As of 2025, the TIOBE Index ranks Python as the most popular programming language globally, a title it has held for several years. This is owing to its versatile functionalities, the massive open-source development community and a wide array of diverse libraries and frameworks that make it applicable to almost all computer programming projects. Software Engineers, Data Scientists, Cybersecurity Experts, FinTech Analysts and a wide array of other computer science professionals regularly use Python for one purpose or another, making it one of the best programming languages for generalists or specialized computer programmers to learn. One way to demonstrate your Python skills to prospective employers is to become Python certified, either by passing a certification exam, completing a Python certificate course or completing a certificate-granting program that teaches specialized Python programming skills.
Noble Desktop: Data Analytics Certificate
Key Information: This career-focused training program is offered onsite in Manhattan or online in a live, digital classroom. The course runs on full-time schedules lasting six weeks and part-time schedules lasting 24 weeks. Students enrolled in the program will receive one-on-one career mentorship seminars with Noble’s experienced data analytics professionals and can retake the course for free within one year.
Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive Data Analytics Certificate program for students learning how to write Python code for data science and data analytics purposes. Almost all businesses and organizations are starting to employ data analytics experts to help guide their decision-making processes with the scientific analysis of consumer and demographic data. Data Analysts utilize Python to write programs that automate data collection practices and the process of interpretation. They also utilize the language to program machine learning algorithms that can read and interpret data far faster than a human being would be able to read and interpret a fraction of the dataset. Learning Python is going to be an important first step, and Noble Desktop has students covered with this career-focused data analytics program.
Students enrolled in this course will learn the basics of database management by training in Excel, SQL, and Python. These languages will let them build large datasets that they will organize, manipulate and query to make sense of what has been collected. Once students are comfortable working with the basics of Python and databases in general, they will learn how to write code that automates elements of data collection and organization, and they will learn how to use Python to transform the data in the database into vibrant and memorable charts, maps and graphics that allow non-specialists to engage with that data. Students will also learn how to use Tableau to create these data visualizations. Finally, students will work with Python to start writing machine learning algorithms that can be used to interpret large amounts of data without a human operator. This robust training program offers students a complete education in the most common uses for Python and its major libraries, including NumPy, Pandas, Plotly and Dash.
Since this is a career-focused program, all lessons aim to provide students with practical skills they can utilize in almost any data analytics position. The skills are highly transferable whether you work in science, research, commerce, finance or the public sector (just to name a few places data analytics professionals are in high demand). This program is taught on-site at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan campus and online in live digital classrooms. In either case, students will have the opportunity to work with expert instructors who teach classes in real-time and can provide students with personalized feedback and assistance on their work. Students who enroll in this course will also receive one-on-one career mentorship coaching and other professional development opportunities such as portfolio and resume-building assistance. All students taking the course can retake the program within a year, giving them even more chances to learn Python and its data analytics applications.
Noble Desktop: Software Engineering Bootcamp
Key Information: This course provides students with training in front and back-end web development skills. The program, offered onsite in Manhattan or online in a live digital classroom, runs full-time and lasts for twenty weeks. Students enrolled in the program will receive career development services, including one-on-one professional mentoring sessions, and students will be able to retake the course for free within one year.
Python is also an important programming language for back-end web and software development projects. Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive certificate program for students looking to learn these skills (and many more) in their Software Engineering Bootcamp. In this course, students will learn how to design the front-end (client-facing, interactive elements) and back-end (hidden, infrastructural elements) of web applications and software projects. Included in this training are detailed instructions on the use of Python and the Django framework, which are vital for many back-end development projects. Throughout this program, students will learn how Python fits into a larger professional skill set and how students can use multiple different programming languages together in an effort to build more complex software applications.
Students will learn the basics of front-end programming using HTML and CSS and JavaScript. While these languages are primarily used in web development, they are also important for building user interfaces for software applications. Then, students will learn how to use advanced JavaScript frameworks, including MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js, to build complicated, multifaceted applications outside web browsers. Finally, students will learn how to use Python and Django to build the back-end infrastructure and databases that give programs more complex functionality and the ability to access and collect user information and online databases more easily. Students will learn how to build dispatchers, work with API endpoints and program with Django REST. By the end of the course, students will be building working software applications that they add to their personal portfolios when they enter the job market.
This career-focused training program aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as professional Software Engineers. The course is offered onsite at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan campus or in live online classrooms taught by Noble’s expert instructors. Regardless of course modality, students can ask questions and receive personalized feedback from their instructors, making these courses an ideal place to get hands-on, guided experience working with Python and other programming languages. Students enrolled in the program will benefit from one-on-one career mentoring sessions, and portfolio development seminars, and they can retake the course within one year, giving them even more time to practice their Python and software development skills.
Python Institute: Certified Professional in Python ProgrammingÂ
Key Information: The Python Institute offers a track of four certification exams that gauge a student’s knowledge and proficiency in Python programming. This culminating exam is available to students who have passed the previous three certifications. It lasts approximately 75 minutes and does not expire. The Python Institute offers free, on-demand training and study guides for students.
The Python Institute is a non-profit organization established to maintain and promote the Python programming language and offer a place to train and support new Python professionals. One of the services offered by the organization is their Certified Professional in Python Programming exams. This program is a collection of four different Python programming exams, culminating in the PCPP2â„¢ exam that gauges a student’s complete Python programming knowledge. The exam tests a student's knowledge of programming testing principles and techniques, network programming, design patterns, and software optimization. Students looking to pass the exam will need strong technical and analytical skills.Â
Students aiming to pass this exam will also need to pass the Entry-level, Associate-level, and Professional Level 1 exams, all of which provide students with official certifications of their Python programming knowledge. Each exam is between 30 and 45 questions long and they each last about 90 minutes. Students will be able to complete the exams at their own pace, since these certifications do not expire. The organization provides students with free, on-demand training materials and access to one of the largest Python education communities on the internet, making preparing for the exam as painless of a process as possible. The exam is delivered online, so students ready to complete their certification can do so from their homes.
Python Institute: Certified Associate in Data Analytics with Python
Key Information: This certification exam covers data analytics skills and the related Python proficiencies that are utilized in data science projects. The exam lasts 65 minutes and covers practical and theoretical data analytics skills. Free training options are available as are paid study materials. This certification expires after five years, unless students achieve a higher graded Python Institute certification.
The Python Institute also offers a specialized certification exam for students looking to demonstrate their knowledge of data analytics and the related Python skills required for data management. The Certified Associate in Data Analytics with Python exam will test a student’s ability to clean, manipulate, model, analyze and visualize data. Students will be tested on their knowledge of general data analytics techniques, their ability to use Python to facilitate data projects and their understanding of the use and functions of Python frameworks like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn, and scikit-learn. The exam is aimed at professional Data Analysts, security and networking professionals, and Software Engineers. The exam is positioned as an interim step for students looking to earn a PCPP2™ certification, but the exam is still available for students to take as a standalone certification.
Students are free to take the exam when they feel prepared for the test, and there are no formal prerequisites, though the Python Institute recommends a level of training sufficient to pass their associate-level Python programming exam. The exam lasts slightly over an hour and consists of 45 multiple-choice questions. The Python Institute offers a free training program for students looking to prepare for the exam, and a practice exam can be purchased when registering to take the formal certification exam. This certification lasts for five years unless a student retakes the exam or continues on the Python Institute certification track and passes the Certified Professional in Python Programming exam.Â
NY Data Science Academy: Data Science Bootcamp
Key Information: This certificate-granting data science program provides students with career-focused guidance and training in Python and its associated data analytics functions. The program is available in multiple modalities, including a live online, 12-week full-time program, a four-month part-time program, or a six-month hybrid live-asynchronous program. Students enrolled in the course will receive career development assistance, including one-on-one mentorship sessions and mock interview preparation.
NY Data Science Academy is a certificate-granting training organization specializing in providing students with a data science education, highlighted by their immersive, flagship Data Science Bootcamp. This training course provides students with a comprehensive, career-focused Python education, and the program aims to teach students practical programming and analytical skills. The course covers data science fundamentals and important Python data analytics concepts such as organizing, extracting, manipulating, and visualizing data. Building on this, students will begin to learn the intricacies of machine learning algorithms, including how they can be fed data. Students will be introduced to concepts of scalability and deep learning, and the course concludes with a capstone project that employs the tools they have learned and gives students a chance to work on a practical data analytics project.
This career-focused training course aims to provide students with the practical skills they need to find work in data science and analytics. All of the lessons are hands-on explorations of important data science concepts tied to practical, real-world applications of data science principles. Students will engage in exercises that produce real applications and data science projects that they can add to their portfolio of job materials. Students enrolled in the program will receive access to NY Data Science Academy’s career services, including four focused one-on-one career development sessions and practical mock coding challenges and interview preparation workshops.
Flatiron School: Cybersecurity Bootcamp
Key Information: This certificate-granting program offers students the opportunity to learn professional cybersecurity skills. The program offers flexible scheduling options for students, including a live, full-time 12-week option and an asynchronous, part-time option that lasts between four- and six months. Students enrolled in the program will have access to Flatiron’s career mentoring services for 180 days after graduation.
Another professional career path that utilizes Python is cybersecurity, which protects the data that users, organizations and businesses generate and collect. Many schools offer robust cybersecurity training programs like Flatiron School’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. This program offers students the opportunity to learn vital cybersecurity skills, including network security, information infrastructure and the analytical skills needed to identify potential threats and system exploits. The course covers important foundational concepts, including governance, risk management and system compliance. Students will also learn practical programming skills and white hat hacking techniques to help them become more adept at identifying weaknesses in systems and more responsive to potential threats. The course concludes with lessons in practical skills applications and a capstone project that aims to give students a chance to develop their interests and produce a working project demonstrating the skills they have developed throughout the class.
Students can enroll in a full-time training course that offers live online training or a part-time asynchronous online course that lets students learn at their own pace. These two options give students added flexibility in their schedule, but either way, students will have the chance to work one-on-one with professional cybersecurity experts who can help guide them through the challenges of learning these vital career skills. All Flatiron students will have access to career mentoring services for six months after graduation, and they can use these opportunities to interact directly with business professionals and career cybersecurity experts. Students will also receive access to the Flatiron school job posting portal and a wide range of networking events to meet industry professionals and potential employers.
General Assembly: Data Science Immersive
Key Information: This career-focused, intermediate-level data science bootcamp is available in-person or online and runs for approximately four months of full-time study. The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive data science education applicable to multiple fields and job positions. Students enrolled in the program will have access to one-on-one career mentoring and networking services.
General Assembly offers a Data Science Immersive bootcamp for students looking to learn skills necessary to find work as professionals Data Scientists. This certificate-granting program offers students a space to learn complex data science concepts and the Python programming skills they need to build and manage practical applications and databases. Students will learn the foundational principles of data science and analytics, including important mathematical concepts underlying statistical modeling. Students will learn to use Python for everything from wrangling and cleaning data to building tools to organize and visualize data. Once students are comfortable with Python, they will begin working with machine learning algorithms, predictive modeling tools and practical lessons exploring the current trends in data science. Students who complete this course will receive a well-rounded data science education that they can take to almost any relevant job.
This program is available onsite at one of General Assembly’s several international campuses or in live online classrooms. The course runs full-time for approximately four months, and there are numerous financing options available for students. All of the lessons that students learn will apply to their future careers in data science, with an emphasis placed on real-world, practical skills. Students enrolled in the course will have access to General Assembly’s career services center and be able to work one-on-one with career mentors and attend networking and hiring functions to meet prospective employers and colleagues. This is an intermediate-level program, so students should be familiar with the basics of writing code in Python and have a background in basic mathematics. There are pre-course materials that students will need to complete on their own time.
ECornell: Python Programming
Key Information: Cornell University’s eCornell Python Programming certificate program is a fully online, part-time program aimed to teach students the fundamentals of practical Python programming. This course runs for approximately four and a half months with an anticipated weekly workload of between eight and twelve hours. Students enrolled in the program can work with Cornell faculty and receive a certificate of completion from the university.
Offered through Cornell University, the eCornell Python Programming certificate program offers students the opportunity to learn transferable Python coding skills from experts in the Cornell Computer and Information Science program. This course covers the fundamentals of programming in Python and provides them with training to work with user-defined functions. Once students are comfortable with their Python programming training, they can begin working with advanced Python procedures such as controlling data flows and building and organizing data structures. This course is built to provide students with robust, applicable Python training so that they can find work in a variety of different professional contexts. Rather than focusing on a single aspect of Python programming, this class is structured to provide students with a broad understanding of how Python’s data functionalities are useful across different professional contexts.
This course is a part-time, live online training course where students will work alongside Cornell faculty and a cohort of other students. The program runs for four and a half months with an anticipated workload of 10 hours a week for students. Students enrolled in the class will get practical, hands-on training that they can apply to their job search process or use to help them achieve other professional certifications. The course provides students with over two hundred hours of professional development training for professional accreditation, and the breadth of the instruction can help students find work in almost any aspect of the data science or data analytics industry as well as software engineering.
Columbia University: Coding Bootcamp
Key Information: Columbia University offers a live online coding bootcamp that runs in 12-week full-time or 24-week part-time semesters. Students will learn complex programming skills and build practical portfolio projects. Columbia University provides students with career support services and networking opportunities.
Columbia University offers an immersive Coding Bootcamp that teaches students all major elements of web development and software engineering, including Python. Students enrolled in this class will learn the basics of computer science and the most common languages utilized in commercial computer programming projects such as JavaScript, SQL, HTML and CSS and Python. Students will learn the processes of front-end and back-end web development, QA testing, deployment tools and API interactions, all of which provide students with a comprehensive and robust computer science foundation to apply to almost any programming job. Students will receive self-guided Python instruction that they can use to complement their back-end development skills or apply to data science and analytics projects.Â
The course is offered in full-time or part-time semesters, lasting 12 and 24 weeks, respectively. The program gives the flexibility to fit the live online lessons into their own schedules, and the program is broken down into live lectures, practical lab work and portfolio projects. By the end of the course, students will have created a collection of working web and software applications that they can take onto the job market. The program also provides students with guided career instruction and the opportunity to work with career coaches and advisors, all of whom are prepared to assist students in specific aspects of their job hunt. Columbia University also provides students with valuable networking opportunities to meet prospective employers.
IBM: Machine Learning Professional Certificate
Key Information: This online, asynchronous training program is offered by IBM and is designed to teach students how to apply their existing Python skills to machine learning projects. The program consists of over 125 hours of video lessons that students can move through at their own pace. The course provides students with hands-on training and the opportunity to work with Coursera career coaches and mentors.
Offered through the Coursera online learning platform, IBM offers a specialized on-demand Machine Learning Professional Certificate program. This advanced Python training course aims to take students' existing mathematical understandings and Python programming skills and give them the tools they need to start working on elaborate machine learning projects. Students will learn how data analytics skills are utilized in machine learning projects and be trained in the various kinds of models that programmers use to ‘teach’ machine learning algorithms on how to read data, including supervised and unsupervised learning process and deep learning training.Â
The program is taught by IBM experts in asynchronous, recorded lessons that give students the flexibility and opportunity to work at their own pace. The course provides students with over 125 hours of content, including guided practical hands-on lessons culminating in a capstone project in which students will produce and train their own machine learning algorithm. IBM anticipates that students can complete the course in as little as three hours of study a week (taking ten months to complete the program), but students will have the flexibility to work at their own pace. The course aims to provide students with career-focused training. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion from IBM and have access to Coursea’s career services, including one-on-one career coaching, resume-building workshops, and networking events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
Students new to the world of professional accreditation services may be surprised to learn that, while they are both methods of becoming certified, certificates and certifications are not the same. Each of them demonstrates a student's proficiency in a skill like Python, but they demonstrate that proficiency in different ways. Certifications are granted to students who pass proctored skills exams offered through first- and third-party organizations. These exams are shorter affairs that gauge students’ existing knowledge, so they rarely come with supplemental training (though most offer free or paid study materials). Some professional certifications expire after a set time, requiring students to recertify by completing the most recent version of the exam.
Certificates are akin to diplomas and are granted to students who complete industry-recognized training programs. These classes, which vary greatly in length and modality, allow students to learn important Python skills from professional instructors. These classes are designed to provide students with the education they need to pass a certification exam. This means that they tend to be longer and more expensive than the exams, but those exams are testing skills that students have already spent the time and resources to acquire. Certificates do not tend to expire, so students who complete a course will remain certified for as long as they are in the field.
Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?
The answer to this question depends on how comfortable you are with your Python training. Students with a college degree in computer science, other formal Python training or on-the-job experience will likely have already developed the Python skills they need to pass an exam in their previous training. These students will be best suited to sit for a certification exam. Students who are new to Python or want to build more specialized Python skills will want to consider enrolling in a certificate-granting program since these courses will give them the hands-on training that they need to start working in the field. These courses are also ideal for students who aren’t yet employed in a Python-related job, since many certificate programs aim to give students the career skills they need to find work.
Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?
For the most part, becoming certified to find a job working in a Python-related field isn't necessary. The exceptions to this are cybersecurity jobs, which often require applicants to become certified or be prepared to complete a certification exam shortly after being hired. While this requirement will vary from opening to opening, data science or software engineering employees are unlikely to have certification requirements. However, becoming certified is still an excellent way to demonstrate your skills in Python to prospective employers and to separate yourself from other applicants.
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
Students looking to enroll in a certificate-granting program must explore their options and find the training program that best suits their needs. There are a diverse array of courses available, and they are taught in several different modalities. Some courses are taught in-person and some are taught online. Courses can range from a few full-time class sessions to dozens of part-time sessions spread over many months. In addition, online classes can be taught through live instruction or asynchronous self-paced instruction. Each of these courses has different advantages and disadvantages, so students must consider their goals and learning styles to find the course that best suits their needs.
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes
Over the last few years, there has been a significant shift in the quality of online learning, and many programs are starting to offer more robust options for earning reputable certificates online. Students must consider whether they prefer the advantages of an in-person program or those offered by online courses.
Many students still find that they prefer online classes since they can work face-to-face with their instructors and classmates in a space designed to help them succeed in their lessons. Classroom spaces are designed to direct students’ attention toward their instructor and their lessons, and many students find them to be ideal, distraction-free working environments. Students also respond well to working with classmates since it allows them to network and collaborate with other students. The drawback to in-person learning is that students can only enroll in classes they can physically attend, which can be restrictive for students who don’t live near major cities. This can restrict students’ scheduling options as well since the courses will require students to add travel time to their already limited options.
Online classes solve this problem by letting students enroll in courses taught anywhere in the country without leaving their homes. This will let students have a much deeper pool of classes to draw from, and they will have more options to fit certificate programs into their schedules. Students will also have more options for finding the kind of course modality and instruction they think will help them achieve their goals. The drawback to these classes is that some students may find it harder to stay on top of their coursework in an online class since there isn’t an immediate sense of accountability. In addition, students may need to do more work to keep on top of their lessons, particularly in asynchronous classes.
Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?
If you enroll in an online course, the next question to consider is whether you want to learn in a live online classroom or through asynchronous modules. Live online classes are built like in-person classes, except instead of watching a lecture in a classroom, you watch it in real-time in a digital classroom over a platform like Zoom. Asynchronous courses comprise recorded video modules that students can engage with at their own pace. These courses let students pick up and put down lessons at their convenience but lack a live instructor to assist them.
Asynchronous classes are best suited for students who want to learn specific skills and need the flexibility to learn on their own schedule. Students will be able to find courses that teach specific Python skills, and they can move through the lessons as quickly or as slowly as they need to. Beyond this narrow context, though, these classes can be difficult for students since the lack of a live instructor means that students will be responsible for keeping up with their lessons, staying motivated and addressing problems that arise when training. Students who run into problems with difficult concepts will have to explore the internet to find answers which can be time-consuming and difficult and only risks increasing the odds that students put their lessons down and never return to them. Additionally, even reputable on-demand course providers may not be able to regularly update their material, which risks students attempting to learn out-of-date information.
Live online classes address these problems by putting students in a digital classroom where they can interact with their instructors in real-time and get personalized feedback and assistance on their lessons. If students have difficulty with a challenging concept, they can simply ask their instructor to provide more information or explanation and receive this support immediately. This makes online learning much more fluid and approachable for students. In addition, students can be assured that the material they are learning is up-to-date and accurate since the lessons are being taught in real-time. The courses are more expensive and tend to run longer, but the long-term benefits of these courses far outweigh the added costs. Unless you absolutely need maximum flexibility in terms of scheduling, it is highly recommended that aspiring Python professionals opt for live online training courses over their asynchronous counterparts.