Google Ads PPC certification — how much does it actually matter for getting hired?
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Tom W.OP
May 27, 2026
Digital marketer with 2 years of hands-on Google Ads experience looking to move into a dedicated PPC role. I've been running campaigns for an agency but I'm not Google certified. Most job postings list Google Ads certification as 'preferred' but not required.
How much do employers actually care about the certification vs demonstrated campaign performance? My metrics are strong — ROAS, CPC benchmarks, account growth. But I have no piece of paper to show.
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Chris D.
May 28, 2026
The certification is free to take and doesn't expire that quickly. Just get it — at your experience level it takes maybe a day to study and passes cleanly. Remove the 'preferred' checkbox from every job posting for the cost of a few hours.
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David K.
May 28, 2026
Experienced PPC managers care more about your numbers than your cert. The cert matters most for entry-level roles where employers can't easily evaluate performance. Your ROAS and account history are more compelling at your level.
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lisa.prep
May 28, 2026
Some agencies use it as a filter to screen large applicant pools quickly. Having it removes that risk. Take the Search and Performance Max exams at minimum — those are the most recognized.