ins and outs of Google Ads. Each certification requires you to pass an exam, which tests basic and more advanced concepts of using Google Ads.
Land a New Job And Get More Clients
A Google Ads Certification is considered one of the best Google certifications and can also help you land a job and boost your career. Whether you want to work in a company’s marketing department or as a freelancer, a certification is a way to showcase your skills.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Certification can differentiate you from other candidates with the same credentials and experience when applying for jobs.
Help Your Agency Become a Google Partner
Certifications are one of the requirements of the Google Partners program. The Search, Display, Video, Shopping ads, and Apps certifications count toward an agency’s Partner status.
Is a Google Ads Certification Worth It?
Yes, for most beginners, job seekers, and agencies, because it’s free and each course takes only a few hours. But it’s worth knowing what a certification does and doesn’t prove.
Why it’s worth it
- It costs nothing, and each Skillshop course takes about 1 to 4 hours.
- It gives you a recognized credential for your resume and LinkedIn profile, which helps when applying for entry-level PPC and digital marketing jobs.
- Agencies need certified team members to earn Google Partner status.
- Studying for it is a structured way to learn how Google Ads works.
Where it falls short
- The exams test concepts, not your ability to run a profitable campaign. Many experienced PPC managers say a certification alone doesn’t prove much.
- The foundational exams aren’t proctored, so employers know the answers can be looked up.
- The training reflects Google’s own recommendations, which don’t always fit every account or budget.
The best approach is to combine a certification with hands-on practice. Run a small campaign for your own website or a local business, or take a practical course like our Google Ads course, which shows you how to create and optimize campaigns step by step.
How to Get A Google Ads Certification
To become Google Ads certified, follow these steps:
- Create a Google Skillshop Account
- Choose your Google Ads Certification
- Prepare for the exams
- Pass the exams and Get Certified
1. Create a Google Skillshop Account
The first step to obtaining a Google Ads Certification is to set up your Google Skillshop account. This is the online hub where you will complete the Google Ads training and take the certification exams.
The platform is free, and the signup process is simple. Go to the Skillshop homepage and log in using your Google account.
This will create your Skillshop profile. You can then browse the platform to review the different certifications and their corresponding learning material. For a closer look at the platform, read our Google Skillshop review.
2. Choose your Google Ads Certification
Next, you will want to decide which Google Ads Certification you want to get.
There are nine Google Ads certifications available. Each showcases your knowledge and expertise in a different area of Google Ads.
Here’s what each one covers and how long its Skillshop course takes:
| Certification | Description | Course Length |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads Search Certification | Demonstrate your ability to set up, run, and optimize campaigns on the Google search network. | 3h 40m |
| Google Ads Display Certification | Demonstrate your expertise in managing Google Ads display campaigns. | 2h 56m |
| Google Ads Video Certification | Showcase your skills in using Google Video advertising and YouTube to reach more customers and increase sales. | 4h 01m |
| AI-Powered Shopping Ads Certification | Demonstrate your ability to generate revenue using Google Shopping campaigns. | 1h 15m |
| AI-Powered Performance Ads Certification | Show that you can use Performance Max, the campaign type that uses Google AI to run ads across Search, YouTube, Display, and Google’s other channels. | 3h 58m |
| Google Ads Measurement Certification | Demonstrate your ability to make informed decisions based on metrics from Google’s measurement solutions. | 2h 40m |
| Google Ads Apps Certification | Validate your ability to create effective Google App campaigns displayed on Google Search, Google Play, YouTube, and the Google Display Network. | 2h 47m |
| Google Ads Creative Certification | Show that you can produce effective ads and assets for Google Ads campaigns. | 3h 55m |
| Grow Offline Sales Certification | Show that you can use Google Ads to drive store visits and offline sales. | 2h 38m |
Which Google Ads Certification Should You Take First?
- New to Google Ads or looking for a job: start with Search, the campaign type most advertisers begin with.
- E-commerce: take AI-Powered Shopping Ads, then AI-Powered Performance Ads.
- Agencies: take the five certifications that count toward Google Partner status: Search, Display, Video, Shopping ads, and Apps.
- Experienced practitioners: look at the Professional certifications.
Google Ads Professional Certifications
Google has also developed a more advanced tier. The Skillshop catalog lists the Google Ads Search Professional and Google Ads Video Professional certifications. They test procedural knowledge (how to set up and manage campaigns) as well as concepts, and the exams are virtually proctored.
According to Google, the Professional certifications are available only to a limited audience for now, will require a fee in the future, and don’t count toward Google Partner status. The foundational certifications above stay free.
Google Ads Display Certification
The Google Ads Display Certification shows you how to use display ads to reach more people on the Google network.
These ads are shown to users as they browse the countless sites in the Google Display network. To pass the exam, you will need to understand the following concepts:
- How to create a Google Display strategy
- How to increase awareness, consideration, action, and retention using display ads
- The different types of Google Display ads
- Using Google Display Audiences
- How to use automated bidding strategies
Google Ads Search Certification
The Google Ads Search Certification shows your ability to manage search ads campaigns. These ads are displayed on the Google search engine when a user searches for a specific keyword.
To pass the exam, you will need to know the following:
- How to develop a search marketing strategy
- Using ad assets (formerly called extensions)
- How the ads auction works
- How to reach existing customers
- Planning campaigns using the Performance Planner
Google Ads Measurement Certification
The Google Ads Measurement Certification verifies your ability to use Google’s measurement solutions to measure and optimize campaign performance.
Some of the key concepts covered by this certification include:
- How to translate your marketing objectives into measurable goals
- How to set up conversion tracking to measure sales or leads
- Analyzing insights from your conversion tracking data
- How the different attribution models work
Google Ads Apps Certification
The Google Ads Apps Certification validates your ability to create effective Google App campaigns.
These ads let advertisers showcase their mobile apps. They are displayed via Google Search, Google Play, YouTube, and the Google Display Network.
To pass the certification exam, you will need to know the following:
- How to create an App campaign to meet a specific marketing goal
- How the Apps ecosystem works
- The different Apps campaign goals
- Understanding the various App campaign results
- Optimizing the app experience
- How to expand an App’s reach across markets
Google Ads Video Certification
The Google Ads Certification for video ads shows that you know how to use Google Video advertising and YouTube to reach more customers and increase sales.
The certification exam will test your understanding of the following concepts:
- The various video ad formats
- How to use YouTube video ads to grow awareness, increase consideration, and drive action
- How to use YouTube to drive direct response
- How to use YouTube audiences to create more relevant ads
AI-Powered Shopping Ads Certification
The AI-Powered Shopping Certification shows your ability to generate revenue using Google Shopping campaigns.
These ads are displayed on Google when users search for products and on Google partner sites.
To get certified, you must understand the following:
- Setting up product feeds in Google Merchant Center
- Creating Shopping and Performance Max campaigns for retail
- Promoting online and local inventory
- Measuring and optimizing the results of your Shopping campaigns
3. Prepare for the Google Ads exams
You can begin preparing for the exams after determining which certification you want to pursue.
The exams are not difficult. However, without proper preparation, you may find it difficult to pass.
Google Skillshop provides study material on its platform that can help you learn all the key concepts needed to pass the exam.
The courses consist of a mix of text-based lessons and practice questions. There is no set learning requirement, and you can complete the lessons in whatever order you see fit.
Many lessons end with practice questions you can use to check your understanding before the real exam.
You can also test yourself with our Google Ads quiz, which is designed to help you prepare for the exams.
Google Ads Courses
There are other resources that you can use to prepare for the exam.
4. Pass the exams and Get Certified
Now that you’ve prepared, you can take your Google Ads exams.
The Google Ads Certification Exam
Each exam has a 75-minute time limit, but well-prepared candidates can complete the assessment in far less time. To pass, you need a score of 80% or higher.
The timer starts when you begin the assessment and can’t be paused. If you leave the assessment, for example by closing your browser, the timer expires and the attempt ends.
To take an exam, log in to your Skillshop account, open the certification course, and complete the assessment.
You will know whether you passed or failed as soon as you finish the exam.
If you pass the certification assessment, you can view and download your certificate from the My Activities page in your Skillshop account. You can then add your certification to your LinkedIn profile.
If you fail, you can retake the assessment one day later.
Google Ads Exam Questions
The questions on the Google Ads Exams are relatively straightforward. Some will require some critical thinking to ensure that you thoroughly understand the concepts, but these are not too difficult.
The questions are a mix of true/false and multiple choice. Below are a few examples of the types of questions that you can expect to find on the Google Ads Certification exams:
- What is the benefit of using Google Ads for online advertising?
- Is it useful to create multiple ad groups?
- Your campaign is getting clicks, but the conversion rate is low. Which approach could help improve your conversion rate?
- What metric shows how often a click leads to a conversion?
FAQs
These are the most common questions people ask about Google Ads certifications.
Do Google Ads Certifications Expire?
Yes, Google Ads Certifications expire. They are only valid for one year from the date you pass the respective exam.
Google limits the validity of the certifications to ensure that certificate holders retain their understanding of how to use the platform.
To renew your certification, you need to pass the exam again. If you fail to complete the exam before the expiration date, your certification will no longer be active.
Is a Google Ads Certification Free?
All nine foundational Google Ads certifications are free. You must create a free Skillshop account and pass the exam to get a certification. According to Google, the Professional certifications will require a fee in the future.
Are Google Ads Certifications Recognized?
The Google Ads certifications are generally recognized in the industry as a valid credential. They’re also part of the Google Partners program, which requires agencies to have certified team members. Just keep in mind that employers value hands-on results more than the certificate itself.
How Much Do Google Ads Specialists Make?
Google Ads specialists are usually hired as PPC specialists. According to Indeed, PPC specialists in the United States earn an average of $66,747 a year. This amount varies based on experience, company, and location.
If you decide to sell Google Ads services by starting your own digital marketing agency, the amount you can make will depend on the number of campaigns you manage and their budget.
Agency specialists can charge a monthly fee, an hourly rate, a percentage of ad spend, or a set fee based on results.
Google Ads Certification Jobs
To become a Google Ads specialist, get certified first, then get hands-on experience. Run campaigns for your own website, a friend’s business, or a local nonprofit, keep a record of the results, and use them as your portfolio when you apply for entry-level PPC roles.
One or more Google Ads Certifications can make you a strong candidate for various digital marketing jobs. Let’s take a look at some of the most common jobs for professionals with Google Ads Certifications:
PPC Specialists
PPC Specialists manage the strategy, implementation, and optimization of pay-per-click campaigns. Because Google Ads are the most common form of PPC marketing, certification is highly valuable for this position.
Google Ads Specialists
Google Ads Specialists are similar to PPC specialists. The difference is that they focus solely on Google Ads.
Successful campaigns require ongoing optimization, so businesses that lack the time or resources to run campaigns effectively rely on Google Ads Specialists to get their desired results.
Google Ads Specialists often work at an agency. They hold entry- to mid-level positions and report to an account manager who handles the overall strategy and client relationship.
Digital Marketing Specialists
Digital Marketing Specialists handle a company’s online marketing campaigns. This more generic position can handle search engine optimization (SEO), social media, content marketing, and PPC. Digital Marketing Specialists with a Google Ads Certification are more valuable than those less versed in handling PPC campaigns.
Conclusion
The Google Ads certification program is one of the oldest and most trusted in the digital marketing industry. Becoming a Google Ads professional is not as difficult as it sounds.
You can start by going through the suggested learning plan provided by Google Skillshop or third-party courses.
Once you feel confident that you understand how Google ads work, you can attempt the exams and get certified.
What’s next?
To further enrich your knowledge, you can pursue a digital marketing certification. This is the most valuable accreditation for earning a higher salary and unlocking new career opportunities. To compare Google Ads with other paid search credentials, see our list of the best PPC certifications.
