Frequently asked questions

• What is data analytics?

  Data is a group of facts that can take many different forms, such as numbers, pictures, words, videos, observations, and more. We use and create data everyday, like when we stream a show or song or post on social media.

  Data analytics is the collection, transformation, and organization of these facts to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision-making.

• Why start a career in data analytics?

  Companies must continually adjust their products, services, tools, and business strategies to meet consumer preferences and demand and to react to emerging trends. Because of this, data analyst roles are in demand and competitively paid.

  Data analysts make sense of data and numbers to help organizations make better business decisions. They prepare, process, analyze, and visualize data, discovering patterns and trends and answering key questions along the way. Their work empowers their wider team to make better business decisions.

• Who is this program for?

  You! No prior experience or specific tool is required. All you need is high-school-level math and a curiosity about how things work.

• Why enroll in the Google Data Analytics Certificate?

  You will learn the skill set required for becoming a junior or associate data analyst in the Google Data Analytics Certificate. Data analysts know how to ask the right question; prepare, process, and analyze data for key insights; effectively share their findings with stakeholders; and provide data-driven recommendations for thoughtful action.

  You’ll learn these job-ready skills in our certificate program through interactive content (discussion prompts, quizzes, and activities) in under six months, with under 10 hours of flexible study a week. Along the way, you'll work through a curriculum designed with input from top employers and industry leaders, like Tableau, Accenture, and Deloitte. You’ll even have the opportunity to complete a case study that you can share with potential employers to showcase your new skill set.

  After you’ve graduated from the program, you’ll have access to career resources and be connected directly with employers hiring for open entry-level roles in data analytics.

• What tools or platforms are included in the curriculum?

  You'll learn to use analysis tools and platforms such as spreadsheets (Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel), SQL, presentation tools (Powerpoint or Google Slides), Tableau, RStudio, and Kaggle.

• Will you be teaching R or Python?

  This program teaches the open-source programming language, R. R is a great starting point for foundational data analysis, and offers helpful packages for beginners to apply to their projects. We do not cover Python in the curriculum but encourage learners to explore Python after completion if they'd like to continue their learning journey.

• What language is the certificate available in?

  This certificate is currently available in English and we are currently working to bring this certificate in additional languages. Please check back here for updates.

• How much do the Google Career Certificates cost?

  The IT Support, User Experience Design, Project Management and Data Analytics Certificates cost $39 per month by subscription on Coursera. Access to the Google Associate Android Developer Certification training is free and the official exam fee of $149 is paid to Trueability to administer the exam.

  Google does not generate any revenue from Google Career Certificates and has made need-based financial assistance available.

• What is Coursera?

  Coursera is a global online learning platform that offers access to online courses. Google has worked with Coursera to make Google Career Certificates available on their platform. (The Associate Android Developer Certification training and exam is hosted separately.)

• Where can I access Google Career Certificates?

  Google Career Certificates are available globally in English on Coursera. However, the Associate Android Developer Certification is hosted on developer.android.com. The Google IT Support Certificate is also available in Spanish and Portuguese. We are working to make the certificates available in more languages.

• How do I apply for financial assistance?

  If you are interested in financial assistance, you may be eligible for financial aid via Coursera through the course page. Recipients of financial aid will have full access to course content and assignments required to earn a certificate. To apply, go to the certificate course page on Coursera and click the “Financial aid available” link next to the “Enroll” button.

  Google has also funded 100,000 scholarships for Google Career Certificates, which will be distributed by Grow with Google partners and Google.org grantees like Merit America, Per Scholas, NPower, Goodwill, Futuro Health and Generation USA. These funds will create a lasting impact in helping people land high-quality jobs in high-growth fields.

• What is the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium? How does it work?

  The Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium consists of over 150 U.S. companies like Deloitte, Infosys, Snap Inc., Target, Verizon, and of course, Google. These companies span multiple sectors and are committed to considering Google Career Certificate graduates for entry-level jobs. Upon completion of a Google Career Certificate, you will gain access to an exclusive job platform where you can easily apply to opportunities from employers with open jobs.

  Employers interested in joining the Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium can find more information at grow.google/employers.

• What other kind of support is available after I complete a Google Career Certificate?

  In addition to expert training and hands-on projects designed to prepare you for a job in your field of choice, you'll get access to a resume building tool, mock interviews and career networking support designed to help you with your job search. You'll also be able to connect with over 130 US employers in the hiring consortium who are accepting candidates who have completed a Google Career Certificate. (Please note: these tools are not currently available for the Associate Android Developer Certification.)

• Who designed the Google Career Certificates?

  Google Career Certificates were designed and built by subject-matter experts and senior practitioners at Google from each of the job fields. Every certificate has been created to equip learners with theoretical and practical knowledge and real-life problem-solving skills to be successful in an entry-level job. Expert industry organizations and platforms - like the Project Management Institute for project management, Tableau for data analytics, and Figma for UX design, to name a few - consulted and collaborated on material.

• Can I get college credit for taking the Google Data Analytics Certificate?

  Those planning to attend a degree program can utilize ACE®️ recommendations, the industry standard for translating workplace learning to college credit. Learners can earn a recommendation of 12 college credits for completing the Data Analytics Certificate, the equivalent of 4 college courses at the bachelor’s degree level. This aims to help open up additional pathways to learners who are interested in higher education, and prepare them for entry-level jobs.

  To share proof of completion with schools, certificate graduates will receive an email prompting them to claim their Credly badge, which contains the ACE®️ credit recommendation. Once claimed, they will receive a competency-based transcript that signifies the credit recommendation, which can be shared directly with a school from the Credly platform. Please note that the decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each institution and is not guaranteed.