Professional Cloud Architect
Professional Cloud Architects enable organizations to leverage Google Cloud technologies. With a thorough understanding of cloud architecture and Google Cloud, they design, develop, and manage robust, secure, scalable, efficient, cost-effective, highly available, and flexible solutions to drive business objectives.
The Professional Cloud Architect certification exam assesses your ability to:
- Design and plan a cloud solution architecture
- Manage and provision the cloud solution infrastructure
- Design for security and compliance
- Analyze and optimize technical and business processes
- Manage implementations of cloud architecture
- Ensure solution and operations reliability
About this certification
If this is your first time getting certified, or your certification has expired, you must take the standard exam.
If you are renewing your certification, you can choose to take the shorter renewal exam or the standard exam starting 60 days before your certification expiration date.
Standard exam information
Length: 2 hours
Registration fee: $200 (plus tax where applicable)
Languages: English, Japanese
Exam format: 50-60 multiple choice and multiple select questions
Content: See the Exam Guide.
Case studies: Each exam includes 2 case studies. Case study questions make up 20-30% of the exam and assess your ability to apply your knowledge to a realistic business situation. You can view the case studies on a split screen during the exam. See the standard Exam Guide for the 4 available case studies.
Preparation: Prepare for the exam by following the Professional Cloud Architect Exam Learning Path.
Exam delivery method:
a. Take the online-proctored exam from a remote location.
b. Take the onsite-proctored exam at a testing center.
Validity period: 2 years
Prerequisites: None
Recommended experience: 3+ years of industry experience including 1+ years designing and managing solutions using Google Cloud
Renewal exam information
Length: 1 hour
Registration fee: $100 (plus tax where applicable)
Language: English
Exam format: 25 multiple choice and multiple select questions
Content: See the Renewal Exam Guide.
Case Studies: Each exam includes 1 case study aligned to generative AI solutions. Case study questions make up 90-100% of the exam and assess your ability to solve business challenges using generative AI. You can view the case studies on a split screen during the exam. See the Renewal Exam Guide for the 2 available case studies.
Preparation: Prepare for the exam by following the Professional Cloud Architect Renewal Exam Learning Path.
Exam delivery method:
a. Take the online-proctored exam from a remote location.
b. Take the onsite-proctored exam at a testing center.
Validity period: 2 years
Eligibility: Candidates must have an active certification and be within the renewal eligibility period.
Preparing for your exam
1. Review the exam guide
The standard exam guide and renewal exam guide contain a complete list of topics that may be included on each exam, helping you determine if your skills align with the exam.
2. Start training
Prepare for the exam by following the appropriate learning path. Explore online training, in-person classes, hands-on labs, and other resources from Google Cloud.
Start preparing for the standard exam or the renewal exam.
3. Review sample questions
Review sample questions to familiarize yourself with the format of the exam questions and example content that may be covered on the standard Cloud Architect exam.
4. Schedule your exam
Register and select whether to take the exam remotely or at a nearby testing center.
Review exam terms and conditions and data sharing policies.