The 10 Best SQL Courses and Certification Online

Top SQL Certification Programs
In today’s digital world, the need for professionals who understand how to use databases has never been more important. With the exponential growth of data and information, it’s now necessary for professionals to be able to access, extract, manage and analyze this data in a comprehensive manner. To effectively manage your organization’s data, here are some of the top SQL certification programs that you can enroll in today.
Our Top 10 Picks










1. SQL Nanodegree Program (Udacity)

While any type of certification can open doors and establish credibility, nothing is more valuable than a solid foundation in any field. A solid foundation means having the right tools and skills that will help you advance your career, improve your future prospects, and become an indispensable asset to your organization.
The SQL Nanodegree Program is designed specifically to provide industry-recognized knowledge and skills for the real-world needs of professionals working in business today. For instance, you’ll learn how to execute core SQL commands, clean, optimize, and work with both relational and non-relational databases.
Courses
- Introduction to SQL – Learn the basics of SQL so you can easily navigate a database. This course will teach you the fundamentals of SQL and how to use it to solve problems. You will learn how to define tables, select, aggregate, and join data, as well as what it takes to write a complex SQL query and how to use it to address business problems.
- Management of Relational & Non-Relational Databases – Get the skills you need to manage relational and non-relational databases. With this course, you will learn how to build normalized, consistent, and performant data models from scratch. You will also get the tools to migrate data from a denormalized schema to a normalized one.
Skills Acquired
For more information, read our review of the Udacity SQL Nanodegree.
PREREQUISITES: This Nanodegree program requires a basic understanding of data types and familiarity with operating systems.
2. SQL Fundamentals Skill Track (DataCamp)

The SQL Fundamentals Skill Track from DataCamp will teach you the fundamentals of SQL programming and provide you with hands-on practice on the most important SQL commands.
First, you’ll learn how to join, summarize, and manipulate data using SQL. Next, this program will teach you how to use built-in PostgreSQL commands for data analysis. Learn SQL with hands-on practice and gain the skills needed to make a career-changing switch.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This program consists of 5 courses and 21 hours of coursework.
3. Professional Certificate in SQL, NoSQL, and Relational Database Fundamentals (IBM)

Gain the skills you need to succeed in the world of databases. Whether you are looking to specialize in SQL, NoSQL, or relational databases, this certificate program gives you the deep knowledge and skills that employers are looking for.
The Professional Certificate in SQL, NoSQL, and Relational Database Fundamentals is an introductory program from IBM that teaches you the skills needed to get started in this exciting and crucial field of data management.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This program consists of 3 skill-building courses and takes 4 months to complete.
4. SQL Fundamentals Skill Path (Dataquest)

In the SQL Fundamentals Skill Path from Dataquest, beginners get a quick and effective introduction to the fundamentals of SQL. There is a focus on syntax by writing code and getting feedback directly in the browser.
First, you’ll learn how to filter, sort, and summarize data. Secondly, you will combine data with different tables. Finally, you will study SQL subqueries using nested queries and common table expressions.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This program consists of 5 courses and takes 1 month to complete.
5. MicroBachelors® Program in Data Management with Python and SQL (SNHU)

In the MicroBachelors® Program in Data Management with Python and SQL, students will learn the fundamentals of SQL and have the opportunity to redeem their MicroBachelors certificate for credits at SNHU.
In this program, you will learn how to manage databases with SQL, the most popular database language. You will also learn about Python, a programming language for data analysis with hands-on exercises and practice.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This program counts for 6 academic credits for your transcript.
6. SQL Basics for Data Science Specialization (UC Davis)

In the SQL Basics for Data Science Specialization from UC Davis, you’ll get to know the fundamentals of SQL and how to leverage a database to store your data for better insights.
While building your SQL fluency, you’ll practice using SQL commands, create databases, and use a Databricks workspace. At the end of the program, you’ll develop a project proposal for the use of statistical analysis and metrics.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This program counts for 6 academic credits for your transcript.
7. MicroBachelors® Program in Introduction to Databases (NYU)

The MicroBachelors® Program in Introduction to Databases provides students with an understanding of databases as a way to store and retrieve information.
You will learn to create and update databases, write queries to retrieve data from a database, use SQL to access information, and administer databases. By the end of this program, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of databases.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This online program is eligible for 3 academic credits.
8. Querying Data with SQL from PostgreSQL Learning Path (Pluralsight)

Get a definitive and deep understanding of the SQL language. Whether you are a beginner or need to expand your knowledge of SQL, this course will help you learn to use SQL to query data from the PostgreSQL relational database.
The Querying Data with SQL from PostgreSQL Learning Path is perfect for anyone who has little or no experience with SQL and wants to get up-to-speed with the basics. You’ll learn filtering, data manipulation, custom functions, and more.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This learning path contains 5 courses with 10 hours of course material.
9. SQL for Data Analysis (Mode)

Build a strong foundation in relational databases with the SQL for Data Analysis free course offered by Mode. As data scientists, we need to be able to extract, clean, and shape data, and then present it to the rest of the team. SQL is the language for all of that.
In this course, you will learn all the basics of SQL including join, select, and aggregation. Next, you will learn how to write subqueries and temp tables. Finally, this course will teach you window functions and data cleaning with SQL.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This beginner-level course takes approximately 1 month to complete.
10. From Database to Dashboard using SQL and Power BI Professional Certificate (Davidson College)

Get the expertise you need to use relational databases to query data and PowerBI for reporting. The Professional Certificate in From Database to Dashboard using SQL and Power BI contains 2 skill-building courses that you can progress at your own pace.
First, you’ll learn to visualize data with Microsoft Power BI and create a functional dashboard and report. Secondly, you’ll use SQL to write advanced queries and analytic functions. Overall, it’s a great program for learning two in-demand skills.
Skills Acquired
INFORMATION: This online program contains 2 skill-building courses and takes 2 months to complete.
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