Google IT Support Professional Certification

What background knowledge is necessary?
To be successful in this program, you must have basic computer data entry skills and internet access. No degree is required.

Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
Yes, students should take the courses in the order presented, as the content builds on information from earlier lessons.  All five courses are required to obtain your Google IT Professional certificate.

What kind of companies hire IT Support professionals?
Nearly every company whose employees use computers has a need for IT Support professionals. The majority of IT support positions do not require a college degree, but they do require prior experience. This certificate will give learners the training and experience they need to get a job in tech. In the U.S. alone, jobs in this field are projected to grow 10% between 2016 and 2026 -- faster than the average of all other occupations (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-support-specialists.htm).

Will completing the certificate prepare me for the CompTIA A+ exams?
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate program aligns with the objectives covered by the newly updated CompTIA A+ certification but does not completely prepare you for the exam. The broad coverage of IT topics you receive provides a pathway into the computer field and further training.  Students are exceptionally well positioned to pursue A+ training and then achieve success on the CompTIA A+ exam.  

Students must register/complete all five courses to earn the Google IT Professional certificate.

1. XA-705 Technical Support Fundamentals
2. XA-706 The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
3. XA-707 Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User
4. XA-708 System Administration and IT Infrastructure
5. XA-709 IT Security: Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts

1. Technical Support Fundamentals

In this course, you’ll be introduced to the world of IT. You’ll learn about computer hardware, the Internet, computer software, troubleshooting, and customer service. This course will give you an overview of what’s to come during the rest of the certificate program.

2. The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking

This course is designed to provide a full overview of computer networking. We’ll cover everything from the fundamentals of modern networking technologies and protocols to an overview of the cloud to practical applications and network troubleshooting.

3. Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User

Learn about the main components of an operating system and how to perform critical tasks like managing software and users and configuring hardware.

4. System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services

Transition from working on a single computer to an entire fleet. Learn about the infrastructure services that keep all organizations—big and small—up and running. You’ll discover everything from typical cloud infrastructure setups to how to manage cloud resources. You'll also learn how to manage and configure servers and how to use industry tools to manage computers, user information, and user productivity. Finally, you’ll find out how to recover your organization’s IT infrastructure in the event of a disaster.

5. IT Security: Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts

Gain background of encryption algorithms and how they’re used to safeguard data. Then, dive into the three “A”s of information security: authentication, authorization, and accounting. You will also learn about network security solutions, ranging from firewalls to Wifi encryption options. The course is rounded out by putting all these elements together into a multi-layered, in-depth security architecture, followed by recommendations on how to integrate a culture of security into your organization or team.