Meta owns some of the world’s biggest social media platforms. And, if you want to excel in a digital marketing career, you’ll need to know your way around them.
But, is Meta certification worth it? The short answer is yes — but it can depend on who you are and why you want to get certified.
If you’re looking to enter the competitive world of digital marketing, a Meta certification can:
- Strengthen your resume and help you stand out to employers.
- Validate your skills, signaling that you understand the various tools and strategies relevant to each platform.
- Increase your earning potential, as certifications can help justify higher salaries or freelance rates in digital marketing roles.
That said, while a Meta certification can give you an edge, it won’t guarantee a job on its own. Employers typically look for real-world experience in addition to credentials, and that’s where many job seekers struggle. Knowing how to apply what you’ve learned — and getting the right support to turn your certification into career opportunities — is key.
Let’s break it all down. In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Who should get a Meta certification
- Why the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate is the best choice if you’re an aspiring digital marketer
- Meta’s more advanced certifications (and whether they’re worth it)
- How Climb Hire offers free certification and rigorous tech training
Climb Hire is a nonprofit organization that helps low-income working adults launch careers in the tech industry. Our free Paid Search Marketing course helps you get certified while ensuring you gain the skills and find the opportunities to launch a digital marketing career. Apply to Climb Hire today.
Who Should Get a Meta Certification & Why It Matters for Aspiring Marketers
Meta certifications validate expertise in marketing and development within Meta’s ecosystem of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
These certifications are designed for a range of professionals, including:
- Aspiring digital marketers: Those new to the industry can start with beginner certifications to learn Meta’s digital marketing tools and strategies.
- Digital marketing professionals: Experienced marketers looking to upskill can pursue advanced certifications in campaign strategy, analytics, or creative development.
- Small business owners and freelancers: Entrepreneurs managing their own advertising can benefit from learning how to create and optimize campaigns.
- Developers: Those looking to integrate Meta’s tools into applications can earn technical certifications covering APIs, mobile ads, and platform automation.
Getting certified is especially important for aspiring marketers. As you begin your career, employers want to see proof that you understand the fundamentals of the industry and that you can use the necessary tools to drive results. A Meta certification not only demonstrates your proficiency but also gives you the competitive edge you need to stand out.
If you’re just starting out, the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate is the best place to begin. It focuses on the fundamental skills needed for a digital marketing role, ensuring you’re ready to take on campaigns and deliver results.
Why the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate Is the Best Choice If You’re New to the Field
If you’re looking to break into digital marketing, we think earning the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate is a smart move. Here’s what makes it so worthwhile:
1. You’ll build a strong marketing foundation.
This certification teaches you how to set up, optimize, and analyze ad campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and Meta’s other platforms. You’ll gain hands-on experience with Meta’s ad manager and learn the key metrics that drive successful campaigns — essential skills for any entry-level marketer.
2. You’ll gain a competitive edge in the job market.
This certification demonstrates that you know how to run ads on Meta’s platforms — from Facebook ads to ads on WhatsApp — showing hiring managers that you’ll be good at your job from day one.
Plus, while certification alone won’t guarantee a job, having it on your resume will help to set you apart from other entry-level applicants. Combining it with hands-on experience and career support can make a big difference in landing your first marketing role.
3. You’ll boost your earning potential.
Whether you’re applying for a marketing role or working as a freelancer, being certified can justify higher salaries and rates. Businesses are willing to pay more for experts who can deliver measurable results.
By earning the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate, you’ll be ready to take on real-world marketing challenges in your first marketing role. But, getting certified is just one piece of the puzzle. To truly set yourself up for success in today’s competitive job market, practical experience and career support can be incredibly helpful as well.
That’s where Climb Hire’s Paid Search Marketing program comes in.
Alongside the certification, we offer hands-on training, one-on-one career support, and access to a wide-reaching professional network, giving you the tools you need to go from certified to confidently landing your first marketing job. (We’ll cover this below.)
What You’ll Learn When Studying for the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate Certification
If you study for the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate certificate, you’ll get a thorough grounding in the fundamental skills and strategies you’ll need to grow audiences on Meta’s platforms. You’ll cover how to:
- Set up Meta Business Suite to streamline your presence across all Meta platforms.
- Engage audiences across channels like WhatsApp Business and Facebook Business pages.
- Create engaging content in multiple formats.
- Understand your audience’s behavior, interactions, and responses to your content.
- Use Meta Ads Manager to leverage ads across the Meta ecosystem and reach more customers.
- Set smart campaign goals and take the necessary steps to achieve them.
- Report on the success of your campaigns using data from your live ads.
With these skills, you’ll be able to take your first steps in the world of digital marketing and prove to employers you’re prepared for a real-world role.
To find out more about what you’ll cover, check out Meta’s study guide for this certification.
Meta’s 7 Other Digital Marketing Certifications: Are They Worth It?
As you’ve seen, the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate is often an ideal starting point for beginners in the field. If this doesn’t feel like the right fit, Meta offers a variety of other digital marketing certifications, from beginner-friendly options to more advanced specializations, all available through Meta Blueprint.
The right one for you depends on your experience level and career goals. It’s just worth bearing in mind that, while these certifications can be a valuable addition to your resume, they’re unlikely to help you secure any role all by themselves.
Beginner Certifications
- Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate: Focuses on more in-depth aspects of social media marketing, including organic and paid social media strategies. It’s a great next step after the Certified Digital Marketing Associate.
Intermediate Certifications
- Meta Certified Marketing Science Professional: For professionals with a deeper interest in data analysis, this certification provides advanced knowledge on interpreting data and optimizing marketing strategies on Meta platforms.
- Meta Certified Creative Strategy Professional: Ideal for digital marketers looking to develop effective creative strategies for Meta ad campaigns.
- Meta Certified Media Planning Professional: For marketers and media planners focusing on campaign planning and optimizing media strategies on Meta platforms.
- Meta Certified Media Buying Professional: For those with experience in managing paid campaigns, this certification focuses on advanced skills for buying and managing ad campaigns on Meta platforms.
Advanced Certifications
- Meta Certified Community Manager: Aimed at those who manage online communities, helping build and engage with Meta communities effectively.
- Marketing Analytics Professional Certificate: For digital marketers interested in using data to drive marketing performance, focusing on analyzing and interpreting data to optimize marketing strategies.
Certifications for Developers
Meta also offers several certificate programs for developers, including the Meta Certified Marketing Developer, Meta Mobile Ad Technical Specialist, and Meta Certified Advertising API Specialist, which focus on integrating Meta’s tools and services into apps.
Additional certifications in web development related to Meta platforms include:
- Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate
- Meta Back-End Developer Professional Certificate
- iOS Developer
- Android Developer
- Database Engineer Certificates
These cover things like web application, interfaces, CSS, HTML, Python, JavaScript, server-side operations, mobile apps, large-scale data management, and more.
Each Meta certification comes with self-paced modules to help you learn the course material. Some are offered right through Meta Blueprint, while others are offered through Coursera. Keep in mind that while these online courses can be a great way to get started, learning on your own may not provide the level of support that more structured training programs offer.
How Climb Hire Gets You Certified & Supports Getting Hired
Climb Hire’s four-month Paid Search Marketing program is designed for individuals who are committed to landing a digital marketing job. It not only provides the certifications you need, but also the practical experience and robust career support to back it up.
While getting certified is a great first step, it’s just one part of what employers are looking for. They want someone who is ready to step into the role and deliver results. That’s why our program helps you gain the experience and in-demand skills that go beyond just the certification.
Here’s how we support you in getting hired:
- Soft skills training: You’ll learn essential workplace skills, such as how to communicate clearly and professionally, collaborate effectively with a team, and navigate challenging situations. These skills help you stand out in job interviews and excel in the workplace.
- Personal support finding a job: We pair you with your own Career Development Advisor who helps with your resume and LinkedIn, gets you ready for interviews, and guides your job search every step of the way.
- Professional network: Upon completing the program, you’ll gain access to our expansive network of industry professionals and alumni to open doors to job opportunities. Having these connections often helps you land a job much faster than applying online.
With all of this support, our learners walk away with the skills and experience to actually land a job. Of course, along with in-depth job readiness training, you’ll also receive hands-on technical training that prepares you for real-world marketing tasks.
Our program offers live, instructor-led online classes, providing:
- Interactive learning: You’ll engage directly with instructors and classmates to clarify doubts, have meaningful discussions, and deepen your understanding of the topics.
- Hands-on projects and experience: You’ll use the tools of the trade to work on real-world projects and apply your knowledge practically. This experience not only builds confidence but also shows potential employers that you’re ready to hit the ground running with the marketing skills they need.
- Three industry-recognized certifications: The program teaches you the digital marketing fundamentals you need to earn three highly sought-after certifications that employers value:
- Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate
- Google Ads Search Certification
- HubSpot Inbound Marketing Optimization Certificate.
With all three, you’ll have a competitive edge in the job market and be well-prepared for roles like social media marketer, paid search marketer, and more.
The course is completely free for all students, so you can focus on your certification without worrying about additional costs. We even cover the cost of the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate exam fee, which would normally set you back $99.
The comprehensiveness of our program has helped 80% of Climbers land jobs within 12 months of graduating, often earning upwards of $50k per year.
For example, thanks to Climb Hire, Miguel Ruiz went from working as a cook to working for IBM, earning double what he was making before.
“The soft skills I learned at Climb Hire really helped me to learn how to interact with interviewers when I was out looking for a job. Those little things, they really make a change when you’re looking for a job.”
It’s quick and easy to apply for Climb Hire’s Paid Search Marketing course and no prior experience is necessary. You simply fill out the online application, and if you qualify, you’ll get scheduled for a short interview to see if you’re a good match for the program.
Climb Hire: Your Fast-Track Path to a Digital Marketing Career
Meta certification is a valuable stepping stone to a digital marketing career. Climb Hire makes your job hunt even easier by providing the comprehensive support you need to secure a role right after you graduate.
Here’s a brief recap of what you’ll get during our four-month Paid Search Marketing program:
- Live, instructor-led training in both technical and soft skills that makes learning engaging and effective.
- Three industry-recognized certifications employers value: Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate, Google Ads Search certification, and the HubSpot Inbound Marketing Optimization Certificate.
- Hands-on experience with professional marketing tools and campaigns.
- One-on-one career support from a dedicated advisor to help you land a job.
- Access to a powerful network of industry professionals, which can significantly speed up the process of finding a job.
Ready to earn your Meta certification and launch your digital marketing career? Apply now to Climb Hire’s Paid Search Marketing program to get started.