Is the Google Cloud GEAR program free?

Yes, joining the GEAR community is free and provides access to learning tracks. The 'Get Certified' cohort with exam vouchers is free for eligible employees of Google Cloud partners.

Google Cloud GEAR Program 2026: Free AI Certifications & Training

February 11, 2026 — In a strategic move to dominate the AI engineering landscape, Google Cloud has unveiled its GEAR (Gemini Enterprise Agent Ready) program. This initiative is a golden opportunity for developers, students, and IT professionals aiming to specialize in building sophisticated AI agents with Google's cutting-edge technology. The application link is provided at the end of this post.

What is the GEAR Program?

GEAR is an intensive, 9-week guided cohort program designed to transform participants from novices into certified Gemini Experts. It's more than just a certification; it's a comprehensive learning experience that offers:

Free Instructor-Led Training: Gain invaluable insights and direct mentorship from seasoned Google Cloud experts who are at the forefront of AI development.
35 Monthly Credits: Get hands-on experience with Google Cloud Skills Boost. These credits provide free access to a wide array of labs and sandbox environments, allowing you to experiment and build real-world projects without any financial commitment.
Free Certification Voucher: The program offers a pathway to get certified for free. Eligible participants receive a voucher that covers the entire exam fee (typically $200), removing financial barriers to validating your skills.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the certification voucher, you must:

Be employed by a Google Cloud customer.
Use a valid corporate email address linked to a Google Workspace account for verification (personal and university emails are not accepted).
Join GEAR (Gemini Enterprise Agent Ready) as a no-cost member.

While the certification voucher is for Google Cloud customers, the GEAR community is open to everyone. This means students, freshers, and individual developers can still access all the learning materials and training sessions.

Program Stages

Weeks 1-2: Fundamentals

Attend a live training session led by Google certified experts, dive deep into topics, and hone skills in a virtual lab. Complete required milestones to qualify for the next stage.

Weeks 3-9: Certification Journey

Commit approximately 9 hours per week to self-paced labs, attend up to 6 weekly live exam review sessions, and complete skill badge quests to earn your exam voucher.

Capstone: Certification Exam

Schedule your official proctored exam and earn your certification.

Post Program: Continue Learning

Continue learning with GEAR to master enterprise agents and build the future of AI.

Schedule

Edition 1

Application: Feb 10 - Mar 11

Cohort: Apr 6 - Jun 12

Edition 2

Application: Apr 15 - May 13

Cohort: Jun 8 - Aug 14

Edition 3

Application: Aug 19 - Sep 16

Cohort: Oct 12 - Dec 18

Apply Now

The official registration page is now live. Don't miss your chance to be part of this transformative program.

Action Item: While you study, use ByteNotes to keep your study cheat sheets organized and accessible from any device.

Source: Google Cloud Developers