1. Introduction
In early 2025, I was fortunate to be selected for a certification program organized by Google to prepare for the Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect exam. This eight-week journey provided me with not only technical training but also structured learning, mentorship, and a strong community of fellow learners.
In this blog, I’m sharing my experience, study resources, tips, and the strategy that helped me clear the certification—while managing a full-time job.
2. About the Google Certification Program
The program was a well-structured, guided learning path that spanned 8 weeks. Here's what it included:
Live training sessions conducted by experienced instructors
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Premium study material curated by Google Cloud experts
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Access to Cloud Skills Boost, where I completed hands-on labs and real-world scenarios
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Weekly checkpoints and Q&A sessions to track progress and clear doubts
Being part of this program helped me stay focused and accountable throughout the preparation.
3. Additional Resources I Used
While the program itself was fantastic, I also wanted to reinforce and review concepts through other learning platforms:
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Whizlabs – Great for scenario-based practice questions and mock exams
Udemy – I purchased a couple of well-rated courses for in-depth explanations and visual learning
Combining these with the Google-provided materials created a balanced study approach.
4. My Study Plan & Strategy
One thing I learned early on: consistency beats intensity.
Despite a full-time job, I set aside 1.5 hours every day for focused study and practice. My daily routine usually looked like:
- 30 mins: Review concepts or watch videos
- 45 mins: Hands-on labs or practice questions
- Weekend: Longer practice sessions and mock exams
This steady rhythm helped me stay motivated and reduced last-minute pressure.
5. Key Takeaways & Success Tips
Here are a few lessons that really helped me:
✅ Use hands-on labs as much as possible—real practice trumps theory
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✅ Don’t skip the official documentation, especially for core GCP services like Compute Engine, IAM, and Networking
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✅ Mock exams help you identify gaps early—Whizlabs was especially helpful here
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✅ Join a study group or community—even virtual accountability helps
And above all, consistency is the key. Even 90 minutes a day can take you a long way if you stick to it.
6. Final Thoughts
Passing the GCP Professional Cloud Architect certification was a proud moment for me—not just because of the certification itself, but because of the discipline and growth the journey demanded.
I’m grateful to Google for the opportunity and to the amazing instructors and peers who made the 8-week program so impactful.
If you’re considering this path, go for it—with the right mindset and consistent effort, it’s absolutely achievable.
