What You Need To Know Before Getting AdWords Certified

Are you interested in becoming a certified Google AdWords Professional but unsure of the benefits it has for you or your company? A few months ago I decided to get certified and quickly realized that the many hours I spent studying and preparing paid off. Before I was certified, I knew how to run a successful campaign and do basic monitoring for clients, but after I was certified, I realized that my prior knowledge was very surface level and that Google’s AdWords study guides provide you with an in-depth analysis of many different platforms for running a successful, ongoing AdWords campaign.

There’s basic knowledge you should know before diving in and taking the tests. I’ll fill you in on the tips, tricks, and behind-the-test knowledge to successfully pass the tests on your first try.

The Test Basics

Google requires you to pass two exams before rewarding you with the certification. You can choose between the AdWords Fundamentals, Search Advertising, Display Advertising, Video Advertising, Shopping Advertising and Mobile Advertising exams.

Choose whichever two tests interest you the most. I chose AdWords Fundamentals and Search Advertising because these were the most relevant for the AdWords clients we work with at Webspec. I recommend taking the Adwords Fundamentals exam first, because this exam will test your knowledge with a general overview of basic AdWords concepts and terms. If you already have a lot of prior experience with AdWords, challenge yourself and test your knowledge about different AdWords platforms.

The chart below displays all six exams with the number of questions and the duration of time required to complete each exam. You must get at least an 80% on each exam in order to get a passing score. Each exam has a one year validity.

How to Get Started

First, you need to sign up for Google Partners. Once signed into Google Partners, you will see the AdWords and Analytics tabs on the left hand side of the screen. Navigate to AdWords, and you will see all six different test options with more details. Once you feel prepared, click “Take Exam” and the exam will begin.

Quick Tip: Although you shouldn’t take the test until you feel prepared, Google does allow you to have multiple browser windows open while taking the exam. If you feel unsure about a specific question or need a little reminder about what a specific term means, refer to Google’s study guides for help.

Practice Tests Are Your Best Friend

I won’t sugar coat it — the tests aren’t easy. It took hours of studying and lots of coffee. On the plus side, Google’s study guides are very detailed and there are many free or affordable practice tests available to help you prepare.

My advice: Read the study guides, watch the short tutorial videos, and read them again. The study guides are chunked into small bite-size topics, so they are very manageable. If you set aside a few hours each day to study, you can get through all of Google’s study guides in a week or two.

iPassExam offers free study resources and a 50 question practice quiz you can use to test your knowledge before completing the exam. It also provides explanations and reasoning to back up the correct answers and help you better understand the concepts and principles you are being tested on.

The Benefits of Getting AdWords Certified

If you are an agency that offers pay-per-click (PPC) services, having your AdWords certification is a must. Although you might be equally or more qualified than an AdWords certified professional, getting Google’s stamp of approval means that you know what you’re doing when it comes to running an AdWords campaign. After receiving your certification, you are officially deemed a Google AdWords certified professional. You will be placed in Google’s database of AdWords professionals, and your Google Partners profile will show up in with the Google stamp of approval when clients in your area are searching for AdWords services or assistance.

When you are labeled as an AdWords certified professional, your clients can fully trust you to run their campaigns, spend their money, and increase traffic to their sites. AdWords campaigns often fall short of their full potential when an unqualified individual attempts to run the campaign. In order to run a successful campaign it takes time and requires consistent monitoring of budgets and traffic.

Interested in Running AdWords for Your Company?

Contact us if you’re interested in running your own AdWords campaign. Webspec’s certified staff can assist you with AdWords management services, or help you learn more about why you might consider it.

What tips do you have to share to become AdWords certified?