Validates knowledge of setting up, deploying, operating and securing Google Cloud environments, including access and security configuration.
The Associate Cloud Engineer exam tests whether you can set up and run workloads in Google Cloud, so a good course needs real console practice as well as explanation. We compared the main options on labs, depth, currency and price.
Most people should start with Google's own free Associate Cloud Engineer path, which has labs in real Google Cloud projects. Choose in28Minutes on Udemy for one instructor on video, Andrew Brown's free course for a free video, and Coursera or Pluralsight if you already subscribe.
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Associate Cloud Engineer Certification path | Official hands-on path | Interactive | Free |
 GCP Associate Cloud Engineer - Google Cloud Certification | One instructor on video | Video | $125 |
 Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer Course | Free video | Video | Free |
 Preparing for Google Cloud Certification - Cloud Engineer Professional Certificate | Google courses on Coursera | Video | $49/month |
Google's own learning path of 17 courses, labs and skill badges, from infrastructure basics through GKE, Cloud Run, databases, logging and Terraform. Labs run in real Google Cloud projects, and a study-guide course closes the path.
Great fit if you want the issuer's route with real console labs
Poor fit if you want one instructor walking you through every topic on video; choose in28Minutes
A long video course of about 27 hours and 400 lectures with console demos across compute, GKE, networking, storage, databases and IAM. It is the longest single-instructor course on this list.
Great fit if you learn best from a structured video course
Poor fit if you want hosted labs included; choose Google's path
Andrew Brown's free 11.5-hour video course on freeCodeCamp's YouTube channel, which walks through every exam section from resource setup and billing to GKE, networking, Terraform and monitoring.
Great fit if you want a free video walkthrough of every exam section
Poor fit if you need the current product names or hosted labs; choose Google's path
Google's instructor-led infrastructure courses delivered on Coursera as a six-course series, with labs, quizzes and an exam study-guide course. It takes about four weeks at 10 hours a week.
Great fit if you already use Coursera and want Google's own courses in one series
Poor fit if you want the free Google Skills route to the same content; choose Google's path
A shorter Pluralsight path of video courses with labs and a practice exam, with courses updated through 2026. It sits inside a Pluralsight subscription rather than being sold on its own.
Great fit if you already have a Pluralsight subscription
Poor fit if you want the deepest coverage of every exam topic; choose in28Minutes
For most people, Google's own Associate Cloud Engineer path on Google Skills: it is free to start and uses real console labs. Choose in28Minutes if you prefer one instructor on video.
Yes. Google's path on the free Starter plan and Andrew Brown's free 11.5-hour video together cover the exam topics. Add practice tests to check your readiness.
Andrew Brown's course runs 11.5 hours and in28Minutes about 27. Plan for about 60 hours of preparation in total, including labs.
No. The Coursera certificate shows you finished the series. The Associate Cloud Engineer certification needs the separate exam.