The Best Online Platforms to Learn New Professional Skills
Whether you’re trying to pick up new skills for a career change, want a little more of an edge when you enter a job, or are interested in upgrading your existing skills to improve your current job (or hell, your life), there are all sorts of platforms out there offering courses for you. . The question is, which ones are really worth your time? And how much do they cost? Here are some of the best by topic, along with their pricing plans.
All around: Cursera
Coursera has a great reputation in this niche industry. There are thousands of class options, and some of them are free, but Coursera Plus offers over 7,000 classes, projects, and certification programs for $399/year or $59/month (after a one-week free trial). Courses are provided by companies like Google and universities like Duke and you can learn about cybersecurity analysis, IT support, HR management and more.
Second place: Alison
Courses on Alison are free, which is a big plus, and you can earn diplomas or certificates in subjects ranging from management to information technology to healthcare. You will eventually have to pay if you want a digital or printed certificate ($21 to $126, depending on what it is and whether you want it framed) or if you want to remove the ad within a month ( about $9). The platform lets you create a learning plan based on your goals, whether it’s a career upgrade or a complete career change, and many classes are hyper-specific, like bloodborne pathogens or hydrogen sulfide awareness. You can sort by career path to find the classes that best suit what you want to do. However, be aware that it is not based in the US and not all Alison courses are accredited. Many are UK certified and internationally recognized, including some in the United States.
To start a new job: 360training
360training is designed to prepare you for a new job: as soon as you open the site, a pop-up asks what industry you are interested in. The most popular options are construction, restaurants and real estate. You’ll learn the basics, such as compliance and security, in courses that are individually priced. For example, HIPAA for Business Associates and HIPAA for dental offices cost $28.99, while the 10-hour OSHA course costs $59 and the 30-hour OSHA course costs $159.
For creative industries: CreativeLive
If you want to take courses in photography, videography, design, or sound engineering, try CreativeLive . Courses are individually priced, so you can pay, for example, $49 for an introduction to Apple Logic Pro, $24 for training to promote your work on Instagram, or $99 for a complete tutorial on Adobe Lightroom Classic CC. There are also some free tutorials, like how to choose your first DSLR.
To create a programming portfolio: Skillcrush
If you want to build a portfolio of your tech and coding work, try Skillcrush . It costs $2,499 (or 12 monthly payments of $229) and you get courses on HTML and CSS, Git and GitHub, visual design, and more. Classes are project based, so you get a portfolio at the end. There’s also coaching on resume writing and LinkedIn management, as well as advice on finding a job, preparing for an interview, and passing the required technical tests.
To improve your coding skills: Codeacademy
If you’re looking to change careers to focus on software programming and data science, or if you’re already in that field, Codeacademy is a good option. Before you start, you take a quiz to find out what you already know and you don’t have to re-learn. Then you get curated content to help you better understand everything from C++ to Python. The basic package is free, but for $34.99 a month you can work on real projects and take tests. For $59.99 a month, you can get professional certifications, access career services, and more.