Google Cloud certification exams, including Associate Cloud Engineer, moved to Pearson VUE on 2 March 2026

Google Cloud has moved delivery of its certification exams, including Associate Cloud Engineer, from the testing provider Kryterion to Pearson.

According to Google's certification support page, 22 February 2026 was the last day to schedule or test with Kryterion, with CM Connect access to that system switched off at 7 am Pacific time on 25 February 2026. Scheduling through Pearson reopened at 9 am Pacific time on 26 February 2026, and the first available Pearson test date was 2 March 2026; no exams could be booked or taken between 23 February and 1 March 2026.

Candidates still book through CM Connect and are then signed in to Pearson to pick a date and test centre; a separate Pearson account is not needed.

The Associate Cloud Engineer standard exam remains 50 to 60 questions over two hours (fee USD 125, plus tax where applicable), delivered online-proctored or at a Pearson VUE test centre; the shorter renewal exam remains 20 questions over one hour (fee USD 75).

What to do next: candidates should book through CM Connect as usual. The provider switch does not change the syllabus or exam format, only the booking and proctoring platform.