$ certs --list --path
# Certifications
Prices in USD, exclude tax. Figures compiled July 2026 from official Google pages. Always confirm on the linked exam page before registering.
Cross-cutting facts (official FAQ): no prerequisites to sit any exam · format is multiple-choice/multi-select (some Professional exams add case studies) · delivered online-proctored or at a test center · validity: Foundational & Associate = 3 years, Professional = 2 years · register via the certmetrics portal linked from each exam page.
☁️ Google Cloud certifications
| Certification | Level | Rec. experience | Duration | Cost | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Digital Leader | foundational | None required; business & non-technical stakeholders | ~90 min | $99 | 3 yrs |
| Associate Cloud Engineer | associate | ~6 months hands-on GCP | 2 hrs | $125 | 3 yrs |
| Professional Cloud Architect | professional | ~3 yrs industry, 1 yr GCP | 2 hrs | $200 | 2 yrs |
| Professional Data Engineer | professional | 3 yrs / 1 yr GCP | 2 hrs | $200 | 2 yrs |
| Professional Cloud Security Engineer | professional | 3 yrs / 1 yr GCP | 2 hrs | $200 | 2 yrs |
| Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer | professional | 3 yrs / 1 yr GCP | 2 hrs | $200 | 2 yrs |
| Professional Cloud Network Engineer | professional | 3 yrs / 1 yr GCP | 2 hrs | $200 | 2 yrs |
| Professional Cloud Developer | professional | 3 yrs / 1 yr GCP | 2 hrs | $200 | 2 yrs |
| Professional Machine Learning Engineer | professional | 3 yrs / 1 yr GCP | 2 hrs | $200 | 2 yrs |
Professional-tier figures ($200 / 2 hrs / 2-yr) follow Google's stated standard; confirm the exact price/slug on each exam page. Google's catalog is expanding (e.g. a Generative AI Leader credential in the foundational tier) — check the master list.
🧑💼 Google Workspace certification
| Certification | Level | Rec. experience | Duration | Cost | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Google Workspace Administrator | associate | ~6 months Super Admin experience | 2 hrs (50–60 Q, ~75% pass) | $125 | see note |
Workspace notes: the Professional Google Workspace Administrator cert was retired Dec 31, 2024 — the Associate is now the sole active Workspace credential. Validity is unclear: Google's general FAQ says Associate = 3 years, but a third-party site listed this one as 2 years, and the exam page itself gives no explicit number. Treat it as most likely 3 years, but verify on the exam page before relying on it. Languages: English & Japanese.
🚀 Recommended path: beginner → pro
- Foundations (no experience). Grab the free tier + $300 credit and take Cloud Digital Leader. For a Workspace career, get hands-on in the Admin console instead.
- First technical cert. Do the Coursera Cloud Engineer certificate + Skills Boost quests → Associate Cloud Engineer (or Associate Google Workspace Administrator for the Workspace track).
- Specialize (Professional). Pick a role-based track + its Coursera certificate: Architecture → Cloud Architect (most popular next step); Data/ML → Data Engineer → ML Engineer; Ops → DevOps; Security → Security Engineer; Networking → Network Engineer; App dev → Cloud Developer.
- Throughout. Reinforce with hands-on Skills Boost labs, the Architecture Center, Dan Sullivan's study guides, and community Q&A. See the Learn page.