Professional Cloud Architect exam price, length, validity and renewal
Google Cloud · Professional · $200 · 120 min · 50 to 60 questions · valid 2 years
Exam facts
Checked Sep 24, 2026 on Google Cloud's page| Price | $200 per attempt, US list priceplus tax where applicable |
|---|---|
| Length | 120 min |
| Questions | 50 to 60 |
| Format | Multiple choice and multiple select, including 2 case studies |
| Valid for | 2 years |
| Renewal | Renew from 60 days before expiry with the standard exam or a shorter renewal exam (1 hour, $100, 25 questions), or from 1 year before with designated Google Skills courses and skill badges (adds 1 year). |
| Prerequisites | None; 3+ years of industry experience including 1+ years designing and managing solutions using Google Cloud recommended |
| Level | Professional |
| Delivery | Online proctored or onsite proctored at a testing center |
| Languages | English, Japanese |
| Status | ActiveEach exam includes 2 case studies (20-30% of the exam); page states the exam was updated for branding changes |
| Source | cloud.google.com/learn/certification/cloud-architectLast checked Sep 24, 2026 |
Other Google Cloud exams
Google Cloud program| Exam | Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Digital LeaderFoundational · 90 minFoundational | Foundational | $99 | 90 min | 3 years | Sep 24 |
| Generative AI LeaderFoundational · 90 minFoundational | Foundational | $99 | 90 min | 3 years | Sep 24 |
| Associate Cloud EngineerAssociate · 120 minAssociate | Associate | $125 | 120 min | 3 years | Sep 24 |
| Associate Data PractitionerAssociate · 120 minAssociate | Associate | $125 | 120 min | 3 years | Sep 24 |
| Professional Data EngineerProfessional · 120 minProfessional | Professional | $200 | 120 min | 2 years | Sep 24 |
| Professional Machine Learning EngineerProfessional · 120 minProfessional | Professional | $200 | 120 min | 2 years | Sep 24 |
Cloud architecture exams from other vendors
Track| Exam | Price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AWS Certified Solutions Architect - ProfessionalSAP-C02 · Professional · 180 min | Professional | $300 | 180 min | 3 years | Sep 24 |
 SnowPro Advanced: ArchitectARA-C01 · Professional · 115 min | Professional | $375 | 115 min | 2 years | Sep 24 |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect - AssociateSAA-C03 · Associate · 130 min | Associate | $150 | 130 min | 3 years | Sep 24 |
 dbt Architect CertificationAssociate · 120 mindbt | Associate | $200 | 120 min | 2 years | Sep 24 |
 Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertAZ-305 · Expert | Expert | $165 | - | 1 year | Sep 24 |
About this exam
For architects who design, plan and manage secure, scalable and cost-effective solutions on Google Cloud.
- Price: "Registration fee: $200 (plus tax where applicable)"
- Duration: "Length: 2 hours"
- Questions: "50-60 multiple choice and multiple select questions"
- Validity: "Validity period : 2 years"
Professional certifications are valid for 2 years and foundational and associate for 3 years; you renew by passing the standard or a shorter renewal exam in the eligibility window (180 days before expiry for foundational and associate, 60 days for professional), and some certifications can also be extended 1 year through Google Skills courses.
Foundational exams allow up to 10 attempts a year with 14 days between failed attempts; associate and professional exams allow 4 attempts in 2 years with waits of 14, 60 and 365 days, and payment is required for each attempt.
Google Cloud policySources: each vendor's own certification pages, rechecked weekly. Prices are US list prices before tax; the vendor's page is the final word. Logos via logo.dev; trademarks belong to their owners.