Plan on A+ if you want the credential employers screen for.
Commenters in r/ITCareerQuestions and r/helpdesk repeatedly say the course is good for learning, while A+ is what clears HR filters. Several replies advise going straight to A+ if you can.
Google IT Support Professional Certificate Program Guide
Validates practical skills in IT support, including troubleshooting, networking, operating systems, system administration and security.
Work through 5 courses in order, from troubleshooting and hardware to networking, operating systems, system administration and security. Do the labs and complete the graded quizzes. There is no final exam.
Understand the program
Courses
Rows are courses with Coursera's hour estimates, plus one optional AI course.
Course 1Technical Support Fundamentals
- Introduction to IT
- Hardware
- Operating System
- Networking
- Software
- Troubleshooting
Example scenario: A user says their laptop "stopped working" after an update. Which three questions would you ask first?
Course 2The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
- Introduction to Networking
- The Network Layer
- The Transport and Application Layers
- Networking Services
- Connecting to the Internet
- Troubleshooting and the Future of Networking
Example scenario: One office printer works by IP address but not by name. Which network service would you check?
Course 3Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User
- Navigating the System
- Users and Permissions
- Package and Software Management
- Filesystems
- Process Management
- Operating Systems in Practice
Course 4System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services
- What is System Administration?
- Network and Infrastructure Services
- Software and Platform Services
- Directory Services
- Data Recovery & Backups
- Final Project
Course 5IT Security: Defense against the digital dark arts
- Understanding Security Threats
- Cryptology
- The 3 A's of Cybersecurity: Authentication, Authorization, Accounting
- Securing Your Networks
- Defense in Depth
- Creating a Company Culture for Security
- Streamline Workflows with AI
Course 6Accelerate Your Job Search with AI
- Career exploration: Using AI tools to match your skills to roles.
- Applications: Building a resume and tracking applications with Gemini and Google Sheets.
Format
- Courses
- 5 + 1 optional
- Duration
- 116h
- Assessment
- Graded quizzes and labs
- Delivery
- Online, self-paced
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Portuguese
Enrolment
Anyone can enroll on Coursera, which offers a 7-day free trial and financial aid. Google Career Skills offers the same certificates for $49 a month.
Make a study plan
Coursera's course estimates add up to 122 hours, and Coursera suggests 3 months at 10 hours a week.
Most candidates spend 80–140 hours. Plan for the low end if you already build or repair computers or hold a related IT role; allow more time if networking and operating systems are new to you.
- 1Understand the programLook through the courses and how the program is graded.6 h
- 3Learn the core conceptsWork through the courses in order and complete the graded work.110 h
- 4Finish the programFinish the remaining assessments and claim your certificate.6 h
Learn the core concepts
The program is the course. If A+ is your next step, add an A+ course after you finish.
Best for one certificateGoogle IT Support Professional Certificate
Best for several Google certsGoogle Career Certificates subscriptionBest for broad catalogCoursera PlusDo the labs yourself. Run the commands and configuration tasks rather than watching. That practice is what help desk interviews test.
Finish the program
Complete the coursework on your own schedule.
- Finish all 5 required courses and their graded assessments. The AI course is optional.
- Retry any quiz or lab you have not passed.
- Download your certificate and claim the Credly badge. Google lists an ACE recommendation of up to 15 college credits.
- Cancel your subscription and the free Google AI Pro offer if you do not want to keep paying. Google AI Pro renews at $19.99 a month.
Advice from learners
Budget extra study for A+.
Commenters say the Google course alone does not cover the A+ objectives and recommend A+ specific study, such as Professor Messer's free videos.
Apply before you finish.
One commenter with PC repair experience advised applying to help desk jobs once you are halfway through rather than waiting for the certificate.