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Google Ads disapproved our GLP-1 ad with "Certificate required". What now?

The notice
Certificate required
On this page

In Google Ads, "Certificate required" means your GLP-1 ad falls under a healthcare policy you must apply for before it can run, and it is usually one of two rules. Under Restricted drug terms, US ads and landing pages may name a prescription drug, but "you must be certified in order to keyword-target these terms." Under Prescription drug services, which covers online pharmacies and telemedicine providers, "Advertisers must be certified in order to serve ads for prescription drug services." A clinic that fits no certification type should take drug names out of its keywords instead. Curve Compliance checked every Google rule quoted here on October 26, 2026.

Google decides who gets certified. What your website sends back to Google Ads once certified ads run is where Curve Compliance helps. Curve sends GLP-1 conversions server-side to Google Ads with a fixed list of fields and neutral event names, checks every event for PHI-like patterns such as a drug or condition name, and removes PHI before anything is sent to an ad platform. Curve signs a BAA on every plan, and its team does the setup. Book a call with Curve.

Where "Certificate required" shows and what it means

Google says "If your ad is disapproved because you still need to apply to advertise for a specific industry, you can find that information in the status of your ad" (Google's certification page). It points to a missing approval. Google lists nine Healthcare and medicines certifications, and GLP-1 ads hit two of them: Prescription drug services and Restricted drug terms. To read the status:

  1. Go to Ads within the Campaigns menu.
  2. Review the Status column. For an ad marked Not eligible or Disapproved, hover over the status.
  3. If the policy details show "Certificate required", Google's instruction is to "apply to advertise per the policy instructions" for the policy it names.
  4. To see this for every ad at once, add the Policy details column: select the Columns icon, expand Attributes, select Policy details and select Apply.

Which rule flagged your GLP-1 ad

Select Read the policy on the ad to see the rule's name. These are the usual ones for GLP-1 ads, and only the first two have a certificate you can apply for:

  • Restricted drug terms. Drug names in your keywords. Google's list of prescription drugs it monitors includes semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, and Google says the list is not exhaustive.
  • Prescription drug services. Online prescribing, dispensing or sale of prescription drugs. Google says it "errs on the side of caution", especially for landing pages that appear "to facilitate the online prescription, dispensation, or sale of medicines" (Google). A start-your-visit button or a monthly GLP-1 plan with checkout can read that way.
  • Unapproved substances. This one is a ban, not a permission. Google "doesn't allow the promotion of certain products, regardless of any claims of legality", including hCG "in relation to weight loss or weight control" (Google). See the Unapproved substances fix guide.
  • Unreliable claims. Weight loss promises, such as pounds lost by a date. That is a copy fix, not a certificate. See the weight loss claims fix guide.
  • Unauthorized pharmacies. This suspends the account instead of disapproving an ad. See Google Ads unauthorized pharmacy suspension.

Where GLP-1 drug names are allowed on Google

It depends on where the campaign targets and what your business does. For campaigns targeting Canada, New Zealand or the United States, Google says "You may use prescription drug terms for promotional purposes, in accordance with local laws and regulations." For campaigns targeting other locations, "You may not use prescription drug terms in ads or landing pages", though "Certain businesses, such as online pharmacies and telemedicine providers, may target prescription drug terms with certification" (Restricted drug terms). So a US campaign that also targets other countries can be disapproved for a drug name that is allowed at home.

By business type (Healthcare and medicines, United States):

  • A telehealth program that prescribes GLP-1s online. That is Prescription drug services. In the US, "Google allows telemedicine providers if they're accredited by LegitScript's Healthcare Merchant Certification Program", and "Advertisers must also be certified with Google."
  • An online pharmacy that dispenses GLP-1s. Google allows online pharmacies accredited by LegitScript's Healthcare Merchant Certification Program or by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), plus certification with Google. See ad tracking for online pharmacies.
  • A clinic or med spa that prescribes only in person. Google's Restricted drug terms policy says you don't need certification to use prescription drug terms in US ads and landing pages, but you do to keyword-target them. If the landing page offers online visits or checkout, Prescription drug services can still apply. If no certification type fits your business, Google says "Do not apply for a category that does not match your business model" (Google). Take drug names out of your keywords and bid on service terms that don't name a drug.
  • A supplement brand selling GLP-1 support products. There is nothing to certify. Unapproved substances bars products that "imply they are as effective as prescription drugs or controlled substances" (Google).

LegitScript first, then Google

Order matters. Google says "For some certifications, you may need to obtain third-party accreditation first (for example, from LegitScript, NABP, or G2)." LegitScript says its healthcare certification fits businesses that "advertise telemedicine services on platforms such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, or other major ad networks" (LegitScript). What the LegitScript review involves is in LegitScript certification for healthcare ads.

Don't run uncertified GLP-1 ads while LegitScript reviews you. LegitScript says "Applicants advertising on internet platforms in apparent violation of the platforms' terms of service may be considered to be attempting to circumvent the goals of the LegitScript certification program", and that such advertising "may be grounds for certification denial or revocation" (LegitScript).

How to apply to Google

These are Google's steps, from its Prescription drug services page and its application form:

  1. Pick the certification that matches what you sell. Google's examples are "Online Pharmacy, Addiction Services, Telemedicine, Health Insurance, or Pharmaceutical manufacturer".
  2. Get third-party accreditation first where it is required, such as LegitScript for US telemedicine.
  3. Check your website. Google asks that it be "fully functional, globally accessible, and meets all policy requirements for your target region and the specific certification type."
  4. Fill out the Apply for healthcare-related advertising form. It asks what your organization is, with "Prescription drug services provider (online pharmacy, telemedicine)" as the first choice, then the country where you hold your license and the permissions you want, such as using prescription drug terms "in ad text, landing pages, or keywords".
  5. Apply from the advertiser's own account: "Make sure applications are made at the child account level, not the MCC (Manager Account) level." Include "your Google Ads customer ID" and "the certified domain", "submit a separate application for each location or group of locations", and if you're an agency, "send documentation detailing your relationship with the advertiser or license holder."
  6. If Google denies it, "carefully review the denial reason". Google says it may come from the website or from "containing terms (like prescription drug terms) which you are not certified". Fix it and reapply, or reply to the rejection email if you believe it's an error.

Fix the ad while you wait

While the application is open, change what triggered the flag. After you save an edit, "Your ad will be automatically reviewed again" (Google).

  • Keywords. Pause or remove keywords that contain a drug or brand name. If you don't qualify for certification, this is the fix for a Restricted drug terms flag.
  • Locations. Target only places your certification covers. Google asks you to make sure "you're certified to advertise in all the locations you're targeting."
  • Landing page. Google lets you "choose a new landing page for your ad that complies with this policy."
  • Appeal if you changed the landing page itself or believe Google got it wrong. "Each ad is limited to 3 appeals", with at least 24 hours between appeals on the same ads (Google's appeal rules). The full flow is in the Healthcare and medicines fix guide.

After approval: why the ad says Eligible (limited)

Certification doesn't mean the ad serves everywhere. Google says that for most healthcare policies, "if your ad campaign targets allowed locations and the domain is properly certified", the ad is labeled Eligible (limited) and "can run in allowed locations" (Healthcare and medicines). The label can also come from your site: "This limitation can also apply if your website content contains terms associated with regulated industries, even if your products or services themselves are compliant" (Google Ads Help). If an ad is labeled for Healthcare and medicines but isn't for a product that policy governs, you can appeal the label from Policy manager. Once your certified campaigns run, our Google Ads guide for GLP-1 clinics covers structure and scaling.

Compounded GLP-1 ads

Certification is about who you are. It doesn't change what you may claim about the drug. Whether a compounded product can be marketed is a legal question, so talk to your counsel. For what regulators have flagged, see compounded GLP-1 ad claims the FDA flagged.

What not to do

  • Don't spread GLP-1 offers across several accounts. Google's Circumventing systems policy names "Using several accounts, either gradually or all at once, to promote products or services for which you lack the necessary Google Ads certifications", and treats it as egregious (Google).
  • Don't open a new account to get around the flag. Google says that after a suspension, "any new accounts that the advertiser tries to create may also be suspended" (Google). See whether to open a new ad account after a restriction.
  • Don't leave repeat disapprovals open. For Prescription drug services, "A warning will be issued at least 7 days prior to any suspension of your account" (Google). Unauthorized pharmacies has no warning. If you are already suspended, read Google Ads suspended our healthcare account.

Keep conversion data clean while you fix it

Certification covers your ads. It doesn't cover what your website sends back to Google after a click. A GLP-1 funnel can pass a drug name to Google Ads in a page URL, a conversion action name or a form field. Google Ads doesn't sign a BAA (Google Ads in the BAA Directory). Google's personalization rules for health are covered in the personalized advertising notice for health.

Curve Compliance handles that part: server-side conversions to Google Ads with a fixed list of fields and neutral event names, PHI removed before anything is sent to an ad platform, and Event Logs that show what Google accepted. Curve's free website scan lists the pixels and trackers on your landing pages, and Curve for weight loss clinics shows the full setup.

Talk to Curve

Google decides whether your GLP-1 ads need a certificate and whether you get one. Curve's team rebuilds the conversion tracking behind those ads so it is HIPAA-compliant and keeps your campaigns optimizing, and Curve keeps ad attribution when a patient books through tools such as Calendly or IntakeQ. Curve Compliance is SOC 2 Type II and signs a BAA on every plan. To get started, book a call with Curve.

How Curve helps

  • Curve sends conversions server-side to Google Ads, Meta Conversions API, TikTok, Microsoft Advertising and LinkedIn.
  • Each platform receives a fixed list of fields, and events can use neutral names in place of a drug or condition.
  • Curve checks every event for PHI-like patterns and removes PHI before anything is sent to an ad platform.
  • Campaign Reporting puts Meta and Google Ads spend next to Curve-tracked conversions per campaign.
  • Curve Compliance is SOC 2 Type II and signs a BAA on every plan.
  • Curve's team does the setup for you, typically live in about a week (it varies case by case).

Frequently asked questions

Can you advertise semaglutide on Google?

It depends on your business and the countries you target. Google's Restricted drug terms policy lets US ads and landing pages use prescription drug terms such as semaglutide without certification, but keyword-targeting them needs certification, and online pharmacies and telemedicine providers must be certified (Google). The full GLP-1 picture is in what Google and Meta allow for GLP-1 ads.

What does "Certificate required" mean in Google Ads?

It means the ad falls under a policy that needs you to apply to advertise first. Google says that when the policy details show it, you should "apply to advertise per the policy instructions" for the policy named (Google).

Do I need LegitScript certification to advertise GLP-1 on Google?

For US telehealth prescribing, yes: Google allows telemedicine providers accredited by LegitScript and online pharmacies accredited by LegitScript or NABP, and both must also be certified with Google (Google); LegitScript certification for healthcare ads covers the process.

Can med spas run Google Ads for GLP-1?

It depends on how the med spa prescribes. Under Google's Restricted drug terms policy, US ads and landing pages can use prescription drug terms without certification, but keyword-targeting them needs it, and Google says "Do not apply for a category that does not match your business model" (Google). If you prescribe through online visits, the telemedicine rules apply.

Why does my approved GLP-1 ad say Eligible (limited)?

That is the usual label for a certified healthcare ad. Google says that for most healthcare policies, when a campaign targets allowed locations and the domain is properly certified, the ad is labeled Eligible (limited) and "can run in allowed locations" (Google).

Is advertiser verification the same as healthcare certification?

No. Google says "In addition to completing advertiser verification, certain industries require you to apply to advertise content related to that industry" (Google). If verification paused your account, see Google Ads paused for advertiser verification.

How does Curve Compliance help with GLP-1 Google Ads?

Google decides certification, and Curve Compliance handles the tracking behind certified ads. Curve sends GLP-1 conversions server-side to Google Ads with neutral event names, removes PHI before anything is sent to an ad platform, and puts Google Ads spend next to booked consults in Campaign Reporting. Book a call with Curve.

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