A flexible language with a design philosophy that emphasizes readability, Python is considered an incredibly user-friendly language that is a great option to learn as a first programming language while also being robust enough for experienced programmers to use in various fields. Because of its flexibility, Python is prominent not just in Software Development but also in such fields as Data Science, Machine Learning, and FinTech, where it is used for tasks like automation, data analysis, and data visualization.Â
While there is no single official Python certification, many private organizations like The Python Institute and Pearson offer industry-recognized certifications that testify to Python skills. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that certifications are especially relevant in computer-related fields, with no other industry having more employees who hold official certifications but no specific license. Texas, which ranks 3rd in number of employed computer programmers behind only California and New York, boasts a thriving tech industry where there are always jobs for credentialed Python developers.
Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies: FinTech Bootcamp
Key Information:$11,495; 24 Weeks; online class; no prior programming or finance experience required, but a Bachelor’s degree or two years of professional experience recommended
Houston’s own Rice University is home to the GlasscockSchool of Continuing Studies where non-students in the Houston community and beyond can enroll in personal and professional development programs. The FinTech Bootcamp’s part-time format, which expects a commitment of nine hours of in-class time and a recommended 20 hours working on hands-on projects, allows participants to develop fundamental Python programming skills for applications to finance and data analysis.
Throughout the course curriculum, participants will build Python proficiency while developing a portfolio of projects to showcase knowledge and skill set. This portfolio is composed of a series of hands-on projects involving real-world skills such as using Python to model a company’s future financial performance. These projects provide firsthand experience using Python and its various libraries (including Pandas, NumPy, and SciPy) and tools (like the PyViz data visualization tool) to not only learn the fundamentals of Python but to employ them directly in the FinTech industry. This program also includes access to career services, including resume and portfolio reviews, 1-on-1 coaching, and interview training.
University of Houston HPE Data Science Institute: Scientific Programming with Python
Key Information:$250; 5 weeks; part-time; online class (until further notice); requires familiarity with command line terminal or completion of Introduction to Cluster Computing
The Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute at the University of Houston hosts tutorials and courses open to both University students and individuals not affiliated with the University. While students can take these non-credit courses for free, non-University participants are charged a fee of $250 per course. Successful completion of the course results in a digital certificate badge.
Scientific Programming with Python provides an overview of the fundamentals of Python as a programming language, and students can expect to become familiar with data types, conditional statements and loops, functions, modules, classes, and exceptions. Participants will leave the course with the ability to understand existing Python codes and write simple Python applications of their own. This course also touches upon some of the more popular scientific computing extensions of Python, like NumPy, as well as Python libraries relevant to Data Science like SciPy and Pandas
DigitalCrafts: Software Development Certificate Bootcamp
Key Information:$9,500; 17 weeks full-time OR 26 weeks part-time; no prior experience necessary
For something completely different, consider training as a full-stack developer familiar with both the front-end and back-end of websites. Certificate programs like DigitalCrafts’ Software Development feature training in Python as a singular component in service of a more generalized understanding of software development. DigitalCrafts provides the flexibility to commit to a full-time schedule of weekday classes during standard working hours, a part-time schedule of night and weekend classes, and even a self-directed approach where participants can complete assignments asynchronously on their own schedule.Â
Participants will study programming and coding basics in service of both front-end and back-end development, covering such topics as website design, coding, architecture, and maintenance. Because this class is devoted to full-stack development, it includes many more programming languages than just Python. While the front-end component is driven with a focus on JavaScript, Python features in the sections of the curriculum devoted to back-end development. In addition to training in these topics, this course includes career support in the form of portfolio guidance, application material review, mock interviews, and virtual career fairs.
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.
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.
Noble Desktop: FinTech Bootcamp
Key Information:$4,995; 114 Hours (4 Weeks full-time OR 4 months part-time); online class; includes 1-on-1 mentoring; free retake option; no prior Python experience necessary, but participants should understand basic financial concepts like NPV, IRR, and stock fundamentals.
Those who have a specific career path in mind may benefit from learning not just the fundamentals of Python but how Python applies to their specific industry. Because Python is a popular programming language in the FinTech industry, Noble offers a FinTech Bootcamp dedicated to Python’s applicability to data science and financial technology.
This certificate program is composed of five Python-centric classes, including Python for Data Science, Python for Automation, Python Data Visualization and Interactive Dashboards, Python Machine Learning, and an SQL Bootcamp. Participants also have the ability to select an elective course more suited to their specific career goals, with a choice between Python for Finance or Financial Modeling. Through these courses, participants will learn how to analyze financial data and financial statements using Python, build predictive models, use Python to create visualizations of data and work with databases.
Noble’s programs are designed to not only provide skills but also help participants transition those skills to a successful career. The project-centric curriculum means that each participant will compose a data science portfolio, a collection of the strongest projects to show potential clients and employers, that makes a candidate more hireable by tangibly demonstrating skills. This course also includes six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions that can be devoted to job support options like a review of portfolio work, polishing a resume or LinkedIn profile, or preparing for interviews.Â
Google Career Certificates: Google IT Automation with Python
Key Information:$49 per month, estimated $294 total; 112 Hours (estimated six months); online, self-paced course; no prior coding knowledge required
TheGoogleCareer Certificates program sees Google working with Coursera to host fully online certificate programs designed to help employees gain in-demand skills to advance in tech careers. These courses are self-paced courses, meaning individuals can access materials at their own pace, with the average time-to-completion topping out around six months. In addition to foundational certificates in fields like Data Analytics, UX Design, and Project Management, Google offers advanced career certificates like the specialized IT Automation with Python certificate program that prepares participants for IT jobs like Advanced IT Technician, Systems Administrator, and Senior IT Support Technician.Â
This certificate program is composed of six courses, including a Crash Course on Python, Using Python to Interact with the Operating System, Introduction to Git and GitHub, Troubleshooting and Debugging Techniques, Configuration Management and the Cloud, and Automating Real-World Tasks with Python. Those who complete the course will earn an employer-recognized certificate from Google and will gain access to career support in the form of CareerCircle, which offers 1-on-1 coaching, resume review, and interview prep.
FAQ for Python Certificates
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
A certificate is a credential that testifies to the completion of a specific course or program of courses. Because a certificate validates that a course has been taken, certificate programs are typically designed as training programs that help participants develop new skills.Â
A certification is a slightly different credential that affirms not completion of a course of study, but rather successful performance on some form of standardized assessment designed to measure proficiency with certain skills. Certifications, then, are not designed as training programs, but are rather testimonials to mastery in the field, which can be useful as an official verification of one’s skills that can be tangibly shown to employers.
Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?
When choosing a program, it is important to evaluate whether a certificate or a certification is a more appropriate option for meeting specific career outcomes. Because a certificate program involves acquiring new skills while certification is a method of verifying mastery, they play different roles in career advancement and the more appropriate option will vary depending on what stage of your career you find yourself in.
For those unfamiliar with Python, a certificate program can be a great way to train quickly, cheaply, and effectively, especially when compared to options like a traditional degree program. For those just entering the workforce or those who are in the midst of a career change and don’t have relevant programming experience, a certificate program can be a great first option for meeting hiring prerequisites.
While the benefits of a certificate are in acquiring new skills and meeting hiring prerequisites, certifications provide a pathway to higher monetary earnings and to securing high-level, specialized jobs. Data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that employees holding a certification command higher salary numbers than their non-certified counterparts, suggesting a monetary value that more than offsets the costs of becoming certified. Moreover, because Python is prominent in various fields, including data science, FinTech, and web development, a certification demonstrating a specialty in Python can distinguish an employee over her peers.
Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?
Although certifications are popular in computer-related fields, there are very few job postings that require a certification as a mandatory credential. This is especially true of Python, for which there is no singular, industry-recognized credential but rather certifications from a multitude of reputable sources.
So while not a necessity, becoming certified can still be a useful step to take as part of the job search, even if a certification specifically is not required, any position will have hiring prerequisites related to experience, and becoming certified can be one way to demonstrate qualifications for a given position. Certification can also be a useful tool in finding a higher-level job, which often requires a degree of specialization. Because many Python certifications are dedicated to specialized topics, pursuing one of those certifications could help demonstrate a level of expertise in a specific area.
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
You don’t need to definitively answer these questions, aim to help students understand the different options available to them, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each class option.
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes
Though in-person classes were once the gold standard for training programs, most organizations have pivoted towards an online model in the wake of adjustments to the COVID-19 pandemic. The choice between an in-person or an online class is no longer about the quality of instruction but rather about the different affordances of each mode, regardless of whether the course is conducted in-person or online, this sort of formal education is the fastest, most effective way to acquire new skills, offering real-time access to a professional instructor in a dedicated classroom environment. This classroom, be it a virtual or physical space, offers a space for real-time discussion, questioning, and clarification, which is a proven path to a deeper understanding of course material. An instructor who can immediately respond to questions and provide immediate feedback helps to effectively navigate any difficulties that arise during the learning process.
Though both models offer this all-important real-time classroom space, there are considerations that would make one option more appropriate than the other. The primary advantage of an in-person class is, unsurprisingly, the physical classroom. Though attending a virtual classroom may come with a level of convenience, being physically present in a real classroom can be a great way to focus and get into a learning mindset while minimizing potential distractions. The in-person space is also a natural way to interact with the instructor and classmates on a more human level than what technology allows, however good it may be.
Online classes offer a greater deal of flexibility than what is possible in an in-person class. While in-person classes are limited by the resources present in the geographic location, online classes can be accessed from anywhere. This increased access provides both convenience, allowing participants to avoid a commute and tune in from home or the office, and also taps into a wider network of training resources in locations all over the world. This flexibility is also frequently reflected in the scheduling options for online classes, which have an easier time offering night and weekend classes to accommodate those navigating pre-existing work and home obligations.
Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?
The typical live online class represents an effort to provide the same benefits of a typical classroom but in a more convenient format, which makes this model effective for those seeking a traditional learning experience. The main benefit of a live online class is the real-time interaction with a professional instructor. Many find that the essential component in effectively learning new skills is not simply access to course content but rather the ability to interface with the instructor in real-time. The ability to immediately ask questions, receive feedback, and receive targeted interventions is only possible through a live format.
Asynchronous classes, however, represent an attempt to deliver course content in a radical manner that takes much of the responsibility out of the hands of the professional instructor and puts it into the hands of the individual student. Asynchronous learning is a self-directed approach that allows each student to engage with pre-generated content in whatever order and at whatever pace is most suited to her capabilities and schedule. This approach means that asynchronous classes offer even more freedom than an in-person or live online class, allowing learners to work towards a credential in whatever free time they have between pre-existing obligations. Although this approach does demand a greater degree of self-discipline, those who elect to pursue a certificate are dedicated enough to manage the responsibility.