The 10 Best Online IT Certifications of 2025

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

edX
UWashingtonX’s IT Project Management

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.

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edX
IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Programming

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.

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Interested in a degree instead?

Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

 

edX
IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Cybersecurity and Social Implications

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.

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edX
IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Software Development

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.

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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.

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Udemy
IT for Beginners, IT for Dummies, IT for Non-IT

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.”.

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Udemy
IT Project Management for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Career Outlook for Information Technology

Online information technology (IT) courses provide you a flexible and affordable path to developing the latest, most sought-after technology skills and advancing your IT career. An IT certification can open doors to a wide range of job opportunities, from website development to helpdesk support. Below are a some additional jobs related to information technology:

IT support specialist

IT support specialists fix computers, software, and networks for companies and individuals. Due to the customer service nature of the position, these professionals often work more nights and weekends than other IT professionals. IT support specialists may also train end users on the effective and secure use of various technologies to increase productivity and efficiency. The median annual salary for IT support specialists is $57,910.

Software developer

The field of software development is expected to grow 25% by 2031. Individuals who work in software development study, design, and administer computer programs to fulfill employer or user needs. These problem-solving and code-writing experts also update and troubleshoot software after its initial design, and document any changes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), software developers earn a median annual salary of $109,020.

Information security analyst

Information security analysts protect a company’s computer network and data from hackers and data breaches. Most information security analysts work for financial, government, and technology companies that store sensitive data, safeguarding data by building, maintaining, and monitoring firewalls, data encryption systems, and other software. Many of these professionals also practice attacking their clients’ software systems to find vulnerabilities they need to address to ensure privacy. Individuals who work as information security analysts earn a median salary of $102,600, according to the BLS.

Web developer

Web developers create and maintain websites. The process commonly involves creating a website using coding languages such as HTML, JavaScript, or SQL and then testing the usability of its layout, functions, and navigation. Projected to see a 23%increase from 2021 to 2031, the field of web development is growing much faster than the average occupation. Web developers also handle a site’s technical aspects, like speed and capacity (how much traffic it can handle). The average web developer makes roughly $78,300 annually.

Computer network architects

Typically a senior-level position within IT, computer network architects design, build, manage, and troubleshoot data communication networks for organizations and companies, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Intranets. These professionals, also known as network engineers, also ensure the effective operation of the network infrastructure of networks to ensure they operate effectively — this includes the installation of routers, cables, modems, and other necessary hardware and software. The median annual wage for computer network architects is $120,520, according to the BLS in May 2021.

Educational requirements for careers in information technology

Employers prefer IT professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher, especially those who will work in information security, network architecture, and software development. However, although there are no set educational criteria, it may be difficult to get entry-level IT work without a high school diploma or associate degree. Nevertheless, industry hopefuls can improve their chances of being hired by earning certifications, which are highly valued in the IT industry. In fact, a few well-chosen online courses, along with the ability to demonstrate one’s competence, can be all that’s needed to launch a successful IT career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Information Technology Courses

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.