Google has a certification program, you might say. Yes! They do. Certifications are the best ways to get some quick cash in the computer industry. We have Microsoft, Sun, Adobe, and Cisco all offering certifications to those who are simple enough to think they can get jobs by only having those certificates. Google’s Adwords Professional is a little bit different than those other ones. For one, you don’t have to be a genius to pass the written test. But you will have to spend money (yours or your clients’) to prove to Google that Adwords is something you want to do (you will have to spend $1000 in 90 days).

Google’s certification really doesn’t tell anything about your ability as a marketer. Sure. You know the basics. You know how to create a local ad or a mobile ad but you don’t learn how to write a good copy just from the certificate program. In essence, it’s the opposite of what other certifications are all about. You see with MCSE, you get the certification you to prove you are an IT expert (you may or may not be). With Google Adwords Professional, you get the certification because you know the marketing science inside and out and just want to prove you have mastered Adwords and are ready to manage clients. In both cases, we are going to have people who have the certification but have no idea what they are talking about but at least Google Adwords you know what to expect.

Is it worth it? I would say yes. If you are a PPC marketer, it wouldn’t hurt to try the Adwords Professional Program. It’s only $50 for the exam, so it’s not that expensive. And if you are an experienced PPC, you are probably spending thousands of dollars a month on Adwords already, so the second requirement should be a piece of cake (if you are not a PPC marketer, the costs are significantly higher as you WILL have to spend $1000 in 90 days to get certified). Overall, it’s a good certification to show you are serious about pay per click marketing. But that’s about it.