In February 2025, I took the Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer certification exam, and it turned out to be quite a journey. I'd like to share my experience, including what worked, what didn't, and a few tips I wish I had from the start.
I decided to pursue the certification in November 2024. While the Associate Cloud Engineer exam isn't the most technical or specialized, I found it to be a great entry point into the Google Cloud ecosystem. It didn't disappoint. It provided a solid foundation and broad overview of GCP services.
I enrolled in Google's Get Certified program and completed it in 10 weeks. The program includes hands-on labs and instructor-led sessions, which helped reinforce concepts and answer questions. Some of the test-style examples they walked through were particularly useful.
That said, I still faced several challenges along the way.
From the beginning, I found the scope of the exam difficult to pin down. Google offers a study guide, but it felt overly broad, and the services it referenced were scattered across multiple sections. What really helped was building a clear, structured understanding of the platform and its major components.
The official documentation is comprehensive, but that's part of the problem. It's so detailed and dense that it quickly becomes overwhelming. And while the labs are great for hands-on practice, they don't always align with what's needed to actually pass the exam.
The three resources that made the biggest difference for me:
Dan Sullivan's book: it might be a bit outdated, but it was still the key for building a structured approach and getting a solid conceptual overview of the platform.
Aldovelio Castremonte's practice questions: these were incredibly helpful for getting used to the exam format and spotting gaps in my understanding. Whenever I came across a question I couldn't confidently answer, I'd dig into the topic, add it to my notes, and make sure I fully understood it.
My own summarized notes: after working through books, videos, practice exams, and asking ChatGPT a hundred questions, I created a condensed set of notes focused on what truly matters for the exam. This became my go-to resource for review. You can check it out here
If there is anything missing or that can be improved, please add your comments
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