The Google Certificate Program is an exciting opportunity to earn an affordable certification online and boost your income and career possibilities. The program offers certifications in tech-related fields such as IT Support, Data Analytics, and UX Design. There are no prerequisites to enroll, and Google offers 100,000 need-based scholarships to increase affordability. Read on to learn more about the program specifics, including cost, hours, and career impact.
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What is the Google Certificate Program?
The Google Certificate Program is a fully online curriculum offered through Coursera. This program allows students of any background to obtain a degree in a technology-related field. There are no background experience or educational requirements to enroll.
Individual courses on Coursera range in cost from $49 to $79 per course (or you can sign up for Coursera Plus and pay either $59 per month or $399 per year to get access to unlimited courses), and students typically complete the course in 6 months with about 10 flexible hours of work per week. This makes it a great option to complete while working a job or while in school.
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More scholarships for adultsWhat courses does the Google Certificate Program offer?
The Google Certificate Program offers foundational degrees in Cybersecurity, IT Support, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, Project Management and UX Design. Google currently offers an entry-level course in each field, and advanced courses in IT Automation that focuses on utilizing Python, Advanced Data Analytics, and Business Intelligence.
Each program contains a breakdown of the skills that will be covered, as well as a guide to help students decide which specialization is a good fit for them. However, these guides are very brief; we suggest doing further research to decide which field is the best fit for your strengths as a worker.
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What impact would the program have on my career?
The Google Certificate Program is relatively new, so there is limited data determine its worth in the general job market. However, Google has put together a talent pipeline called the Google Employer Consortium. The Consortium is a database of corporations looking to hire Google Certificate holders. The list includes companies like T-Mobile, Snapchat, and Target.
Graduates of the program will also hold a competitive advantage if they seek a position at Google. Kent Walker, the president of Global Affairs at Google and Alphabet, pledged to treat a Google Certificate as the equivalent of a 4-year degree. For students who have not attended college, this can be a great opportunity to receive college credentials for a fraction of the time and cost.
Each field that the program offers is high-paying and high-demand. Google found the median salary across certificate fields to be over $96,000, and found over 295,000 job openings in the field of IT alone. Especially for students without a college degree, this could lead to a huge increase in salary.
See also: Is coding bootcamp worth it?
Google Certificate Scholarships
Google offers 100,000 need-based scholarships for the Google Certificate program, which should only cost a total of $234 for full-price students. To apply for one of these scholarships, click “Financial aid available” on your course’s Coursera page.
Also read: Top coding bootcamp scholarships
Should I enroll in a Google Certificate Program?
Before enrolling, it’s worth remembering that the program is very new. Therefore, it may not have a widespread reputation across the industry. Your new employment opportunities may only include members of Google’s Employer Consortium. However, as long as your workplace preferences are flexible, this should not be an issue.
The flexibility in hours, the low cost, and the short program duration make Google Certificates a great opportunity, especially for working people. If you want to become qualified for jobs that pay a living wage without attending college, or if you are looking for a change in career after college, the Certificate Program could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Students who are interested in the program can also try it out through a free seven day trial. This will allow you to actually try the certificate program and see if it suits you and your goals.
Related: Coursera review
Key Takeaways
For Google Certificate scholarships: Coursera scholarships & financial aid