Hootsuite Certifications – Are They REALLY Worth It?

Other than being one of the top social media management tools, Hootsuite also offers training and certifications for users to help them get started!

The training is perfect for those who never had the chance to formally learn social media marketing in school, such as professionals who learned on the job the ins and outs of this industry.

With a wide range of courses, Hootsuite users stand to enjoy a variety of training offered.

Here are a few things you need to know about Hootsuite certifications:

What is Hootsuite Certification?

Hootsuite certification is a program that recognizes social media managers and their skills in managing digital marketing assets.

There are two basic certifications offered by Hootsuite:

1. The first is the Hootsuite Platform Certification, which recognizes your mastery of Hootsuite as a service.
2. The second is the Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification, which focuses on your skills in social media as a whole.

Note that these two certifications are independent of each other.

While Hootsuite has other pieces of training with certifications, these two courses are the most important to get.

How Do you Get Hootsuite Certified?

You get certified from Hootsuite when you pass the exams given at the end of the course.

If you do not pass the requirements, you will not receive a certification, and most likely will have to repeat the course.

Is Hootsuite Certification Worth it?

Earning certifications from Hootsuite is like a badge that shows clients or potential employers that you can take on social media jobs!

A certification is a proof that you spent part of your career learning social tools and theories that will help in managing social networking sites to strengthen businesses.

If you are hoping to become a professional in any social media marketing industry, having certifications in software like Hootsuite is incredibly beneficial.

How Long Does the Hootsuite Certification Take?

If you want to improve your chances of passing the exams, you should take the online courses available at Hootsuite Academy.

The Hootsuite Platform Certification is free and takes only 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.

That means you can get certified for the Hootsuite platform within 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Hootsuite Social Marketing Course requires six (6) hours to complete. Thus, you can get your Social Marketing certification in just seven (7) hours.

The total time to get certified for both is just 10 hours and 30 seconds, or less than a day.

Finally, to get certified for the Hootsuite platform, you need to pass an online exam:

1. You have one (1) hour to complete the exam, comprising of 50 questions. You need to get at least 75 percent to pass.
2. For the Hootsuite Social Marketing certification, you need to pass a one (1) hour online exam, composed of 60 questions.

Upon completion of the exam, you need to get at least 80% of the exam correct to earn the certification.

Technically, it only takes one hour to earn each certification if you measure it in exam time if you don’t take the course.

Do Companies Care if you Have the Certification?

For digital agencies, having certifications from key industry players like Hootsuite and Google can help you secure the job of your dreams.

These certifications are proof of your competency in your field, as verified by third-party companies that specify in the digital marketing industry.

The cost might seem steep for some, but what you get in exchange opens more opportunities to grow your career in social media.

You should also be reading our article which talks about Hootsuite & Certifications | 9 Things You Need To Know

Is the Hootsuite Certification Exam Hard?

It depends on how well you understand the courses.

It is highly recommended that you take the courses, as the questions are based on what appears in the curriculum.

If you plan to take the exam, note that the passing rate for the platform certification is 75%, while the social marketing certification is at 80 percent, a bit steep from the usual exams.

Is the Hootsuite Certification Free or Paid?

The Hootsuite Platform certification costs $99, but the Platform certification course is free.

Meanwhile, the Hootsuite Social Marketing certification costs $199.

What Happens if you Don’t Pass the Certification?

You can retake the certification exams until you pass it.

It is important to remember that retaking it may result in added fees.

How Long is the Validity of the Hootsuite Certification?

The validity of the certification by Hootsuite is for life.

You do not need to renew it.

What Are the Other Courses with Certification from Hootsuite?

Hootsuite offers courses on:

• Social Media ROI and Analysis training
• Social Selling
• Social Selling for Finance Service
• Advanced Social Advertising
• Advanced Social Media Strategy
• Social for Healthcare Training
• Hootsuite Enterprise Training
• Foundations of Social Advocacy Training

In some cases, you get some of these automatically through the “Enterprise” subscription.

You can also get 1:1 training when you subscribe to the Business plan of Hootsuite.

What are Other Social Media Certifications Available Aside from Hootsuite?

There are a lot of companies that offer certifications for social media training.

You might find them useful later on if you want to have specific certifications, aside from general training in social media.

Here are some of the companies that offer social media certification:

Facebook BluePrint Certification:

Facebook offers marketers with Certified Planning Professional and Certified Buying Professional programs to boost your digital marketing career.

The Planning Program was designed to train enrollees in creating winning campaigns on Facebook, including audience targeting, and creating the biggest possible reach.

Meanwhile, the Buying Professional Program focuses on the development of Facebook ads, Page management, and an understanding of Facebook Pixel.

These certifications need you to pass an exam for each program, amounting to 150 dollars per test. The courses need around 2 – 3 days to complete.

Twitter Flight School Certification:

The Twitter Flight School Certification helps digital marketers create more traction on the social media site.

It uses best practices and realistic scenarios to help marketers integrate Twitter into their work.

It consists of two sub-courses: Marketing Leadership and Executive Leadership/

Marketing Leadership focuses on enrollees interested in creating more opportunities on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Executive Leadership is for those who want to upgrade personal branding.

You need around an hour to complete the Twitter Flight School Certification. The best part is, it is free and only requires you to have a Twitter account.

YouTube Certification:

Video is a potent tool for engaging the audience.

And as the second largest search engine, it comes as no surprise that YouTube would offer marketers free tools to enhance skills in social media management when it comes to videos.

The certification program aims to help YouTube creators and users understand the best practices and industry-related knowledge.

YouTube offers three courses: Channel Growth, Content Ownership, and Asset Monetization.

While the courses from YouTube are free, it requires you to be part of the qualified YouTube and Google Advertising partners.

Sources:

What you get with your Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification

What you get with your Hootsuite Platform Certification

25 Digital Marketing Certifications That Get You Hired in 2020