Frequently asked questions

• What is IT Support?

  Businesses, nonprofits, school systems, and government organizations all rely on technology. Computers break, systems fail, phones die—when that happens, we need experts to fix them. IT support is all about troubleshooting and problem solving when the tech fails, and providing great customer service along the way. This includes setting up computers for users within an organization, overseeing computer systems, and debugging whenever a problem arises. A job in IT can mean in-person or remote help desk work in a range of organizations across many different industries.

• Why start a career in IT?

  With entry-level jobs in IT fetching an average salary of $55,000 per year, this field is extremely lucrative with a high potential for growth. In the U.S., there were over 86,500 open entry-level IT support roles in 2020, and jobs in this field are projected to grow 8% between 2019 and 2029. Faster than the average of all other occupations. Basic IT skills will position you to secure an introductory-level role, and from then on, the opportunities are endless. The stackability of these skills means that after gaining a baseline level of knowledge through the Google IT Support program, it is easy to pick up more advanced skills.

• Why did Google create this program?

  Google has long faced an issue that many other companies also contend with -- we had open IT support roles, and not enough qualified candidates to fill them. So, a few years ago we began working with a nonprofit organization to provide training and pathways to roles in technical support at Google. We learned that not only is IT support a highly teachable field, but that we could teach someone completely new to the industry the IT fundamentals in under six months. So, we decided to build an IT training program on Coursera, created entirely by Googlers who are expert in IT support so this training could be available to everyone.

• Can I get academic credits for taking this program?

  The IT Support Professional Certificate secured a credit recommendation from the American Council on Education’s (ACE) ACE CREDIT®, which is the industry standard for translating workplace learning to college credit. Now, learners can earn a recommendation of 12 college credits for completing the program--the equivalent of four college courses at the associate 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.

  Certificate graduates who also pass the CompTIA A+ certification exams will earn a dual credential from CompTIA and Google.

• Is this program offered in other languages?

  Yes, the program is available in Spanish and Portuguese.

  - Certificado Profesional de Soporte de Tecnologías de la Información de Google

  - Certificado Profissional de Suporte em TI do Google

• 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.