If you are just starting to get into the AdWords space or are already at a proficient level, you probably have looked at or wondered about getting certified in AdWords.

I personally became Google AdWords certified while working for a company a few years back and running their PPC campaigns. It was definitely worth the effort, they say knowledge is power! First few things you have to figure out though…

Step 1: Decide which Google Adwords certification option is best for you.

1) Individual:

Who: Best for PPC specialists or a consultant looking to take on additional PPC work What: Take two exams, one general Advertising exam, the other an advanced level Cost: $100 ($50/exam)

2) Company:

Who: If your company is already spending $10k or more on PPC within a 90 day period, train one of your employees that’s managing your account What: Same as individual, two exams Cost: FREE

Step 2: Utilize the free online resources, and study! The great part of the AdWords certification process is that Google and many others provide a lot of support and study resources to to help you pass successfully. Google’s Learning Center helps you familiarize yourself with ad formats, keyword targeting, campaign management and some general best practices. There is also support in the Google Analytics section. As you familiarize yourself with the information, it will be become second nature. Just keep reading and keep practicing to keep the content top-of-mind.

Step 3: Evaluate your free time. There is no rush to become certified right off the bat–you can still work with PPC campaigns without being certified. And that’s what we’re here for–to help you implement the right PPC strategies for your business. Be sure you are ready to pass prior to taking the test and spending any money.

Step 4: Understand the test and time constraints! There are 120 questions that they allow you to answer in 2 hours, which is one minute per question. Be sure you are ready to answer those right off the bat or are comfortable skipping the question and coming back to it. They typically will flag which ones you skipped; so at the end of the exam you should have the ability to answer the ones you skipped assuming you have extra time.

Step 5: Relish in the fact that you made a smart choice for your business. These certification courses can be challenging and are not cheap! But do not let this discourage you; if you study and prepare, you should be fine. Just remember to evaluate your options prior to taking on the certification process to ensure this is the right path for you.

Dollars spent on education are the most valuable when you put them to use. Most hosting companies will send you offers in the mail for a $100 credit to spend in AdWords. This is a great option to start off with to see if AdWords would be a good idea for you an your business. The process for getting certified takes time, and pending on what your business needs are, you may be better off hiring someone to do that for you.