Officially Google Cloud Certified: Associate Cloud Engineer Path

The cloud is no longer just a trend; it is the industry standard. To keep pace with the tech landscape, I decided to earn the Google Cloud Certified - Associate Cloud Engineer (ACE) credential. Here is how I navigated the process, the resources I used, and how I stayed on track.

Get Certified Program 2025

My journey officially kicked off when I was accepted into the Get Certified Program 2025. This is a guided, intensive 6-week program designed to prepare technical practitioners for high-demand Google Cloud certifications through Instructor-Led Training (ILT) and structured milestones.

We all know that certifications are more than just digital badges; they validate technical expertise and are often the key to taking a career to the next level. Being part of a structured program provided the extra push I needed to stay committed.

As part of the program, we were granted free access to Google Cloud Skills Boost, along with 400 free credits to explore the platform. To qualify for the exam voucher, there was a strict requirement: you had to finish at least 5 out of 6 challenge labs to earn the designated skill badges.

Life gets busy, and I'll be honest—I wasn't able to attend the live sessions. However, I didn't let that stop me. I made it a priority to carve out time for the required skills labs. These hands-on labs are essential for learning how to deploy virtual machines, configure networks, and manage Kubernetes clusters in a real environment.

Overcoming the Challenge

I'll admit, this was the most challenging certification I've taken so far. Unlike my day-to-day work where I'm hands-on with AWS, Google Cloud Platform was relatively new territory for me. The learning curve was real. However, having solid hands-on experience with AWS and understanding core cloud fundamentals and concepts made the transition much easier than it could have been. Cloud principles are largely universal—it's mostly about learning the GCP-specific terminology and tooling. The Qwiklabs platform was incredibly helpful in bridging that gap, offering practical, real-world scenarios that reinforced what I was learning.

My Study Resources

While the labs provided the "how-to," I needed to refine my knowledge for the actual exam format. Beyond the official Google Cloud documentation, two resources were absolute game-changers for me:

1. Tutorials Dojo Practice Exams: This was my main study tool. Sir Jon Bonso's practice exams are legendary in the cloud community for a reason. They are challenging, and the detailed explanations for every right and wrong answer helped me identify my weak spots.

2. ExamPrepper.co: I used this to diversify my study material. Relying on a single source can lead to memorizing specific questions rather than understanding the underlying concepts. Switching to ExamPrepper helped me test my actual knowledge in a different context.

Takeaways

Earning the Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer certification is about more than just passing a test. It's a commitment to continuous growth and expanding your technical horizons. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and explore technologies beyond what you use daily. The skills you gain from venturing into unfamiliar platforms will make you a more versatile, adaptable, and valuable cloud professional in an ever-evolving industry.

Next up on my list: Microsoft Azure. Here's to becoming truly multi-cloud certified and mastering the full spectrum of cloud platforms!