Google Launches Free AI Certification Program for U.S. Small Businesses
Google’s AI Professional Certificate equips professionals with practical generative AI skills, hands-on training, and industry-recognized credentials for career growth.
Google Launches Free AI Certification Program for U.S. Small Businesses
The Google AI Professional Certificate is a new AI training program that Google has formally introduced. It is intended to assist professionals and company teams in developing the practical generative AI skills that companies are requesting.
What the Program Is
The self-paced online Google AI Professional Certificate program teaches practical AI abilities such
- Data analysis and visualization
- Content creation and communication
- Research and insights generation
- AI-powered planning and business tasks
- Building simple AI-assisted apps without writing code
Seven short courses make up the curriculum, and each one covers real-world AI tasks and practical projects that students may use right away in their jobs. Additionally, participants create a portfolio of AI-driven products, such as automation tools, project plans, AI-generated graphics, and study summaries.
Free Access for U.S. Small Businesses
Google is giving this certificate for free to qualified U.S. small enterprises, defined as companies with 500 or fewer employees and a U.S. headquarters, as part of its Grow with Google campaign. Businesses that meet the requirements can apply for free access to the entire certificate program by submitting a specific application, usually through Google's small business portal or Coursera. Google AI Pro, the company's most powerful suite of AI tools, is also offered to businesses for free for three months after they are accepted to encourage learning and experimentation.
Additionally, Google Workspace Business Standard is available to many small business participants for free for three months, assisting teams in incorporating useful AI into routine business processes.
Why This Matters
AI proficiency is becoming more important in industries, but a very small percentage of employees have formal training, according to studies, even though the vast majority of business executives believe it is crucial. By providing small business owners and employees with practical, job-relevant training that goes beyond basic AI ideas, Google's new certificate aims to help close that gap. This certificate combines tools like Gemini, Notebook LM, and Google AI Studio to provide learners with real generative AI workflows, in contrast to some other basic AI courses.
How to Enroll
Companies can use Coursera's business offerings or Google's small business initiative page to apply for free access. Administrators can grant learning access to their teams after verification. Professionals and teams who are not eligible for the free offer can still obtain the certificate for a small subscription price in the United States and Canada on websites such as Coursera, Udemy, and Google Skills
