Editor’s note: This article was first published in May 2010. It describes Google’s certification program as of that date. The Google Advertising Professional program was later replaced by Google Partners and then Google Ads certifications through Skillshop, and AdWords was renamed Google Ads in 2018. Requirements and fees have changed.
A Google Advertising Professional is someone who manages AdWords advertising for businesses, having been given official certification by Google to do so.
It’s a new kind of job and one that companies are in great demand for these days, either because they lack the know-how to run an advertising campaign with Google AdWords or because they lack the time and would rather outsource the work.
What do I need to qualify as a Google Advertising Professional?
The requirements depend on whether you’re an individual or a company:
- For companies: To become a specialist firm offering AdWords campaign management to businesses, you need to show Google that you’ve already managed advertising for businesses worth roughly €9,000. In addition, one person in your company, presumably the one who will do the work, has to demonstrate their AdWords knowledge and pass Google’s online exam.
- For individuals: You only need to demonstrate your knowledge of and skills in Google AdWords by taking the exam. The registration fee is about €50. You can retake it as many times as you like, as long as you pay the €50 again before each attempt.
The exam is genuinely thorough and measures your business management skills, your knowledge of SEO, and so on.
If you decide to hire a professional to manage your AdWords advertising, remember that they should display the certification badge, both on paper and on their own website. If they hold that certificate, Google considers them an AdWords expert.
Further reading
- 5 ways to grow your business
- Advertising with Google AdWords
- Promote your business or look for work on social networks
Featured image: Mutante, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
