Is the Google UX Design Certificate Worth It?

Table of contents

• The Google UX Design Certificate is an online program designed to equip learners with essential skills in user experience design through a structured curriculum developed in collaboration with industry experts.
• You can get a job with the Google UX Design Certificate, as it provides practical skills and a credential recognized by employers in the UX design field.
• The Google UX Design Certificate is worth it for those seeking to enter or advance in UX design careers, offering practical skills and a credential recognized in the industry.

So, you want to become a user experience (UX) designer with no prior experience? Wondering if the Google UX Design Certificate is the right step for you?

In this article, we explore whether this credential is worth your investment of time and effort. Whether you’re looking to pivot into a new career path or enhance your current skills, we’ll delve into the practical benefits, industry recognition, and career opportunities that the Google UX Design Certificate can potentially unlock for you.

What is the Google UX Design Certificate?

The Google UX Design Certificate is an online educational program offered through Coursera. The certificate program is designed to equip learners with the essential skills needed for a career in user experience design.

The program covers a comprehensive range of topics, including the fundamentals of UX design, user research, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Learners also gain proficiency in industry-standard tools like Figma and Adobe XD.

Google UX Design Certificate Curriculum Overview

The Google UX Design Certificate curriculum offers a comprehensive and structured learning path covering essential UX design principles, tools, and techniques, culminating in the creation of a professional design portfolio.

Course 1: Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of UX design. You’ll learn why UX design is so crucial for creating products that people find easy to use and enjoy. Additionally, you’ll dive into the UX design process, covering things like user research and strategy, so you can create designs that truly meet people’s needs. Plus, it’ll emphasize the importance of inclusive design to ensure your creations are accessible to everyone.

Course 2: Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate

In the second course, learners dive into the initial stages of the UX design process. You’ll learn how to empathize with users through research methods, such as interviews and surveys, to gather insights into user needs and pain points. The course then guides learners through defining these needs clearly and brainstorming creative solutions through ideation techniques.

Course 3: Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes

This course covers the basics of creating wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes. Learners practice sketching and using digital tools like Figma and Adobe XD to create wireframes that outline the structure and layout of a design. You’ll also learn to develop interactive prototypes that help visualize and test design ideas early in the process.

Course 4: Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts

Learners in this course focus on conducting UX research and testing early design concepts. The course teaches how to plan and execute usability studies, including user interviews and surveys. By analyzing the research findings, learners can make informed decisions to refine their designs and ensure they effectively address user needs.

Course 5: Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma

This course helps learners advance their skills in creating high-fidelity designs and prototypes using Figma. It covers principles of detailed and polished design, enabling learners to build sophisticated and interactive prototypes. The course also introduces design systems, ensuring consistency and efficiency in the design process.

Course 6: Responsive Web Design in Adobe XD

Focusing on responsive web design, this course teaches learners to create designs that work seamlessly across various screen sizes and devices. Using Adobe XD, learners develop high-fidelity responsive designs, applying advanced techniques to ensure a smooth user experience. The course emphasizes an iterative design process, refining designs based on user feedback.

Course 7: Design a User Experience for Social Good & Prepare for Jobs

In the final course, learners apply their skills to design a UX project that has a positive social impact. You’ll build a professional portfolio showcasing your work and learn essential job preparation skills, including resume-building, interview techniques, and networking. This course aims to equip learners with the tools they need to pursue a career in UX design confidently.

Who is the Google UX Design Certificate For?

Figma? Wireframes? High-fidelity responsive design? You’d think the Google UX Design Certificate program is for experienced designers with all this jargon. Not quite.

The Google UX Design Certificate is ideal for anyone interested in pursuing a career in user experience design. It’s especially suitable for career changers and self-learners—in other words, UX design beginners!

Career changers are individuals looking to transition into UX design from other fields. Career changers may have little or no education or experience in UX design, and they want to leverage the certificate to gain foundational skills and build a portfolio.

Self-learners are individuals who are passionate about UX design. They want industry-standard curriculum and a certification from a reputable provider like Google.

Now, don’t get it wrong. Many other people may decide to earn a UX design certificate. Current UX designers may want to formalize their UX design expertise or enhance their job prospects. Likewise, recent college graduates may complete the industry-recognized course to improve their employability. But, widely, the curriculum is beginner-friendly and gives you a strong foundation that you can build upon later. 

How Much is the Google UX Design Certificate?

Money. It’s a finite resource that, with some strategy, can afford an education that will open doors to your next career. Say—the Google UX Design Certificate. 

The cost of Google UX Design Certificate varies depending on how long you take to complete it—more on completion rates later!

The program is offered through Coursera, which operates on a subscription model. A Coursera subscription typically costs about $39 per month after a seven-day trial. 

That means if you’re highly motivated with ample free time, you could challenge yourself to complete the course within the seven-day trial and pay nothing. Or if you have work, social obligations, and caretaking duties like so many people do, it may take you six months, which would cost approximately $234.

However, certain programs like Merit America partner with Google to provide these certificates to career changers at $0 upfront and even help with job placement and career development!

Keep reading to learn how long it takes to complete the Google UX Design Certificate, and even more important, the average completion rate.

How Long Does It Take to Complete the Google UX Design Certificate?

If you’re planning on doing the Google UX Design Certificate while working, your second question after cost is probably “How long will it take to complete the Google UX Design Certificate?”

We get it. The faster you can complete the course, the faster you can become a UX designer and earn a family-sustaining salary.

On average, most learners finish the Google UX Design Certificate program in about six months, assuming they dedicate around 10 hours per week to their studies. However, since the program is self-paced, you can complete it faster or slower depending on your availability and learning style.

Now, the saying goes if it was easy, everyone would do it. And, unfortunately, the average completion rate of all massive open online courses (MOOCs) reflect this philosophical statement.

According to Coursera’s 2023 Learner Report, 14% of US users complete a professional certificate. That goes to say, Coursera estimates 14% of learners who start a Coursera professional certificate complete it.

The Google UX Design Certificate can open career doors that were once otherwise sealed tight. So why is the professional certificate completion rate so low?

Simple. Life happens, whether it be a sick child, a major life event, or you get stuck on a course module. Luckily, there are job training programs, like Merit America, that can ensure you complete the program and gain the practical skills needed to become a UX designer.

Merit America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping you gain family-sustaining employment. We use the Google UX Design Certificate curriculum to provide comprehensive and practical UX design training. Our program includes personalized career coaching, flexible peer group meetings, and a robust placement support network, all designed to ensure you not only earn a certificate but also launch a lasting and successful career in tech.

📌 Related reading: Become a UX Designer in 22 Weeks Without Quitting Your Day Job

Can You Get a Job with the Google UX Design Certificate?

Yes, obtaining a job with the Google UX Design Certificate is possible.

This certificate can help you qualify for entry-level positions such as UX designer, UI designer, or user researcher. Many employers value certifications like this as evidence of practical skills and commitment to professional development in the field of UX design.

The Google consortium has 130-plus employers looking for talented professionals. Participants who complete the professional certificate have the opportunity to share their resume and UX portfolios with recruiters from Anthem, Deloitte, Walmart, and more.

Even more, Coursera reports that 1 in 4 entry-level professional certificate completers got a new job in 2023. And 77% of learners report career benefits, such as getting a new job, earning a promotion, gaining applicable career skills, and more. 

📌 Related reading: The Future of UX Design

Is the Google UX Design Certificate Worth It?

If you are a UX beginner with no prior knowledge or experience, the Google UX Design Certificate is worth it.

The Google UX Design Certificate offers industry-standard curriculum covering essential UX design principles, tools like Figma and Adobe XD, and practical project experience to build a portfolio. This is particularly valuable for career changers aiming to acquire UX design skills and a Google credential to transition into a new career.

The certificate’s focus on industry-relevant skills and portfolio development can enhance job readiness and credibility with employers looking for qualified UX designers.

Earn Your UX Design Certificate and Land the Job with Merit America

The Google UX Design Certificate offers an excellent pathway for breaking into the tech industry.

Merit America can help you create a career plan, gain essential UX design skills, and secure your first entry-level tech role. Our program isn’t just about earning a certificate; it’s about launching a lasting career. 

With the Google UX Design Certificate curriculum, peer group meetings, 1:1 career coaching, and a dedicated placement support network, you gain the mindset, processes, and tools used by UX professionals every day.

Merit America offers training with $0 upfront costs, and alums have reported an average annual wage gain of $24,000 three or more months post-program.
You can make a career change!

Learn more about our program or sign up for our UX Design Career Track.