The Google Data Analytics certification is an entry-level certification offered by Google to equip you with skills to cleanse, maintain, process, visualize, and analyze data using a variety of tools and platforms.

What is Google Data Analytics Certificate?

The certification is delivered by Coursera, and offers roughly 180 hours of instruction and several practical assessments, quizzes, assignments and tests on key data analytics concepts including data structures, data types, data analysis, data visualization and using data analysis languages like R to make sense of large chunks of data.

Companies need Data Analytics experts to help them make sense of huge amounts of data.

A report by Deloitte says that the world creates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each year.

Data Analysts mine vast databases and help companies make long-term strategies to boost profits and avoid risk.

That’s why companies are willing to pay large salaries to data experts.

According to a report by LinkedIn, Data Science remains one of the fastest-growing jobs in the world.

According to Google, there are over 337,400 entry-level Data Analytics jobs, with an average salary of $67,900 US dollars.

The Google Data Analytics certification was designed by Google to allow individuals with no IT or Database Experience to start a career in Data Analytics to tap into the growing opportunities worldwide.

Robert Half’s Technology Salary Report lists Data Analytics among the critical technology roles needed in the world.  According to the report, the average salary of a Data Analyst with little or no prior experience is roughly $82,000.

Google Data Analytics certification costs around $39 per month. According to Coursera, the certification can be completed in less than 6 months of part time study. Therefore, the total cost of the program is roughly $300.

Google also offers need-based financial assistance for the certification.

Google recommends this certification to anyone who has an interest in data and an understanding of high-school-level math.

Skills Measured by the Google Data Analytics Certification

The certification teaches you to handle data through a variety of ways and tools.

The certification consists of 8 modules, and the course offers both theoretical and practical application

Apart from understanding the basics of data cleaning, processing, visualization and analysis, this certification offers a practical understanding of tools like SQL, R programming with RStudio, Kaggle, Tableau, Qwiklabs, and Google Spreadsheets.

Let’s take a look at the course content.

Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere

• Data lifecycle and analysis
• Understanding the role of spreadsheets and query languages
• Data cleaning, visualization, and processing
• SQL, R Programming, Tableau, and
• How to choose the right tool for data analysis tasks

Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions

• Understanding data-driven decision-making
• The importance of asking the right questions in data querying and processing (SMART questions)
• Understanding structured thinking
• Mathematical thinking
• Spreadsheets
• Introduction to Qwiklabs (optional), and
• Formulas and functions in spreadsheets

Prepare Data for Exploration

• Understanding data types
• Understanding which data is important
• Structured data
• Understanding Boolean logic
• Data transformations
• Introduction to Kaggle
• Ethics of data and biases
• Introduction to BigQuery
• Data anonymization
• SQL with large datasets, and
• Metadata

Process Data from Dirty to Clean

• Data integrity
• Sample sizes
• Data reliability
• Margins of error
• Pre-cleaning of data
• Basics of data cleaning
• What is dirty data
• Using spreadsheet features to clean data
• Workflow automation
• Cleaning string variables using SQL
• Data cleaning with advanced functions
• Using SQL as a Data Analyst, and
• SQL dialects and their use

Analyze Data to Answer Questions

• Sorting datasets
• Using filters
• The SORT function
• Sorting using SQL and Excel
• SQL sorting queries
• Data validation
• Manipulating strings in SQL
• Using VLOOKUP
• Understanding JOINS
• All about Pivot Tables, and
• Composite functions

Share Data Through the Art of Visualization

• Data visualization
• Design thinking
• Introduction to Tableau
• Data journalism
• Making charts in spreadsheets, and
• Making Tableau dashboards

Data Analysis with R Programming

• Introduction to R
• Intro to RStudio
• Cloud access to RStudio
• Programming fundamentals
• Introduction to Tidyverse, and
• Vectors, lists, dates, times and data structures in R

Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study

• Introducing the capstone project
• Working on some real-work examples
• Working on your case study

For a more complete curriculum, download the latest Google Data Analytics Certificate exam objectives.

Now, let’s look at the…

Pre-requisites for the Google Data Analytics Certification

There are no pre-requisites for the certification. Google just recommends having a basic math understanding.

This entry-level certification is designed for those who want to start a career in Data Analysis, Data Science, and Business Intelligence.

How to Prepare for the Google Data Analytics Certificate

There are several ways to study for this certification.  In this section we’ll take a look at the various options available.

Self-Study Resources

Google has partnered with Coursera for this certification.

When you register, you will be able to see the complete course material, along with training videos, tests, assignments and quizzes.

But if you want to get a stronger grasp of the Data Analytics concepts covered in the course, there are several self-study resources available.

Books

There are no officially-recommended books for this certification. However, the core concepts of  Data Analytics are not new. They are deeply rooted into the basics of data structures, algorithms, data processing, and data visualization.

You can consult any good book that covers the basics of data.

SQL is a major chunk of this certification. To increase your SQL understanding check out ‘Learning SQL by Alan Beaulieu’, ‘SQL Cookbook by Anthony Molinaro’, and ‘SQL Practice Problems by Sylvia Moestl Vasilik’.

Some other useful books to learn the concepts covered in the Google Data Analytics certification are ‘Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques by Micheline Kamber’, ‘R for Data Science by Garrett Grolemund and Hadley Wickham’ and, ‘Data Visualization For Dummies by Stephanie Diamond’.

Video Training

Learning Data Analytics concepts can be improved with the use of videos.  That’s why Google is using the Coursera platform that teaches this certification in a video-based format.

Apart from the Coursera videos, you can go deeper into the topic of Data Analytics by taking Plural Sight’s Data Analytics Learning Path.

One of the best video training options for this certification is offered by Google on YouTube for free. These videos summarize all the basic concepts covered in this certification.

Instructor-Led Training

Google is offering free virtual workshops and training sessions for Data Analytics candidates who want to learn directly from experts.

You can register for these workshops here and attend the sessions from your home.

Practice Tests

The Coursera modules of the Google Data Analytics certification include several practice tests and activities.

Each of the 8 modules has at least 5 practice exercises at the end. For example, at the end of the first module, you get a chance to use spreadsheets, make charts, and practice SQL queries.

However, you can find tons of free practice tests online. For example, to refine your SQL skills, you can practice data querying with actual data sets on websites like W3resource, Oracle LiveSQL, SQLZOO and SQL Fiddle.

Practice Labs

Google Data Analytics is a practical certification. Every theoretical concept has a practical application.

The sole intent of this certification is to provide you with the skills to get Data Analytics jobs.

Therefore, it’s important you get a lot of practice with the practical areas of the certification in order to refine your skills.

You can find literally hundreds of practice labs for SQL, R, Spreadsheets, and Data Visualizations on websites like Simplilearn, Whiz Labs and R Exercises.

Also, don’t forget to check out Google Data Studio for data visualization practice.

Now, let’s look at…

What Jobs you can get with the Google Data Analytics Certification

The skills you learn with this certification have practical application in the industry.

Every organization that generates or processes data needs Data Analysts.

This certification is an ideal way to enter the industry.

With the Google Data Analytics certification, you become eligible for the following roles:

• Junior Data Analyst
• Associate Data Analyst
• Junior Data Scientist
• Data Technician
• Business Intelligence Analyst, and
• Business Analyst

Now, let’s talk about how much money you can make with the…

Google Data Analytics Certification

According to Google’s own estimates, the salary for entry-level roles with the Google Data Analytics certificate is around $67,900 US dollars.

According PayScale, the average salary for the Data Analyst role is roughly $67,300.

Based on GlassDoor’s estimates, the average salary for the Junior Data Analyst role is roughly $50,000.

Let’s see what other people think about this certification.  Here are a few…

Observations from Successful Google Data Analytics Certification Holders in the Industry

Google Data Analytics is a relatively new certification, launched in March 2021. However, the certification received a very positive response from all over the world given its attractive price and meaningful curriculum.

Here are some comments about the certification from people who have actually checked it out.

“Hi there, I have already taken the live courses on the trial period and I can tell you it is worth it. I have taken many courses out there and I can say this one gave me a bigger view of what it is to be like a data analyst. To not spend so much on it, you can go for the trial and then wait till other courses are available. By the way, you can’t expect to learn a lot about SQL or Spreadsheet. They are just basic things but as I said the beautiful thing about it is it gives you a framework for a data analyst job. Then you can go and work on more advanced topics on SQL or Spreadsheet with a bigger view of things.”[ Reddit User EzzaddeenMofarreh

 

“I thought the videos were helpful in getting a basic understand of data analytics and what to look forward to. However, I was hoping to learn more from most activities. The journals and self-reflection sometimes don’t give much value, although I suppose they get you thinking like an analyst a bit. When giving an introduction to spreadsheets and databases, it would be significantly more helpful if the activities were more hands on. I thought that would be the case when they introduced Qwiklabs, but no. Also, I noticed a time or two, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to input an answer, i.e. I’m sure I knew the answer, but just didn’t get credit for it because of how Coursera wanted me to write it.” [ Review on first module of the certification on Coursera by Rachel V]

 

“Oh man I have never been this excited and anticipated for something in my life before this. And the introduction course was right on bulls eye. It included all the key ingredients necessary to make a great course. Lectures were point on, insights by Googlers were great, the weekly challenges especially the course challenge was really well designed. Only complaint is to incorporate more interactive activities in the course. This is Google. I expect a bit more. probably!! [Review on first module of the certification on Coursera by Danial A]

The Truth About The Google Data Analytics Certificate

The certificate gives you a taste for technologies that have high demand.

You can start your career in the industry and see exponential progress with these skills.

A report from Dice said that the demand for Data Analysts soared 50% in 2020 across sectors like Banking, Finance, Entertainment, and Healthcare.

However, the certification alone doesn’t guarantee a job.

You will have to dig deeper into the concepts and become proficient at using the Data Analysis tools to stand out.

Always get your hands dirty with practical projects and develop a live portfolio accessible online to attract employers and recruiters.

Is the Google Data Analytics Certification for You?

With booming demand and a talent shortage in the Data Analysis domain, the Google Data Analytics certification remains one of the best and cost-effective ways to enter the market.