I always thought all certifications are paid until I found these 9 free certifications which I have curated in this blog post. If you are looking to switch careers or explore a new one or want to polish your existing skills, these certifications will help you and they are 100% free. Let’s get started…
In this fast-paced world, it is important that you keep evolving as a person. It could either be by learning a new skill or polishing the ones you already have. By doing this, you won’t be left behind and you will always stay relevant. Thanks to the internet, getting a new skill or getting better at the ones you already have had never been easier.
It’s no news that there are lots of online learning sites like Udemy, Alison, Coursera, etc. and so many out there where you can learn a new skill and get a certificate to show for it. According to Indeed, a certification is a designated credential earned by an individual to verify their legitimacy and competence to perform a job. With your certification, one can prove that they’ve been trained, educated, and prepared as a professional to meet a specific set of criteria for a job role.
Certification programs and courses are designed to train you into becoming a professional so you can become capable of handling an even bigger and broader task. Whether you are looking to switch careers or get professional skills that will land you a promotion in your organization, a certification is a way to go. Also, they don’t waste time to get, you can complete a certification program within a few weeks or months.
Individuals looking to launch a startup can also take online certification courses to learn professional skills and gain the knowledge it takes to operate a successful startup. If you fall under this category, you may consider getting a risk management certification to learn how to manage investment and financial risks in your startup or get a certification in business to gain knowledge on how to build a successful entrepreneur.
Most, if not all certifications are paid for and they are equally costly too. This is because of the importance they play in upskilling an individual. Getting a certificate adds more value to you and increases your pay in the workforce, so, it makes sense that you have to pay for it.
However, there are a handful of certifications that are offered completely for free which I have curated in this blog post and they can help you get a high-paying job. Before we get into the 9 free certifications that pay well, you may also find interest in our articles on free online Microsoft courses with certificates and on the best quick certifications that pay well. Let’s dive into the main topic.
Free Certifications That Pay Well
Here are free certification courses you can take online from anywhere in the world and acquire professional skills to advance your career and get higher pay.
- Free Google Analytics Certification
- Alison’s Free Certification in Supervision
- HubSpot Inbound Free Certification in Marketing
- Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate
- CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python
- FEMA Certifications
- Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
- Free Code Camp Certifications
- Cisco Networking Academy Free Cybersecurity Certifications
1. Free Google Analytics Certification
Google Analytics is a web analytics service used by millions of websites. The service helps to collect data from websites and apps to create reports that provide insights into businesses. This is a hot skill that is certain to help your job prospects if you get certified in Google Analytics. The certification will prove you have a professional knowledge of how the platform works and how to use it to collect and analyze data.
There are currently four free Google analytics courses teaching individuals how to use the latest version of Google Analytics for different purposes. To earn your certificate, you will have to take the test which will earn you the Google Analytics certification for free. The salary of a Google analytics specialist is $77,80 per year in the US.
2. Alison’s Free Certification in Supervision
Alison is a popular online learning platform that offers thousands of free online courses with certifications. Alison’s free certification in supervision is designed for managers and supervisors and also for those looking to be promoted to these roles. The course consists of 14 different topics that take 3-4 hours to complete equipping you with skills in group and team management.
Doesn’t matter whether you are a new manager or have had the role for years, the course will surely bring supervision and management to you in a new light and you can learn a few tricks that will help you easily navigate through some situations at work.
3. HubSpot Inbound Free Certification in Marketing
HubSpot is another online learning platform with loads of free certification courses offered by individuals and organizations. The platform offers a free certification in marketing for those looking to enter the niche and also for those looking to advance their skills. The course explores the basics of digital marketing teaching topics such as blogging, content strategy, SEO, and social media promotion.
Digital marketing will forever be an in-demand skill as long as the internet exists. And HubSpot is presenting you with an opportunity to enter the niche and earn the skills for free. With such professional marketing skills, you will gain knowledge of inbound marketing strategies and be able to apply them to businesses helping them to grow and succeed. The average salary of a digital marketer is $62,315 per year.
4. Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate
We all know how hot the tech space is these days and many people are getting into it by spending money to learn a programming language or two. The Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate is your chance to become a pro-Python developer completely for free. The course and certificate are offered by Google but the learning is on Coursera.
Aside from being a pro Python dev., you will also learn how to use Git and GitHub as well as manage IT resources at scale. You can enroll for the course even if you have zero programming skills or as a Python dev. The course takes 6 months to complete. Python developers can earn an average of $96,000 per year and this is higher with increased years of experience.
5. CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python
This is an online free certification course offered by Harvard University. The course introduces you to Python programming if you are interested in being a software engineer or developer. Students are taught how to read, write, test, and debug code. Whether you have prior programming knowledge or not you can always enroll in the course.
If you are looking for a free certification that pays well, then you should consider getting a certification in Harvard University’s CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python.
6. FEMA Certifications
FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency and they offer free online certification courses for those whose job responsibilities include dealing with emergencies and the general public such as EMTs and paramedics. If you fall into any of these categories and you want high pay in your job, then get FEMA certification and attach it to your resume.
This will make you more professional, enhance your resume, and equally give you a competitive edge over those who didn’t get the certification.
7. Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
This is a professional certification course taught for free on edX by Harvard Business School. This course is best suited for those launching a startup for the first time or those who want to work with a startup. The course explores opportunities for entrepreneurship in fast-growing emerging markets and takes only 6 weeks to complete.
8. Free Code Camp Certifications
Free Code Camp is a platform that offers free coding courses on a wide range of programming languages and certification for every course you complete all for free. Since coding is an in-demand skill this has made it one of the highest-paying jobs and if you are looking to enter the niche without spending money on lessons and courses, just head to Free Code Camp and gain free tech skills.
The platform offers beginner and advanced-level courses with certifications in CSS, JS, HTML, GitHub, and Python.
9. Cisco Networking Academy Free Cybersecurity Certifications
Cisco is a billion-dollar giant tech company known for its computer networking products. The company also has an academy that offers a wide range of online courses in the tech niche. Among these courses are two free cybersecurity courses that are completely free and offer certifications upon completion.
Cybersecurity is another in-demand tech skill with a shortage of talent, getting a professional certification in cybersecurity from Cisco will advance your career.
These free certifications that pay well are offered online by top universities and organizations from around the world which makes them recognized by employees anywhere in the world. The tools needed for the certification programs are a laptop, tablet, or smartphone and a stable Wi-Fi connection. Since the program is held online, you can join and learn for free at any location.
Free Certifications That Pay Well – FAQs
What certifications can I get online for free?
Certifications you can get online for free include Cybersecurity certification from Cisco Networking Academy, FEMA certifications, and Google Analytics Certification.