Google Cloud Platform certifications validate your expertise and knowledge to increase the ROI of businesses with Google Cloud technology.

There are three types of GCP certifications:

Associate certification
This is focused on the fundamental skills of deploying, monitoring, and maintaining projects on Google Cloud and is ideal for newbies to cloud.
 

Certificate Name: Associate Cloud Engineer

Professional certification
Professional certifications cover key technical job functions and assess advanced skills in design, implementation, and management and are ideal for individuals with some industry experience, preferably with the cloud.
 

Certificate Names:

• Professional Cloud Architect
• Professional Data Engineer
• Professional Cloud Developer
• Professional Cloud Network Engineer
• Professional Cloud Security Engineer
• Professional Collaboration Engineer

User certification
The user certification is intended for individuals with experience using G Suite and determines an individual’s ability to use core collaboration tools.
 

Certification Name: GSuite Certification

The GPC Cloud Architect examination tests your ability to create and plan a cloud solution architecture, manage the cloud solution infrastructure, and optimize technical and business processes while ensuring the reliability of solutions and operations.

Google Cloud certifications give you validation for your professional development. They help you scale your skill set against your peers and demonstrate your professional value to hiring managers.

You must be 18 years or older to take Google Cloud Platform Associate and Professional certification exams.

There are no such prerequisites for the Google Certified Architect certification exam. It is ideal for professionals who have one to two years of experience working as an administrator, solution architect, or operations manager, and aspirants who want to become cloud architects.

If you don’t pass on the first attempt, you can retake it after 14 days. If you don’t pass in the second attempt, you must wait for 60 days before you can take it a third time. If you don’t pass on the third attempt, you must wait for one year before taking it again. 

The top-paying cloud certifications are:

• Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect – $139,529 (Source: Payscale)
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate – $132,840 (Source: Payscale)
• AWS Certified Developer — Associate – $130,369 (Source: Payscale)
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GCP certificates are valid for two years.

The cost for Google Cloud Certified, Professional Cloud Architect is $200 USD.

No, you do not need to be a  Google Cloud partner to take an exam. It can be taken by anyone who is interested.

Google adheres to the U.S. government’s list of restricted countries maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.  For online exams, you must present approved identification showing residence in a non-embargoed country.

A full or partial refund may be available only under exceptional circumstances. If the test-taker has extenuating conditions, you may contact them with valid supporting documentation.