Frequently asked questions

• What is project management?

  Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements.

  Think about the last time you planned a group vacation or trip. Finding a location, delegating who should bring what, collecting and tracking payments, coordinating your arrival, and ensuring everyone enjoys the trip are all project management tasks. Think about the value that accomplishing those tasks adds to your trip. Now, think about the value that can add to a company. Project management is valuable to businesses because it helps ensure that a project delivers the expected outcomes — both on time and within budget. So, as you can imagine, project management is critical to the success of projects both big and small.

• Why start a career in project management?

  Project managers are in high demand. As the workplace continues to grow and evolve, project managers serve as a pivotal piece to an organization’s ability to adapt and remain agile.

  Project managers are natural problem-solvers. In addition to setting the plan and guiding teammates through the project, they are tasked with managing changes and risks. Each day is dynamic and different for a project manager because they are at the center of the project — building relationships, prioritizing tasks, and delivering results! Using various tools and templates, as well as a unique skill set, the project manager brings order to chaos.

• Who is this program for?

  You! No prior experience or specific knowledge is required. All you need is an interest in solving problems and working with people.

• Why enroll in the Google Project Management Certificate?

  The Google Project Management Certificate not only focuses on project management artifacts and skill sets, but essential business acumen skills like stakeholder management, influencing, critical thinking in problem solving, and effective communication.

  You’ll learn these job-ready skills in our certificate program through interactive content (discussion prompts, quizzes, and hands-on activities) in under six months, with 5-10 hours of study a week. Along the way, you'll work through a curriculum designed with input from top employers and industry leaders, like the Project Management Institute (PMI) and Scrum.org.

  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 project management.

• What tools and platforms are taught in the curriculum?

  Spreadsheets (e.g., Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, etc.), word processing applications (e.g., Google Docs, Microsoft Word, etc.), and presentation applications (e.g., Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote, etc.) will be used. Additionally, learners will have the option to use Asana and to learn about other common work management tools.

• What languages are the certificates 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.

• Will completing this certificate help prepare me for Project Management Institute certifications?

  Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global nonprofit membership organization dedicated to advancing the profession and practice of project management by providing organizations and individuals with tools, publications, and other resources, including globally-recognized standards, credentials, and certifications.

  Google is an approved member of the Project Management Institute’s Authorized Training Partner Program, which ensures practitioners have access to consistent and high-quality training experiences. Those who complete the Google Project Management Certificate will qualify for over 100 hours of project management education that apply directly to requirements for globally-recognized PMI credentials, like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification, at a discounted price.

• 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 Project Management 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 9 college credits for completing the Project Management Certificate, the equivalent of 3 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.