Because its design philosophy emphasizes readability, Python is considered one of the most user-friendly programming languages, easy for both beginners and experienced coders alike to pick up. In addition to the code itself, Python’s beginner-friendly reputation is fostered by an active community of users contributing to public libraries of code, which is supported by Python’s commitment to an open-source license.
While there is no single official Python certification, many private organizations offer their own certifications. Some of the more reputable organizations offering such credentials include The Python Institute and Pearson. Because Python is also prominent in such industries as Data Science, Machine Learning, Web Development, and FinTech, there are also many specialized certifications that focus on specific applications of Python to these fields. While data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the overall percentage of employees with either a certification or license ranks low compared to other fields, 5.5% of all employees in computer and mathematical occupations hold a certification but not a specific license, which is the highest percentage across all industries. Texas ranks 3rd in number of employed computer programmers, trailing only California and New York. Dallas, in particular, has high employment numbers in the field, ranking in the top 10 metropolitan areas.
Noble Desktop: Python Developer Certificate
Key Information:$3,995;90 Hours (3 weeks full-time); certificate licensed by New York State Department of Education; online class; includes 1-on-1 mentoring; basic HTML and CSS coding skills requiredÂ
This certificate program fromNoble Desktop, a leading design school based in New York City, teaches all of the essential skills needed to launch a career as a Python Developer. Because Python is the most common language used to code the back-end of websites, this course is designed with special attention to back-end programming and assumes some prior knowledge of the front-end experience using languages like HTML or CSS. The bulk of course content is devoted to developing skills with Django, a Python web framework that is used for back-end web development and one of the most in-demand skills in web development. After an introductory crash course in Python programming, where students learn the fundamentals of Python and object-oriented programming, the course delves deeply into Python web development with Django, where they learn how to automate tasks with Python and Django and how to use Django to interact with APIs.Â
Participants will develop these fundamental skills by working on several hands-on projects that will, on completion of the program, form a portfolio that can be shown to employers as evidence of practical experience. This portfolio, in addition to a signed New York State-licenced certificate, ensures that students will leave the class with not only the skills to succeed in a career but also an official testament to their skills in the form of tangible proof.
In addition to the cutting-edge curriculum, this certificate program provides extensive career service support in the form of six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions that can be used for job support, as your mentor can offer advice on polishing a resume, preparing for interviews, and reviewing your portfolio.Â
Noble Desktop: Data Science Certificate
Key Information:$3,995; 114 hours (4 weeks full-time or 20 weeks part-time); certificate licensed by New York State Department of Education; online class; includes 1-on-1 mentoring; no prior knowledge required
Those who wish to become wise in the ways of data science might consider Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate, which provides a foundation for a career in data by exploring Python’s utilization in data-centric fields. Python skills form the core of the certificate’s curriculum, which includes courses on Python for Data Science, Python for Machine Learning, Python for Automation, and a SQL Bootcamp. While most of the course content is focused on different applications of Python, SQL training is included because Data Scientists are frequently tasked with exploring databases and modifying the data therein, and SQL is the premier tool for performing these functions.
This certificate’s interactive training is designed to provide individualized attention to each participant. Through a combination of small classrooms of at most fifteen students and a curriculum that has each participant complete real-world projects to build a portfolio of work, including data analyses and visualizations that can be shown to employers, this certificate both provides a general foundation of Python knowledge and also allows for each student to pursue her specific career goals. In addition to this hands-on curriculum, this class features six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions that can be used for job support services, including resume polishing and interview practice.Â
Upon completion of the class, students will meet all the prerequisites needed to secure an entry-level position as a Data Scientist. A signed certificate licensed by the New York State Department of Education is awarded upon completion of the program, officially testifying to mastery of the course curriculum and qualifications as a Data Scientist. This official credential in conjunction with the portfolio of projects, greatly contributes to hireability by providing tangible evidence of Python skills when seeking employment.
ONLC Training Centers: Python Programming On-Demand: Comprehensive
Key Information:$895; 5 days; self-study class; prior programming experience and working knowledge of Object Oriented Programming required
ONLC Training Centers, one of the largest IT training companies in the United States, offers multiple modes of Python training. This self-directed course provides access to class materials for a 6-month period, during which participants may work through content at their own pace. As part of the ONLC Python Certification track, this course will provide all of the knowledge necessary for participants to take and pass the IT Specialist: Python certification exam administered by Pearson.
Course content includes the same material covered in both the Introduction for Programmers and Advanced Programming Techniques classes offered by ONLC. Students with prior programming experience will learn to program in Python specifically, covering Python’s syntax and its tools for manipulating strings, performing math operations, working with sequences, collecting user input and output results handling exceptions. Coding will be done with Python 3, though some class time will be spent covering the differences between Python 3 and the earlier Python 2.
ONLC Training Centers: Python Introduction for Non-Programmers
Key Information:$1,595; 4 days; remote instructor (live online with lab access @ 13155 Noel Road, Dallas, TX); no prior programming experience required
ONLC also provides a more guided approach to those seeking preparation for Python certification, including an introductory class designed for beginners without any prior coding experience. In addition to the fully self-directed option, ONLC also offers classes that operate on a remote instructor model, whereby students engage in a virtual classroom in real time but are also granted in-person access to ONLC training facilities in Dallas to complete training.
Over the course of this training, students will develop a working familiarity with Python syntax, code control statements like boolean expressions, define and use functions and modules, work with strings, and learn techniques for debugging a program and handling exceptions. To complete preparations for the IT Specialist: Python certification exam, students should follow this course with Advanced Programming Techniques.
Computer Training Source: Python (Online)
Key Information:$3,495; 40 hours (5 weeks part-time); evening classes; online class
Chicago-based Computer Training Source has offered software training classes throughout the Chicago area since 1991 and now offers convenient online training programs. In response to the growing demand for Python programmers, Computer Training Source offers an online Python course that is designed to help individuals prepare for the Python Institute’s Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP) certification.
This online Python course is designed to provide beginners with fundamental knowledge of Python and object-oriented programming in general, covering such topics as Python’s syntax, string processing, programming concepts like conditional execution and loops, dealing with exceptions, using databases, and practical advice for structuring reusable code.
Certstaffix: Python Combo (Introduction & Advanced) Course
Key Information:$4,250; 7 days; online class; free retake within 6 months
Certificate programs from Certstaffix, a computer- and business-skills training firm working to upskill individuals with the most in-demand industry skills, represent a hands-on approach to acquiring basic Python skills. The Python Combo Course provides a comprehensive overview of all the skills needed to pursue an official certification from an organization like the Python Institute. While such certification must be pursued separately, those who complete this course are awarded a certificate of completion in the form of a Credly digital badge that can be used in digital resumes or displayed on social media sites like LinkedIn.
This course combines the Introduction to Python Programming and Advanced Python Programming courses, which can be taken individually, so those who are already familiar with the language may opt to skip right to the advanced course. The introductory course covers the basics of Python syntax and allows students to get firsthand experience performing flow control with conditional statements and loops, working with strings, lists, and dictionaries, and writing functions and modules. The advanced course gets into more complex applications of Python, including data transformation and manipulation using advanced list comprehensions mapping and filtering tools and organizing data sequences with sorting tools.
Dallas Data Science Academy: SQL, Tableau and Python for Data Science and AI
Key Information:$800; 12 weeks; online class; basic Excel skills required
Dallas Data Science Academy is an official IBM and Microsoft Network partner that offers convenient weekend and after-work training programs designed to help launch careers in Data Science. By designing course material that incorporates real-world examples and providing students with an opportunity to build a portfolio of their own projects, Dallas Data Science Academy prepares students to contribute to real industry needs.
The Dallas Data Science Academy model combines an interactive live online classroom with personalized guidance to ensure that students not only develop the skills to succeed in Data Science but also start a career in the field while enrolled in the program. This twelve-week program includes six weeks of twice-weekly live online sessions that meet for two hours on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, three weeks of 1-on-1 guidance to complete an IBM certificate in Python for Data Science and AI, and three weeks of individual mentoring that includes working on a real-life freelance project and career guidance in the form of resume preparation and mock interviews.
FAQ for Python Certificates
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
Though they sound quite similar, certificates and certifications are actually different credentials. While they are both official testifications to the holder’s knowledge in a particular field or specialization, the major difference is that a certificate affirms an employee has been trained in a particular skill set, while a certification affirms an employee is an expert.
A certificate is awarded upon the completion of a training program and attests that the holder has adequately completed the course content. In effect, a certificate affirms that an individual has received training. Certificate programs, then, are designed to provide short-term training in a specific skill and prepare participants for a particular career.Â
A certification, however, is awarded upon passing a standardized exam designed to assess mastery of a particular skill set. In effect, a certification affirms that an individual possesses the prerequisite skills to perform industry-relevant work. Rather than providing training, a certification program is designed to evaluate proficiency, which makes a certification a useful tool for providing an official, tangible verification that you meet the hiring prerequisites for a position.
Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?
Certificate programs are essentially training programs that help participants develop new skills. For those who have no prior experience with Python, a certificate program can be an effective option to quickly gain experience with the program. Certificates are especially useful for those without a college or university degree or those who hold a degree in an unrelated field. If you’re just entering the workforce or are considering a career change to become a programmer, a certificate program is a great way to meet hiring prerequisites.
A certification, however, would be a more appropriate option for an experienced Python developer because a certification affirms that someone has passed a standardized assessment of skills. While the benefits of a certificate may be self-evident, as certificate programs are designed to provide training, it may not be quite as obvious as to why a certification might lead to better career outcomes, but the official verification can open up opportunities for greater salary potential and for advancement in a career path, especially when it comes to securing highly specialized roles. Employees in computer and mathematical occupations with a certification (but no license) outearn those without a certification or license, suggesting that the credential does hold monetary value. When it comes to career advancement, remember that Python is a prominent programming language in the fields of data science, Machine Learning, Web Development, and FinTech, so certification in Python can be a useful credential that demonstrates your specialized focus in this essential tool.
Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?
While certificates can be a great method of acquiring skills and certifications are a route to better career outcomes, positions that require some form of Python certification as a prerequisite are the exception, especially since there is no single official certification.
That said, while not a necessity, a certificate or certification can still be useful during a job search. In many cases, these credentials are a way to meet hiring prerequisites for which there are multiple possible ways of demonstrating proficiency. Many job postings will require basic skills and knowledge related to the field, and while this is often demonstrated by holding a relevant bachelor's degree or by having prior work experience, a certificate or certification is an alternate method of demonstrating one’s capacity to work in the field.Â
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes
With most organizations having had to pivot to online models, the difference between online and in-person classes is no longer one about quality, but rather about the different affordances of each model. Both in-person and online classes provide the fastest, most effective training for those looking to build proficiency in Python because they offer immediate access to a trained professional in a dedicated classroom environment. Whether the classroom is virtual or in-person, it serves as a space for real-time discussion, questioning, and clarification, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Immediate feedback from the instructor can help to instantly navigate any difficulties or provide much-needed clarity, which helps to smooth out the learning process by alleviating the strain of any difficulties.
Despite the similarities between the models, there are some valid reasons why personal preferences might push toward one mode over the other. In-person classes may be preferable for those who value the ambiance of a physical space. Many value the dedicated learning environment that a real classroom provides, and the mere act of going into the classroom can be a method to mentally calibrate to a learning mindset and minimize potential distractions. The in-person model also offers greater opportunities for networking with resources in the local environment, be they peers or potential employers.
Online classes are all about flexibility. Whereas in-person classes are limited by the resources physically present in the area, online classes carry a degree of location independence, allowing participants to tap into resources from around the world. They also offer a greater degree of scheduling flexibility and are a preferred option for anybody who needs to balance the certificate program with a busy pre-existing work and life schedule. Online classes both negate the need to devote time to a commute and also provide increased access to classes that operate on a night or weekend schedule and are more accommodating to those already occupied during regular work hours.
Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?
A live online class is a great option for someone who would enroll in an in-person class if not for the limitations of location and scheduling. Live online classes are an attempt to provide a similar experience to an in-person class but through a different mode of instruction. Effectively, an online class reproduces the classroom setting, which relies heavily on instruction from a trained professional. The core benefits of an online class stem from the chance to interact with this instructor in real-time, whether you have any questions about the material, are having specific difficulties not covered by the instructions, or need to focus more heavily on one section of content more than others, these are all things that the instructor can adjust for immediately.
In contrast, asynchronous classes are an attempt to deliver the material in a radically different manner instead of modeling the class after the in-person format. While other options rely on an instructor delivering content, asynchronous learning is a more self-directed approach that allows each student to work through pre-generated content at her own pace and without consistent real-time interactions with the instructor. This self-directed approach provides full freedom to work towards the certificate between other obligations, which can be a major boon because many who pursue certificates are already working or studying full-time or may work irregular hours. While this approach does require a greater degree of self-discipline than a live online class, many who elect to pursue a certificate are driven enough to make this work.