10 Best PPC Marketing Certifications (Free & Paid)

A PPC marketing certification demonstrates an advertising professional’s ability to navigate the complexities of paid search promotion.

We’ve reviewed some of the most popular and highly rated PPC courses and certificate options on the market to bring you this list of the best PPC certifications.

10 Top PPC Marketing Certifications

1. Google Ads Search Certification
2. Reliablesoft Marketing Certification
3. Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate
4. Microsoft Search Advertising Certification
5. SimpliLearn Advanced PPC Certification Training
6. Amazon Sponsored Ads Certification
7. Semrush PPC Fundamentals Certification
8. Google Ads Display Certification
9. Coursera Digital Advertising Strategy Certification
10. Google Ads Video Certification

1. Google Ads Search Certification

Learn how to leverage techniques like smart bidding and intelligent audience creation in Google’s dedicated PPC course. The Google Ads Search certification focuses exclusively on bidding for and using ads within the Google ecosystem and provides a comprehensive overview of how to plan, implement, and measure your campaigns.

Who is this for?

Focused on the Google landscape, the Google Ads Search certification ensures you can demonstrate a complete understanding of building and optimizing Google Search campaigns.

If you plan on using Google Ads to increase leads for your own website or generate attention for advertising clients, this is a Google Ads course for you.

A PPC certification straight from Google should help you capture the attention of countless advertising customers.

What you’ll learn?

Providing an end-to-end view of the Google Search ads platform, this course will show you how to build a coherent digital marketing strategy from scratch and even align your PPC plans with other campaigns. You’ll develop Google search campaigns to serve different goals, like increasing leads or web traffic.

The Google Search certification also covers important topics like planning your budget, understanding the Google Ads auction, and cultivating the right attention with text ads. Other topics include:

• Google audience research and building
• Performance boosting with optimization score
• Increasing conversions with Performance Planner
• Making ads relevant with Search Ad extensions
• Boosting efficiency with automated bidding

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

The Google Ads Search certification is completely free and available to take at your own pace. Each section of the course takes between 8 and 32 minutes to cover, so you’ll need to set a few hours aside to cover everything.

There’s also a Google Ads Search Assessment, which takes about 1.3 hours. Passing the exams makes you a certified google ads specialist.

2. Reliablesoft Marketing Certification

Another option to consider from a reliable training academy is the Digital Marketing certification from Reliablesoft Academy. This certification covers everything you ever need to know about PPC campaigns, including Google Ads (search and display campaigns), Facebook Ads, and Retargeting ads.

It’s a highly actionable course built from our 15+ years of experience running PPC campaigns worth millions of dollars.

Who is this for?

This certificate is for everyone wishing to learn the exact steps to follow to run highly profitable PPC campaigns. Instead of trying to figure out the winning formula yourself by performing endless tests, we’ll give you a proven blueprint to follow and get results faster.

We did numerous tests to come up with a plan of action that works for all kinds of businesses and niches. It’s proven tested and can generate a good return from every dollar you spend on paid ads.

What you’ll learn?

This certificate includes 13 courses covering all digital marketing concepts, not just PPC marketing. Through the courses, you’ll learn how to design and execute campaigns to combine one or more marketing channels to get the best possible outcome.

In particular, when it comes to PPC, you’ll be able to:

• Set up a Google Ads account from scratch and optimize the important settings
• Run different kinds of campaigns on the Google Search and Display Network, including Google Discover
• Optimize your Google ads campaigns using proven techniques and practices
• Create high-converting ads to engage with your customers
• Learn how to structure your Facebook Ads campaigns (including Instagram) to target the right audience on Facebook
• Learn how to create different Facebook campaigns to simulate the steps of a sales funnel
• Learn how to reduce your Facebook advertising costs
• How to run retargeting ads on Google, Facebook, and Instagram

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

The total cost of this certification is $149. It’s a once-off cost and not a monthly subscription. With your registration, you get lifetime access to the online learning platform. All courses are updated frequently, and you get new updates for free.

While this is a self-paced learning course – meaning you can follow the lessons at your own pace and time, most students can complete the lessons and get the Digital marketing certification in about 2 weeks.

You can view hundreds of five-star course reviews to get an idea if this is a good certification for your PPC training needs. 

3. Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

PPC isn’t just for search engines. The PPC training course from Meta will ensure you know how to leverage the social media platforms to capture traffic and leads too.

This comprehensive certificate takes you from beginner to professional in the social media marketing world with all the skills you need, delivered over 6 expert courses.

Who is this for?

Ideal if you’re planning a career in social media marketing or management, the Meta Social Media Marketing professional certificate covers everything you need to know about designing ads in the social world.

No background knowledge is necessary, but having a basic knowledge of the Meta landscape (previously Facebook) is helpful.

You’ll also get full access to the Meta Career Programs board after achieving your certification, so this could be an ideal learning opportunity for anyone just beginning to look for a new career.

What you’ll learn?

Over 6 courses, the Meta social media marketing course prepares you for an entry-level role in social media marketing. You’ll start with a basic introduction to digital marketing and building an online presence, with tips on how to build marketing plans to achieve different goals.

The course introduces the concepts of social media management, how to create a strong brand, and when to schedule your posts for the best results.

You’ll look at channels like Instagram and Facebook Ads for effective advertising and examine concepts like ad objectives and target audience.

Other topics covered include:

• Measuring and analyzing social media campaigns
• Examining budget and ad placement
• Cross-channel social media marketing

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

At a rate of around 2 hours of study per week, this course will take around 7 months to complete. With a price of around $49 per month for your certificate, you can expect to pay around $343 in total. However, financial support is available.

This certification also prepares you for the Meta Digital Marketing Associate exam, so at the end, you’ll achieve two Meta Certifications.

4. Microsoft Search Advertising Certification

Designed by Microsoft, the Microsoft Search Advertising certification is a comprehensive learning experience covering all search marketing fundamentals.

You’ll learn all about how search engines work and how to leverage them as powerful marketing tools. You’ll also get a complete overview of key performance indicators and analytics.

Who is this for?

The Microsoft Search Advertising certification focuses heavily on the Microsoft Search ecosystem. You’ll learn a lot about specific features like how bidding and budgets work with Microsoft Bing Ads and how to create expanded text ads.

However, there’s still scope for people outside the Microsoft advertising arena to learn with this course. Certain topics, like how to choose keywords, are transferable to other PPC campaigns.

What you’ll learn?

Microsoft provides an end-to-end view of the search advertising landscape, complete with an initial introduction to the basics of search. You’ll discover how to effectively choose keywords and match types and structure your ads to impact your audience best.

Over around 21 courses in total, you’ll learn about UET and conversion tracking, how to use the Microsoft Advertising editor, how to leverage Dynamic Search Ads and more. Other topics covered include:

• Microsoft advertising reporting
• Accounts and billing within Microsoft
• Remarketing in paid search
• How to create responsive search ads
• Managing your Microsoft ad partner network

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

The Microsoft PPC marketing certification is free to take at your own pace. The courses will take around 5 hours to complete in total, but you’re free to spread the learning experience out as much as you like.

5. SimpliLearn Advanced PPC Certification Training

If you’re hoping to become a PPC expert without focusing on a specific ad network (like Google or Bing), the Advanced PPC Certification training course could be ideal for you.

This PPC course offers everything students need to access an entry-level career in search marketing. You’ll even get a behind-the-scenes look at search psychology.

Who is this for?

Ideal for beginners hoping to start a new career in PPC advertising, this course covers everything you need to know about PPC marketing, with a platform-agnostic approach.

You’ll develop in-depth knowledge of bidding methods, ranking algorithms, and the various ad platforms you can use to help your clients or brands meet their goals.

The course does require a high school diploma or undergraduate degree in any discipline, to ensure you have the learning skills to thrive throughout the lessons.

What you’ll learn?

This PPC certificate takes a comprehensive approach to paid marketing, starting with the psychology of search and the buying funnel. You also get a complete insight into keyword use, with match types, negative keywords, and tips on keyword research.

Throughout a series of deep-dive lessons, you’ll learn all about ad testing, ad extensions, segmenting data, accessing display targeting options, and tracking campaign performance. Some of the other topics covered include:

• How to define audience types
• Ad extensions and campaign types
• Different methods of targeting (location and language)
• Reporting and AB testing
• Working with quality score diagnosis

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

With an all-in-one price of $999, you can access the course from a self-paced learning perspective. This gives you lifetime access to the course tools, hands-on projects for perfecting your new skills, and simulation test papers for self-assessment.

You’ll need around 50 hours to consume all the content, but you can spread this out at your own pace.

6. Amazon Sponsored Ads Certification

The Sponsored Ads Certification from Amazon gives you a complete overview of the sponsorship landscape in the Amazon marketplace and how to use it to increase sales.

Ideal for the age of eCommerce, the course provides a complete overview of everything from creating your new ads to determining whether or not they’re delivering the right results.

Who is this for?

Marketers interested in working with eCommerce brands and advertising experts who frequently list products on Amazon will definitely benefit from this PPC course. The lessons focus exclusively on the Amazon ecosystem, with an overview of the fundamentals of sponsored ad types, metrics, reports, and even ad acceptability guidelines.

If you’re hoping to drive more attention to product listings on Amazon or work with a wider range of sellers in this space, this is the PPC certification for you.

What you’ll learn?

The Sponsored Ads certification from Amazon is a complete guide to the Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Ads network on Amazon. You’ll learn all about “Seller Central” and the Amazon advertising console, as well as how to get started with bids and budgets.

This course starts simple, with insights into how to set your business goals, optimize your product pages for advertising, and create promotional messages for sponsored ads. You’ll also learn:

• Which guidelines do you need to follow for ad acceptability
• How to use reports for campaign insights
• How to understand sales attribution
• Where to optimize your bids and budgets

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

The Amazon Sponsored Ads certification is a free, self-paced course, available to take at your leisure. You’ll need a few hours to cover all of the content, and at least 2 hours to take the Sponsored Ads certification assessment.

7. Semrush PPC Fundamentals Certification

Enhance your knowledge of paid search marketing with a comprehensive overview from Joel Bondorowsky. The Semrush PPC certification provides a step-by-step overview of the PPC world through 36 lessons of valuable, in-depth content. There are videos to inspire you, extra reading resources, and quizzes to test your knowledge.

Who is this for?

Ideal for demonstrating your industry knowledge of all things PPC, this PPC certificate is great for marketers who want to be able to showcase their skills to potential clients. The course is designed for complete beginners who need to develop insider knowledge on how PPC works, what it means to build a search campaign, and how to boost conversions.

The course has a separate “PPC Fundamentals” exam, which you’ll need to take to access your Semrush certification.

What you’ll learn?

This PPC training experience starts with an overview of what PPC campaigns are and how you can design the perfect strategy for your campaigns. There’s a full guide to finding keywords for your search campaigns, creating shopping campaigns, and mastering display advertising.

You’ll learn how to set up universal app campaigns, access bidding, and budgeting, and use the conversion optimizer to analyze the value of every click. Other topics include:

• How to establish conversions along the funnel
• Which ad formats to use for each campaign
• The basics of multi-touch conversions and remarketing

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

This PPC certificate is free to access, with 5 hours of content to explore. You can take the courses at your own pace and access the PPC fundamentals exam when you’re ready.

8. Google Ads Display Certification

Google display advertising certification is one of the best google certifications and among the most crucial for any PPC expert to master. This Google Ads Display certification looks at one of the essential parts of the Google ecosystem: display advertising.

With this course, you’ll learn how to build a comprehensive display advertising strategy, complete with targeted goals.

Who is this for?

If you’re keen to expand your knowledge of the Google landscape for PPC advertising, the Google Ads Display certification will give you a complete overview of the display network. You’ll learn how to use this environment alongside other marketing campaigns to give your message a broader reach.

The display certification is designed for beginners, so you don’t need any prior knowledge to get started, but it helps to have a basic understanding of the Google network.

What you’ll learn?

This Google Ads certification focuses exclusively on the display network and how you can use it to your advantage in a paid advertising campaign. You’ll learn about connecting your display strategy to wider company marketing plans and look at how you can develop strategies with a focus on goals like awareness and retention.

The course covers guidance for reaching both new and existing customers and helps to ensure you’re aligning your digital marketing plan with your budget. Other topics covered include:

• How to grow a business with Google ads
• Different campaign types within Google display ads
• How to boost efficiency with automated bidding
• Using the Performance planner

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

The Google Ads Display certification is a free, self-paced course that should only take a few hours to complete. You’ll need to set aside at least 1.3 hours to complete the Google Ads display assessment to receive your certification.

9. Coursera Digital Advertising Strategy Certification

Covering all the major marketing platforms, including video, display, native, sponsored, search, social media, and programmatic, this is an extremely comprehensive PPC course.

The Digital Advertising strategy certification goes beyond the basics of PPC to ensure you have a complete guide to making an impact online.

Who is this for?

Designed for students hoping to develop a career in digital advertising, this course covers everything you need to know about the different kinds of PPC ads, and how you can use them in your promotional strategies.

Though the content is beginner-friendly, you’ll need a basic knowledge of digital ads and a strong set of web skills.

This course covers the basics of all PPC campaign options; however, it doesn’t go in-depth into the use of any specific network.

What you’ll learn?

The Digital Advertising strategy certification is an end-to-end overview of PPC campaigns, starting with an introduction to the major platforms, and including a complete insight into ad performance analytics and reports.

You’ll learn how to create tailored advertising campaigns for different platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Taboola, Twitter, and Google Ads. Other topics covered include:

• The complete guide to search advertising and how to choose keywords
• How to target specific customers on social media
• What native advertising means and how to use it

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

Coursera recommends assigning around 2 hours a week to this course to complete it within 5 months. Following this structure, you’ll pay around $245 for the full course at a rate of $49 per month.

Notably, there are financial support options available, and you can always accelerate your learning to complete the certificate faster.

10. Google Ads Video Certification

Concentrating on the rapidly growing video advertising landscape, the Google Ads Video certification from Google Skillshop highlights everything you need to know about capturing your audience with engaging video content.

Certified users will be able to demonstrate a complete understanding of how to use tools like YouTube to drive brand growth.

Who is this for?

If you’re looking to develop your advertising skills to include a new platform (Video), or you’re starting a marketing career from scratch, this could be the course for you.

Google’s step-by-step instruction is easy to follow, even if you’re a complete beginner, and it comes with insights into how you can connect your video campaigns to other advertising efforts.

As video marketing becomes more popular, most advertising specialists will be able to benefit from building their skills with this certificate.

What you’ll learn?

This Google course starts with an introduction to the value of YouTube for content creators, advertisers, and users alike. You’ll learn how to leverage YouTube audiences to ensure you’re delivering the right message to the correct customer at each stage of the buyer journey.

The Google Ads Video certification makes it simple to create your own extensive YouTube strategy and incorporate creative strategies for telling effective brand stories. Other topics include:

• Understanding and using different video ad formats
• The creative essentials for advertisers on YouTube
• Leveraging YouTube to encourage action

How much does it cost, and how long does it take to complete?

The Google Ads video certification is free to take at your own pace. You’ll be able to complete the course content in a few hours, but you’ll need at least 1.3 hours to finish the video ads assessment.

Compare the Best PPC Marketing Certifications

The table below compares the cost of the most popular PPC Certifications.

Are PPC Marketing Certifications Worth It?

PPC ads are among the most important parts of many digital marketing campaigns. Often used alongside SEO campaigns and organic social media strategies, PPC ads help companies gain the initial attention they need to make sales in a competitive environment.

Earning a PPC marketing certification shows your clients and potential marketing customers you have what it takes to navigate the various complex PPC environments available online.

You’ll be able to demonstrate a clear ability to use your budget wisely, target specific audiences, and generate the best possible return on investment for your clients.

With the right PPC certification, you can:

• Develop your skills in specific areas of PPC advertising, like leveraging Google Ads, the display network, or video marketing strategies.
• Highlight your potential value to clients and demonstrate an ability to make the most of the top PPC marketing avenues.
• Separate yourself from other competing PPC advertising agencies and professionals.
• Keep your knowledge of PPC avenues like Google and social media up-to-date as algorithms and trends change.
• Refine your targeting and segmentation skills when building specific ad campaigns.

Methodology

To help you find the best PPC certification, we’ve looked at the top certification courses from trusted training providers. In the list, we included PPC training options from companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon, which are the leaders in PPC advertising.

The review was performed by an experienced PPC expert and trainer.

Related Courses and Certifications

Getting a PPC marketing certification is a great step for beginners, but not the end of your learning journey. To open up new career opportunities, you should consider a career in digital marketing, which covers areas beyond PPC ads.

• Digital Marketing Certifications – a review of the best certifications to consider covering a wide range of digital marketing channels.
• Best Digital Marketing Courses – a comprehensive walkthrough of the most useful digital marketing courses for beginners. Some include lessons on PPC marketing.