By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer, Coursera
Today, we are announcing an expansion of our entry-level Professional Certificate portfolio, including 10 programs from new and existing industry partners. With these additions, Coursera now hosts 80+ entry-level Professional Certificates spanning numerous job roles from software development to game design, with nearly half launched in 2024 alone. As technology reshapes the global labor market, these certificates are designed to prepare learners of all backgrounds for in-demand, entry-level jobs.
Global momentum of microcredentials
Since launching our first entry-level Professional Certificate with Google in 2018, Coursera has become the premier learning platform for tech titans and Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, CVS Health and Unilever. In 2024, we added 23 new brands, bringing the total to more than 150 of the world’s leading companies offering online skills training.
Over 30 partners now offer entry-level Professional Certificates on Coursera, amassing over 13 million enrollments to date, including 8 million STEM enrollments, and 3.3 million enrollments in this year alone. Women account for 39% of overall enrollments and 35% of STEM certificate enrollments, demonstrating progress in closing the gender skills gap while meeting the demand for millions of jobs. According to Coursera’s 2023 Learner Outcomes Report, 77% of learners reported career benefits from earning microcredentials, and 25% of those who completed an entry-level Professional Certificate secured a new job.
Today, over 30 entry-level Professional Certificates on Coursera from top companies, including Google, IBM, Meta, and Salesforce have earned credit recommendations from the American Council of Education (ACE), European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), and NSQF. These credit recommendations remove barriers to degrees by making it easier for learners to earn academic credit for the industry microcredentials they complete, with most available in up to 21 languages.
Paving career pathways with new entry-level certificates from leading partners
Recently announced partners Amazon, Dell, Liberty Mutual Insurance, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and Xbox are launching their first entry-level Professional Certificates on Coursera, while long-time partners Microsoft and IBM expand their portfolios. Each certificate program gives learners the skills and opportunity to break into new, in-demand careers in fields like product management or software development in as little as six months:
- Junior Software Developer from Amazon – Provides learners with essential software development skills, including Java programming, data structures, and algorithms. Learners who complete the course walk away with a portfolio that showcases skills in real-world scenarios like data management and user interface design.
- Technical Customer Support Specialist from Dell – Equips learners with skills for entry-level technical support jobs, including troubleshooting hardware, software, and networking issues. Learners will also understand computer networking, cybersecurity, and customer service.
- Data Management from IBM – Provides learners with hands-on experience and a comprehensive curriculum in data management. Learners will master data management policies, cloud-based data storage, data visualization, and more.
- Insurance Sales Agent from Liberty Mutual Insurance – Provides learners with insurance industry fundamentals, including risk management strategies and sales processes for client acquisition and long-term relationship management. Learners will master a wide range of insurance products and key ethical behaviors.
- Front-End Developer from Microsoft – Helps learners master front-end development tools to create interactive, responsive web applications, with AI integration from Copilot. Learners walk away with a tangible portfolio of website and UI designs.
- Back-End Developer from Microsoft – Equips learners with a foundation in server-side technologies to manage back-end services while building web APIs and implementing security features. Learners will use Copilot to write, test, and optimize server-side code, gaining exposure to advanced debugging and performance tuning.
- Full-Stack Developer from Microsoft – Provides learners with comprehensive training in front and back-end development, along with hands-on experience in integrating cloud technologies and AI services. Learners will build full-stack applications with AI-driven features while using Copilot for coding, debugging, and performance optimization.
- Personal Fitness Trainer from National Academy of Sports Medicine – Equips learners with practical knowledge in exercise science, program design, and motivational coaching. Learners will be able to enter the fitness industry and launch a career focused on client impact and professional development.
- Graphic Design from Xbox – Provides learners with understanding of graphic design principles and software, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma, while designing captivating visuals for games and creating effective marketing materials. Learners will create a portfolio showcasing their skills in graphic and UX/UI design.
- Product Manager from Xbox – Teaches learners core product management concepts, from initial idea to release, aligning products with business goals and customer needs. Learners will understand market research, product strategy and launch, UX/UI design, and how to use tools like Figma and Adobe XD.
Learning without limits
Coursera’s microcredentials are driving real-world impact by helping individuals start and advance their careers to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market.
Annaka McClelland is a student and Technical Data Analyst at John Deere, a position she secured with skills she gained from the Data Analytics Professional Certificate from Google on Coursera. As a data science major living with a traumatic brain injury since she was young, Annaka enrolled in the program to boost her understanding of data science and build her skillset as she continued her studies. “The certificate is […] actually learning the day in the life of a data analyst. I had never coded in my life before the certificate,” Annaka explains.
“As the only woman in my AI society, my understanding of [data analytics] made me feel like I could show up in a new way,” she said. Today, Annaka is now president of outreach and marketing of her Data Science/Artificial Intelligence Society on campus, and is using her experience with Coursera to help upskill learners as a project manager for the Skep Foundation. “I don’t think I’d be where I am today without Coursera and the Data Analytics certificate from Google.” Hear more about Annaka’s journey below:
The World Economic Forum predicts that 60% of the global workforce will need reskilling by 2027. We’re proud to work with our partners to expand the Coursera catalog, turning the threats of disruption into opportunities for learners of all backgrounds. Our leading partners are fundamentally reshaping the labor market and have embraced a collective responsibility to empower our more than 161 million learners with the skills needed to adapt to this disruption through high-quality, trusted content.
Explore a new career by enrolling on Coursera today.