How to Verify a Google Workspace Administrator Certification

What Is the Google Workspace Administrator Certification?

The Google Workspace Administrator Professional (formerly known as the G Suite Administrator certification) is a professional-level certification issued by Google Cloud. It validates the skills needed to configure, manage, and secure Google Workspace environments — including Gmail, Drive, Meet, Calendar, Admin Console policy management, and security features such as DLP and Vault.

It is distinct from Google's Cloud infrastructure certifications (Associate Cloud Engineer, Professional Cloud Architect). The Workspace Administrator cert is specifically for IT administrators managing Google Workspace tenants, not cloud infrastructure engineering.

Google Workspace vs. Google Cloud Certifications

Step-by-Step Verification

1. Request the Credly badge URL from the candidate. The link follows the format: credly.com/badges/[unique-id]
2. Open the badge URL in a browser. Credly will display:
   • Credential name (confirm it reads "Google Workspace Administrator")
   • Issuing organization (Google Cloud)
   • Earner's name (must match the candidate's identity)
   • Issue date and expiration date
3. Optionally, ask the candidate to share their Google Cloud Skills Boost public profile at cloudskillsboost.google — this displays all earned badges and learning path completions.
4. For Google Workspace partner or reseller roles, verify partner status separately through the Google Workspace Marketplace or partner portal — individual certification does not confirm company-level partner status.

Expiration and Renewal

Google Cloud Professional certifications, including Workspace Administrator, expire every 2 years. Recertification requires passing the current version of the exam. Google periodically updates exam content to reflect new Workspace features, Admin Console changes, and security capabilities — so a certification earned on a significantly older version may not reflect current product knowledge even if still technically "active."

When hiring for a Workspace admin role, confirm the certification is not approaching expiration — and consider whether recent exam versions cover key features your organization uses, such as Google Vault, BeyondCorp/Context-Aware Access, or Workspace Frontline Starter/Standard tiers.

Google Workspace Certification vs. Microsoft 365 (MS-102)

Organizations evaluating candidates for IT administrator roles often compare Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 credentials:

• Google Workspace Administrator Professional — for Google Workspace environments (Gmail, Drive, Meet, Workspace Admin Console)
• Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert (MS-102) — for Microsoft 365 environments (Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, Intune)

Neither is a substitute for the other. If your organization uses both platforms, verify credentials for each independently.

Red Flags

• Candidate cannot provide a Credly badge URL — all Google Cloud certifications issue Credly badges; the absence of one is a red flag.
• Badge name doesn't match "Google Workspace Administrator" — there is no unofficial or alternative version of this certification.
• Expired badge — Google Cloud recertification is required every 2 years; an expired cert is not valid.
• Confusion between Workspace Admin cert and general Google Cloud certifications — these validate different skills for different roles.