The 10 Best Online IT Certifications of 2022 – Intelligent
Online courses can be a great way to study information technology because they allow you to learn from home and study at your own pace. In addition to providing you with new skills, some offer formal credentials that may be attractive to prospective employers. Whether you’re just starting in IT or want to level up your skill sets, these 10 online courses in information technology are a good place to start:
Our Ranking Criteria
The quality of online IT courses can vary widely, so we reviewed almost 20 of the best online IT classes to narrow them down to these top 10. The right course for you will depend on several factors, including your skill level, budget, and the amount of time you have available to study. We took the following criteria into account to create our list:
Basic Ranking Criteria
Before selecting a course, it’s important to make sure that you meet the prerequisites, will have enough time to complete it, and will receive a suitable certificate at the end. We’ve made note of how each course compares in terms of these four factors:
Time to complete. Some courses can be completed in just a few hours, while others take longer and require a longer commitment. Most courses provide an estimate of how long they’ll take to complete or the total number of hours of learning materials included.
Prerequisites required. Most of the courses on our list don’t require you to have any prior IT experience, but some working knowledge of the industry may help.
Flexible schedule. Many online courses allow you to study at your own pace, but some may have time-sensitive assignments or learning modules. We’ve focused on courses that offer the most flexibility in terms of scheduling and self-directed study.
Certificate of completion. Some courses provide a formal credential that you can put on your resume, while others simply provide a certificate of completion. Be sure to check what kind of certificate you’ll receive if you intend to use it professionally.
Advanced Ranking Criteria
The above criteria can be used to assess almost any online course, but if you’re looking for a course on information technology, there are more industry specific requirements. Here are a few advanced criteria we used to put together our list:
- The course has a comprehensive syllabus, either for the subject matter overall or for a specific area of focus (such as programming or cybersecurity).
- The course is presented by IT professionals or academics who have experience in the IT industry.
- The course is backed by a university or another trusted educational provider.
- The course was produced recently (within the past 5 years) to keep up with the latest industry trends.
- The course has positive reviews and ratings (at least 4 stars).
- The course is available on a user-friendly platform with good customer support.
- The course includes a mix of theory and practical IT concepts.
- The course covers material that is relevant to job-seekers or professionals in the IT industry (i.e., based on industry-standard exams or credentials).
- The course includes transcripts and/or subtitles for easier study.
The 10 Best Online Information Technology Courses
Intelligent Award: Top Pick
This edX course is offered by the University of Washington, which may lend it extra credibility when adding it to your resume. It comes with a high price tag ($537.30), but you’ll get a UWashingtonX IT Project Management Professional Certificate when you’re done. You can also enroll for free, if you don’t want to get a certificate. The full program includes three courses on portfolio management, governance, and other topics related to leadership and management in IT. The suggested completion time is 5 months with 2 to 5 hours of study per week, but you can move at your own pace. Although there aren’t any prerequisites, the subject matter is more advanced than some other courses.
- Price: $537.30
- Time to complete: 5 months (2 to 5 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is ideal for those who are already IT professionals, but want to deepen their skill sets in the areas of project and program management.
What we like
What we don’t like
Professional instructors
Quizzes aren’t very comprehensive
University-backed certificate
More theory-based than practice-based
Reasonable weekly commitment
Learn more
Intelligent Award: Best Advanced Course
This course is provided by UPValenciaX and backed by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia in Spain. It’s delivered in English with an English transcript, and can be taken at your own pace on your own time. You can access all of the course materials for free, or pay $75 to receive a verified certificate when you finish the course. The complete IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals program includes five courses in all and is designed to prepare you for the CLEP ISCA exam. You’ll learn about topics such as pseudo code, SQL language, data warehousing, and object-oriented programming. You’ll need at least some prior experience with math and computers.
- Price: Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $75)
- Time to complete: 4 Weeks (3 to 6 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is perfect for learners who want to take the CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications exam and work in the IT industry.
What we like
What we don’t like
Experienced instructors
Not for beginners
University-backed certificate
No academic credit
Free option available
Learn more
Intelligent Award: Best for Exam Prep
This course is also offered by UPValenciaX and is part of their Fundamentals for Business Professionals program. You can enroll in it for free, or pay $75 to receive a verified certificate when you’re done. You’ll need basic math and computer knowledge to follow along, but can work through the material at your own pace. Most participants take around 3 weeks to complete it, with around 3 to 6 hours of study per week. Both the lessons and the transcripts are available in English, and the material will prepare you for the CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications exam. Topics of study include e-commerce, business strategy, and cybersecurity.
- Price: Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $75)
- Time to complete: 3 Weeks (3 to 6 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is best for IT professionals who want to take the CLEP ISCA exam and pursue more advanced opportunities in the IT industry.
What we like
What we don’t like
University-backed certificate
No academic credit
Syllabus is based on ISCA exam
No class exercises
Learn more
Intelligent Award: Most Specialized
This course is focused primarily on software development, and covers everything from the software development lifecycle (SDLC), to various tools, methods, and standards. You’ll learn about user interface design and the roles on a software project team. As with the previous two courses on our list, this is offered by UPValenciaX, and you can take it as a standalone class or as part of a 5-course series. Enrollment is free, and a verified certificate of completion is available for an extra $75. The curriculum is based on material from the CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications exam.
- Price: Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $75)
- Time to complete: 3 Weeks (3 to 6 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is aimed at professionals who work alongside software developers, including those in managerial and administrative positions.
What we like
What we don’t like
Backed by a major university
No academic credit
Suitable for non-developers
Learn more
Udemy
Information Technology Essentials
Intelligent Award: Most Affordable
The Information Technology Essentials course was created by Destin Learning and is available on Udemy for $12.99. It’s designed to provide an overview of the history and current state of IT technology using easy-to-understand language. You’ll learn about computer hardware, networking, cloud computing, programming, and more. Specific topics include the software development life cycle (SDLC), Amazon AWS, and database management systems. It’s intended for anyone who wants to learn more about the IT industry or explore IT careers, with the final section covering the top IT jobs for 2021. Lessons are broken down into 41 lectures that run for just over 4 hours.
- Price: $12.99
- Time to complete: 4 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is aimed at “entry-level computer science students” and non-IT professionals who are considering a career in the industry.
What we like
What we don’t like
Lectures come in manageable sizes (5-15 minutes each)
Some material is very basic
Includes downloadable resources
Typos in some of the slides
No IT experience required
Learn more
Intelligent Award: Shortest Course
This course contains 1.5 hours of content broken down into 32 lectures, making this the shortest course on our list. You’ll get an overview of jobs in the IT industry, including UX designers, system administrators, and project managers. Then, you’ll cover cloud and IoT technology, programming languages, and development methodologies. You’ll also learn how to tell the difference between front-end and back-end problems. Exercises include designing a database and building a simple if/then game to help you get into the mindset of a programmer. This course is priced at $13.99.Once you finish it and pass the quiz, you can request a certificate from the instructor.
- Price: $13.99
- Time to complete: 1.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is designed for “non-technical professionals in an IT environment.”.
What we like
What we don’t like
Provides a broad overview of the IT industry
Minimal technical information
Includes job titles and descriptions
No introduction to programming
Can be viewed on a laptop, smartphone, or tablet
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Intelligent Award: Best for Beginners
This course is intended for those who are new to project management, or those who want to learn about key project roles and project stages. The majority of the course focuses on creating a project management plan, with lessons on risk management, issue management, change management, and more. There are quizzes after each section to test your comprehension of the material, and you’ll get a certificate once you’ve completed the entire course. There are 32 lectures in all for a total of 2.5 hours, which you can complete at your own pace. The course is currently available on Udemy for $12.99 and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Price: $12.99
- Time to complete: 2.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Although there are no prerequisites, this course is designed for first-time project managers or those who want to level up their skills.
What we like
What we don’t like
Comprehensive quizzes
Mostly slideshow-based
Experienced instructor
Few practical examples
Learn more
Udemy
IT for Recruiters and Talent Management Professionals
Intelligent Award: Best for Non-IT Professionals
This course is a bit different from the others because it’s not designed for IT professionals or to teach you specific IT skills. Instead, it’s meant to give recruiters, HR professionals, and talent managers who work in the IT industry a better understanding. While you won’t learn how to code or develop software, you’ll learn what questions to ask in an interview and how to use lingo like SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. The instructors claim it will help you “speak [the] language” and improve your business relationships. There are no prerequisites, but some recruitment experience is recommended. The course is available for $12.99 and takes 2.5 hours to complete.
- Price: $11.99
- Time to complete: 2.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? As the name implies, this course is intended for recruiters and talent managers who want to understand the IT industry in more depth.
What we like
What we don’t like
Designed for non-IT professionals
Coding assignments are challenging
Includes Bright Boost Basic Certification upon completion
Audio is not always easy to follow
Subtitles available
Learn more
Coursera
Technical Support Fundamentals
Intelligent Award: Best for Professional Outcomes
Technical Support Fundamentals is designed to train you as an entry-level IT Support Specialist. It’s part of the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program, so you’ll get an official certificate upon completion. You can enroll in the course for free as part of Coursera Plus, which costs $399 per year and includes additional courses, or pay $39 per month for the single course. The course covers topics such as customer support, binary code, Linux, and troubleshooting, and offers subtitles in multiple languages. Financial aid may also be available for some students.
- Price: $39 per month
- Time to complete: Approximately 24 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is a good introduction for learners who want to apply for a customer-facing IT support role, but it may be too basic for other learners.
What we like
What we don’t like
Provides a high-level introduction to the material
Video introductions are repetitive
Included with Coursera Plus
No option to test out of skills
Learners get an official Google Career Certificate
Learn more
Skillshare
IT Project Vision and Scope Definition
Intelligent Award: Best for Business
This class is designed to narrow in on one specific area of focus: defining the vision and scope of an IT project. You’ll cover the material through 16 video lessons on topics such as vision statements, success metrics, and business risks. You’ll learn how to develop business requirements documentation, limitations and exclusions, and more. There’s also a hands-on project that involves coming up with the vision and scope for an app. This course doesn’t dive too deep into technical material, but it does introduce a wide range of industry terminology and practices. It’s offered on Skillshare, which costs $19 per month or $99 per year. You can access it on your computer or the Skillshare mobile app so you can study at home or on the go.
- Price: $19 per month, $99 annually ($8.25 a month)
- Time to complete: 1 hour 43 minutes
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is ideal for professionals who want to learn about the business side, rather than the technical side, of IT project development.
What we like
What we don’t like
Accessible on the mobile app
Requires Skillshare subscription
Includes full transcript
Limited hands-on project options
Learn more
Online Course Comparison Chart
Tips for Succeeding in an Online Information Technology Course
1. Consider the cost
How much do online information technology classes cost?
Online IT courses vary widely in terms of price — from free to over $500. Expect to pay more if you’re taking a course provided by a major college or university, or if you’ll get a professional credential when the course is finished. Many online courses offer frequent discounts, so keep your eye on the price.
Will my employer pay for me to take the course?
That depends. If you can explain to your employer how the course material is related to your job and will benefit the company, they may be willing to pay for it as a professional development expense. On the other hand, if you’re just starting out in the industry, you may be expected to acquire appropriate training yourself before being hired.
2. Get your tech squared away
Many online courses are delivered via video lessons, so you’ll need a reliable internet connection and a computer that can handle streaming video content. Most courses aren’t delivered live, so you won’t need a webcam or microphone. If your course has any additional hardware or software requirements, these should be explained in the course description. Be sure to test out any equipment you need ahead of time.
3. Use the right study resources
Some courses may have their own required reading materials, but if you want to brush up on your knowledge of IT basics, consider checking out one of these books: Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold is a good place to start, as is Information Technology Essentials by Eric Frick.
Frequently Asked Questions About Information Technology Courses
What jobs can you get after completing an information technology course?
An IT certificate can open doors to a wide range of jobs, from website development to IT help desk support. An introductory course might qualify you for entry-level and mid-level positions, while more advanced positions typically require a bachelor’s degree in IT.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medium wage for all IT occupations is $91,250, and the field will grow 11 percent over the next decade.
Are there free online information technology courses?
Yes, several of the courses on this list are free, and only cost money if you want to get a formal certificate upon completion.
How long is the average online information technology course?
Some online IT courses can be completed in less than 5 hours of study. Others contain multiple modules and are designed to take several weeks or months.
Can I get an IT degree online?
Yes, you can get a bachelor’s degree in IT entirely online, but this will likely take 2 or more years, just like any other college course.
Can I teach myself information technology?
That depends on how you define “self-taught”. Some IT professionals get into the field without ever getting a formal degree, but they may still take online courses to learn new programs and refine their skills. Many online IT courses are self-directed, so you can learn at your own pace, while benefiting from a structured lesson plan.
Which IT skills are in demand?
While the field is always changing, the most in-demand IT skills include data science, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and machine learning.