Digital learning has made it easier to gain qualifications without needing to study a degree.

Even better, online certificates are available for everyone at a fraction of the price of a regular degree.

But are they useful in the modern job market?

IT employee using a phone

And if so, how helpful are they?

Let’s take a look.

Worse still, the courses have no specific direction or focus.

online certification illustration

Considering online certificates' popularity, you won’t have to deal with such challenges.

you might choose your preferred platform and the course you want to undertake.

Affordability

Education is expensive, and many people have to pay back significant student loan debts.

Coursera web page highlighting the course details for Raspberry Pi and Python course

With these certificates, you do not need to leave the house or change out of your pajamas.

it’s possible for you to simply roll over in bed and begin learning.

Of course, this flexibility doesn’t apply to everyonline certificate program.

Udemy website interface screenshot

However, many allow you to pace yourself.

Below are the main ones worth looking at.

1.Coursera

Coursera is one of the more established online certification platforms.

edX website page showcasing the Web Programming with Python and JavaScript course details

It boasts a huge online library containing business, marketing, sciences, and engineering subjects.

Coursera is part of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) industry.

In 2017, about five courses were chosen and approved for credit equivalence.

Webpage interface with Introduction to Python Programming course details

This allows college transfer credits to be usable with higher institutions accepting ACE accreditation.

There are also full degree programs and financial aid to pay for them.

This means none of its courses can be used as continuing education units (CEUs) or college credits.

FutureLearn teaches you the fundamentals of studying methods in four weeks

Nonetheless, it contains hundreds of fantastic courses for improving your skills.

These include some of thebest Excel courses on Udemy.

Also, it contains a rating system that lets you know how beneficial a course is.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter the accreditation status of the course you chose.

Employers will appreciate your commitment to staying relevant in today’s labor market.

3.edX

Like Coursera, edX was created by professors from MIT and Harvard this time.

Upon concluding a verified course, users get a certificate of completion.

Of course, these extra services aren’t free.

The major upside of the certificate issued by Udacity is that they almost always guarantee brand recognition.

5.FutureLearn

This platform is popular for its short courses.

However, it also issues full online degrees, certificates, and micro-credential programs.

The presence of fully online courses makes FutureLearn a unicorn among the others.

Rather than teaching courses and issuing certificates for fun, why not earn a full degree?

Based in London, FutureLearn began in 2012.

Do Employers Recognize These Degrees?

Their values are equivalent to what any employer thinks of them.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either.

The study further revealed that online education has been more acceptable since 2020 than in prior years.

Additionally, the university affiliated with online education is crucial in how employers value courses.

As more employers value online education, platforms that partner with universities will become more trusted.

Do Online Certifications Improve Your CV?

When choosing learning platforms, it’s best to go for ones with accredited courses and university partnerships.

Granted, these are pricier than others.

If employers consider the course important for skill building, this distinction could persuade them to consider you.