Best Online Excel Courses and Programs (2024)

Excel tutorial course curriculum

If you’re new to Excel, an introductory course can help get you up to speed quickly on Excel basics. Online Excel courses may explore how to set up an Excel sheet, perform basic calculations, use formulas, and create data visualizations with charts and graphs.

More advanced Excel courses may cover statistics, probability, random variables, Excel VBA, sampling, pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and hypothesis testing. Even those with ample Excel experience may find new ways to use the program by taking an online course and learning Excel for beginners with the added support of instructors and other resources.

No matter your experience level, edX has a wide variety of online Excel training courses and other learning options for individuals of all backgrounds.

Jobs that use Excel

Microsoft Excel was designed to support accounting functions, making it a long-time industry staple. This knowledge can also be useful to professionals in other fields. For example, retail managers can create streamlined methods for tracking inventory or managing budgets. Administrators can track workplace trends to better understand and serve staff members. Even busy parents can use the power of spreadsheets to delegate household tasks and keep track of appointments.

Today, proficiency in Excel is typically needed for roles in business analytics, data analysis, and statistics. Having a bachelor’s in data science degree or even master’s in data science or a related field will be helpful in your search for data-focused roles that use Excel. An online data analytics boot camp may also teach you how to use Excel.

Advanced Excel trainings can help you build knowledge needed for roles such as:

• Data analysts, who collect and analyze data to make informed business decisions. They gather data for interpretation and analysis, then develop strategies to optimize statistical efficiency and quality.^{Footnote 1} Data analysts use their knowledge of Excel to work with large quantities of data on a daily basis.

• Financial analysts, who use financial data to help individuals and organizations attain maximum profit. They primarily research, consolidate, and analyze numerical data to assist companies in making financially sound business decisions. Excel is an important tool for these working professionals, as they use this application to track important metrics like annual revenue and spending. For this reason, they're often expected to stay organized and know Excel inside and out.^{Footnote 2}

• Accountants, who help businesses in every industry make critical financial decisions. They perform financial audits, reconcile bank statements, and check that financial records are accurate throughout the year.^{Footnote 3} To succeed in their profession, accountants need to analyze financial data on a regular basis. In order to do this, they may need to be proficient in Excel.

• Web programmers and software developers, who have found Excel to be a useful skill. Many programmers use this application to document certain aspects of their programs, or to calculate how their program will react under different circ*mstances.^{Footnote 4} In addition to getting up to speed with Excel, skills from a coding boot camp can be beneficial for aspiring web programmers.

Become an Excel expert online

You can brush up on your Excel knowledge through an online course or boot camp that teaches both fundamental and advanced skills. For someone new to Excel, a boot camp offers learners a flexible educational experience to learn Excel as part of their coursework in as short as a few months.

For a more advanced learner, earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in data science, computer science, or a related field will be helpful on your journey to mastering Excel. These degree programs may teach the necessary prerequisites for a variety of analytical roles. As you begin your search, you will find that each job is different and has its own unique hiring requirements.

How long does it take to learn Excel?

Excel offers a range of tools and functions. Depending on your familiarity with Excel’s capabilities, it may take as little as a few days to learn new skills. For learners just getting started, it may take a few months to properly learn Excel.^{Footnote 5} Your timeline will ultimately depend on whether you have a background working with data and any prior experience with similar concepts.

Is Excel hard to learn?

The time it takes to learn Excel will vary from individual to individual. Many learners consider Excel to be an easy-to-learn application. However, beginners may find Excel courses to be challenging if they don’t have prior experience working with spreadsheets and data. With enough practice, courses, tutorials, and boot camps can help you become familiar with the program for personal and professional use.

Which jobs require Excel skills?

Excel is a required or recommended skill for a variety of roles across industries, including accounting, auditing, finance, project management, marketing, technology, and education. Excel skills have proven beneficial for learners looking to become financial analysts, project managers, administrative assistants, business analysts, data journalists, accountants, and retail store managers.

What Excel skills do employers look for?

While Excel requirements vary by employer and job, many companies filling entry-level positions seek candidates who can confidently use Excel to create and manage sheets, format cells, print pages, and open and save workbooks. Other entry-level skills include the ability to use conditional formatting to automatically format cells and knowledge of various keyboard shortcuts.^{Footnote 6}

Is learning advanced Excel worth it?

As the field of big data and data analytics continues to grow, enrolling in an advanced Excel course can provide you with the necessary skills and training to prepare you for a role in the data analytics industry. Earning an advanced Excel certificate can also help you stand out in your job search and show potential employers that you have the skills needed to get your job done.

Is getting certified in Excel worth it?

Having the ability to manage complex workbooks and create pivot tables can make you an attractive job candidate to potential employers. Earning an Excel certificate also shows you’re committed to your work and have put in additional time and energy to further your skills.