How to Earn a Google Analytics Certification
Understanding how consumers interact with your website can help your business make informed decisions. Becoming comfortable with Google Analytics will enable you to collect and use data to tell a story.
Recently, Google Analytics made the switch from Universal to GA4. You can quickly become familiar with GA4 through free Google courses and earn a Google Analytics certification.
Studying analytics can lead to careers within digital analytics, but it can also add an important skill to many careers. A Google Analytics certification can further your career in marketing, product management, and communications.
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How to Get Google Analytics Certified
Want to get Google Analytics certified? It’s as simple as following these free, easy steps.
Step 1: Enroll in Analytics Academy Skillshop Courses
Google offers four free training courses on the Skillshop:
- 101: Get started using Google Analytics 4 (GA4) (Beginner): This introductory course teaches you how Google Analytics collects and converts data. You will learn how to assemble data into reports.
- 102: Manage GA4 data and learn to read reports (Beginner): This course deep dives into understanding and using your Google Analytics account to maximize your data.
- 201: Dive deeper into GA4 data and reports (Intermediate): This training focuses on interpreting your data to create reports that maximize your business decisions.
- 301: Use GA4 with other tools and data sources (Advanced): This advanced course shows you how to merge your outside business data with your Google Analytics information to generate ideas for managing and growing your business.
Step 2: Study for the Exam
After completing the Analytic Academy Skillshops courses, you will need to prepare for the exam. Like all tests, it’s important to have good study habits. This includes:
- Setting up designated study times leading up to the exam
- Creating an organized study system that works best for you (flashcards, rewriting notes, voice memos, etc.)
- Understanding the format and expectations of the test
Along with studying your notes from the Google Analytics courses, you can find study guides online. These resources break down the exam format and common test topics, so you know what to expect on test day.
You can also test your knowledge using Quizlet test questions. Since users create these quizzes, make sure you double-check that the answers are correct.
Step 3: Take the Google Analytics Certification Exam
The Google Analytics Certification Exam (GAIQ exam for GA4) contains 70 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately one hour to complete, though you’ll have 90 minutes to complete it. Note that you’ll need to take the test in one sitting.
The exam covers topics from the courses including:
- Creating your Google Analytics parameters
- Setting up and compiling data
- Converting and interpreting data and reports
The GAIQ exam for GA4 is free, and you can retake it multiple times starting 24 hours after your attempt.
Step 4: Stay Up to Date With Your Certification
After you’ve passed your exam, don’t throw away your notes. The GAIQ is only valid for 12 months. In order to stay certified, you will need to retest every year. Keep an eye out for changes to Google Analytics or any additional certification courses or training to stay up-to-date.
What Skills Will I Learn With a Google Analytics Certification?
Google Analytics certification builds in-demand and immediately practical skills you can apply to any profession or company with a website.
A few skills you’ll learn through the preparatory courses for the GAIQ include how to:
- Follow the customer journey: Understand what brings people to a website, how long they stay, and where they leave the website.
- Track marketing performance: Discover which ads or landing pages bring the most customers.
- Split test websites for performance: Discover which colors, layouts, fonts, or designs encourage people to spend more time on a website.
- Optimize Posting: Time product launches, blog posts, and other information for when the site receives maximum traffic.
Google Analytics certification provides essential insight into how a website performs and where it can improve. The digital marketing skills you’ll learn during these courses are useful across multiple industries.
What Jobs Can I Get With a Google Analytics Certification?
Here are some in-demand jobs a Google Analytics certification can help you get:
Data Analyst
Collect, clean, and analyze data to help guide a company’s direction. Many companies may require a bachelor’s degree.
SEO Specialist
Use Google Analytics to assess and optimize website performance and ranking on search engines. Companies may require a bachelor’s degree.
Market Research Analyst
Analyze data to identify opportunities and trends, such as new markets for products or services or new product offerings. Google Analytics certification would likely be useful for this career. Most companies require a bachelor’s degree.
Marketing Manager
Create campaigns and promotional materials to generate interest in products or services. They use Google Analytics to monitor campaign performance, split test ads, and improve marketing campaigns. This career may require a bachelor’s degree.
Frequently Asked Questions About Google Analytics Certifications
Google Analytics certification is free. You will need to invest 4-6 hours of study time preparing for the exam if you choose to take the optional preparatory courses. The courses and training videos are available to anyone free of charge. The Google Analytics Individual Qualification exam is also free.
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by Anne Dennon
Updated May 9, 2023