Google Cloud Career Readiness

Getting Started Guide

for Learners
Last modified: February 2023
—
Congratulations on taking the first step toward getting Google
Cloud credentials and preparing yourself for a career in cloud.
This Getting Started Guide provides you with everything you
need to accept your program invitation via Google Cloud Skills
Boost and start your learning journey.

Table of Contents
Getting Started 2
Signing up for your Google Cloud Skills Boost account 2
Accept invitation and log in 3
Access & Enroll in your Learning Path(s) 6
Start your skilling journey 8
Your customized landing page 8
Recommended completion schedules 9
Cloud Digital Leader 10
Google Cloud Computing Foundations 10
Data Analyst learning path 10
Associate Cloud Engineer learning path 11
Helpful tips to get the most out of your learning journey 11
Share your credentials 12
Make your Google Cloud Skills Boost profile public 12
Share your Google Cloud credentials on your resume & social channels 12
Pursue a Google Cloud Certification 12
Eligibility requirements 12
Additional Certification preparation 13
Support 13
How to contact Support 13
Help Center 13
Email Support 13
Chat Support 14

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Getting Started

Signing up for your Google Cloud Skills Boost account

1. Before you can be invited to your Google Cloud Career Readiness group cohort, you will need a
free Google Cloud Skills Boost account. If you don’t have an account, create account and fill in
the required fields.

Tip: You’ll need to sign up with the university or organization email account with which you’ll be
invited to the program.

2. You will automatically be sent a verification email. Click the button in the verification email, and
you’ll be prompted to log in to Google Cloud Skills Boost.

3. You are now signed in to Google Cloud Skills Boost.

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Accept invitation and log in
1. You will receive an email from Google Cloud Skills Boost (noreply@qwiklabs.com) notifying you
that you have been invited to join a Google Cloud Career Readiness cohort. The email subject
will be: “Your invitation to join Google Cloud Career Readiness”

2. From that email, click “Sign In.” (If you can’t find the email you can visit this link to get to the
same place).

3. You’ll be redirected to the Google Cloud Skills Boost login page to sign in.

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4. You are now signed in to Google Cloud Skills Boost. You will see a pop-up alerting you that
you’ve been invited to a program. Click on “View invitation” and you will automatically be
redirected to the Account settings page.

5. Click on “Accept Invitation” to be added to your group.

*Tip: If you accidentally clicked “Dismiss” on the invitation pop-up, you can still access the
invitation. Navigate to the top right-hand corner and click on your Account Profile icon. Click
“Settings” and then click on the “Programs” tab (located on the left side of your Account Settings
page.)

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 *Tip: If you accidentally clicked “Decline invitation” on the Account Settings page, please
contact your Group Admin (the person who sent you the initial invitation) and ask them to re-send
the invite.

6. You’ll now see the Google Cloud Career Readiness program in the Programs tab under
Settings.
Note that you can opt to leave the program at any time by clicking the three dots and selecting
“Leave Program.” You will no longer have access to the program or learning content. Your
Program Administrator will need to re-invite you to gain access.

Access & Enroll in your Learning Path(s)

1. Once you’ve accepted the invitation, click on the “Home” button in the upper right. For all
future visits to Google Cloud Skills Boost, you’ll be taken directly to your home page.

2. On your welcome home page, you’ll see the following splash screen inviting you to learn.

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3. Scroll to discover a list of Learning Paths. The Learning Path(s) with the green “Program
learning path” in the tile are made available to you at no cost through this program (screenshot
below is for illustrative purposes and your program may make different paths available).

If more than one Learning Path is included in your program, be sure to check with your
Administrator (i.e., your professor, instructor, or facilitator who invited you to the program) for
guidance on which path to enroll.

4. Select the Learning Path tile in which you’ve been instructed to enroll and click on “Select this
path.”

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5. A confirmation pop-up message will appear congratulating you on selecting the learning path.
Click “Get Started.”

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Start your skilling journey

Your customized landing page

After you’ve selected your Google Cloud Learning Path you’re ready to get started on your skilling
journey. Every time you log into your Google Cloud Skills Boost account, your landing page will present
you with your assigned Learning Path and your current progress.

a. Learning Path: In the upper left you’ll see your assigned Learning Path.
Clicking on this will allow you to “Select an Additional Learning Path.” If additional
learning paths are available as part of your program, you can select additional paths
and toggle between them here.
b. Progress Bar: In the center top is a bar to track your progress toward completion of all learning
path activities.
c. Continue learning path button: Clicking on this button, located in the upper right, will take you
to the next step or where you left off.
d. Up next: In the center of the screen, you’ll see what activity is up next in your learning path.
Clicking the “Start” button to be taken to the activity.

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 e. Current learning path: At the bottom, you’ll see a description of the current learning path. Click
on the “Learning more about this learning path” to see all the activities included in the path.

Recommended completion schedules

If you are part of an organized class, please defer to your professor or instructor for expected
completion timelines.

If you’re participating in a self-paced program, below are the recommended completion schedules to
help you pace your learning. Of course you’re welcome to go at a faster pace if you’d like!

Cloud Digital Leader

2-3 weeks (3-4 hrs/wk)
Hours of content: ~10 hours

➔ Week 1:
◆ Introduction to Digital Transformation with Google Cloud ~2.5 hours
◆ Innovating with Data and Google Cloud ~2.5 hours
➔ Week 2/3:
◆ Infrastructure and Application Modernization with Google Cloud ~2.5 hours
◆ Understanding Google CLoud Security and Operations ~2.5 hours

Google Cloud Computing Foundations

4-5 weeks (6-8 hrs/wk)
Hours of content: ~30 hours

On-demand courses
➔ Week 1: Google Cloud Computing Foundations: Cloud Computing Fundamentals ~7 hours
➔ Week 2: Google Cloud Computing Foundations: Infrastructure in Google Cloud ~7 hours
➔ Week 3: Google Cloud Computing Foundations: Networking & Security in Google Cloud ~7 hours
➔ Week 4/5: Google Cloud Computing Foundations: Data, ML, and AI in Google Cloud ~7 hours
Skill badge credentials (hands-on)
➔ Week 5: Challenge Labs associated with four Skill Badge quests (self-paced labs integrated
within the four-course series) ~4 hours

Data Analyst learning path

3-4 months (6-8 hrs/wk)
Hours of content: ~100 hours

On-demand courses
➔ Week 1: Google Cloud Big Data and Machine Learning Fundamentals ~8 hours

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 ➔ Week 2: Exploring & Preparing your Data with BigQuery ~8 hours
➔ Week 3: Creating New BigQuery Data Sets & Visualizing Insights ~8 hour
➔ Week 4: Achieving Advanced Insights with BigQuery ~8 hours
➔ Week 5: Applying Machine Learning to your Data with Google Cloud ~8 hours
➔ Week 6: Analyzing and Visualizing Data in Looker ~8 hours
➔ Weeks 7: Developing Data Models with LookML ~8 hours
Skill badge credentials (hands-on)
➔ Week 8: Perform Foundational Data, ML & AI Tasks in Google Cloud ~6 hours
➔ Week 9:
◆ Exploring Data with Looker ~6 hour
◆ Insights from Data with BigQuery ~5 hours
➔ Week 10: Create ML Models with BigQuery ML ~7 hours
➔ Week 11:
◆ Applying Advanced LookML Concepts in Looker ~6 hours
◆ Data Catalog Fundamentals ~4 hours
➔ Week 12:
◆ Build LookML Objects in Looker ~6 hours
◆ Manage Data Models in Looker ~7 hours

Associate Cloud Engineer learning path

2-4 months (6-8 hrs/wk)
Hours of content: ~65 hours

On-demand courses
➔ Week 1: Google Cloud Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure ~8 hours
➔ Week 2: Essentials Google Cloud Infrastructure: Foundation ~8 hour
➔ Week 3: Essential Google Cloud Infrastructure: Core Services ~8 hours
➔ Week 4: Elastic Google Cloud Infrastructure: Scaling & Automation ~8 hours
➔ Weeks 5-6: Getting Started with Google Kubernetes Engine ~16 hours
➔ Week 7: Logging, Monitoring and Observability in Google Cloud ~8 hours
➔ Week 8: Getting Started with Terraform for Google Cloud ~8 hours
Skill badge credentials (hands-on)
➔ Week 9:
◆ Create and Manage Resources ~5 hours
◆ Perform Foundational Infrastructure Tasks in Google Cloud ~4 hour
➔ Week 10: Set Up and Configure a Cloud Environment in Google Cloud ~6 hours
➔ Week 11: Automating Infrastructure on Google Cloud with Terraform ~6 hours
Preparing for certification on-demand course
➔ Week 12: Preparing for Your Associate Cloud Engineer Journey ~6 hours

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Helpful tips to get the most out of your learning journey
If you’re participating in a self-paced program, below are some tips to keeping on track.
● Create a study plan - Write down a schedule to complete the courses and credentials in your
skilling path and stick to it. This will help keep you on track and prepare you for success.
● Dedicate at least 1 hour daily to your program - This way even if you are busy with work, life,
or other studies, you won’t fall behind.
● Join or create study groups - Take advantage of any study groups and support sessions your
organization offers. Make connections with fellow learners and support each other through the
program.

Share your credentials

Make your Google Cloud Skills Boost profile public

Now that you’re earning Google Cloud completion badges and skill badge credentials, you’ll want to
make your Google Cloud Skills Boost profile public. Don’t worry, you can always make it private again if
you change your mind.

Your program administrator (the person who invited you to the program) will be able to monitor progress
and completions as well.

Share your Google Cloud credentials on your resume & social

channels
Now that your profile is public, get a shareable link to include on your resume. Google Cloud credentials
demonstrate to potential employers that you have proficiency in Cloud skills.

You can also share your badges directly to your social network for more visibility.

Finally, as you complete your Google Cloud credentials and build your cloud literacy and skills
foundation, celebrate it with your social channels. You’re becoming #GoogleCloudReady!

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Pursue a Google Cloud Certification
The Cloud Digital Leader and Associate Cloud Engineer learning paths are designed to help prepare
you for the respective Google Cloud Certifications. As a Google Cloud Career Readiness program
participant, you’re eligible for a 50% discounted exam voucher when you complete the entire learning
path.

Once you’ve completed the eligibility requirements (see below), complete this Request Form for
confirmation. Once approved, you will receive a voucher for a 50% discount on the certification exam
with instructions on how to register.

Eligibility requirements
1. You must be a member of a Google Cloud Career Readiness cohort.
2. You must complete the following:
For the Cloud Digital Leader certification
● Cloud Digital Leader Learning Path (4 course completion badges)
For the Associate Cloud Engineer certification
● Cloud Engineer Learning Path (6 course completion badges + 5 skill badges)
○ Note: Completion of the on-demand course “Logging, Monitoring and
Observability in Google Cloud” is recommended but not required for voucher
eligibility.
3. Your Google Cloud Skills Boost profile is made public (required for completion confirmation)

Additional Certification preparation

While the learning paths help prepare you for the certification exam, there is addition exam preparation
recommended. Check out additional resources for the exam you’re pursuing.

ACE Certification Student Prep Journey

CDL Certification Student Prep Journey

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Support

How to contact Support

Help Center
As a first step, check out the Qwiklabs Help Center for troubleshooting guidance and FAQs. If you’re
unable to resolve your issue independently, please contact our Support team.

Email Support
Email Support at support@qwiklabs.com
Subject line: “EDU CR: Need Help”
● Provide the following details in the message body:
○ Your institution or organization name
○ Career readiness track name
○ The issue you are facing
Support staff will provide assistance to help resolve the issue.

Chat Support
Chat with Support at www.cloudskillsboost.google
Click the Support icon in the upper right corner and select Chat Support.

○ Enter your Name and Email (as previously registered on Google Cloud Skills Boost)
○ For Department, select “Google Cloud Edu Program”
○ In the Message field, type “EDU CR: Need Help” and click on the Start Chat button
Support staff will provide assistance to help resolve the issue.

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