Whether you want to add a skill to your resume for a new job or earn a promotion in your current company, free online certificate courses can help you reach your goals. 


Improving your professional skills can make you more employable in an oversaturated job market. Professional certificate training can also provide new ways of thinking and solving problems to help you stand out in your work field.


Online certificate courses are more flexible, and many can be finished at your own pace to accommodate your busy schedule.


We have provided a list of 7 sources for online certificate courses that can instantly boost your career.

Free Google AdWords Certification Courses

Digital advertising has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. To become Google AdWords certified, you need to register for a Google Partners account and pass the Google AdWords Fundamentals exam and one other Google AdWords exam with a score of at least 80%. 


Google has several beginning-level courses that only take 3.5 to 4 hours each to complete. These include a knowledge-check assessment and several articles to help you learn more about each content area.


Certification courses include:

• Google Ads Display Certification
• Google Ads Search Certification
• Google Ads Measurement Certification
• Google Ads Video Certification
• Shopping Ads Certification
• Google Ads Apps Certification

Related: Why You Should Consider Remote Work & How To Land The Job

Free Coding Certification Courses

If you want to become a web developer, advance your skills, or pick up more freelance web clients, coding skills are essential. You can learn to code, build projects, and earn certifications free through freeCodeCamp. Their site boasts that over 40,000 of their course grads have gotten jobs with major tech companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. 


Their course certifications include:

• APIs and Microservices
• Data Visualization
• Front End Libraries
• Info Security
• JavaScript Algorithms & Data Structures
• Machine Learning With Python
• Quality Assurance
• Scientific Computing with Python
• Responsive Web Design

To become certified, you must build five projects and pass all related tests. freeCodeCamp designs its curriculum to give you thousands of hours of hands-on practice.

Oxford Home Study Management and Business Courses

Oxford Homes Study Centre is the leading distance learning specialist in the UK. OHSC is a private online college not connected to any other university. OHSC’s free certificate programs take 20 hours to complete, have no completion deadlines, and predominantly feature management and business choices. 


OHSC’s certificate management courses include:

• Management
• Business management 
• Construction management
• Supply chain management
• Hotel management
• Human resources management
• Facilities management
• Project management
• Event management

Other business-related offerings include:

• Internet marketing
• Accounting and finance
• Bookkeeping
• Business ethics
• Administrative skills
• Customer service

Free Courses For Graphic Designers

Working knowledge of graphic design can help increase your creative skills in a variety of business applications. Learning how to put together colors, fonts, and other elements in pleasing ways can improve your marketing and professional brand.


Whether you’re new to graphic design or want to learn to use a specific graphic design program, Alison has several free certificate and diploma courses available. 


Certificate courses for graphic designers include:

• Graphic Design
• Visual and Graphic Design
• Adobe Photoshop CS6 Essential Tools
• Microsoft Publisher 2013 for Beginners
• Intro to Design & Innovation

Alison’s diploma programs for graphic designers include:

• Design Thinking
• Design, Technology, and Innovation

Free Online Courses for Teachers 

Ongoing professional development is a way of life for teachers. Alison can help the best teachers with their quest for lifelong learning and staying on top of the latest education trends.


Certificates include:

• Working with Students with Special Educational Needs
• Learning Processes
• Effective Communication Techniques
• Motivating Students to Learn
• New Thinking for Your Classroom
• Understanding Student Development and Diversity
• Instructional Planning for Successful Teaching
• Head Teacher, Facilitator, & Coach Training Certificates
• Various Training of Trainers Certificates
• Intro to ESL
• Parental Separation
• Fundamentals of Storytelling
• Intro to E-Learning Theory & Practice
• Learning to Learn Online
• Alflatoun Refresher
• Essentials of Research Methodology

Diplomas include:

• Teaching Skills for Educators
• Training of Trainers

Coursera Degrees and Certificates

Coursera has a partnership with over 200 universities and companies. Not all courses are free. However, it offers over 1600 free courses, over 300 free guided projects, and a small number of free degrees or professional certificates. 


Free degree programs include:

• Master of Data Science Degree from HSE University
• Master of Computer Information Technology Degree from the University of Pennsylvania
• Master of Applied Data Science Degree from the University of Michigan

Coursera also has at least one professional certificate available:

• Artificial Intelligence Practitioner Certificate from CertNexus

edX Professional Certificate Courses

A certificate from a prestigious university or company looks great on a resume. edX is home to free courses from over 160 top universities and industries around the world. Classes are also available in various languages. Some well-known course providers include Harvard, IBM, Georgetown, and Linux.


To receive a certificate through edX, you must take and pass an average of 2 to 6 courses in your subject area.


Courses are available in a variety of subject areas including:

• Business
• Accounting
• Information Technology
• Language
• Science
• Fashion Design

Final Thoughts On Free Online Certificate Courses

Being on the cutting edge of new skills is the best way to stay on top in today’s job market. New skills can help you earn more money as well as improve your current business practices.  


No matter what industry you’re in or want to break into, you can find reputable, free, online courses from universities and private companies to help jumpstart your career. 

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