It’s been a minute since I last posted here, but I swear I have a good reason. That reason? My TikTok addiction has finally paid off.
Needless to say, a lot of the TikToks that land on my “for you” page are related to personal finance and business.
A lot of what ends up on my For You page is personal finance and biz content (because… obviously). And a little while back, I came across a creator talking about free certificate programs through Google. Apparently, they’re not super well-known, but a ton of employers have signed on to say they’re interested in hiring grads from the program.
Needless to say, I immediately spent the afternoon researching the program and signed up! I’ve already finished the first 4 courses of Google’s Project Management Certificate Program. I figured it was time to share a review for anyone else wondering whether it’s worth diving into.
Table of Contents
- What Are Google’s Certificate Programs?
- Are Google’s Certificate Programs Free?
- What is Google’s Project Management Certificate Program?
- The 6 Different Google Project Management Certificate Courses
- Google Project Management Certificate FAQs
- What is the true cost of Google’s project management certificate program?
- How much money can you make with the Google Project Management Certificate?
- Can you actually get a job with the Google Project Management Certificate?
- How long does it take to earn a certificate in project management from Google?
- How long does it take to get Google certification results?
- My review of the Google Project Management Certificate Program
What Are Google’s Certificate Programs?
Google’s certificate programs are a super affordable way to pick up new business skills and finally back up all those “learned on the job” moments with something official.
A few years ago, Google realized they didn’t have enough skilled candidates for certain roles within their company, so they rolled out certificate programs as a way to bridge that gap.
The cool thing? There’s a ton of variety. Most of the certificates are beginner-friendly, available through via Coursera, and either free or super low-cost! They’re designed to help people at the entry level build skills in high-demand industries.
You can find an overview of all the programs they offer here: https://grow.google/certificates/. Alternatively, you can find the specific program that interests you by clicking below.
Types of Google Certificate Programs:
- Google IT Certificate
- Google Data Analytics Certificate
- Google Project Management Certificate
- Google Android Development Certificate
- Google UX Design Certificate
Side note: I think it’s hilarious that Google’s own certificate program page doesn’t even rank on the first page of search results. Like… can you not game your own algorithm?
I recommend bookmarking this post if you’re planning to come back and check out one of these later!
Are Google’s Certificate Programs Free?
So… are Google’s certificate programs free? Kinda. The project management course itself is technically free in the sense that Google isn’t out here trying to profit off of it directly.
But there’s a catch (because of course there is).
To access the full program, you have to go through Coursera, which charges $59/month or $399/year for a Coursera Plus subscription. If it takes you a few months to finish, that can definitely add up.
The good news: Coursera offers a 7-day free trial. And if you’re motivated (or a little unhinged like I was), you can knock out a decent chunk of the program during that window. I finished one full course in two days, working about eight hours each day.
Realistically though, you’ll probably still need to pay for at least one month. The main reason for this is that some assignments require peer review before you can officially complete a course.
I remember reading a review from someone who tried to finish the whole thing during the free trial, but ran into “Coming Soon” messages on a few sections… which, surprise, magically unlocked once the trial expired. 😬 As always, your mileage may vary.
Pro tip: Check with your local library or state workforce program. Some of them offer free access to Coursera Plus for residents. This could save you the entire cost of the certificate!
What is Google’s Project Management Certificate Program?
This program is designed for people who are looking to break into project management — especially if you’re early in your career or transitioning from another field.
It’s a great intro to the fundamentals of project management, even if you don’t have any experience yet. The content covers everything from planning and organizing workflows to managing deadlines and keeping multiple teams aligned.
A project manager’s job is basically to keep everything on track. That means overseeing a project from start to finish and coordinating efforts across departments (which is way harder than it sounds). There are project managers in a wide variety of industries, from tech to construction and beyond!
This is important because the demand is growing for project managers. Project management is one of the few fields where someone can earn a six-figure salary despite not having a STEM background.
The 6 Different Google Project Management Certificate Courses
Google’s Project Management Certificate is broken down into six individual courses. If you’re totally new to project management, I recommend taking them in order. I felt like they all built on each other really nicely!
That said, if you already have some experience, you can skip around and focus on the courses that fill specific gaps for you.
To earn the full certificate, you’ll need to complete all six. That’s why Google estimates the program takes about six months. If you’re motivated, you can definitely finish it faster!
Each course includes videos, readings, and quizzes to help you stay on track. The content is super beginner-friendly and works well for different learning styles.
By the end of the program, you’ll have a solid grasp of foundational project management concepts, including different methodologies like Agile and Waterfall. That means you’ll not only understand the options but also be able to choose which style fits your projects best.
Here are the 6 different project management courses:
- Foundations of Project Management
- Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project
- Project Planning: Putting it all Together
- Project Execution: Running the Project
- Agile Project Management
- Capstone: Applying Project Management in the Real World
Foundations of project management
This course is a straightforward intro to the basics of project management. You’ll learn key terms, what a project manager actually does, and how project management can apply to different industries.
One of my favorite parts? The course includes videos with real project managers at Google, and they come from all kinds of backgrounds. It makes the whole thing feel super relatable… like hey, maybe planning your friend’s chaotic wedding was valid project management experience!
You’ll also start learning how to frame your experience for job applications. The course gives basic résumé tips and shows you how to highlight the fact that you’re now a Google-certified project management professional. It includes example keywords to use and helps you understand what employers are actually looking for.
Project Initiation
This course covers the core steps of getting a project off the ground. You’ll learn how to define project goals, deliverables, scope, and what success actually looks like.
One thing I really appreciated about the Google Project Management program is that it doesn’t just focus on planning. It also highlights the interpersonal skills that make a great project manager!
PMs usually aren’t the ones doing the hands-on work. Instead, they’re coordinating across different teams, often including technical experts, to make sure everything stays on track. That’s why communication is such a big deal in this phase.
During project initiation, you’ll decide how the project will be tracked and managed. This includes choosing the right tools, documenting the plan, and setting expectations for how work will get done across the entire project lifecycle. The decisions made at this stage shape the rest of the process. So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal!
Project Planning
This course helps you define key project milestones, make accurate time estimates, and plan a realistic budget. For me, this was the point in the program where I really started learning new things, especially around stakeholder management.
I’ve worked as a project manager before, and to be totally honest, we pretty much skipped the project initiation phase and jumped straight into planning. Going through this course made it super clear which of our past issues could’ve been avoided if we had taken the time to set things up properly.
One of the more interesting takeaways was how much of project management involves dealing with unknowns. You might not know which internal or external factors will affect your timeline, but you can still build a plan that accounts for possible issues ahead of time. That early problem-solving mindset is a big part of what separates okay project managers from great ones.
Project Execution
This course was full of practice modules where you could read example projects and practice your own project execution. This was interesting because you could start to utilize and apply more of the interpersonal skills that were taught in the course before.
What I liked the most about this course is that it helps you to communicate project data to leadership. This makes it easier for you to help them make informed project decisions.
Agile project management
Before taking this course, I’d heard the word “Agile” thrown around a lot, especially at startups, but I had no clue what it actually meant.
Turns out, Agile is a project management methodology that’s all about flexibility. It’s especially useful for technical projects where things are constantly evolving. Instead of locking in a full plan at the start, Agile lets you build and adapt based on feedback along the way. That’s huge when you’re developing a product, because your original vision might shift after hearing from users.
In this course, you’ll learn the history and core principles behind Agile, including how the Scrum framework works in real teams. You’ll also explore how to blend Agile with other project management styles, which I found surprisingly helpful, especially if you’re working in environments that aren’t purely Agile.
Capstone Project
Like most capstone experiences, this course gives you a chance to apply what you’ve learned in a more hands-on way. I’d honestly say it’s one of the most useful parts of the program, especially if you’ve been wondering how everything connects in real-world scenarios.
This course is the culmination of all five courses that came before it. You’ll put your skills to work by running through a full project: planning, executing, adjusting, and reflecting along the way. Definitely make sure you’ve completed Courses 1–5 before diving into this one. It’ll make the whole experience feel a lot more natural and give you the confidence to actually lead a project outside the classroom.
Google Project Management Certificate FAQs
What is the true cost of Google’s project management certificate program?
If you take the full six months that Google recommends to finish the program, you’ll end up spending about $240 total on Coursera.
That said, most people can probably finish in closer to three months without too much stress. A lot of the reviews I read said the same, and honestly, as long as you’re paying attention, it’s pretty straightforward to pass.
One of the best parts? While you’re enrolled, you get access to all of Coursera’s courses, not just the project management ones. So there’s no reason you couldn’t pick up a few extra certificates or explore topics that interest you while you’re at it.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much was included, and overall, I think the cost-to-value ratio is really solid.
Want a deeper look at what you get for the price? If you’d like to learn more, check out my post on Google Project Management Certificate Cost Breakdown.
How much money can you make with the Google Project Management Certificate?
Google shares a few salary stats on their website, including this one:
The average entry-level salary across their certificate programs is $110,641, and for project management specifically, they list $87,000.
You can see this and more on their official page: https://grow.google/projectmanagement/
That said, this is where things get a little fuzzy. Google doesn’t say whether these numbers are based on actual program graduates, or just general industry averages. There’s no mention of geographic breakdowns, prior experience, or how long after completing the certificate people hit that salary range.
From what I’ve seen, though, project managers are in high demand, and salaries can definitely scale beyond that entry-level number. It’s also one of the more remote-friendly fields, which opens up even more options.
I’ve personally come across freelance and contract PM roles that start at $35 per hour or more. That flexibility and earning potential are a big part of why this career path is appealing, with or without a formal degree.
Can you actually get a job with the Google Project Management Certificate?
In short: yes… but like anything, it depends on how you use it.
If you’ve got some relevant experience or transferable skills, I think it’s very realistic to land a role in the $70K+ range. You’d be surprised how much of your past work or life experience can apply to project management.
One smart move is to beef up your résumé with contract work before making a full career switch. The certificate program actually includes a lot of helpful resources around résumé writing and interview prep, which can give you a serious edge.
Now, about that employer consortium Google mentions, the details are… vague. There isn’t much info on how it actually works or how you access it. I assume it unlocks after completing the program. The upside? The companies involved are big names, including many Fortune 500 employers.
Those are the top-revenue companies in the U.S., and they often offer starting salaries around $85K or more for entry-level PM roles. That’s part of why I’m genuinely optimistic about the job potential tied to this certificate, especially if you treat it as a launchpad rather than a silver bullet.
How long does it take to earn a certificate in project management from Google?
Google recommends setting aside about 10 hours per week to go through the material. At that pace, it’ll take just under six months to complete, which honestly makes this one of the best 6-month certificate programs out there.
That said… I’ve been moving through it way faster (because I’m a super nerd, obviously). It took me about 2–3 days to complete one course, but that’s with some serious focus. We’re talking 6–8 hours per day, and breaks of a few days between sessions to recover.
Technically, you could finish the entire program in around 10 days. But, like… you wouldn’t enjoy your life during that time.
Also worth noting again: a few of the courses include peer-reviewed projects, which means you’ll have to wait for feedback before moving on. That can slow things down a bit, even if you’re blazing through the rest.
How long does it take to get Google certification results?
Because this is an online program through Coursera, your results are available immediately after completing each course. The second you finish the full program, you can download your certificate and start uploading it to LinkedIn. No waiting, no nonsense!
Honestly, the instant gratification might be one of the best parts of an online cert. I still remember waiting over a month to get my degree in the mail… and when it finally showed up, I didn’t even bother framing it.
My review of the Google Project Management Certificate Program
As someone who is currently managing projects, both personal and professional, I am finding the content of the course to be extremely useful. I am learning a lot and enjoy that it has mixed content (video, reading, and quizzes). The platform is really easy to navigate and I find that I am completing the content much faster than expected.
I do think that if someone already has more formal learning in this field then this course might be boring. This course is still useful for proving that you have done some sort of education in this field. That is because many of the other professional certificates in project management require several years of work experience to earn them.
So for someone who is looking to break into this field of work or is newer, then this will be a perfect fit. If this sounds like something you’d like to explore, then you might also enjoy my post on Is Google’s Project Management Certificate Worth It? I hope you give it a try, because I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve learned in the Google Project Management Certificate Program!
Be sure to report back on your thoughts of the program if you do try it out!
Are you going to try one of the Google certificates? If so, which one interests you the most? Leave a note in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
Kathryn Rucker is a sales consultant and content writer. With 7+ years of sales experience, she is passionate about helping businesses and individuals grow their sales pipelines by improving their online presence.
She has been traveling full-time since 2018 thanks to the location and financial independence she has gained from her business, Kat Rucker Consulting Group. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
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