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How to Get Google Ads Certified—the Easy Way

1/27/2020 | admin

A Google Ads Certification is more than just a piece of paper that shows the world you’re proficient with the Google paid advertising platform.

Google Ads Certification is proof that you have the knowledge, experience, and skillset to effectively manage and grow a Google Ads account. This is important because most businesses are wasting tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars every year due to mismanaged paid ad campaigns. Worse yet, they’re probably not taking advantage of the full scope of features that can help drive increased traffic and sales. If your business is advertising on Google, or if you’re considering getting started, here’s how to get Google Ads Certified so that you’ll be able to manage your account better.

What is Google Ads Certified?

Google Ads, previously known as Google AdWords, certification is an accreditation that Google gives to individuals who have shown proficiency on their Ads platform. Once accredited, Google will provide you with a badge that you can display on your website to show your visitors that you’re an expert. The certification process itself consists of two Ads certification exams. The first is the Ads Fundamentals Exam and your choice of one additional exam such as:

Search Advertising
Display Advertising
Video Advertising
Shopping Advertising
Mobile Advertising

The exam process used to cost $100, but due to recent changes in the program, it’s now completely free! You’ll take the exam online and have 120 minutes to answer around 100 questions for the Search Advertising, Display Advertising, and the Ads Fundamentals parts. The Shopping Advertising, Mobile Advertising, and Video Advertising exams consist of 70 questions you’ll need to answer in a 90-minute period of time. Keep in mind that you cannot pause the exam once you’ve started it. Even if you turn your computer off, the clock will continue to tick until you’re out of time. The lowest score you need to achieve certification is 80%. If you fail the exam, Google will allow you to re-take it after seven days. This is an excellent time to study up and review the questions you’ve missed.

How to Get Started?

If you already have a Google Ads account, the process to get certified has changed slightly. Before, they required you to sign into Google Partners to take the exam. Now they require you to sign up for a free Skillshop account. Skillshop is a Google-branded training platform that you can use to help grow your expertise in one of many Google products such as Android, Google Ad Manager, and Google Ads. Once you’ve logged into your Google Account (be sure to click the blue “Log In” button in the upper right-hand corner), you’ll see the Skillshop home page: Google Skillshop

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “EXPLORE COURSES TO GET STARTED” button. Google certification

Once inside, you’ll see a list of topics. Click on the “Google Ads” box.

You’ll see six more boxes on the next page. Click on the “Google Ads Search” box.

On the final page, you’ll see two boxes:

Google Ads Search Certification
Learn the Fundamentals of Google Ads Search
If you’re already proficient with Google Ads, click on the “Google Ads Certification” box to take the assessment test. If not, click on the “Learn the Fundamentals of Google Ads Search.” This is where you can read, learn, and study up before you take the exam.

Before you can begin the learning course, you’ll need to take a short 2-minute assessment. Your responses will help Google improve the course over time. After you’ve submitted the completed assessment, you’ll see a screen that show the E-Learning Assessment start page. Click on the blue button to begin. If you clicked the “Google Ads Certification” button, you’ll need to take the Knowledge Check Assessment test. Keep in mind that this isn’t the Google Ads certification test—it’s a pre-test that you have to take to prove to Google that you’re proficient enough to take the main test. In the Knowledge Check Assessment test, Google will ask you 21 questions that pertain to the Google Ads platform. If you get below an 80% score, you’ll need to study up and re-take it. They will show you exactly which questions you answered incorrectly. After you’ve successfully passed the Knowledge Check Assessment test, Google will then allow you to take the Google Ads Certification. Best of luck!

PPC and Online Marketing Help in New Bern

If you need paid ad marketing help give the experts at AlphaGraphics New Bern a call. We’ve helped countless local businesses manage and grow their Google Ads accounts. At AlphaGraphics of New Bern, we’re much more than a print shop. We’re also marketing experts who you can count on to help you when it comes time to market your business. To learn more about how AlphaGraphics of New Bern can produce and design your next project, you may email us, request a quote or call us at (252) 633-3199.

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