What are my options for learning about Google Cloud?
There are many ways to engage in Google Cloud training depending on your
preferences. Google Cloud offers on-demand training via partners such as Coursera
and Pluralsight. You can complete these trainings at your own pace from nearly
anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.
Google Cloud courses are also offered in classroom-format, with fixed schedules
and timelines, led by instructors from our Authorized Training Partners. These
instructor-led courses are offered in physical classrooms or via virtual classrooms.
Find upcoming courses in the
Public Classroom Schedule or on each course
listing in the
Google Cloud training catalog.
For a hands-on learning experience, take advantage of the labs and quests on
Qwiklabs, which allow you to learn and
practice concepts inside of the Google Cloud environment.
Do I need to complete certain training to get certified?
Google Cloud Certification
requires hands-on experience with Google Cloud solutions. The program gives Google
Cloud users, customers and partners a way to demonstrate their technical skills in
a particular job role or technology. Individuals are assessed using a variety of
rigorously developed industry standard methods to determine whether they meet
Google Cloud's proficiency standards. While Google Cloud Training may be helpful,
it is not required to receive a certification.
What are my options for training during the current COVID-19 crisis?
In response to COVID-19, we have new ways to help you train at home.
Learn more
about training in a virtual classroom setting, our latest
training offers, and find upcoming courses on the
Public Classroom schedule.
What is classroom training?
Classroom training refers to courses led by an instructor and offered on a set
schedule. The instructors are Google authorized training partners who have demonstrated
expertise in the course material. The classes are offered both in an in-person classroom
setting as well as live, interactive virtual classes.
What are the benefits of classroom training?
Classroom training offers collaborative learning with like-minded learners and
real-time guidance from top Google Cloud experts.
What are guaranteed-to-run classes?
Classes marked as "guaranteed-to-run" are not subject to cancellations. Customers can
register and plan their schedule with certainty.
What is on-demand training?
On-demand training allows you to fit your learning plan to your schedule and preferred
pace. These courses are offered entirely online by Google partners and can be completed
from any place at any time.
What are my options for taking on-demand training?
Pluralsight is a technology skills platform offering a full breadth of Google Cloud
learning paths, courses, and skills assessments. For more info visit go.pluralsight.com/GoogleCloud
Coursera has a catalog of on-demand courses, specializations, and professional
certificates in the latest Google Cloud technologies. You can learn online at your own
pace, from anywhere. coursera.org/googlecloud
What is Qwiklabs?
Qwiklabs is a platform that gives you temporary credentials to Google Cloud, so you can learn the cloud using the real thing.
What is a hands-on lab?
A hands-on lab is an online learning environment along with a set of instructions
to walk you through a live, real world, and scenario-based use case. In a lab you
have access to the actual environment you want to learn about, not a simulation or
demo environment. You can access the lab environment from anywhere on the Internet
using a standard browser.
Most labs require
credits to access,
but there are a number of free introductory labs available as well.
Where can I get help with questions about Qwiklabs?
Please visit Qwiklabs support for answers to any questions pertaining to the platform.
What are Google Cloud skill badges?
A skill badge is a demonstration of an acquired Google Cloud skill. It is very specific to a particular task, or set of tasks.
What is required to receive a skill badge?
A skill badge is a Google Cloud issued digital badge which is directly awarded upon the completion of any of our quests that include a challenge lab. A challenge lab is a skills assessment to check your ability to complete a series of specific tasks on Google Cloud technology. You must successfully pass the challenge lab in order to receive the digital badge.
What is a challenge lab?
A challenge lab is a skills assessment which contains a series of tasks that must be completed in a set time limit. You must score 100% on all tasks in order to pass the challenge lab.
What is the difference between a normal quest and a quest that includes a challenge lab?
A quest is a self paced learning path which contains a collection of labs organized
by technologies or specific cloud services.
A quest plus a challenge lab is a self paced learning path which contains a
collection of labs, however it capstones with a challenge lab. A challenge lab is
where you must complete a series of tasks in a set time limit. The learner must
score 100% on all tasks to pass the challenge lab.
What is the difference between a Google Cloud skill badge and a Google Cloud certification?
A skill badge measures an individual's knowledge of a specific product or service and
tests their ability to apply that knowledge in an interactive hands on environment.
A certification measures an individual’s proficiency at performing a specific job role
using Google Cloud technology. A certification exam tests one knowledge of a wide range
of products and services needed to perform a job role versus 1 product/service. In order
to prepare for a Cloud certification, it is recommended that an individual has multiple
years of experience in the role, in addition to completing the recommended online
training and skill badges.
Do I get the Google Cloud issued skill badge if I have already completed the challenge lab?
If you have enrolled in a quest and completed all the labs including the challenge lab you will get a Google Cloud issued skill badge. Visit your badge profile page on Qwiklabs to confirm if you have the badge.
I previously completed all of the labs, however they are not in the same quests I completed them in before. Will my previous lab completions migrate over to this new quest?
Yes they will. Per the FAQ on the Qwiklabs FAQ page, lab completion is recognized across all Qwiklabs quests. For example, if you complete “Creating Cloud Instances for Windows“ in one quest, you receive lab completion credit for that same lab across all Qwiklabs quests that contain the “Creating Cloud Instances for Windows“ lab.
I completed the quest and passed the challenge lab, and I have not received my Google Cloud issued skill badge. Who do I contact?
How much time is it to take a quest that includes a challenge lab?
Challenge labs typically take 90 minutes to complete. They are time bound like all the other labs in Qwiklabs. The overall quest comprises multiple labs and depending on the level each lab can vary from 30 mins - 90 mins.
How much time will it take me to complete the quest and the challenge lab?
The amount of time it will take to complete the quest and the challenge lab depends on the total numbers of labs within the quest and the difficulty as quests range from beginner to advanced level. You can find this information by navigating to the quest page that you are interested in and looking for the total time commitment located under the quest title.
When will I know if I have earned a skill badge?
Once you have completed all of the required labs and the challenge lab that are part of a quest, you are automatically awarded a badge. All badges earned will become a permanent part of your Qwiklabs account and profile.
How can I share my Google Cloud-issued badge on social media?
Google badges issued by QwikLabs are currently only available to be shared on LinkedIn. Other forms of social sharing (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) are actively being worked on by our engineering team, and are slated to be available by the end of 2020.
How do I share my Google Cloud badge on LinkedIn?
Sharing your Google badge issued by QwikLabs is simple. Follow these 4 steps:
Is there an age requirement in order to take a quest and a challenge lab?
The current age requirement to complete a lab, quest, and challenge lab on Qwiklabs is 16 years old.
What languages are the quests that include a challenge lab available in?
The localized language for each quest that includes a challenge lab varies.
Quests are localized at the lab level. To discover the available languages,
please perform the following steps:
Navigate to the quest in question
Scroll down to the quest outline
For each lab, you will see a globe icon located next to estimated time and
course level
Hover over the globe
You will then see the available languages automatically populate in a drop down
menu
I encountered technical difficulties while taking the quest and/or challenge lab. Who can I contact for assistance?
I finished a quest with the challenge lab, but I haven’t received the Google Cloud issued skill badge.
If you completed a quest with a challenge lab before June 2, 2020 you are eligible to receive a Google Cloud issued Skill badge. We are currently working through our backlog to award these, and you should receive an email notification when this is complete. Questions? Please contact support@qwiklabs.com.
