According to statistics, 80% of the world’s companies use Google Ads to attract audiences and increase sales. That’s why the demand for qualified specialists in this field is constantly growing.
Obtaining a certificate confirming the qualification of a PPC specialist is the most important step towards building a career in contextual advertising. Having a certificate simultaneously confirms your competence, gives you a serious competitive advantage in the labor market and allows you to qualify for better positions and salary.
But how do you get a Google Ads specialist certificate and what does it represent? How long does it last and how do you keep your knowledge up to date? These and many other questions are answered in our article.
What is certification and what is it for?
Google Ads certification is an official proof of your high level of skills and knowledge in the field of online marketing. The corresponding document can be obtained as a result of online testing, the completion of which allows you to get a personalized electronic certificate in a particular area.
It is important to note that the training itself and the subsequent testing are completely free of charge. However, do not underestimate the value of this document. Obtaining it requires a certain amount of time, self-discipline and determination. You will need to thoroughly study a large amount of information, understand the nuances of the platform and apply this knowledge in practice.
So why do you need Google AdWords certification? It serves as a strong confirmation of your professionalism in the eyes of employers. When applying for a job or cooperating with customers, having it will be a serious advantage that will set you apart from your competitors. Moreover, it shows that you not only know about advertising, but are an official partner of the search giant.
Together with the certificate you will receive a special partner badge, which you can proudly share on your website, in social networks, presentations and commercial offers. This significantly increases the level of trust, because Google is a recognized leader in the field of online advertising, setting high quality standards.
Of course, it is possible to work in the field of contextual advertising without a certificate. Advertising platform can be mastered independently, having studied the help or special courses PPC. But the official confirmation of skills will be a clear evidence that you have not just understood the theory, but also apply it in practice.
The certificate can be presented to employers both in electronic and printed format. They will immediately have no doubts about your competence, because your name and surname will be clearly indicated in the received document.
Benefits of getting certified in Google Ads
You’ve probably wondered if it’s worth the time and effort to study and take a test. Most people may think that a certificate is just a piece of paper with little real value.
But let me dispel this misconception! In fact, certification opens up a whole range of benefits that can significantly impact your professional growth and business success.
For private PPC specialists
Increased competitiveness in the labor market. Having a relevant document in your resume significantly increases your chances of employment, as many employers consider it as a mandatory requirement when hiring.
Attracting new clients. To potential customers, confirmation of professionalism of a freelancer or private specialist is a strong argument in favor of starting cooperation. This way you demonstrate your competence, responsible approach to work and readiness to provide services at a high professional level.
Checking and updating your knowledge. The sphere of online advertising is constantly evolving, new tools and features appear. Regularly taking the updated test allows you to familiarize yourself with the latest trends and changes in the development of the Google advertising service.
For agencies
Control the quality and knowledge level of employees. It is extremely important for employers to have real professionals on their staff. The availability of certificates for employees serves as a confirmation of their competence and allows the agency to provide services at a high level.
Obtaining the status of an official Google partner. Partnership with the search giant for clients indicates a high level of expertise of the agency. This requires the presence of at least one certified specialist in the staff (or two – to obtain the status of a leading partner). But if you want to provide services for setting up contextual advertising at the highest level, it is better that all employees are certified.
Free advertising on the Google site. Obtaining this document opens up additional opportunities for the agency to promote its services. Certified partners are included in a special list grouped by subject, which makes it easy for potential customers to find a suitable contractor for cooperation.
Opportunity to place a Google Partner badge on the website. Passing the certification gives the agency the right to place special icons on its web pages, confirming the status. After clicking on the icon, the user is directed to the agency’s page on Google’s website.
How to get certified in Google Ads?
In 2019, Google has launched a new online advertising training service called Skillshop. Here you can find all the information you need to prepare and take the test itself. Among other things, you can find information on all the company’s main products, including Google Ads, Analytics and My Business. To complete the training, you need to register on the academy’s website skillshop.exceedlms.com.
When registering, be careful to provide correct personal data, as it will be displayed on the certificate. If you are being tested as an employee of a marketing agency, don’t forget to specify its name, country and email for communication. This way, your manager will be able to receive up-to-date information about your progress. Also, be sure to link your profile to your corporate Google Ads account.
Google Ads certification is available in many languages, including Russian, Ukrainian, Japanese, Chinese and English. However, to pass the exam, you need to keep the following points in mind:
You must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly.
You will not be scored if you close your browser tab or try to return to the previous step, or if you fail to answer all of the questions in the allotted time. Therefore, it is important to allow at least 90 minutes to complete the test.
The test cannot be paused during the process. If you suddenly decide to interrupt, you will not be able to continue from the same place.
If you fail to pass the first time – do not despair! Another attempt will be available the next day. There is no limit to the number of attempts, so everyone can pass the exam with due diligence.
Once you have given an answer to a question, you cannot go back and change it. Think carefully before proceeding to the next step.
After passing, you will receive a certificate that is valid for 1 year. To keep your status up to date, you must retake the test every year. This ensures that your knowledge allows you to work with the latest tools and is not outdated.
How does one go about preparing for Google Ads certification?
To prepare for your Google Ads certification, start by visiting the Skillshop Academy website. After registering on the site, click the “Search” icon on the left menu. In the list that opens, look for “Google Advertising” and click on it. Here you will see ready-made collections of information on a wide variety of topics – from video advertising to auditing advertising campaigns.
A convenient filtering system allows you to sort the courses by complexity and duration. The best place to start is with the Google Ads Fundamentals course, which consists of four modules. Each module is a full-fledged tutorial on a specific topic. You can go through them in any order, but it is better to master all four to pass the test. Each module takes an average of 15-20 minutes to master.
If the information provided in Skillshop Academy is not enough, you can use the official Google Ads Help to expand your horizons, which provides comprehensive answers to most questions.
Previously, in order to complete the certification, you had to pass two tests – one on the basics of working with the platform and another of your choice. But today the requirements have been simplified – it is enough to pass only 1 of the 6 available exams. This will also be enough to become a Google Partner. However, you will need to take one of the specialized tests (basic is not enough).
How does the AdWords exam go?
You are given 90 minutes for the entire process, during which you will have 65 questions to answer. The time countdown starts as soon as you click on the “Run” button, so it is important to fully concentrate on the test and eliminate distractions.
Most of the questions have 4 answer options, among which there may be one or several correct answers. Be careful and read each sentence thoughtfully so that you do not fall into traps or get confused. The test may contain similar questions with minor changes in the data, so take your time and analyze each one separately.
If you have diligently studied the theory of AdWords basics and have already worked with advertising, taking the test will take you about 30-40 minutes. After completing the test, you will know the result immediately.
If more than 80% of the tasks have been completed correctly, the exam has been passed. You will see the system’s congratulations in front of you and a ready-made personalized electronic document. You can save it, print it out or immediately publish it on the website or social networks.
If the number of correct answers is less than necessary, do not despair – you can retake the test in exactly 24 hours. At the same time, all information about previously passed or started tests, as well as about the progress in studying the topic will be visible in your personal journal on the Academy website.
What types of Google Ads certifications are available?
In addition to the basic qualification, you can get Google Ads certification for each advertising tool separately. Thus, the Academy website presents training in such areas.
On conducting search campaigns
The course is ideal for those who want to learn how to create and optimize campaigns in search. The program focuses on working with smart bid assignment and different audiences.
By mastering these tools, you will be able to significantly increase the effectiveness of your search campaigns, attract more relevant traffic to your site and improve conversion rates.
The entire training process will take about 4 hours of your time, and the final exam consists of 50 tests with 75 minutes to complete.
On running campaigns for apps
Google has a separate course dedicated to setting up and optimizing campaigns to promote mobile apps. By taking this course, you will learn how to effectively use the service’s capabilities to promote your app – to increase the number of installs, increase user engagement, and monetize it.
You will learn how to create attractive ads, choose the right audiences and optimize bids for maximum return. This module is only 3 hours long, and the final exam after completing the training consists of 49 questions with 75 minutes to complete.
On Contextual Media Networking
Advertising in Google CMMS allows you to reach the widest audience, increase brand awareness and stimulate interest in the company’s products or services. To prepare for the test, be sure to take the relevant training on the Skillshop website, as working with this tool is very different from setting up campaigns in search.
You will need about 2.5 hours to study the training material. The test in this area contains 49 questions and the time to complete it is also 75 minutes.
Video Campaigns
This certificate is aimed at those who want to learn how to create and optimize effective ads on YouTube and Google Video platforms. To fully master it you will need to allocate about 4 hours, during which you will have to learn all the ways to create and optimize video campaigns on YouTube and Google partner sites, as well as learn how to analyze their effectiveness.
The exam consists of 74 questions, and you have exactly 90 minutes to answer them. As with the other modules, you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly to pass.
On Shopping Campaigns
If you want to expand the audience of your online store and increase the number of conversions – this is what you need. By taking this module, you will learn how to effectively use product ads to attract potential customers and increase sales.
It will take just over 3 hours to study the material. However, just learning the basics of merchant advertising is not enough to pass. You must be well-versed in the functionality of the Merchant Center service and have relevant work experience. The test here consists of 63 items that you will need to answer within 90 minutes.
On evaluating the effectiveness of ads
This is a kind of summit. We recommend taking it only after mastering the other five areas. After taking this course, you will learn how to professionally evaluate the effectiveness of already launched campaigns, identify problem areas and make adjustments to improve their performance. You will learn how to analyze key metrics – CTR, conversions, price per click, and use the data to make optimization decisions.
You will need about five hours to complete the final module on evaluating the effectiveness of ads. This is the most extensive and comprehensive course on the platform. The exam consists of 50 tests with 75 minutes to complete.
