How I Got Certified in Google Analytics Qualification and You Can Too

6 steps to become a certified GA expert

There is probably no marketer on Earth who has never dealt with Google Analytics (correct me if I am wrong). It is a universal tool to track your website performance, spot issues, and record conversions.

I got familiar with Google Analytics 3 years ago. The tool seemed complicated, with multiple reports, metrics, dimensions, segments, etc. I did not learn Google Analytics from anyone. I’ve learned how it works and how to benefit from it on my own. Google Analytics is not the tool that you can understand intuitively or fully master within a few months.

Every online marketing manager who wants to work with client projects, develop a marketing strategy, set up conversion tracking, and optimize onsite conversion rates must possess at least basic Google Analytics skills.

I have recently passed Google Analytics Individual Qualification and got certified. I did not spend any $ to get this certification, but the new knowledge and the practical skills I’ve received are priceless.

Here is how you, too, can master Google Analytics and get certified.

Is it worth passing the Google Analytics examination?

It is a common practice to believe that certification helps make a CV look better and more appealing for recruiters. More certificates mean more skills and more expertise. Right? — Unfortunately, no.

Having certificates displayed on the Linkedin profile or CV does not guarantee a high level of expertise in a certain field. Depending on the area of work, recruiters prefer certified employees. This is a so-called “trigger” to check a candidate more thoroughly since he/she seems to be a good fit. However, the certification itself is not equal to expertise.

There is a tiny nuance related to the online certification programs. The questions are usually the same, and they do not change over time. It means answers are most likely available online. It is true for the Google Analytics Certification. I’ve seen multiple websites in Google Search that offer help and instant responses. It devalues the GA certification since it’s unknown how much effort an individual put into getting it done. However, It is worth spending your time learning how the tool works and how it can serve various business needs.

I’ve learned a lot during the preparation for the Google Analytics examination. I spent 1 month getting prepared for the exam. Someone would say it is too long, and I could pass it within 1 day. I agree, but the certificate itself has never been my goal.

I used to work with Google Analytics for a few years before I decided to pass the exam. I could have passed it even without preparation, but I’ve collected multiple questions related to how Google Analytics works, and I had to find the answers to all of them before taking the exam. The time spent on studies, video lectures, reading Google guidelines is never wasted if you know why you do it.

I wanted to become a more confident user of Google Analytics. I wanted to learn how to benefit from custom segments, how to track assisted conversions, how to track users if they come from different browsers and devices, etc. The further you explore Google Analytics, the more you understand how much you do not know.

Studies do not finish once you obtain a certification. It will be a long journey towards becoming a Google Analytics expert.

How I got certified in Google Analytics qualification and you can too

There are multiple free and paid courses to get you prepared for the GA qualification exam. However, Google itself offers free courses to become a confident user. Here is how I got prepared for the exam step by step.

1. Join Google Analytics Academy

Register at Google Analytics Academy with your valid email address, which you can access at any time. Your email will be linked to your account, where you will be storing your course data and certificates. It is essential to register with a proper email address that belongs to you (do not use your company email address). By doing it, you ensure you will have full access to the certificates. In case of a workplace change, your data will not be lost.

Google Analytics Academy has probably one of the best GA courses that combine video lectures and practical assignments. Anyone can take a course. There is no fee for it.

2. Install the Google Merchandise Store Demo Account

The Google Analytics Academy offers one huge benefit for its students — access to a Google Merchandise Store Demo Account.

You get access to a real Google Analytics account of an e-commerce shop with historical data. What can be better for training purposes? I wish I had such a possibility when I’ve just started dealing with Google Analytics.

Read Google instructions here on how to set up a demo account yourself.

3. Write down quantitative metrics from video lectures and readings

Make sure to write down the most quantitative metrics you will hear during the lectures. Why? These are prevalent questions on the exam and very useful information to remember. Here are some examples:

• One Google Analytics session lasts for 30 minutes.
• The maximum membership duration for a user in the Google Analytics audience list is 540 days.
• A remarketing audience list is supposed to have at least 1000 users to start running remarketing ads.

4. If something is unclear, watch lectures once again

It is tempting to move on as fast as possible. However, Google Analytics has a lot of tricky moments to remember. If something was unclear during the lecture, make sure to stop for a few seconds, reflect on the information you’ve heard, watch lectures again, or explore more articles on a similar topic.

For instance, I was confused by the different dimensions and metrics scopes. Moreover, it was even more confusing how to define which dimensions and metrics can be simultaneously used in one report.

I watched the same lecture a few times and read multiple articles online on the same topic. If you struggle with Google Analytics scopes, here is a great article by Google that explains the logic behind different scopes and how data can be combined in one report.

5. Join Google Analytics Discussion Community

Google Analytics Discussion Community is like Quora, but all the questions and answers are related to the Google Analytics usage. Anyone can post a question, describe a problem, or subscribe to an existing question and get help from the community.

6. Pass the assessment test after each lecture

After each course module, you will be offered to pass an intermediate assessment test. Make sure to check how well you understood the lecture by taking the interim test. It usually contains 15 questions and takes a maximum of 10 minutes to answer. Some questions imply you will have to find the answers in the Google Analytics demo account.

You will most likely see similar or the same questions during the actual Google Analytics exam. It is important to pass all the assessments and take notes if you’ve made mistakes. These interim tests do not guarantee that you will be able to pass the Google Analytics exam right away. However, you will have a higher chance of succeeding upon the course completion.

About the test and the certificate validity

The test is free to take. There are 70 questions, and you have 1.5 hrs to answer them. Based on my experience, 30 seconds to 1 minute is enough for a question. If you are well-prepared, you can pass the test within 60 minutes.

You have to score at least 80% to pass the test, which is at least 56 correct answers. Once you are done, you’ll be notified if you passed the examination. Do not worry if you failed for the first time. You can re-take the test right the next day.

The certification is valid for 12 months. After its expiration, you will have to re-take the test again. Here is a link to the test and my certificate, as an example:

I’ve spent half of the day on the weekend reviewing my notes and getting ready for the exam. Surprisingly, it was not difficult! I was a bit nervous at the very beginning due to the time pressure, but the whole test went well, and I’ve scored 93%. Here is my conclusion upon the test completion:

Time dedicated to learning something new is never wasted. There is no difference if you pass the test today or tomorrow. Eventually, only your knowledge and practical skills will matter.

A to-do list for a successful Google Analytics examination

Here is a summary of all the steps I’ve taken to pass the Google Analytics individual qualification successfully.

1. Join Google Analytics Academy.
2. Install the Google Merchandise Store demo account.
3. Write down quantitative metrics from video lectures and readings.
4. If something is unclear, watch lectures once again. Do not move on until you get things clarified.
5. Read extra articles suggested by Google that are usually relevant for each lecture topic.
6. Join Google Analytics Discussion Community
7. Pass the assessment test after each lecture.

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