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You’ve heard about the Google IT Automation with Python certificate but this question still remains:

is the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate actually worth it?

I’ve done the research for you and here’s the short answer:

The Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate is worth it. Made for IT automation and Python beginners, the certificate is worth getting for its credibility, hands-on projects, 115 hours of learning content, and exclusive access to the Coursera Job Platform, for an affordable cost of only USD $39/month.

OFFER: Get $100 off Coursera Plus Annual Subscriptions – promo ends Sep 29

Curious to know more about the details of why this certificate is worth it?

Read on to find out all the 6 reasons why the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate is worth it first!

7 Reasons Why The Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate is Worth It

  1. The Google IT Automation Certificate Gives You Plenty of Hands-On Exercises
  2. The Google IT Automation Certificate Teaches You The Most Popular Automation Skills & Tools
  3. The Google IT Automation Certificate Encourages Project-Based Learning in Real-world Scenarios
  4. The Google IT Automation Certificate Provides You With a Flexible Online Learning Structure
  5. The Google IT Automation Certificate Gives You Good Certification Credentials
  6. The Google IT Automation Certificate Grants You Exclusive Access to A Certificate Holder Coursera Job Platform
  7. The Google IT Automation Certificate Provides You With High-Quality Learning Resources

Now, you might be wondering: how do each of these reasons make the Google IT Automation Certificate worth it?

Read on as I share with you the details on each reason you’ll need to know BEFORE buying + FAQs!

1. The Google IT Automation Certificate Gives You Plenty of Hands-On Exercises

Chances are, you’re thinking of taking this Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate to gain some practical experience you’ll be using at your work or school.

Automation tools are highly technical and the best way to learn them is through some hands-on practices.

This is where this certificate really shines since you’ll be exposed to many hands-on practice exercises while you learn!

There are a few ways where you’ll get to have these practical experiences, including:

  • Programming Assignments
  • Labs
  • Graded Assessments
  • Practice Quizzes

With so many different ways you can get your hands dirty with learning programming, you’ll be sure to learn much faster than with only just the video lectures like in other online courses.

To give you a better idea of how the graded assessments can help to give you hands-on practice, check out the screenshot below:

As you can see, there are assessments with actual programming questions embedded into the questions.

This should provide you with a good level of practice!

And here’s what a graded assessment in the form of a Qwiklab looks like!

Of course, if you’re not ready to attempt the assessments, there are also practice quizzes to help you gain confidence in your programming skills.

Here’s a screenshot of one of the practice quizzes from the first course:

I’m certain that all the hands-on practice you’ll get from these exercises would help you get accustomed to Python programming in no time, even without prior programming experience.

Thinking of just learning Python to start with?

Then the Python for Everybody Specialization would be a better fit for you!

And here’s an article on the applications of python in healthcare, if you’re interested to know more!

I personally find these exercises to be really helpful in the following ways:

  1. They help me develop muscle memory for coding on my computer
  2. They simulate scenarios that are closer to real-life automation tasks
  3. They gave me the confidence to try out programming without any fear

If you’re someone that’s new to programming, I’m sure you’ve experienced some doubt and fear about learning programming.

However, through these exercises, I’m very sure that your skill and confidence will be boosted to the level of an entry-level IT automation programmer!

That’s why these hands-on tasks are what make the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate so worth it!

Next, let’s have a look at the skills you’ll be having those exercises on!

2. The Google IT Automation Certificate Teaches You The Most Popular Automation Skills & Tools

Doing IT automation work is a highly technical task and it requires you to have the basic knowledge of all the required technical skills and tools!

With the Google IT Automation Certificate, you’ll be introduced to all the popular automation tools used in the IT industry, such as:

  1. Python
  2. Jupyter notebooks
  3. Git
  4. GitHub
  5. Google Cloud Platform
  6. Linux OS
  7. Bash Shell Script
  8. Puppet

As you can see, this certificate teaches you tools in BOTH the IT and automation industries!

If any of these tools sound foreign to you, do not worry! These are all covered in detail in the certificate in an easy-to-digest manner.

More than just learning the tools, you’ll require some essential skills to get started in the IT automation field.

The Google IT Automation certificate is the perfect starter guide to point you in the right direction of which skills to learn as a beginner.

Here’s a list of skills you’ll get to learn from the Google IT Automation Certificate:

  • Version control with Git
  • Troubleshooting & Debugging
  • Programming
  • Configuration Management
  • Automation
  • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
  • Development Environment Setup
  • Regular Expression (REGEX)
  • Testing in Python
  • Automating System Administration Tasks with Python
  • Interacting with GitHub
  • Advanced Troubleshooting
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Improving Software Performance
  • Automation at Scale
  • Cloud Computing
  • Basic Monitoring & Alerting
  • Interacting with Web Services
  • Serialization

Just by looking at this long list, I can already tell that you’ll be well prepared with the basic technical skills needed to get started in IT automation.

Thinking of just learning only IT skills instead of programming?

Then the Google IT Support Professional Certificate might help you instead!

Based on the skills you’re going to learn from this certificate, you will cover all necessary skills in these 3 essential broader topics in IT automation:

  1. Programming automation
  2. Troubleshooting
  3. Cloud computing

Now, let me give you a better idea of how some of the skills in automation are taught.

Check out this video below by Google that’s also a video lecture in the certificate:

As you can see, the video covers an introduction to automation and the basic syntax of Python!

The skills and tools you’ll develop throughout the Google IT Automation Certificate will give you just the right amount of exposure to the needed tools.

That’s not something that many certificates or online courses offer, so this makes the certificate much more worth it.

However, there are some limitations to how the number of skills you’ll learn, such as:

  1. You won’t be able to learn other automation programming languages besides Python
  2. You won’t learn about Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools

3. The Google IT Automation Certificate Encourages Project-Based Learning in Real-world Scenarios

If you’re thinking of taking this Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate, you’re likely intending to become an IT professional or a programmer that handles automation.

This means that you’ll want to get as much practical experience on real-world projects as much as possible, to attract the attention of potential employers.

Well, with the Google IT Automation Certificate, you won’t have to worry about those concerns.

Here’s why:

The certificate has a strong focus on the implementation of your new-found skills on real-life projects!

Just look at this summary table of all the projects you’ll get involved with for each course in the certificate:

Course NumberCourse TitleProject
1Crash Course on PythonWord cloud project
2Using Python to Interact with the Operating SystemScanning for errors in logs project
3Introduction to Git and GitHub
4Troubleshooting and Debugging Techniques
5Configuration Management and the Cloud
6Automating Real-World Tasks with PythonMultiple Qwiklabs projects

Upon completion of the course, you’ll gain some practical experience on 3 different projects from courses 1, 2, and 6.

Here’s a screenshot of one of the projects from the certificate:

This project gives you a rough guideline on what you should work on, as well as some starting code.

You’ll have to code out and create that project yourself once you’re at the end of each course.

As you already know, I’m a big believer in practical, hands-on practice and projects are the aggregation of all those practical trainings!

If you’re intending to learn programming through a project, the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate comes with a great capstone programming project!

4. The Google IT Automation Certificate Provides You With a Flexible Online Learning Structure

If you’re someone on a busy schedule, you’ll really appreciate the flexible online learning structure of the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate!

Here’s why:

Most of the content is delivered through recorded video lectures and readings!

Have a look at this summary table below for more details on how much learning content you’ll get + the number of video hours for each course:

Course NumberCourse TitleHours of Learning ContentHours of Video Content
1Crash Course on Python28 hours4 hours, 45 minutes
2Using Python to Interact with the Operating System27 hours6 hours
3Introduction to Git and GitHub17 hours4 hours, 16 minutes
4Troubleshooting and Debugging Techniques16 hours5 hours
5Configuration Management and the Cloud15 hours3 hours, 42 minutes
6Automating Real-World Tasks with Python12 hours1 minute
Total115 hours23 hours, 44 minutes

What do all these numbers mean? To me, it shows me one thing – this certificate is content-packed!

For a person with a busy schedule such as yourself, I’m pretty certain that carving out a few hours to learn each week can be hard.

Thankfully, the Google IT Automation Certificate is hosted on the Coursera online course platform.

This means that all the videos can be played back and readings can be accessed at any time!

This can benefit 2 kinds of individuals:

  1. Students
  2. Workers with day jobs

Students: Learn and develop new skills in between your classes!

Workers with day jobs: Learn after work at your own schedule! Having an online certificate gives you much better flexibility than a BootCamp or a full-day crash course program.

Curious to know what the videos in the Google IT Automation Certificate might look like?

Watch this YouTube video below to get a sneak peek of the first video you’ll encounter in the course:

Pretty exciting and engaging right?

This flexibility to watch and learn through Coursera makes the Google IT Automation Certificate all the more worth it!

In fact, they even have a Coursera mobile app for you to learn on the go.

5. The Google IT Automation Certificate Gives You Good Certification Credentials

When on the job hunt you’ll need as many credentials as you can get to grab the attention of the employer.

With the Google IT Automation with Python Certificate, you’ll be given some credentials that might spark some conversations during interviews with hiring managers!

Here’s how:

Upon completion of the Google IT Automation with Python Certificate, you’ll be issued 2 credentials:

  1. Shareable Professional Certificate by Coursera
  2. Digital Badge on Credly, Issued by Google and Coursera

Shareable Professional Certificate by Coursera: This is a certificate issued by Coursera upon completion of all the courses in the certificate program.

Here’s what I love about this certificate – its shareability and verifiability.

I recommend doing the following:

  • Share this certificate on LinkedIn
  • Adding the verify link to help potential employers verify your certificate

Digital Badge on Credly: This is a digital badge of achievement issued by Google and Coursera, hosted on Credly.

Credly is a global open badge platform that’s commonly used to showcase your skills through badges.

Here’s what the badge looks like:

Although these credentials do not guarantee you a job, you’ll be far ahead of the competition out there that does not have these badges and certificates.

Are certificates even worth it? Check out this article on data analytics professional certificates to find out!

6. The Google IT Automation Certificate Grants You Exclusive Access to A Certificate Holder Coursera Job Platform

Upon completion of all the courses in the Google IT Automation Certificate, you’ll be granted access to the Coursera Job Platform that’s exclusive to Google Career Certificate holders.

This is something REALLY exciting that I find many online certificate programs actually lack!

Coursera Job Platform

The Coursera Job Platform is a job portal that pools together an employer consortium that’s put together by Google.

These employers accept the Google certificates as a form of education, instead of formal degrees.

Just check out this video introduction by them below to find out more!

I’ve had a look at this portal myself and here’s what it looks like:

Based on my first impressions, this Coursera Job Platform is very similar to most job platforms out there, where you can filter by location and job types.

However, there’s an exception.

You’ll get to add a filter that’s specific to certificate completers of any Google certificate, including the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate!

Here’s what that looks like:

I must admit, I’ve never found a job through this job portal and it has limited locations.

However, if this job platform has positions available in your location, this might be a good reason to get the certificate!

This exclusive access to certificate completers might help you in landing your job faster.

Want to explore a career other than IT?

You might want to consider the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate too!

7. The Google IT Automation Certificate Provides You With High-Quality Learning Resources

A great online certificate must be engaging and most importantly, help you retain information as well.

The Google IT Automation Certificate has several styles of learning content for anyone to learn from that help with that!

Here are the different types of content found in the course:

  • Videos
  • Readings
  • Labs
  • Hands-on exercises
  • Projects
  • Discussion Prompts
  • Practice Quizzes
  • Quizzes
  • Programming Assignments
  • Graded Assessments

With all these varied forms of learning content, you can be certain that you won’t be learning like in a traditional classroom!

Additionally, I found that the Qwiklabs in this certificate are really amazing learning resources.

Not only do they provide cloud computing resources, but they also provide step by step guides to go through technical assignments!

Check out this Qwiklab example below:

With such amazing learning resources that get you engaged and ACTUALLY learning how to do IT automation, this makes the Google IT Automation Certificate that much more worth it!

Related Questions

How Much Does Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate Cost?

Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate costs USD $39/month. Since most learners can complete it in only 3 months, the certificate will cost $117 in total. The certificate is priced in 3 ways: a subscription of $39/month or a fixed price of a 3-month plan at only USD $78 or a 6-month plan at USD $117.

There are currently 2 ways to pay for the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate:

  1. Monthly Subscription of $39/month
  2. One-time fee of $78 for 3 months of access
  3. One-time fee of $117 for 6 months of access

My recommendation: Get the one-time fee of $78 for 3 months of access.

Alternatively, if you’re an avid learner like me and you’re planning to learn multiple skills on Coursera, you might want to consider getting a Coursera Plus Subscription at $59/month.

With a Coursera Plus Subscription, you’ll gain access to ALL the Google Career Professional Certificates and many more courses on Coursera!

There are 2 ways to pay for Coursera Plus:

  1. Monthly subscription at $49/month
  2. Annual subscription at $399/year ($33/month)

This is really great value for money if you’re intending to use Coursera to learn multiple skills through courses!

Here’s a screenshot of my annual subscription:

I went for the Annual Coursera Plus Subscription since I’m an avid learner and I believe in long-term learning with a premium online course provider like Coursera.

Do consider that if you’re planning to do the same!

How Long Does It Take To Complete the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate?

It will take 3 months to complete the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate. This will vary depending on previous IT Automation or programming background, learning speeds, and hours committed per day. Although Google suggests a 6-month completion time, most learners should finish the program earlier.

Learning something as technical as IT automation and programming for the first time can take quite a while.

While the average person might complete the certificate within 3 months, you can possibly take a shorter or longer period of time to complete!

Here are a few factors to consider:

  1. Your previous IT background
  2. Your previous programming background
  3. Your learning speed
  4. Your commitment hours

Take these few factors into account if you’re trying to estimate how long it will take you to complete!

In general, any previous experience might cut down the timeline by 2 months. If you put in more hours, you can also complete faster.

Can I Get a Job With the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate?

A job is not guaranteed with the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate. However, Google provides job resources such as an exclusive Coursera Job Platform, interview and portfolio tips, and career credentials. These career resources from the certificate will help in getting a job in the IT field.

Getting a job in IT is not easy and does take some effort. Having just this certificate by itself is not enough to get you a job in IT automation.

However, the resources from this Google IT Automation Certificate are really helpful in the job hunt.

Here’s a list of the career resources you’ll receive from the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate:

  • Access to an exclusive Google Certificate holder-only job board with over 150 US employers
  • Interview tips
  • Mock interviews
  • Resume building workshops
  • Career coaching sessions

How Hard Is Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate?

Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate is moderately hard. The certificate was designed with beginners in mind, without the need for any prior IT or programming experience. However, this certificate covers intermediate topics beyond IT fundamentals which beginners might find hard to understand.

According to Google, this certificate is meant for anyone and is set to the beginner level.

However, I’d say that this certificate requires some basic knowledge of IT fundamentals to help you grasp concepts better.

If you’re a complete beginner, I’d recommend going for the Google IT Support Professional Certificate first, followed by this certificate!

Is the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate Free?

Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate is not free. The certificate is priced at a monthly fee of USD $39/month. However, financial aid from Coursera is available for this certificate for all valid applicants. Through financial aid, the Google IT Automation Certificate can be completed for free.

As mentioned previously, most would have to pay for a monthly subscription of the certificate for $39/month.

However, if you’re unable to pay for the Google IT automation certificate, there’s another method.

You can apply for financial aid on Coursera!

This should give you access to the certificate for free, should you be accepted as a valid applicant.

If you’re still on the fence, I still strongly believe that $39/month is still very affordable compared to a degree program!

I’d recommend enrolling for the 7-day free trial to see if the certificate works for you!

Final Thoughts

That’s about all the information I have on the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate!

If this has been helpful, do consider using my affiliate link here at no extra cost to you.

This helps to support the site! Thanks for reading.

Some Professional Certificates You Might Like:

My Favorite Learning Resources:

Here are some of the learning resources I’ve personally found to be useful as a data analyst and I hope you find them useful too!

These may contain affiliate links and I earn a commission from them if you use them.

However, I’d honestly recommend them to my juniors, friends, or even my family!

My Recommended Learning Platforms!

Learning PlatformWhat’s Good About the Platform?
1CourseraCertificates are offered by popular learning institutes and companies like Google & IBM
2DataCampComes with an integrated coding platform, great for beginners!
3PluralsightStrong focus on data skills, taught by industry experts
4StratascratchLearn faster by doing real interview coding practices for data science
5UdacityHigh-quality, comprehensive courses

My Recommended Online Courses + Books!

TopicOnline CoursesBooks
1Data AnalyticsGoogle Data Analytics Professional Certificate
2Data ScienceIBM Data Science Professional Certificate
3ExcelExcel Skills for Business Specialization
4PythonPython for Everybody SpecializationPython for Data Analysis
5SQLIntroduction to SQLSQL: The Ultimate Beginners Guide: Learn SQL Today
6TableauData Visualization with TableauPractical Tableau
7Power BIGetting Started with Power BI DesktopBeginning Microsoft Power BI
8R ProgrammingData Science: Foundations using R SpecializationLearning R
9Data VisualizationBig Book of Dashboards

To see all of my most up-to-date recommendations, check out this resource I’ve put together for you here.

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