Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (2024)

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Written by Julia Pugachevsky

Updated

2023-01-04T21:32:39Z

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (1)

Google; Alyssa Powell/Insider
  • How much does a Google professional certificate program cost?
  • Can you take Google Coursera courses for free?
  • Is there financial aid available for the certificate program?
  • How are the programs structured?
  • Who teaches the programs?
  • What can I do with a certificate?
  • You can browse all of Google's certificate programs here.
Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (2) Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (3)

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Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (4)

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Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (5)

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Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (6)

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If you're considering a career change in 2023, you'll likely need additional schooling or training to move up in your current company or pivot into a new field. This is especially true for rapidly evolving tech positions, which job seekers are drawn to for their high job satisfaction rankings and six-figure median salaries.

In an effort to make career advancement in the tech sphere more accessible, Google leads several online professional certificate programs that require no prior degree or knowledge to enroll in and promise to teach you the skills needed for an entry-level position.

Offered through the popular online learning platform Coursera, Google's six certificate programs cover the fundamentals of digital marketing and e-commerce, data analytics, UX design, project management, IT support, and IT automation with Python.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (7)

Coursera Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce

This program focuses on the fundamentals of digital marketing and e-commerce, covering marketing analytics, digital marketing channels, building e-commerce stores, and improving customer loyalty.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (8)

Coursera Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Learn the skills necessary to apply to entry-level IT jobs, from completing IT support tasks like computer assembly, wireless networking,program installation, troubleshooting, debugging, and customer service.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (9)

Coursera Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate

To advance your IT career, learn skills in Python, Git, and automation, including managing IT resources in the cloud, writing Python scripts, and troubleshooting IT problems.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (10)

Coursera Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Learn how to tackle the day-to-day responsibilities of a junior or associate data analyst by gaining key skills like data cleaning, data analysis, and data visualization using tools like Tableau and programming languages like R and SQL.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (11)

Coursera Google UX Design Professional Certificate

This program covers a broad overview of the design process before going into the fundamentals of UX design and having students complete a UX portfolio of three projects: a mobile app, a functioning website, and a cross-platform experience.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (12)

Coursera Google Project Management Professional Certificate

For those looking into entry-level project management roles, this program explains the basics of Agile project management, focusing on Scrum events, artifacts, and roles. Students will also learn strategic communication skills through real-world scenarios.

According to our review of a free course in the IT automation program, Google's course was comparable to a graduate-level class and was even more approachable in how it structured complex material. While a certificate of completion doesn't equate to a graduate degree, it can be a great option if you just want to pick up some additional career skills to add to your LinkedIn profile or test out a subject before committing to further study.

Keep reading to find answers to some FAQs about Google's Coursera professional certificate programs.

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How much does a Google professional certificate program cost?

Each program is free to try out for seven days with a Coursera trial. After the trial ends, the program will cost $39 a month to keep learning, so the faster you complete each course, the more money you'll save.

On average, the programs can take 6-8 months to complete if you devote about five hours per week. So, you can expect to pay roughly $234-$312 total for the full program.

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Can you take Google Coursera courses for free?

Yes. If you click on one of the individual courses and hit "Enroll for free" on the course page, you should see an option to "Audit this course." (Note: You will need to register for a free Coursera account to access this feature.)

Auditing the course gives you access to all the course materials, but you won't get final grades or a certificate of completion. Taking the courses for free is a good option if you want to test out the program first or only want to take a class or two in a program.

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Is there financial aid available for the certificate program?

Yes, you can apply for financial aid for each program by clicking the "Financial aid available" link under the "Try for Free: Enroll to start your 7-day full access free trial" text. You can then access a form to apply for aid.

Applications take about 15 days to review.

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How are the programs structured?

Each program features videos, readings, quizzes, and hands-on projects to test your knowledge. Each program is 100% online and completely flexible with your schedule, so you can knock out more coursework on weeks when you have more time or take a break if you need to without being penalized.

Who teaches the programs?

All of the programs are led by Google's subject-matter experts and senior practitioners in their respective fields so that the information presented uses the most up-to-date software and platforms.

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What can I do with a certificate?

Once you receive your certificate, you can add it to your resume, CV, or LinkedIn profile, just as you would with any Coursera certificate.

One feature unique to Google is the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium, an exclusive network of over 130 participating companies — like Google, Target, Verizon, Deloitte, and more — where you can apply to open positions once you've completed one of Google's online programs.

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You can browse all of Google's certificate programs here.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (13)

Coursera Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce

This program focuses on the fundamentals of digital marketing and e-commerce, covering marketing analytics, digital marketing channels, building e-commerce stores, and improving customer loyalty.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (14)

Coursera Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Learn the skills necessary to apply to entry-level IT jobs, from completing IT support tasks like computer assembly, wireless networking,program installation, troubleshooting, debugging, and customer service.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (15)

Coursera Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate

To advance your IT career, learn skills in Python, Git, and automation, including managing IT resources in the cloud, writing Python scripts, and troubleshooting IT problems.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (16)

Coursera Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Learn how to tackle the day-to-day responsibilities of a junior or associate data analyst by gaining key skills like data cleaning, data analysis, and data visualization using tools like Tableau and programming languages like R and SQL.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (17)

Coursera Google UX Design Professional Certificate

This program covers a broad overview of the design process before going into the fundamentals of UX design and having students complete a UX portfolio of three projects: a mobile app, a functioning website, and a cross-platform experience.

Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (18)

Coursera Google Project Management Professional Certificate

For those looking into entry-level project management roles, this program explains the basics of Agile project management, focusing on Scrum events, artifacts, and roles. Students will also learn strategic communication skills through real-world scenarios.

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Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (19)

Julia Pugachevsky

Senior Health Reporter

Julia is a senior health reporter on the Insider Health team primarily covering skincare and relationships. Prior to that, she was theeducation and personal development editor on the Insider Reviews team and a sex and relationships editor at Cosmopolitan and BuzzFeed, respectively. You can say hi to Julia at jpugachevsky@businessinsider.com or shoot her a DM on Twitter or Instagram (she is @jaypugz on both)

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Google offers several low-cost online programs to help you land tech jobs — we tested one of the courses and thought it was better than a grad school class (2024)

FAQs

Do employers take Google certificates seriously? ›

A Google Career Certificate will help maximize your chances, signalling to employers that you are serious about your professional development, especially if you are negotiating a promotion or making a carer pivot.

Does a Google certificate help you get a job? ›

Yes! Google Career Certificates are recognized by more than 150 employers in the U.S., including companies like Deloitte and Verizon.

Does Google offer a training program? ›

Flexible online training programs designed to put you on the fast track to jobs in high-growth fields. Explore Google Career Certificates in fields like Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Support, Data Analytics, Project Management, and more.

Are Google certificates worth it? ›

Are Google Career Certificates Worth It? Google certificates offer many benefits to students, and they are certainly worth the time and effort. According to a recent survey, 75% of Google Career program graduates got a job, promotion, or salary increase after completing their certificate.

Are Coursera certificates worth anything? ›

Coursera courses are highly respected professional certifications produced in partnership with some of the top organizations in the world. They offer an industry-recognized credential that enhances your resume and improves your chances of successfully applying for high-paid jobs.

Do employers accept Coursera certificates? ›

Yes, Coursera Certificates are generally accepted by employers as they are issued in collaboration with prestigious universities and institutions. They can help enhance your resume and demonstrate your expertise in a specific area.

Are certificates worth IT? ›

Are certifications better than degrees? In many situations, certifications can be better than degrees for several reasons. Certificates often match current standards better than degrees, which is especially important in fast-paced fields like information technology (IT.)

Can you get a job with a Google certificate without a degree? ›

Yes. A college degree is not a requirement for employment at Google (at least in the US). Further, I have firsthand knowledge that some of my engineering peers didn't go to college.

How much can you make with a Google IT certificate? ›

Google It Certificate Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$66,000$5,500
75th Percentile$57,000$4,750
Average$53,785$4,482
25th Percentile$53,000$4,416

What is the Google program that pays you to learn? ›

Join a work-and-study program at Google

Google offers apprenticeships — paid opportunities to receive job-related experience — with some apprenticeship tracks providing access to the Google Career Certificate program.

Can I take a Google course for free? ›

Whether you're a beginner or seasoned small business, Google offers free online courses to help you make the most of the web.

Who owns Google now? ›

Google is an American search engine company, founded in 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Since 2015, Google has been a subsidiary of the holding company Alphabet, Inc. More than 70% of worldwide online search requests are handled by Google, placing it at the heart of most Internet users' experience.

What companies accept Google career Certificates? ›

More than 130 employers have joined our employer consortium, eager to hire people who have earned these certificates. Graduates can share their resumes directly with employers like Anthem, Verizon, Bayer, Deloitte, SAP, and Better.com, who are joining Accenture, Walmart, Infosys and, of course, Google.

How long do Google certifications last? ›

If you pass an Exam, you will receive a digital certificate (a “Certification”) after Google has validated your score. The Cloud Digital Leader and Associate Cloud Engineer certifications are valid for three years from the certification date of issue.

Why is Google certificate not trusted? ›

Possible causes are: Incorrect date and time on computer. Expired or incorrect certificate on website. Intercepted communications.

How do employers feel about Google certification? ›

Do employers care about Google Career Certificates? Yes! Google Career Certificates help you stand out among applicants because they highlight your dedication to learning and development and make your resume competitive with a credential from Google.

Do employers take online certificates seriously? ›

Experts say employers are largely more interested in the person than the degree. They generally won't recognize immediately if that person's degree was obtained online or in person. Some schools are fully online while others offer online programs in addition to their traditional in-person options.

Do employers like to see certificates? ›

Prove Ability and Investment

Employers want to know that a potential candidate will be a good fit for the role from the start. Certifications from credible institutions—especially those related to the skills required for a position—combined with experience help prove that a candidate is qualified for the job.

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