6 Best Machine Learning Courses: Online ML Certifications

Machine learning (ML) is a rapidly evolving industry and one of the most in-demand skillsets for programmers, data scientists, and aspiring artificial intelligence professionals. Certifications—a formal recognition of your ML expertise by a reputable certifying body—can help you stand out in a competitive job market, driving many ML professionals to seek machine learning certifications from Google, IBM, AWS, and other top AI companies.

Typically, ML certification programs are taught by industry experts or professors and come with course material in the form of videos, quizzes, assignments, and readings, all culminating in a final certification exam—and possibly resulting in career advancement. Here are my top picks for the best machine learning certifications of 2024:

Understanding Machine Learning: Best for Understanding ML Basics

Machine Learning Specialization: Best for Developing ML Practical Skills

IBM Machine Learning Professional Certificate: Best for Mastering Data-Centric ML 

Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification: Best for Showcasing ML Expertise in Microsoft Azure

AWS Certified Machine Learning: Best for Validating ML Expertise in AWS

Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer: Best for Demonstrating ML Skills Using Google Cloud Solutions



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Machine Learning Certification Comparison Chart

When selecting a machine learning certification, it’s important to take into account the certifying body, duration of the program, and course fee. You should also make sure it aligns with your artificial intelligence and ML experience level and offers study resources and techniques that fit your learning style.

AI Certification
Certifying Body
Level
Duration
Cost
Recommended Prerequisites

Understanding Machine Learning
DataCamp
Beginner
Two hours
$13 per month
No prerequisites

Machine Learning Specialization
Stanford and Deeplearning.AI
Beginner
Two months(10 hours per week)
$49 per month
Basic coding knowledge

IBM Machine Learning Professional Certificate
IBM
Intermediate 
Three months (10 hours per week
$39 per month
Python programming skills 
Knowledge in statistics and linear algebra

Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification
Microsoft
Intermediate
100 minutes
$165
Knowledge in Azure ML and MLflow

AWS Certified Machine Learning
AWS
Advanced
Three hours (65 questions)
$300
At least two years of hands-on ML experience

Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer
Google Cloud
Advanced
Two hours(50-60 questions)
$200 + tax
More than three years of industry experience

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ToggleTop 6 Machine Learning Certificates and CertificationsUnderstanding Machine LearningMachine Learning SpecializationIBM Machine Learning Professional CertificateMicrosoft Azure Data Scientist Associate CertificationAWS Certified Machine LearningGoogle Professional Machine Learning EngineerKey Benefits of Earning a Machine Learning CertificationHow to Choose the Best Machine Learning Certification for YouHow I Evaluated Machine Learning CertificationsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Bottom Line: Best Machine Learning Certifications

Top 6 Machine Learning Certificates and Certifications

Machine learning certificates provide valuable skills for anyone seeking a career in artificial intelligence and data science. Beginner courses introduce the basics of machine learning, statistical concepts, data analysis, and Python programming, while intermediate courses cover more in-depth lessons on ML, AI models, deep learning, and more. Advanced learners can validate their expertise in machine learning algorithms, model tuning, and real-world ML applications.

Our list covers both certificates and certifications. Certificates verify that you completed a course or training, while certifications are industry-recognized credentials demonstrating your specific skillset and knowledge.

Understanding Machine Learning

Best for Understanding ML Basics | Beginner Level

This non-technical course offered by DataCamp covers the fundamentals of machine learning and its relation to data science and AI. It discusses machine learning jargon, different types of ML, evaluating ML models, and deep learning use cases. DataCamp offers the first chapters for free, so you’ll be able to learn about the basics of machine learning, relevant fields, and the process of an ML workflow. Paid subscribers will be able to access in-depth ML lessons and explore deep learning applications such as computer vision and natural language processing (NLP).

Visit Understanding ML at DataCamp

Why I Picked It

I chose this course because it offers clear, concise, and easy-to-understand lessons for beginners looking for a short course on machine learning basics with no coding involved. It provides hands-on experience to reinforce learning and real-world examples so learners can get a better understanding of how ML is used in various use cases. The course is also accessible for beginners who want to explore the lessons before committing financially, as DataCamp offers free chapters. You need to upgrade to DataCamp’s paid version, which starts at $13 per month, billed annually.

Skills Acquired

Basic knowledge of machine learning

Supervised vs unsupervised learning

Machine learning workflow process

Machine learning models

Deep learning use cases

Key Course Details

The following is a high-level overview of what you need to know about course requirements, fees, duration, format, and content:

Course Requirements

No prerequisites

Course Fee, Duration, and Format

Free (Chapter One)

Starts at $13 per month, billed annually for full access

Two hours to complete

Self-paced online learning via DataCamp

Course Content and Assessments

What is machine learning?

Machine learning models

Deep learning 

The remaining two chapters are only accessible to paid users. These chapters include assessments and exercises on different types of learning, hyperparameter tuning, sentiment analysis, spotting ML bias, and more.

Machine Learning Specialization

Best for Developing ML Practical Skills | Beginner Level

Stanford and DeepLearning.AI offer this beginner-friendly machine learning specialization that introduces key artificial intelligence concepts and teaches how to build and train ML models using Python. Unlike most other certification programs, this three-course ML specialization targets total beginners, requiring only high school math knowledge and basic coding skills.

With its low barrier to entry and immersive, comprehensive, hands-on learning experience, the Machine Learning Specialization provides the perfect option for aspiring AI professionals looking to break into the field.

Visit ML Specialization at Coursera

Why I Picked It

This certification is ideal for beginners planning to break into machine learning, data science careers, software development, and other relevant fields. It allows you to master fundamental AI concepts and develop practical machine-learning skills through a comprehensive program divided into three courses taught by AI visionary Andrew Ng. After completing the program, learners can earn a shareable certificate awarded by Stanford Online and DeepLearning.AI, known to offer industry-recognized online AI programs.

Skills Acquired

Building ML models with NumPy and scikit-learn

Applying best practices for ML development and use

Building and training a neural network on TensorFlow

Creating recommender systems with a collaborative filtering approach

Key Course Details

The following is a high-level overview of what you need to know about course requirements, fees, duration, format, and content:

Course Requirements

Basic coding (for loops, functions, if/else statements)

High school-level math (arithmetic, algebra)

Course Fee, Duration, and Format

$49 per month

Two months at 10 hours a week

Self-paced online learning via Coursera

Course Content and Assessments

Supervised Machine Learning: Regression and Classification

Advanced Learning Algorithms

Unsupervised Learning, Recommenders, Reinforcement Learning

IBM Machine Learning Professional Certificate

Best for Mastering Data-Centric ML | Intermediate Level

IBM’s Machine Learning Professional Certificate is designed to help intermediate-level tech professionals master practical, up-to-date machine learning concepts and skills that they can apply to the analysis of real-world datasets. Through six courses, you’ll learn exploratory data analysis for machine learning, supervised ML, unsupervised ML, and deep/reinforcement learning. All of this culminates in a final capstone project where you’ll train a neural network, construct regression models, create recommender systems in Python, and more.

Visit IBM ML at Coursera

Why I Picked It

IBM’s six-course professional certificate is an ideal program for scientists, business analysts, and software developers who want to improve their analytical skills in data science and machine learning. However, the certificate is also highly useful to ML professionals aspiring to a variety of data-focused roles. It stands out for its focus on real-world skills that allow AI professionals to prepare for a career in machine learning. Through this professional certificate, you will master current and in-demand practical ML skills from a reputable certifying body and leading AI company.

Skills Acquired

Practical ML skills and knowledge experts use

Knowledge of KNN, PCA, and non-negative collaborative filtering

Comparing and contrasting ML algorithms using Python

Predicting course ratings by training a neural network

Constructing regression and classification models

Key Course Details

The following is a high-level overview of what you need to know about course requirements, fees, duration, format, and content:

Course Requirements

Python programming skills

Knowledge of statistics and linear algebra

Course Fee, Duration, and Format

$39 per month

Three months at 10 hours a week

Self-paced online learning via Coursera

Course Content and Assessments

Exploratory Data Analysis for Machine Learning

Supervised Machine Learning: Regression

Supervised Machine Learning: Classification

Unsupervised Machine Learning

Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning

Machine Learning Capstone

At the end of the six-course program, you need to complete the capstone project, which includes developing a final presentation and evaluating your peers’ projects.

Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification

Best for Showcasing ML Expertise in Microsoft Azure | Intermediate Level

The Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification is a 100-minute, online exam for intermediate data scientists and developers familiar with using data science and machine learning techniques to develop and run machine learning workloads on Azure. The skills tested in the exam include machine learning solution design and prep, model training, data exploration, model deployment, and model retraining—all about Microsoft Azure. To help you prepare for the exam, Microsoft offers 13 hours of course material, 100 exam prep videos, a practice assessment, and an exam sandbox where you can practice answering questions in the same interface you’ll see during exam day.

Visit Azure Certification at Microsoft

Why I Picked It

The Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate certification allows you to stand out in a competitive AI job market. Earning this certification demonstrates your ability to manage data preparation, train and deploy models, and monitor ML solutions with Python, Azure Machine Learning, and MLflow. Professional developers, data scientists, and ML engineers who want to validate their abilities to deploy and maintain machine learning workloads on Azure will find this credential valuable in positioning themselves as experts in data science and machine learning.

Skills Acquired

Creating suitable working environments for data science workloads

Training machine learning models

Implementing pipelines

Preparing  for production

Managing, deploying, and monitoring scalable machine learning sol

Key Course Details

The following is a high-level overview of what you need to know about certification requirements, fees, duration, format, and content:

Certification Exam Requirements

Experience with Azure machine learning and MLflow

Subject matter expertise in data science best practices

Course Fee, Duration, and Format

$165

100 minutes to complete the assessment

Online-proctored exam

Certification Exam Content

Designing and preparing a machine learning solution

Exploring data and training models

Preparing a model for deployment

Deploying and retraining a model

AWS Certified Machine Learning

Best for Validating ML Expertise in AWS | Advanced Level

The AWS Certified Machine Learning Speciality is a three-hour exam that validates your ability to build, train, tune, and deploy machine learning models on AWS. The exam can be taken in-person or online and will test how well you can state the intuition behind basic ML algorithms, perform hyperparameter optimization, and follow model training and deployment best practices. For those looking to prepare, check out the AWS Skill Builder, where you’ll find helpful course material and practice questions.

Visit ML Certification at AWS

Why I Picked It

This certificate is for professional developers and data scientists who have worked with ML in AWS and want to validate this skillset for employers, perhaps to land a more senior data science role. I chose this certification because earning AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty demonstrates your expertise in building, training, tuning, and deploying ML models on AWS. Additionally, gaining certification from a highly respected certifying body like AWS offers a competitive advantage for professionals seeking to stand out in the AI industry.

Skills Acquired

Designing, deploying, optimizing, and maintaining ML solutions

Selecting the appropriate ML approach for a business problem

Identifying appropriate AWS services to implement ML solutions

Implementing scalable, cost-optimized, reliable, and secure ML solutions

Key Course Details

The following is a high-level overview of what you need to know about certification requirements, fees, duration, format, and content:

Certification Exam Requirements

At least two years of hands-on experience in ML using AWS Cloud

Ability to express intuition behind basic ML algorithms

Experience performing basic hyperparameter optimization, ML, and deep learning frameworks

Ability to follow model training, deployment, and operational best practices

Course Fee, Duration, and Format

$300

Three hours to complete the exam

Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam

Certification Exam Content

There are two types of questions on the exam, such as multiple choice and multiple response. The certification exam covers the following domains:

Domain 1: Data Engineering

Domain 2: Exploratory Data Analysis

Domain 3: Modeling

Domain 4: Machine Learning Implementation and Operations

Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer

Best for Demonstrating ML Skills Using Google Cloud Solutions | Advanced Level

The Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer Certificate is an exam for ML professionals who build and optimize ML models using Google Cloud technologies and best practices. Sections of the exam include architecting low-code ML solutions, collaborating with teams to manage models, scaling prototypes into ML models, serving and scaling ML models, automating ML pipelines, and monitoring ML solutions. Google offers learning materials in their Machine Learning Engineer Learning Path, where you’ll find 14 courses and one lab. Google also offers an eight-course series through Coursera for preparing for the exam.

Visit ML Engineer at Google Cloud

Why I Picked It

Professional Machine Learning Engineer allows working ML engineers and developers to showcase their knowledge of Google Cloud technologies, ML engineering best practices, and ML techniques. By earning this industry-recognized certification, you demonstrate a strong understanding of Google Cloud’s ML ecosystem and its real-world use cases, making you a valuable asset for any organization looking to apply Google Cloud to ML workflows.

Skills Acquired

Designing low-code AI solutions

Scaling prototypes into ML models

Automating and orchestrating ML pipelines

Collaborating within and across teams

Serving and scaling models

Monitoring AI solutions

Key Course Details

The following is a high-level overview of what you need to know about certification requirements, fees, duration, format, and content:

Certification Exam Requirements

Three-plus years of industry experience, including at least one year of designing and managing solutions using Google Cloud

Course Fee, Duration, and Format

$200 plus tax where applicable

Two hours (50-60 items)

Onsite-proctored exam at a testing center or online-proctored exam

Certification Exam Content

Section 1: Architecting Low-Code AI Solutions

Section 2: Collaborating Within and Across Teams to Manage Data and Models

Section 3: Scaling Prototypes Into ML Models

Section 4: Serving and Scaling Models

Section 5: Automating and Orchestrating ML Pipelines

Section 6: Monitoring AI Solutions

Key Benefits of Earning a Machine Learning Certification

Below are some of the best reasons to get your machine learning certification, ranging from launching an ML career to staying current with ML techniques.

Validate Your Machine Learning Skills and Knowledge

Machine learning certifications demonstrate your ability to apply your skills to real-world problems, making you a valuable asset to your employers. Telling a potential employer that you have extensive experience developing ML solutions in Google Cloud is one thing, but showing them a certificate from Google provides you an edge. With certificate programs or online courses, you can pass assessments and earn certificates from reputable institutions that prove you have the knowledge and skills to stand out in the ML and data science job market.

Start a Career in Machine Learning

Machine learning certifications can be a valuable tool for launching a career in the field. If you’re not sure about the difference between ML, deep learning, and generative AI, some certifications are designed to help total novices learn the basics. Introductory courses discuss the fundamentals of machine learning, practical ML skills, data analysis, and more.

Learn the Current ML Techniques, Tools, and Trends

Certificate programs provide learning materials that draw from techniques, tools, and frameworks that professional data scientists and ML engineers use in their real-world jobs. This makes a program a valuable option for even the seasoned ML professional looking to update their skill set to match the current best practices while gaining recognition for it.

Learn at Affordable Prices Compared to College Degrees

Compared to college degrees in computer science or data analysis, which cost over six figures, these certification programs enable you to earn credit for machine learning skills and gain a respected credential for as low as a couple hundred dollars.

Go at Your Own Pace

Certificate programs enable you to prepare for certification exams and take machine learning courses at your speed, from the comfort of your home. This makes them ideal for busy tech professionals.

How to Choose the Best Machine Learning Certification for You

When deciding on a machine learning certificate, it’s important to take into account the following considerations:

Price: Find a certification that works with your budget.

Prerequisites: Make sure the courses and/or exams cater to your specific experience level.

Specialty: Some programs are designed for professionals familiar with a specific solution (for example, Google’s certificate is for building ML models using G Suite technologies), so pick a program that focuses on the tools you plan to work with.

Learning Materials: Whether you’re learning a new ML subject from scratch or filling in some gaps to prepare for the exam, check out the study materials and online courses to see if they are sufficient for your needs.

Career Goals: Pick a certificate program that will help you land the job or get the promotion you desire.

In sum, the best machine learning certification will be one that fits your budget, experience level, and timeline, and helps you achieve your specific machine learning and AI career goals.

How I Evaluated Machine Learning Certifications

To evaluate the various machine learning certifications on the market and find the best ones, I looked at the cost of the certification, the reputation of the certifying body, the quality of learning materials, and the accessibility.

Cost: I looked into how much the machine learning certification costs in terms of time commitment and exam and course fees.

Reputation of the Certifying Body: The credibility of the certifying body came into my consideration since they’re likely to provide cutting-edge courses and will look great on your resume to future employers.

Quality of Course/Exam Preparation Material: I examined the learning materials to see if they would adequately prepare an aspiring machine learning professional for the jobs they’re applying to. I focused on hands-on learning experiences like projects and assignments.

Accessibility: To assess the accessibility, I checked out how easy it was for users to prepare for and take the exam from home, as well as factors like access to course instructors and self-paced learning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do You Prepare for a Machine Learning Certification?
To prepare for machine learning certification, start by reading the exam’s prerequisites. If you feel you fall short, check to see if the certifying body offers preparation materials that will help you round out your knowledge. Most programs offer a learning path that includes online videos, practice questions, and readings. Some course-based programs even offer feedback on your assignments as well as live discussions hosted by course facilitators.

Which Machine Learning Certification Should I Get First?
The ML certification that you feel most confident passing should be your first one. Take the AWS credential exam, for instance, if you have prior experience working with AWS on ML projects. Take beginner-friendly certificates initially if you’re a complete novice. That’ll ensure you get the credentials you deserve as quickly as possible.

Can I Get a Machine Learning Job With Certifications Alone?
Though it may be difficult without on-the-job experience, you can still get a machine learning job with just a certificate by using these tactics:
• Learn ML in Public: Take on machine learning and coding projects and write about your findings and the process on social media to position yourself as an expert.• Pretend You Have the Job: Find areas of interest where you can apply machine learning to improve some aspect, then create an ML model or solution and share it.• Focus on Smaller Companies: Startups will be more likely to hire you for a niche ML skill than big companies, who generally want people with advanced degrees.• Prepare for Interviews: Practice talking about the machine learning projects you’ve worked on, the latest technologies and trends, and your relevant technical skills.
If you do these activities consistently, you’ll have a greater chance of landing a machine learning job with nothing but your certification. At any rate, your prospects will be better than if you merely sent out resumes highlighting your certificate and in-course projects.

Bottom Line: Best Machine Learning Certifications

A machine learning certification is one of the most affordable and time-efficient ways to validate your machine learning knowledge and expertise—and get hired in a lucrative new role. Once you’ve completed the exam, you can list the formal certificate on your LinkedIn profile and resume to help you land machine learning jobs or get a promotion. With many machine learning certifications and courses available, the best option offers a comprehensive curriculum, practical skills, and an industry-recognized credential. My recommendation lists the top machine learning programs, but consider your long-term career goals and the specific ML area you want to pursue before deciding which option is right for you.

If you’re looking for additional AI certifications to help you stand out, check out our list of the top AI certifications.
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