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Excel is undisputedly the most popular tool used by over 750 million knowledge workers worldwide for reporting, visualizing and making sense of data through spreadsheets.
Demand for data-savvy professionals with Excel skills continues rising across industries like finance, marketing, operations and healthcare. Whether you‘re an aspiring data analyst or seasoned finance professional, advancing your Excel abilities can have a tremendous impact on your career prospects and business decision making.
In this definitive 3200+ word guide, we provide everything you need to know about picking the right online Excel course based on your skill level, profession and learning objectives.
Contents
- Benefits of Online Excel Training
- 15 Best Online Excel Courses Reviewed
- Ideal Platforms for Excel Courses
- Choosing the Right Course for You
- Supplementary Resources for Excel Learning
- Industry & Salary Potential with Excel Skills
- Learning Best Practices for Online Courses
- Excel Course Credentials & Certifications
- FAQs on Online Excel Training
Why Take an Online Excel Course?
Here are the top reasons for enrolling in an Excel course online:
Additionally, a structured online program allows you to:
- Learn systematically – Courses have a defined curriculum, assessments and learning pathways.
- Stay motivated – Cohorts, deadlines and microlearning keep you engaged.
- Validate skills – Certifications and credentials boost employability.
Next, let‘s explore some of the highest quality online Excel courses across training platforms.
15 Best Online Excel Courses for Every Skill Level
Based on factors like instructor quality, curriculum, teaching methodology, user experience and credentials offered, here are the 15 best online training programs to master Excel – from beginner to advanced:
1. Excel for Business Analysts Master Course (Udemy)
Secure a business analyst job with this career-focused Excel training course on Udemy.
You‘ll gain job-relevant Excel skills like data cleaning, analysis, modeling and visualizations using cases in marketing, sales, HR and operations. Common business metrics such as ROI, KPIs and dashboards are covered via lectures (8 hours) and supplemental resources.
The instructor also provides interview tips and resume samples to help with job applications specifically for BA roles.
Rating: 4.5/5 (5,300+ ratings)
Duration: 11 hours videos
Level: Beginner + Intermediate
Credential: Certificate of Completion
Useful for: Aspiring business analysts
2. Complete Excel Skills for Job Seekers Specialization (Coursera)
Get job-ready with Excel through this online program from Macquarie University. Spanning 4 courses and 12 weeks, the skills-focused curriculum covers:
- Excel Fundamentals: Formulas and Functions
- Intermediate Spreadsheets
- Excel Power Tools: Dashboard, Macros and More
- Advanced Spreadsheets: Functions, Sorting and Filters
Industry-inspired assessments like quizzes, practice exams and projects reinforce your learning.
Rating: 4.8/5 (8,900+ ratings)
Duration: 50 hours
Level: Beginner + Intermediate
Credential: Shareable Certificate
Useful for: Career switchers
3. The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2024 (Udemy)
This bestseller from a Wall Street analyst will upgrade your Excel, financial modeling and valuation skills to get into investment banking or private equity.
The comprehensive curriculum covers Excel crash course, accounting, comparable company analysis, discounted cash flows, football field graphing, sensitivity analysis and more using 10+ real case studies.
Rating: 4.5/5 (69,300+ ratings)
Duration: 22 hours video
Level: Beginner + Intermediate
Credential: Certificate
Useful for: Aspiring investment bankers
4. Power BI Dashboards with Excel Data Models (Udemy)
Master Excel‘s Power Pivot and Power Query to import, shape, model and visualize data through Power BI reports and dashboards.
You‘ll gain end-to-end proficiency in the ETL process leveraging Excel‘s business intelligence capabilities via lectures, demos and hands-on practice. Both cloud and on-prem connectivity is covered.
Rating: 4.6/5 (8,500+ ratings)
Duration: 11 hour video
Level: Intermediate
Credential: Certificate
Useful for: BI analysts, consultants, managers
5. Data Analysis & Visualization Using Excel PivotTables (Udemy)
Go from beginner to expert in using Excel PivotTables for interactive reporting by top instructor Chris Dutton.
You‘ll master PivotTable mechanics, calculations, formatting, charting, macros and other advanced features through lectures and practice challenges focused on business metrics.
Rating: 4.6/5 (21,500+ ratings)
Duration: 8 hours video
Level: Beginner + Intermediate
Credential: Certificate
Useful for: BI analysts, managers, students
6. Excel for Finance Professionals (LinkedIn Learning)
Designed specifically for financial analysts, this LinkedIn Learning Excel course upgrades your hard skills.
Through role-relevant examples like revenue tracking, variance analysis, projections, valuations and KPI dashboards, you‘ll master over 75 functions and advanced chart tricks that‘ll make your reports pop.
Rating: 4.6/5 (1,500+ ratings)
Duration: 7 hours video
Level: Intermediate
Credential: Certificate
Useful for: Financial analysts
7. Microsoft Excel for Data Analysts (edx)
Build in-demand data analytics skills with Excel through this online program from Microsoft and edX.
The 4 courses teach intermediate to advanced techniques like Power Query for shaping data, DAX for modeling, PivotTables for reporting insights and Power BI for dashboards.
Rating: 4.4/5 (3,400+ ratings)
Duration: 40 hours
Level: Intermediate
Credential: Verified Certificate
Useful for: Aspiring data analysts
8. Advanced Excel Modeling and Analysis (HBS Online)
Take your Excel financial models up a notch through Harvard Business School‘s advanced course.
The 5-week program developed jointly by global PE firm KKR equips professionals with best practices around error-proof modeling, scenario analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, waterfall charts and more.
Rating: 4.8/5 (420+ ratings)
Duration: 25 hours
Level: Advanced
Credential: Course Certificate
Useful for: Private equity, investment analysts
Other Notable Excel Courses
Beyond these highly-rated programs, there are hundreds of quality Excel courses across Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn, edX and training platforms like Skillshare, Pluralsight, Simplilearn, Udacity etc. catering to different focus areas, levels and credentials.
Which Platform is Best for Excel Courses Overall?
We compared the biggest e-learning platforms on the following parameters:
Our verdict – Udemy is the best platform for Excel courses for working professionals because of its:
- Practical real-world project-based curriculum
- Engaging video-based instruction
- Experienced instructors
- Affordability
- Industry-recognized certificates
Whereas Coursera Specializations are ideal for absolute beginners looking for structured Excel training.
You can explore both paid and free Excel programs on either platform suited to your learning style and credentials preference.
How Should You Pick an Excel Course?
With hundreds of courses available, learners often get overwhelmed deciding which one‘s right for them.
Follow this decision framework to determine the optimal Excel training for your needs:
Additionally, check course content alignment through a free preview lecture before enrolling.
Top providers like Udemy also offer money-back guarantees incase you change your mind after starting a paid program.
Supplementary Resources to Boost Excel Skills
Completing an online course is a solid start. But don‘t stop your Excel learning journey there!
Here are some recommendations to further build expertise:
Staying continually updated on the latest in Excel ensures your skills remain cutting-edge and employable.
Industries Hiring Excel Experts & Salary Potential
LinkedIn‘s 2022 Emerging Jobs Report revealed Data Analysts and Business Analysts as the top 2 emerging roles with over 15% annual growth.
Excel expertise is invaluable across sectors like:
Salaries also correlate to Excel proficiency levels, as per recent Payscale data:
So there are rich rewards for committed learners who invest time mastering Excel end-to-end.
Ensuring Online Course Effectiveness
Here are some tips to maximize learning and retention from your chosen Excel online program:
Staying accountable through an online community and getting hands-dirty practicing concepts prevents information leakage over time.
What Credentials Matter from Excel Courses?
While you gain functional Excel skills from any decent course, credentials indicating mastery matter for career growth.
So carefully evaluate certificates and qualifications offered before enrolling in paid courses promising mastery.
FAQs on Online Excel Training
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Excel e-learning:
How do I know which Excel skills employers want?
Job descriptions are the best indicator. PivotTables, Power Query, DAX, dashboarding and VBA surface frequently for data and finance roles.
Can I land a job with just an Excel course cert?
Unlikely. But it strengthens your resume. Do projects to demonstrate skills.
How long does it take to learn Excel fully?
100+ hours for expert-level Excel across functions, automation, modeling and visualization tools. Be patient!
Should I learn Excel or SQL for data analysis?
Excel for startup jobs. But SQL is preferred for tech roles. Learn both for maximum employability.
Is Excel still relevant compared to Python, R and Julia?
Absolutely! Over 750M users prove Excel is still the #1 analytics toolkit in most businesses. But coding skills give an edge.
Next Steps in Your Data Analytics Journey
We‘ve only skimmed the surface of what‘s possible through Excel. Whether it‘s simplifying repetitive tasks via VBA or revealing key insights through PivotTables, Excel skills translate to greater business impact.
Choose a learning path aligned to your strengths. Stay consistent through the initial learning curve. And focus on hands-on practice to cement concepts.
With some dedicated effort, you‘ll soon be on your way to joining global Excel power users unlocking data-driven decision making in their teams!