Google Cloud Certifications
Enterprises are rapidly moving to the cloud. As a result, cloud experts are in high demand to aid the cloud journey and manage their systems and deployments once they are in the cloud. For this reason, Google Cloud has certification programs to validate the skills of individuals on Google Cloud technologies, which shows their ability to enable businesses to move and operate on the cloud. Google Cloud certifications can make your resume stand out during the hiring or promotion process.
Why should you get Google Cloud-certified?
Google Cloud certification showcase the level of expertise that an individual obtains after passing one or more certification exams. Some organizations may prefer a certified individual over one without any certification. The certification proves that you have knowledge about Google cloud and you have previously worked on it.
According to the 2020 Google Cloud certification impact report, survey responses revealed that:
87% of Google Cloud-certified individuals are more confident about their cloud skills
More than 25% of Google Cloud-certified individuals received promotions to leadership roles.
‘Professional Data Engineer’ certification topped the list of highest paying IT certifications of 2021 with ‘Professional Cloud Architect’ following in second.
Levels of Google Cloud certification
Google Cloud has three levels of certification depending on an individuals’ knowledge and period of experience with Google Cloud technologies. These include:
Foundational certification
This validates an individual’s ability to understand the capabilities of Google Cloud. This includes a broad knowledge of cloud concepts and Google Cloud. As expected, no experience is required for this level and the certificate holder will be assigned the Cloud Digital Leader title. So if you’re an individual in a non-technical job role, wanting to add value to your organization by gaining cloud knowledge, this is the certification for you.
The certification exam is conducted in multiple-choice questions (MCQs) format, which you would be required to complete in 180 minutes at the cost of $99.
Associate certification
This level of certification validates an individual’s understanding of the fundamental skills in Google Cloud. This includes deploying, monitoring, and maintaining projects. Just like the foundational certification, this level only has one certificate, which is the Cloud Engineer. It requires that you have at least 6 months of hands-on experience working with Google Cloud, therefore suitable for those who are relatively new to the cloud and can lay the foundation for professional certification.
The exam is also administered in MCQ format to be completed in only 2 hours. It is available in English, Japanese, and Spanish at the cost of $125.
Professional certification
This level validates an individual’s advanced skills in design, implementation, and management across various job domains. It is recommended for those with at least 3 years of industry experience and 1-year experience with Google Cloud. This level includes 8 certifications:
The exams are administered in the same way to the Associate level at the cost of $200.
In addition, Google Cloud has certifications for Looker and a Certified Fellow Program for technical leaders who are experts in designing hybrid and multi-cloud enterprise solutions.