10 Best Online Python Certification Courses To Choose From

Choosing just one of the best online courses for Python certification can be daunting. There are many factors to consider, particularly for professionals who need the certification for career growth. If you don't have Python on your resume, you could be missing out on exciting projects. 

Before planning to settle on the program, make sure that you are dealing with legit sites or transactions. Beware of scams by researching your options. We've made this easier by compiling some of the best online courses for Python certification available today.

We compiled our list of favorites based on reviews of each course, previous user testimonials, and industry reviews. You can be sure that the appropriate authorities back up the content of each class, the costs are competitive, and the platform is suitable for digital users. Each course offers unique features to suit a variety of preferences, such as MOOCs versus bespoke classes. We're sure you'll find at least one certification option that aligns with your goals.

We based our course ratings on the content of the course, the value of the certificate (how well-respected the provider is in the industry), extra features, and the cost of participation.

This certification course from the University of Michigan covers the basics for students who are serious about understanding and using Python. There are five courses in the series, all taught by Charles Severance. Get started with the Getting Started with Python course and progress from there.

Content:

• How to construct a program for a series of simple instructions
• Understanding of computer memory, storage, retrieval and calculations
• Sequential coding and conditional coding
• Functions and how to use them
• Loops and iterations

Offered by: Coursera

Coursera is also partnered with UC Davis, Grow with Google, Rutgers, Columbia University, IBM, Princeton, Unity, and international universities.

Features:

• Includes subtitles in German and Chinese
• Leads directly into in-depth Python courses
• Optional free course exploration
• Financial aid options

Cost: $49 for a monthly subscription to all Coursera content

Who should consider this course: Python beginners who need to learn the basics and who intend to continue studying the programming language.

This MIT-written course covers the basics and moves quickly into simple programs and eventually into complex algorithms and plotting. The timeline for the course is intended to be about eight weeks. When accessing the course on your PC, you'll have access to a progress tracker and a 24-hour discussion board. You can expect some friendly support from people with similar interests and a variety of backgrounds.

Content:

• Introduction to Python programming language
• Computational thinking processes
• Simple algorithms
• How to test and debug
• Popular data structures

Offered by: edX

MIT is the school behind this Python class and is well-respected in many circles. A certificate from this program may look very nice on your resume.

Features:

• Plenty of built-in exercises
• Foundation for learning other programming languages
• Able to run on a mobile app

Cost: $49.00 with certificate

Who should consider this course: This beginners' course is great for students from various industries who haven't used Python yet.

Content:

• Explanation of variables
• Numbers in Python
• How to use strings of text
• Python data structures
• Using loops and functions

Offered by: Udemy

Udemy offers a wide range of courses and is respected by industry professionals. One potential drawback is that any user can act as an instructor. However, many professional reviewers listed this course as one of the best.

Features:

• Easy-to-follow projects
• Supplemental resources
• Full lifetime access
• Mobile accessibility
• Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese

Cost: $194.99, but sales are often available ($9.99 was the price when this article was written)

Who should consider this course: Students with an upbeat attitude and a desire to move from an introduction to Python to a full grasp of the programming language

If you don't know anything about Python 3 and you want to grasp as much of the coding language as possible, this may be the course for you. It has the benefit of being offered by the highly-respected Udemy, and many participants enjoy the engaging platform. If English isn't your first language, consider talking in another language with subtitles.

Content:

• Python setup
• Object and data structure basics
• Comparison operators
• Statements, methods, and functions
• Object-oriented programming
• Modules, packages, errors, and exceptions

Offered by: Udemy

Reviewers at pcmag.org gave Udemy a good rating for their variety of self-paced courses and access to free certificates of completion. Past participants in this course gave very high reviews of the content and the instructors.

Features:

• Project-based learning
• Engaging instructors
• Fun assignments and projects
• On-demand videos
• Access on mobile and TV
• Available in English, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish

Cost: $194.99 with great sales (Course was listed at $9.99 when the article was written.)

Who should consider this course: Anyone excited about learning a new programming language and ready to jump into exciting projects such as games and applications

This introductory course delves quickly into practical problem-solving with Python. Coursework focuses on putting new skills into action, and the website is both inviting and easy-to-use. Plan to spend about 30 hours of study to complete this certification course.

Content:

• Fundamentals of Python programming language
• Programming best practices
• Represent and store data with Python data types and variables
• How to use complex data structures
• How to define and document custom functions
• How to find and use modules in Python Standard Library

Offered by: Udacity

Udacity was originally an experiment in online learning, started by Sebastian Thrun and Peter Norvig (instructors at Stanford).

Features:

• Course takes about 30 hours to complete
• Interactive features
• Self-paced learning
• Student support community
• Direct path into Data Analyst education program

Cost: free (Other courses require tuition but financial hardships scholarships are available)

Who should consider this course: Beginning coders who have some familiarity with coding and how to use code on the web

This course presents Python as a top language in the programming world with an understanding of its use in many industries. It covers core aspects of the coding language and prepares participants for greater workplace opportunities. The class is easy to access and only takes about four hours to complete.

Content:

• Introduction to general programming
• Core components of Python programming language
• Overview of using open-source PyScripter IDE for Python
• How to use functions, variables, If Else statements, loops, iterative and recursive programs, and algorithms

Offered by: Alison

Alison courses are well-respected around the world. The company works to make sure their courses meet established industry standards.

Features:

• Easy access to lots of related courses
• Available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese
• Easy to review as you go
• Several payment options
• Diploma possibilities

Cost: Free to attend; certificates cost about $30.00

Who should consider this course: Professionals who want to add Python basics to their resume and who are serious about advancing their careers

This entertaining class is taught by two instructors, Susan Ibach and Christopher Harrison, who discuss the relevance of Python and present the information. The instructors use engaging presentations to take students through the beginning coding procedures and a variety of core procedures. It is convenient to watch the videos at your own pace and work through skills with available tools.

Content:

• Displaying text and storing numbers
• String variables
• Decision making with code
• Repeating events
• Storing information in files
• Functions

Offered by: Microsoft Virtual Academy

MVA ranks high among course participants and industry professionals. The certifications may not carry the same weight with employers as MCSE or CCNA.

Features:

• Step-by-step walkthrough in using Python
• Engaging experts
• Completion of a new skill with each module
• Access to free tools and support
• Participants join Microsoft Virtual Academy learning community

Cost: Free

Who should consider this course: Beginners who want to learn more about Python and coding in general with access to community support

This free course is set up for people who have a rudimentary understanding of coding and who also like to learn Python. The format of the class includes lecture videos, written materials, and plenty of exercises. Students get links to a coding practice set up and access to a question-and-answer forum. This course is a straight-forward, no-frills class that will quickly take you through the study materials.

Content:

• Introduction to Python
• Strings, lists, sorting
• Dicts and files
• Regular expressions
• Utilities

Offered by: Google for Education

There's a lot to be said for a course on coding taught by leading industry experts.

Features:

• Ease of access to all necessary tools
• Real-life applications
• Python exercises
• Flexibility for class participation

Cost: free

Who should consider this course: People with a bit of programming experience and an interest to dig a little deeper into Python

This practical class is intended for professionals who want to boost their productivity using Python coding. Rather than focusing on fundamentals, the course zeroes in on specific coding to improve the use of spreadsheets, PDFs, and Word documents.

Content:

• Automate tasks on computers with simple Python programs
• Crawl websites to pull information
• Advanced functions
• Lists, strings, and dictionaries
• Running programs from the command line
• Use of regular expressions

Offered by: Udemy

Udemy competes well in the pool of online courses. Prospective students can easily find reviews about specific classes.

Features:

• Money-back guarantee
• On-demand video
• Lifetime access
• Available on mobile and TV
• Available in English, Japanese, and Portuguese

Cost: $49.99 with regular sales (Course was listed at $9.99 when the article was written)

Who should consider this course: professionals who want to improve their productivity

This course from Edureka is not for beginners. It focuses on increasing your ability to use Python for data science applications. Live instructors lead this class in several weeks of two- or three-hour sessions. There's also plenty of expert support from an online team of experts. Enjoy working through real-life case studies and practical assignments.

Content:

• Sequences and File Operations
• Intro to Matplotlib, Numpy, Pandas, and Scikit
• Data Manipulation
• Python Machine learning algorithms such as Clustering, Regression, Time Series, and Q-Learning
• Real-life case studies

Offered by: Edureka

Online reviews are a mix of customers who love the classes and others who complain about the lack of customer service. There are concerns about the difficulty of getting refunds.

Features:

• Instructor-led live online classes
• Practical assignments
• 24/7 expert support and lifetime access

Cost: $640

Who should consider this course: This is a course for professionals, including programmers, developers, analytics manager, business analysts, and information architects who have the time and money to invest in an online course.

In the end, the most important thing is getting the job you want. You can make this possible with the right mix of experience and training. Valid certifications are an important part of this; they show your willingness to invest in the company and your ability to learn new skills and put them to work in real-world scenarios.

Certifications are a quantifiable addition to your resume, giving recruiters and prospective employers important insights into your value as an employee. It's worth spending some time researching your options.

Use the following tips for recognizing online education scams:

• Run accreditation claims through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the Department of Education. Not all trustworthy online courses are accredited, but if one claims to be (especially when they claim international accreditation), verify those claims.
• Avoid classes claiming to result in fast and easy degrees.
• Stay away from schools that have names similar to reputable establishments.
• Look for a physical address to their campus or business.
• Watch out for websites with many errors.
• Steer clear of schools with aggressive sales personnel or financial aid officials.
• Legitimate schools charge by the term or semester. Avoid online programs that want a lot of money upfront.
• Review social media sites. If there isn't much about the school, move on to another option.