Python continues to be a hugely important technology and experts in this field earn impressive salaries. Only Java and C are more in-demand in terms of experienced coders.
Below is our list of the best Python courses and certifications available online.
Let’s take a look at the 12 best online Python courses by some of the top instructors on the internet. These courses offer highly effective strategies for learning one of the most powerful programming languages out there.
Learning Python is relatively easy compared to other programming languages, but choosing the right course can make all the difference when it comes to advancing your career.
Best Python Courses & Certifications
1. Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python
EdX is one of the best learning platforms worldwide offering a wide range of online courses for students. This Python course from EdX is taught by professors from the world’s number one university, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Eric Grimson, John Guttag and Ana Bell are the instructors in this course.
This is an introductory course on computer science and programming using Python. Eric Grimson is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and has over 25 years of experience in teaching.
John Guttag is a Jackson Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at MIT. He is the head of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory’s Data Driven Medical Research Group. Ana Bell is a lecturer in the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department at MIT.
The modules explain what computational thinking is, how you get a computer to do things for you and how the different types of knowledge play a role. You will also learn about primitive data types, simple expressions and branching programs which are easily understandable.
The course also covers simple algorithms, functions and scope. The instructors explain all these concepts in a way that is simple and easy to understand. All topics are well organized and you will learn to think computationally and write programs to solve real word analytical problems using Python.
The course consists of 4 modules and at the end of each concept there are quizzes and programs set out for you to apply your concepts on.
Who is this course for?
This course is best for you if you’re a beginner Python developer. This is an introductory course which gives some insight on how computer science or programming teaches you to think computationally and helps you learn to solve problems using Python.
It will help you gain a better understanding of computer science and offers a strong foundation for Python basics.
Before enrolling in this course make sure to brush up your high school algebra and aptitude for mathematics. Prior knowledge of programming is not required, but it would be easy for you if you had knowledge of fundamentals in programming.
Highlights of the course
- learn Python directly from subject matter experts
- Verified certificate of completion
- Quizzes and challenging assignments
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2. Python – PluralSight
PluralSight is another online platform that offers video training courses for software developers. This Python course from PluralSight provides a path which takes you from a beginner to an advanced level. The courses in this path are contributed by different instructors giving you the opportunity to learn from several industry experts.
This complete masterclass from PluralSight is the best Python course for beginners because it effectively takes students from complete novices and helps them move into advanced programming techniques. It contains 11 modules and spans over a time period of 27 hours.
The Beginner Courses: The beginner section answers all the questions like “What is Python?” and When and where it is used.
This course also covers the basic Python fundamentals such as datatypes, functions and OOP concepts. You’ll also learn about objects, collections, handling exceptions and conditional statements. The video ends with how to manipulate numbers and word in your programs.
The Intermediate Courses: The next four topics will help in unit testing and debugging. In this section, the instructors will help you explore the basic fundamentals to improve your code and also explains how to install and manage your project dependencies.
The intermediate course has a detailed explanation of how to best set up our development environment. Here, you will also learn to develop a project on the job board.
The Advanced Courses: In this section, you will learn more advanced topics like how to build a full stack web development project using Python, WEB2PY and explore how to gain fine-grained control over attribute access. The instructor also explains about class object construction and advanced techniques to implement while using frameworks.
By the end of the course you will be able to create your own web applications, applying the best practices. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or if you don’t have any programming knowledge as this course will help you become an advanced programmer in the end.
Who is this course for?
The course will be a perfect fit for you if you are interested in becoming a professional Python developer or a full stack developer, as it covers all the main concepts from beginner level to advanced.
It is recommended to have basic familiarity with the fundamental concepts of programming HTML. This course will be ideal for anyone from beginner level to advanced.
Highlights of the course
- No previous Python experience is needed
- Provides a clear roadmap to learners
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3. Python for Everybody Specialization
Coursera is one of the best online educational platforms out there. They offer courses taught by actual professors from leading universities. This Python specialization is offered by the University of Michigan, considered to be one of the best universities in America.
It was taught by Charles Severance who is a Clinical Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information. He has written a number of books on technology including Python.
It is excellent for beginners who do not know anything about Python and is well described, simple and easily understandable. The instructor, Charles has a good teaching style and explains everything clearly. This course includes seven modules which can be completed in approximately 12 hours.
The instructor starts with explaining the basic Python fundamentals like how to use variables, retrieve data and calculate information. Apart from that, you will also learn about key concepts such as functions, conditional statements, looping and iterations.
Inside the course you will have many practice quizzes and programming assignments which will help you apply the concepts in practice.
The popularity of this course is quite high, which is evident in the high rating number of 58,451 with a rating score of 4.8 out of 5. Around 825,329 students have enrolled for this course already.
It also has some pretty impressive stats showing that 39% of the students enrolled in this program started a new career, 38% of the students got career benefits from the course and 11% of the learners got promoted or a raise in pay.
Overall this course will help you in your career growth by offering a strong foundation for learning Python programming.
Who is this course for?
This online course is ideal for you if you want to learn the basics of Python programming and move your way through more advanced topics. Don’t have any programming language but want to be a Python developer? Then this course is the right choice as it provides Python tutorials that are clear and easy to follow.
Highlights of the course
- No prerequisites
- One of the highest rated Python courses for beginners
- Easy to understand
- Certificate of completion
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4. Learning Python With PyCharm
Bruce Van Horn is a well-known software developer at Visual Storage Intelligence. He is one of the top instructors at Lynda which is now known as LinkedIn Learning. He is a full stack engineer who has a zeal to developing high performance applications for any platform.
This course is categorized as a beginner level course in Lynda. It has around 5 modules which spans over a time period of 2 hours and 30 minutes, with over 210,977 participants.
You will learn Python programming with PyCharm. Bruce explains what PyCharm is and lists all the features of different versions of PyCharm. He also provides step by step guidance on the installation procedure for PyCharm, Git and Pypy packages. You will learn to improve your code quality with the lens mode and intentions features in PyCharm. Bruce also discusses refracting and debugging your code.
He also covers how to create a database and how to work with in-line SQL. Knowing how an IDE software work is very important to a programmer. Thus, learning the workings of PyCharm is essential.
This a practical course which will be useful for both beginners as well as experts. Bruce explains every feature of PyCharm in detail starting from the initial setup. You will also learn to create a project using the Flask microframework.
You can find more of the top-ranked Lynda courses here.
Who is this course for?
This course is a perfect fit for people who want to work with an integrated development environment (IDE) software. It is important for a coder because IDEs are advanced text editors for writing code. Thus, it will be an ideal choice for any Python developer who is a beginner, or an advanced programmer interested in knowing the workings of PyCharm.
Highlights of the course
- learn to use PyCharm
- learn to create projects using Flask the micro-framework
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5. Deep Learning in Python
In this course, considered by many to be the best Python machine learning course available, Dan Becker will teach you how to use deep learning with Keras 2.0, which is the latest version library for deep learning in Python. He is an expert data scientist who works in Kaggle, a subsidiary of Google.
Dan is the head of Kaggle, an online community for data scientists and machine learners. He is one of the members who have contributed to deep learning libraries such as Keras and Tensorflow.
The course is comprised of over 17 videos spanning over a time period of 4 hours. Around 121,650 developers have joined the course already. Dan starts with fundamental concepts and deep learning techniques currently used. He also covers the workings of a neural system which optimizes the predictions. He explains in detail the important techniques in deep learning.
He then shows how to build models using Keras’ library for both regression and classification where you will learn how to compile and fit the model. Finally, you will learn how to optimize your deep learning models in Keras and validate them.
This is another meticulous course where Dan explains everything in depth and teaches all about data science, and the libraries of python. He is recognized as one of the best instructors in this space.
Understanding the workings of each concept will give you a strong foundation to explore more in deep learning.
Who is this course for?
Are you familiar with Python and have an intermediate understanding for data science? Have you worked in scikit-learn machine learning library for Python programming? If yes, then this is the course you need, in order to dive deeper into machine learning and gain hands on practical knowledge.
You can also check out our list of the top data science courses on the web.
Highlights of the course
- Content taught by Python data scientist expert
- Learn to create deep learning models using the Kera library
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6. Introduction to Python: Absolute Beginner
Eric Camplin is a senior content developer at Microsoft. He has 17 years of industrial experience and has a passion for teaching. He is an expert instructor who trains beginner programmers on software development. This course is a part of Microsoft’s Professional Program at Microsoft Learning.
This beginner friendly course consists of four instructional modules over a time period of 16 hours. In these modules, Eric explains about basic skills with Python and Jupyter Notebooks like data structure and variables, and also shows you how to troubleshoot errors.
He teaches all about function with parameters, return value and sequence. It also covers topics on looping, conditional statements and nested conditional statements to make sure you have a solid foundation in Python.
You will learn how to manipulate input/output text, build reusable code and looping. The last section of each module contains coding assignments to apply the concepts in practice. You will learn to apply best practices and be able to code immediately.
Who is this course for?
This course is best for true beginners who want to learn Python basics and code right away. If you are an absolute beginner and want to get started, this course will be an ideal choice for you.
Highlights of the course
- No prior programming knowledge is needed
- Official and verified certification of completion
- Self-paced so learn Python at your own speed
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7. Python and Django Full Stack Web Developer Bootcamp – Udemy
This course by Jose Marcial is one of the best sellers on Udemy. Jose is among the top experts on Udemy who has years of experience as a professional instructor and trainer for data science, data analysis, and programming.
The course has well-organized content with over 198 lectures which spans over a time period of 32 hours. Around 74,706 students enrolled and have given it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Jose explains the concepts in a clear, concise and easily understandable way. He first begins with front-end development technologies like HTML, CSS, Bootstrap and a bit of JavaScript to build a website.
In JavaScript, he explains the basic fundamentals like data structures, loops, functions arrays and objects. Apart from that, he also shows the basics of DOM manipulations and explains all about HTTP requests.
In this, you will learn to style a website using CSS and quickly style sites using the Bootstrap framework. Besides that, you will also learn how JavaScript interacts with webpages and how jQuery works with DOM.
Next section of the course is about the back end of full stack development. Here, the instructor shows how to set up the development environment and explains the fundamentals of Python and advanced concepts in object-oriented programming like scope, expressions and decorators.
This course also covers the basics of Django, in order to create a back end for your full stack development. You will learn about Django customization, user authentication and take a deep dive in Rest APIs and templates. He also shows the deployment procedure for your development project to the world wide web.
Jose has done an excellent job in explaining each topic in depth. He covers everything you need to know about web development with lots of exercises and projects. By the end of the course you will be able to create your own webpage using HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, jQuery, Python 3, and Django.
Who is this course for?
Are you a Python developer who is into web development or wants to be a full stack developer? If yes, then this course is an ideal choice for you because it covers all the topics required to be a web developer. This course is also a perfect choice for a beginner who wants to start from scratch as there is no need for prior knowledge in any programming language.
Highlights of the course
- Build your own website
- No prior programming knowledge is needed
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8. AI Programming With Python
Udacity, a pioneer in online education helps developers learn programming courses. Before enrolling in any course from Udacity, make sure you meet all their requirements. This Python course has a prerequisite of basic algebra and programming knowledge in any language. It is conducted over a 3-month period with course registration and deadline dates.
The course provides an excellent way to learn the concepts of neural networks. The instructor begins with an excellent introduction to Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and data science.
He further explains how complex problems are solved quickly by automating scripts using coding Python. In python, basic fundamentals like data types, operators, control flow, function and scripting are explained in detail. You will also learn about regression, image classification with Pytorch which is widely used in industries.
With your newly acquired skill, a project to identify dog breeds using pre-defined image classifiers will be given to test your skills.
This course also covers Python packages like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib and Seaborn. The instructor’s explanations are clear and easy to understand. Each module has great examples and quizzes to ensure your understanding of the AI network.
By the end of this course you will learn to work on more advanced technologies, and you will be able to comfortably program in Python and build a neural network.
This course is one of the highly recommended courses from Udacity. It contains stats, that about 84% of developers who enrolled in this course found a new job or a better job within 6 months and an average salary increase of $24,000.
Who is this course for?
The course is a perfect start for anyone seeking a career in the field of AI. In general, this course is an excellent program for a beginner who wants to learn Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning using Python and its libraries.
If you want your career in Artificial Intelligence, this course lays the right groundwork to advance you to the next level. But before enrolling, bear in mind to have familiarity in algebra and fundamentals in programming.
Highlights of the course
- Real world projects
- 1-1 mentorship
- Animated visualizations makes it easy to understand
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9. Python Programming: Introduction (LO-94010)
Quickstart is an online platform that trains and gets you certified to achieve your career growth. Instructors from QuickStart are some of the best experts and instructional designers in the IT industry. This Python course is conducted in a virtual classroom by Wajih Uddin Qidwai who is a Microsoft Specialist and Microsoft Certified Trainer. He has 15+ years’ experience in Microsoft Technologies Development and Training.
Wajih teaches all the basic and fundamental concepts of programming in Python. The course begins with how to set up a development environment for Python and create a simple application. You will also learn to process data types and data structures. This course also covers how to write conditional statements and loops in Python.
For a clean code, structuring and reusability is a must. To achieve that, a function must be structured right and called correctly. Here you will learn how to define and call a function correctly. The course also covers how to write/read from a file using Python and to deal with exceptions.
Instruction will be conducted for 2 days with access to the lab. By the end of the course, you will be able to develop your own application by understanding the fundamentals and workings of Python.
Who is this course for?
This course will be ideal for you if you want to advance in your career or plan to start your career as a Python developer to build web or desktop applications.
It is for beginners who are familiar with object-oriented programming concepts. It is not required, but it is recommended that you have at least 6-months programming experience in an object-oriented language.
Highlights of the course
- Certificate of completion
- Achieve career growth
- Develop your own application
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10. Complete Python Bootcamp: Go from Zero to Hero in Python 3
This course is also a best seller on Udemy by Jose Marcial Portilla. Around 599,395 students have enrolled and have given it an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. Jose is an experienced professional instructor and trainer for data science and programming.
He is a great tutor who explains everything clearly in detail and makes it easy to follow. Jose does an excellent job of explaining basic syntax all the way to learning OOP.
In this complete Python bootcamp you will learn the basics of Python like objects, data structures and functions along with the OOP concepts. Jose begins the course with an overview of Python and a step by step guide to setup Python in your system regardless of the operating system your using.
He covers everything that is needed to get started in Python. He also explains the command line basics, scope, build-in-functions and how to use *args and **kwargs.
This course will also get you started with debugging and error handling, where the instructor shows you how to create GUIs in the Jupyter Notebook system which is a useful tool to test code snippets.
The instructor also covers OOP concepts like inheritance, polymorphism and class object attributes. He ensures you understand the concepts by giving enough assignments and quizzes.
The course is comprised of 186 lectures spanning over a time period of 24 hours. It is a well-structured course and a great way to get started in Python.
This course is very comprehensive and good for beginners. Jose covers all the major aspects of Python programming and uses good examples which can be relatable in the real world. You will learn how to automate any task or develop a new application in Python. Working out the exercises and projects in every module will give you a better problem-solving approach.
Who is this course for?
The course is for absolute beginners who have zero knowledge of Python or programmers who want to learn Python. You will learn everything from scratch and solidify your foundations to move further into advanced topics. If you have no prior knowledge and want a strong base to build your career in Python, this course is an excellent choice for you.
Highlights of the course
- Easily understandable lectures
- Good balance of both the lectures and projects
- No prior knowledge of Python is needed
- You will learn to build your own projects
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11. Learn Python – Code Academy
Codecademy is one of the leaders in online course platforms that offers coding classes for developers. It is one of the best and easiest ways for you to learn to code. Learn Python is a popular course in Codecademy and has over 4,719,900 enrollments.
This complete Python masterclass is one of the best ways to learn Python for beginners. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any prior knowledge in programming, it will guide you with both fundamental programming concepts and the Python programming language.
The course content spans over a period of 25 hours and includes over 13 modules. You will learn the basics of Python and its syntax. It also covers string and console output, conditionals and control flow statements, functions and Loops. Furthermore, this course also moves to more advanced concepts in Python and shows the working of classes in Python.
Learn Python has lots of quizzes to help you memorize the syntax. It also covers how to develop projects like a tip calculator, area calculator and also build a game of rock, paper and scissors. Developing these projects will help you understand data structure lists and the dictionary. You will also learn how to manage your own class and have a deeper understanding of complex concepts like list slicing, list comprehensions, and lambda expressions.
This course is designed well with clear explanations and is one of the highly recommended courses among the students who wish to learn Python from scratch.
Who is this course for?
This course is for absolute beginners who are new to programming. Prior knowledge of programming is not needed.
If you want to be a python developer and have no idea where to start, this is a good choice to invest in.
Highlights of the course
- No prerequisites
- You will learn to create your own project
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12. Learning Python – LinkedIn Learning
This is another of our favorite Python courses. It’s led by Joe Marini on LinkedIn Learning’s platform. Joe is a senior software developer in Google and has more than 20 years of experience.
He is a former member at Microsoft and was responsible for Windows Phone 7. Besides that, he is an excellent speaker and a great tutor who covers all the basics and fundamental concepts in Python.
In this beginner course, Joe helps you get started with this popular programming language. He begins with how Python, an object-oriented programming language can be used in both client and cloud-based scenarios and guides you in the installation procedure. He covers the basics in Python like variables, functions, loops and the right structure to construct a Python program.
Joe also explains how to use the date, time, and datetime classes where predefined functionality helps in manipulating dates and times.
He explains in detail how Python provides built-in-methods for working with files and how you can open files, write data and read file content. He shows the working of an operating system’s shell utilities to manipulate the files. You will also learn how to fetch data from the internet and parse HTML, JSON, and XML data from the web.
This course covers over 5 modules in a time period of 2 hours and 11 minutes. Around 226,134 developers have viewed the course in order to get started in Python. It will be beneficial for you for understanding the fundamentals of Python and move your way to more advanced concepts.
Who is this course for?
This course is a perfect fit for you if you want to get started in Python programming. This course doesn’t need prior knowledge in Python but familiarity with basic concepts in programming is a must. If you want to start your career in Python, this will be an ideal choice for you.
Highlights of the course
- Content taught by Google developer expert
- You will learn to construct a program
- Well-structured and easily understandable
- Certificate of completion
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Why You Should Be Learning Python
Python is considered to be a general-purpose language, meaning that with the right tools or libraries, it can be used to build just about anything.
This programming language is great when it comes to back end web development, scientific computing or artificial intelligence, as many developers have used it to build things like games and desktop apps.
With Python, fun is the big motivator. The language is easy to understand as it reads like English. In this way much of the syntax-heaviness which is evident in most coding languages is eliminated. Because it handles a lot of the complexity for you, beginners as well as advanced coders feel comfortable learning to use Python.
One of the biggest plus points of this language is its flexibility. There aren’t that many hard rules on how to build features for an application. The Python courses below will offer videos and tutorials that clearly demonstrate this.
As a result, the way you will solve a given problem is easily attainable by using different methods. When your code has an error, the Python language will also be more forgiving, as you’ll still be able to compile till you hit the part that is problematic. It is used in many different domains like Web development, Machine learning and Data Science, etc.
Get Your Python Certification
If you’re truly serious about learning Python then getting an industry recognized certification can greatly expand your job opportunities. Both the PCAP (Certified Associate in Python Programming) and the PCPP (Certified Professional in Python Programming) are excellent choices.
Conclusion
With Python showing no sign of losing its shine, more and more developers want to learn Python. It is a powerful language where any type of application can be created and used in different domains. Whether you are a newbie or an expert, there is always room for improvement. We have compiled the best courses to learn Python Programming.
It is a simple language that can help in your career advancement and may land you a better job. The above list of online Python courses will help you achieve your goal as a developer.