Google Adwords Certified Professional

Some time ago I finally took the Google Adwords Professional Certification test. People ask me all the time whether they should take the test. My answer is always the same – of course you should. It’s a very inexpensive, informal certification that can have benefits for you when you are seeking employment with a pay per click management company. The test itself is relatively simple. It’s ‘open book’ if you are creative. Be warned, some of the questions are outdated, and probably 10-20 questions are completely ambiguous.

Does passing this exam mean you’re a good pay per click campaign manager? No. Absolutely not. Is every licensed stockbroker a good portfolio manager? When you are hiring a paid search professional, it’s imperative you check references.

To qualify for GAP Certification, you must:

1. Sign up for the program successfully and be in good standing. This means that you’ve accepted the Rules of Use and aren’t in violation of them.
2. Manage at least one AdWords account (yours or someone else’s) in My Client Center for 90 days. This timeframe begins after you sign up for the Google Advertising Professionals program.
3. Build and maintain at least US$1,000 (or your local currency equivalent) total spend for your or your team’s My Client Center account during the 90-day period.
4. Pass the Google Advertising Professional Exam. We suggest that you take the exam after you meet the above requirements. However, you can take the exam at any time.

More details on the Google Adwords Certification program.