Google has been taking new initiatives to make the web mobile friendly. In 2016, the company started rolling out the second version of its mobile-friendly algorithm. It even released a set of guidelines to make website mobile-friendly. Google even provided a web-based tool that enables developers to assess the mobile-friendliness of their websites simply by entering a page URL. In April, Google announced a new certification program for mobile website developers. With most users accessing websites and web application on their mobile devices, it becomes essential for web developers to understand various aspects of Google’s Mobile Sites Certification.

Understanding Important Aspects of Google’s Mobile Sites Certification

Objective

A large percentage of users nowadays access websites on their mobile devices. Google has been taking new initiatives to make mobile search results more relevant for users. Google requires developers to obtain the professional accreditation by clearing a certificate exam. A developer must be proficient in both basic and advanced aspects of mobile website design and development to clear the exam. He can even use the professional accreditation to depict that he is recognized by Google as an expert in mobile website design and development.

Prerequisite      

Google requires web developers to sign up for Google Partners to access the Mobile Sites Certification exam. The Google Partners program further allows the programmers to access training materials, industry research, and special events, in addition to the certification exam. A programmer can easily create his Google Partners account using his email address which is linked to him Google account. He even has option to set up his personal Google Partners profile and link the profile to his company’s profile.

Certification Exam

Each web developer has to pass the Mobile Sites Certification exam to obtain the professional accreditation. Google has designed the certification exam to assess a web developer’s knowledge about basic and advanced concepts in mobile website designing and development. The certification exam also covers important topics like advanced web technologies, advantages of building mobile websites, improving mobile website speed, and creating mobile user experience. The web developers can prepare for the exam by accessing the study guide available in the Partners Help Center. Likewise, he can take the certification exam using his Google Partners account.

Benefits

The Mobile Sites Certification will depict the web developer’s expertise in designing and developing mobile websites. The holder even has option to print the online certificate and link the certification to his social media profiles. Hence, a developer can easily impress his employer, coworkers, and clients by showing a certificate issued by Google. The Mobile Sites Certification will help employees to enhance their career prospects. At the same time, the certification will help freelancers to impress prospective clients and earn more revenue.

Accessing and Sharing

The Mobile Sites Certification will help the web developer to depict an accreditation which he has received after passing the certification exam administered by Google. The certificate holder even has option to communicate the accreditation to his employers and clients by mentioning the certification in his resume, business cards, and social media profiles. Also, he can access the personalized and printable certification in his Google Partners account.

Renewal

A mobile app developer can obtain Mobile Sites Certification by clearing the certification exam. He has to attend 65 questions in 90 minutes, and obtain an 80% score to obtain the professional accreditation. But the certification will remain valid for 12 months from the date of passing the certification exam. The developer has to retake the exam and obtain passing score to maintain the certification. Google will notify the developers about retaking the certification exam when the certification is about to expire.

The number of users accessing websites and web applications on their mobile devices has been increasing rapidly. Hence, it becomes developers to optimize websites for mobile devices and focus extensively on the website’s mobile user experience. The Mobile Sites Certification program launched by Google will make it easier for developers to build websites that deliver optimal mobile user experience. At the same time, web application developers can also use the Mobile Sites Certification as a tool to impress employers, recruiters, and clients.