I had never been in contact with the GCP platform before. Still, I have some practical experience with the AWS platform and hold 3 certifications: AWS Solutions Architect Associate, AWS Developer Associate, and AWS Cloud Practitioner.
Currently, the demand for GCP-certified specialists is increasing, so I decided to go for it. There are three levels you can take: foundational, associate, and professional. I decided to take the pro-level exam as preparation for it would help me broaden my knowledge.
Whether you're new to the Google Cloud Platform or have experience with other cloud services like AWS, these five tips will hopefully help you on your journey to becoming a GCP-certified specialist.
1. Take Your Time
I gave myself 45 days for the preparation process, and it is definitely enough if you are in IDLE and have some previous experience with ANY cloud. While the duration can be tailored to your existing cloud knowledge, having some prior cloud experience is beneficial but not mandatory.
2. Leverage a Quality Preparation Course
The Udemy course for the GCP Cloud Architect exam is very helpful. It’s created according to the exam structure and covers carefully all the needed sections. The course has a variety of content included, such as videos and articles. You can access it anywhere and anytime. Plus, a certificate is awarded once the course is completed.
3. Practice by Going Through Similar Questions.
For exam readiness, familiarize yourself with real-world questions by exploring platforms like examtopics.com Here, you can find a list of 279 questions for the latest exam version. Many users have reported that most of the questions were truly featured on the exam itself. In addition, the website is constantly being updated. Practicing with these questions sharpens your problem-solving abilities and ensures you're well-prepared for the actual exam.
4. Study the Cases
The GCP exam is based on “case studies.” All the cases are available on the Professional Cloud Architect Certification Exam Guide page. During your exam, you will get cases from four different fictitious companies and have to define which solution is more suitable in the current situation. These case studies are intended to provide you with additional context that will help you choose your answer. In my opinion, it makes the exam exciting, you can enjoy your preparation process, and learn practical information from it. It is really great!
5. Check If You Can Take the Exam in Person
In some locations, there is an option to take the exam onsite in one of Google’s certified test centers. Generally, the whole setup in these centers is very comfortable and less stressful. You will receive your own room with a facility PC.
Please note that you must choose this option during the registration phase. Available test centers can be found here.
Summing up, achieving the GCP Cloud Architect certificate may be challenging, but if you allocate sufficient time, access quality study materials, and carefully learn with no rush, you should be able to excel in this certification, even if you have no prior experience with the GCP.
Good luck on your journey to becoming a certified GCP professional!
