Free Training & Courses
Learn new skills without spending a dime. From coding to customer service, there's a free course for everything.
Online Learning Platforms
Major platforms offering free courses. Look for "audit" options or free tiers.
LinkedIn Learning
Professional courses on business, tech, and creative skills. Worth $30/month but FREE with most library cards!
Google Career Certificates
Industry-recognized certificates in IT, Data Analytics, UX Design, Project Management. Financial aid available.
Coursera
University courses from top schools. Audit any course for free - just skip the certificate.
freeCodeCamp
Learn web development, coding, and data science completely free. Great for tech careers.
Khan Academy
Free courses on math, science, computing, and more. Great for fundamentals.
edX
University courses from Harvard, MIT, and more. Free to audit.
HubSpot Academy
Free certifications in marketing, sales, and customer service. Recognized by employers.
Alison
Wide variety of free courses. Has ads but content is solid.
Industry Certifications
Certifications that employers actually look for. Some have costs but are worth the investment.
OSHA 10 Online
Safety certification required for many warehouse and construction jobs.
ServSafe
Food handler certification for restaurant and food service jobs.
CompTIA Certifications
IT certifications (A+, Network+, Security+) for tech careers.
Microsoft Learn
Free training and certifications for Microsoft Office and cloud technologies.
What to Learn by Industry
Warehouse & Logistics
Skills to learn
Where to learn
OSHA.com, LinkedIn Learning
Healthcare
Skills to learn
Where to learn
Red Cross, Coursera
Office & Admin
Skills to learn
Where to learn
LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn
Customer Service
Skills to learn
Where to learn
HubSpot Academy, LinkedIn Learning
Tech & IT
Skills to learn
Where to learn
freeCodeCamp, Coursera, CompTIA
Marketing & Sales
Skills to learn
Where to learn
Google Digital Garage, HubSpot Academy
Local Training Programs
Community colleges offer affordable (sometimes free) certificate programs and job training.
San Joaquin Delta College
Career and Job Placement Center offers free services to students and community.
View programs →Modesto Junior College
Career Center provides job search assistance and career planning.
View programs →Tips for Online Learning
- •Audit courses for free - On Coursera and edX, you can take any course free if you skip the certificate.
- •Start with fundamentals - Don't jump into advanced topics. Build a strong foundation first.
- •Set a schedule - Treat it like a class. Block time on your calendar and stick to it.
- •Add to your resume - List completed courses and certifications in your Education section.