Free online certificates ARE available…you just have to know where to look!

If you’ve recently retired, you’re probably in the same place as the rest of us…wondering how you’ll manage to live on a budget you aren’t used to! Well, we’ve got you covered.

Finding some FREE ways to get training and online certificates can be a great way to discover new work. With the internet at our fingertips, access to knowledge has never been faster. Anyone that wants to pick up a unique skill set has it easier these days.

And learning at our own pace has been much more possible because the world wide web has no shortage of the best online courses. Professional certifications are often beneficial to earn to demonstrate your expertise with a particular skill, tool, or subject area.

However, earning a certificate can take time, effort,…and money. Online certifications help make learning more accessible and are often more affordable than other professional development options.

But we’ve found a few that your wallet will love! Let’s look at 8 free online certificates to earn extra cash in retirement.

Online Certificate For Understanding Basics Of Non-Profit Fundraising

This one is an excellent option if you’re interested in helping people. It’s a popular online training course from Alison through which you can earn a free online certificate in Fundraising for a Non-Profit.

You’ll acquire the knowledge to get started in raising money for non-profits and get a better understanding of how having a mission and people who are passionate about it can help with this endeavor.

This short course is designed by Stanford University and will take an average of three hours to complete.

Online Certificate To Learn Google’s Digital Garage

Google Digital Garage is a program that gives free online training whether you’re a beginner or advanced learner or a new graduate. Although this online course is free to take, not all of them offer free certificates.

But Fundamentals of Digital Marketing, for instance, is a popular accredited course that provides a free certificate. You can also try Elements of AI. It requires you to complete at least 90 percent of the exercises and answer at least 50% correctly to gain a certificate.

Online Certificate For Understanding Basics Of Financial Markets And Risk Management

Financial Markets delivers an “overview of the ideas, methods, and institutions that permit human society to manage risks and foster enterprise.” Yale offers the online course, and it’s available as one of the free certification courses on Coursera.

The course is focused on teaching learners the skills they would need to be financially savvy.

Online Certificate For Google Skillshop

Google Skillshop is all about the skills you need to become an expert in Google creations. Some of the most sought-after are Google Ads and Google Analytics. If you’re wondering how Google can help your digital skills, this is the perfect learning platform for you.

Skillshop certifications are standard accreditations that help your resume stand out if you decide to start job hunting. If you want to earn a free certificate, choose a learning path with certification in its course title.

Then, simply complete all course activities and pass your assessment.

Online Certificate For Understanding Customer Service Basics And How To Assess Their Needs

Oxford Home Study Centre delivers a long list of free online courses with a certificate of completion included. One of their most popular is the Customer Service Course, which was designed by leading academics to help individuals with career advancement.

This course will focus on a modern business perspective of customer service, and it teaches its students the proper techniques to assess customer needs. After completing the five-unit course, you’ll receive their complimentary certificate.

Online Certificate For Understanding OpenWHO

This is an interactive platform launched by the World Health Organization. It’s designed specifically for health professionals working during health emergencies. OpenWHO courses strive to transfer life-saving information to those on the front lines.

Nevertheless, their self-paced online courses are free for anyone to take. If you’ve worked in the field and you’re interested in continuing work with health technology and want to earn a free certificate, the available courses are:

• Health and Safety Telework: You’ll learn to work remotely using informational technology.
• Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health: This is an introductory class on using and regulating AI in healthcare.
• Introduction to Go.Data: You’ll learn the basics of the Go.Data software tool for field data collection.

Online Certificate For Understanding Brand Management

This one comes courtesy of London Business School, which offers free online certificates for a Brand Management course. It’s all about “Aligning Business, Brand, and Behaviour.” The class includes guest videos from professionals in the field.

And according to the Coursera website, the platform where the course can be taken, 20 percent of those who take the course begin a new career after completion, 25 percent get a substantial career benefit from the program, and 11 percent get a pay increase or promotion at their current jobs.

Online Certificate For CS50 Courses

One of the best tips we can give you for choosing the right way to grab an online certificate is to take classes from a credible organization. CS50x, otherwise known as Introduction to Computer Science, is a popular course offered at Harvard.

This is the perfect class for you if you’ve had a career in business technologies, programming, artificial intelligence, game development, or computer science. You can take courses directly on Harvard OpenCourseWare.

If you score at least 70 percent on the labs, problem sets, and final projects, you’ll earn a free certificate.

Another Reason For Earning An Online Certificate? Simply To Learn A New Skill

Once you retire, your schedule will definitely be more cleared up. And learning something new will never be a waste of time. While these certificates may not always guarantee you a job, they can show recruiters that you’re willing to learn new things.

And even if one doesn’t land you a dream job, it will still give you a sense of accomplishment. They’re also very accessible and more budget-friendly than a conventional education. So if you wish to develop a new skill or perfect an old one, try enrolling in a free online class!

What Else Can You Do?

Coursera is a popular online platform with more than 5,400 courses. You can also apply for financial aid to get online certificates from universities and companies worldwide. So if you’re thinking of checking a skill off your bucket list, try browsing through Coursera’s offerings.

We recommend this nifty little planner to help keep you organized! Here’s what you need to do if you’d like to enroll for a class on Coursera:

1. Find your chosen course.
2. See if financial aid is available. You’ll find this link beside the button tagged “Enroll for Free.”
3. Fill out the application form online. You’ll be asked to explain your educational background, professional goals, and financial status.
4. Lastly, you simply have to wait for your application to be reviewed and approved.

We hope this article on how to obtain free online certificates has been helpful. We would love to hear about your experience, so feel free to leave us a comment n the section below!

And if you liked this article, we also recommend reading this related article: 11 Best Work From Home Jobs for Retirees