Google renamed AdWords to Google Ads in 2018. The certification followed. But "get Google AdWords certified" still gets nearly 2,000 searches a month in 2026 — which means a lot of people are looking for the same thing under the old name, and most articles they find either bury the practical steps or don't address the rebrand at all.
Here's the short version: the Google AdWords certification no longer exists by that name. It's now the Google Ads certification, offered free through Google's Skillshop platform. You can get certified in a weekend. The exam is free, the study materials are free, and there are six specialized tracks you can choose from depending on your focus.
This article walks through how to actually get Google AdWords certified — meaning the Google Ads certification — which one to start with, how to prepare, and whether it'll move the needle in your career.
What "Google AdWords Certified" Actually Means Now
When people search for how to get Google AdWords certified, they're almost always looking for the official Google credential that proves you know how to run paid search campaigns. That credential is now called the Google Ads certification, and it lives on Google Skillshop (formerly called Google Academy for Ads, and before that, Google Partners Academy).
The certification validates that you understand Google's advertising products — bidding strategies, campaign structure, audience targeting, measurement, and optimization. Employers and clients recognize it because it comes directly from Google. There's no third-party interpretive layer.
One important caveat: the certification is tied to your Google account, not a permanent credential you upload to LinkedIn and forget. It expires after one year. You have to recertify annually, which keeps the knowledge current but also means it's not a one-and-done achievement.
The Six Google Ads Certifications (Which One to Get First)
When you get Google AdWords certified through Skillshop, you're not taking one generic exam. There are six specializations:
- Google Ads Search — The most recognized. Covers keyword strategy, search campaign structure, bidding, Quality Score, and ad extensions. Start here if you're new.
- Google Ads Display — Covers the Google Display Network, audience targeting, responsive display ads, and remarketing.
- Google Ads Video — YouTube campaigns, TrueView formats, video auction dynamics.
- Google Ads Shopping — Merchant Center, product feed optimization, Shopping campaign structure. High value for e-commerce roles.
- Google Ads Apps — Universal App Campaigns, in-app measurement, mobile-specific bidding.
- Google Ads Measurement — Conversion tracking, attribution models, Google Analytics integration. Underrated — analysts and PPC managers who understand measurement get paid more.
For most people trying to get Google AdWords certified for the first time, Google Ads Search is the right starting point. It's the most widely recognized on resumes, it covers foundational concepts that transfer to the other tracks, and it's what employers mean when they ask if you have a Google Ads certification.
If you're targeting an e-commerce or retail marketing role, pair Search with Shopping. If you're going into analytics or agency work, add Measurement. You can hold multiple certifications simultaneously — each is its own exam.
How to Get Google AdWords Certified: Step by Step
The process is more straightforward than most people expect:
- Create a Skillshop account. Go to skillshop.withgoogle.com and sign in with a Google account. Use your professional email, not a personal Gmail, if you plan to associate this with an employer or client work.
- Choose your certification track. Navigate to "Google Ads" in the catalog and select the specialization you want.
- Complete the learning modules. Skillshop provides free study materials for each track — video lessons, reading modules, and knowledge checks. These are not optional warm-ups; they're genuinely useful and the exam questions map closely to this content.
- Take the exam. Each exam is 50 questions, timed at 75 minutes. You need a 80% to pass. You can retake it after 24 hours if you don't pass on the first attempt.
- Download your certificate. After passing, you get a shareable certificate and a badge you can add to your LinkedIn profile. The certification is visible in your Skillshop profile and can be verified by employers.
Total study time before attempting the exam: most people spend 6–12 hours on the Skillshop materials for the Search certification. If you have active campaign management experience, you can compress that significantly. If you're starting from zero, give it more time and run a small test campaign if you can — even a $50 spend on a personal project teaches you more than 3 hours of video.
Top Courses to Supplement Your Certification Prep
Skillshop covers the exam content, but it doesn't teach you how to think about data, manage client expectations, or work within broader digital marketing workflows. These courses address the surrounding skills that separate a certification holder from someone who can actually do the work.
Getting and Cleaning Data
Google Ads generates a lot of data — impression share, click-through rates, conversion paths — and the professionals who advance fastest are the ones who can pull that data apart and make sense of it. This Coursera course (rated 9.7) builds the data handling skills that make your campaign analysis credible rather than just surface-level reporting.
Budgeting and Scheduling Projects
Managing ad campaigns is project management: you're allocating budget, hitting deadlines, reporting to stakeholders, and adjusting when things change. This Coursera course (rated 9.6) is useful if you're moving into agency work or in-house roles where campaign management overlaps with broader marketing coordination.
LinkedIn for Job Seekers: Get Recruiters Messaging You!
Once you have the certification, getting it in front of the right people is its own skill. This Udemy course (rated 9.5) covers how to optimize your profile so recruiters searching for "Google Ads certified" actually find you — which matters more than most certification guides acknowledge.
Project Planning: Putting It All Together
If you're targeting a digital marketing manager or paid media strategist role rather than a pure execution role, this Coursera course (rated 9.7) fills in the project management layer that Google Ads certification doesn't touch — stakeholder communication, scope management, and structured planning across multi-channel campaigns.
Is the Google Ads Certification Worth Getting?
It depends on where you are in your career and what you're using it for.
If you're job hunting: Yes. Entry-level and mid-level paid media roles routinely list it as preferred or required. It's a filter, not a differentiator — meaning it gets you past the ATS and into the stack, but it won't close the hire by itself. Pair it with demonstrable work: a portfolio campaign, a side project, or a freelance client.
If you're freelancing: Useful for client credibility, especially with small businesses who don't know how to evaluate paid search expertise. "Google Ads certified" is a recognizable signal even to non-technical clients.
If you already have 3+ years of hands-on experience: The certification adds less marginal value. Experienced practitioners are evaluated on results — ROAS, CPL, account structure decisions — not credentials. Still worth maintaining for client-facing work, but it shouldn't be at the top of your professional development list.
If you're trying to pivot into digital marketing: The certification alone won't get you hired, but combined with real campaign experience (even self-funded), it helps establish baseline credibility. The study process itself is valuable — Skillshop's materials give you a structured map of how the platform actually works.
FAQ
Is the Google AdWords certification still valid, or do I need the Google Ads certification?
The Google AdWords certification was retired when Google rebranded AdWords to Google Ads in 2018. Any active certifications you held pre-2018 have expired. The current credential is the Google Ads certification on Skillshop. When employers say "Google AdWords certified," they mean the Google Ads certification — the names are used interchangeably in job postings.
How long does it take to get Google AdWords certified?
For the Google Ads Search certification, most people complete the Skillshop study materials in 6–12 hours. The exam is 75 minutes. Realistically, plan for a focused weekend or two evenings of study followed by the exam. If you have existing PPC experience, you can move faster. If you're starting from scratch with no campaign management background, budget more time and try to get hands-on exposure alongside the study materials.
How much does it cost to get Google AdWords certified?
The Google Ads certification through Skillshop is completely free. The study materials are free. The exam is free. Retakes are free. You don't need to pay for a course to get the official certification — though supplementary courses can help you learn faster or fill in surrounding skills that the exam content doesn't cover.
Does the Google Ads certification expire?
Yes. Each Google Ads certification is valid for one year. You'll receive a reminder from Skillshop before it expires. Recertification requires retaking the exam — you don't get an automatic renewal. The annual cycle is intentional: the platform changes frequently enough that keeping the certification current has real meaning.
Which Google Ads certification should I get first?
Start with Google Ads Search. It's the most widely recognized, it covers foundational concepts that apply across all other tracks, and it's what the vast majority of job postings reference. Once you have Search, assess whether your target role benefits from a second certification — Shopping for e-commerce, Measurement for analytics-heavy roles, Display for brand-focused positions.
Can I get Google AdWords certified without running actual campaigns?
You can pass the exam without running campaigns — the Skillshop materials are designed to be sufficient. But your practical ability to apply the certification will be limited. Employers can tell the difference between someone who passed an exam and someone who has managed real accounts. If you can, run a small campaign — even $50 on a personal project or a nonprofit you support — before or alongside your study. The platform behavior you see in a live account will make the exam content stick.
Bottom Line
Getting Google AdWords certified in 2026 means getting the Google Ads certification on Skillshop. The process is free, takes a weekend of focused study for the Search track, and produces a verifiable credential that carries real weight in entry-level and mid-level paid media hiring.
Start with Google Ads Search. Complete the Skillshop modules honestly rather than skipping to the exam. If you have any way to run even a small live campaign, do it — the hands-on experience makes both the exam and the actual job easier. Add the Measurement certification next if your target role has any analytics component.
The certification is a floor, not a ceiling. Use it to get in the door, then let your campaign results build the rest of your credibility.