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Google · on Coursera

Google IT Support Professional Certificate

4.8(214,000) on Coursera·2.1M enrolled
Beginner 130 hours English Professional CertificateFREE
SkillsIT supportNetworkingOperating systemsSystem administrationTroubleshootingSecurity basics

Is this course right for you?

Our take
A strong, practical route into entry-level IT if you are starting from zero. Audit is free; the certificate needs a Coursera subscription, so the cost depends on your pace.

Good for: beginners aiming for an entry-level IT support or help-desk role.

Skip if: you already work in IT, or you want software development rather than support.

It is built to take a complete beginner to job-ready in three to six months, and it aligns with the CompTIA A+ exams, which gives the learning an external benchmark rather than just a Google badge. The employer consortium is a real door, but the honest part is that the certificate makes you interview-ready — landing the role still takes a portfolio and a real job search.

It stops at support and infrastructure basics, so there is no software development or advanced networking here, and it is pitched squarely at newcomers. If you already work in IT, or you want to be a developer rather than support, this is not your path. Google maintains the programme, so the tooling stays current (as of 2026).

Comparison · LBS

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About this course

The Google IT Support Professional Certificate is the canonical launchpad into entry-level IT, with millions of learners enrolled. Across five courses, Google's own IT professionals teach the practical foundations of the field: troubleshooting and customer support, networking (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP), operating systems (Windows and Linux), system administration, and IT security.

Google IT Support vs CompTIA A+ (2026)
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Instructor

GC
Google Career Certificates
Coursera instructor

Created by Google Career Certificates and taught by Google's own IT support specialists. It's the program that effectively defined the modern entry-level IT certificate and remains one of the most-enrolled credentials anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

A common route is this certificate first to learn the ground, then CompTIA A+ for the widely-recognised exam. This one costs less and has stronger hands-on labs; A+ carries more weight with large employers' automated application screening, where it often appears as a keyword requirement. If you're aiming at enterprise or government IT, plan for A+ as well.

It has real labs. Alongside the video lessons you work in browser-based lab environments (Qwiklabs, now Google Cloud Skills Boost), so there's nothing to install, and completing them is required for the certificate. That practice is where most of the actual learning happens, and it gives you concrete examples to talk about later.

Rarely by itself. It clears the 'no experience' hurdle and opens Google's employer network, but you'll still need a sharp resume, some interview practice, and ideally a little project or lab work you can point to. Treat it as the thing that gets you in the door, not the whole application.
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