Google · on Google

Google Ads Search Certification

4.5(5,000) on Google·500K enrolled
Intermediate 4 hours English Course CertificateFREE
SkillsGoogle AdsSearch advertisingPPCCampaign optimisationKeywordsBidding

Is this course right for you?

Our take
Worth it, and it is free. Paid search is part of most digital-marketing roles, and this is Google's own credential rather than a third-party tutorial.

Good for: marketers who run or want to run Google Search ad campaigns.

Skip if: you never work with paid advertising, or you want a broad marketing overview.

You study the free Skillshop material — campaign setup, bidding, keyword planning, ad copy, Quality Score and measurement — then pass a short exam. It is the baseline employers and clients look for in PPC and paid-search roles.

It is narrow and shallow by design: it covers Google Search ads specifically, not broader marketing strategy or other channels, and the certification expires yearly and needs renewing. If you never touch paid advertising, or you want a broad marketing overview, it is not for you. Google keeps it updated with the platform.

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About this course

The Google Ads Search Certification is Google's own credential for paid search advertising expertise — covering campaign setup, bidding strategies, keyword planning, ad copy writing, Quality Score optimization, and measurement with Google Analytics. It's delivered through Google Skillshop and free to earn with any Google account, renewing annually.

Instructor

I
Instructor
Google instructor

Developed and maintained by Google's Ads product and education teams — the authoritative source on Google Ads best practices.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, completely — both the study material and exam are free on Skillshop, with a retake available the next day if needed.

You study the free material, then take an assessment (75 minutes, 80% to pass).

Twelve months. After that you retake the assessment to stay certified.

Yes for anyone doing paid search. It is free, recognised and directly relevant to Google Ads roles.

Some marketing basics help, but you can learn from the free material as you go.
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