Top 10 Coursera Certificates to start your career in Cloud, Data Science, AI, and IT Support in 2024

javinpaul
Javarevisited
Published in
10 min readApr 20, 2020

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best Coursera Certifications to start career in Tech
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Hello guys, If you are thinking to start or advance your career in Information Technology, Data Science, and IT support but lack the necessary skills and knowledge then you don’t need to disappoint. Coursera’s professional certificates can give you all the knowledge, skills, and credential to start a career in Information Technology, Data Science, and IT support.

If you don’t know, Coursera launched Professional Certificates recently which can help you get job-ready for an in-demand career field in less than a year. You can earn a career credential, apply your knowledge to hands-on projects that showcase your skills for employers and get access to career support resources.

Many of Coursera’s professional certificates also provide a pathway to industry-recognized certification. Since this is a very new concept, I thought to write about it and share whatever I know.

At a high level, Coursera Professional certification is very similar to Coursera Specializations, which also bundles relevant courses to teach you an in-demand skill and make you job-ready by awarding a certificate once you completed all the assignments and project work.

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In fact, they have actually taken the Specialization to the next level by introducing Professional certificates. With these certificates, Coursera intends to bring affordable, career-aligned training programs taught by expert instructors from top companies like IBM, Google, SAS, etc., and universities like the University of Michigan to everybody who wants to learn in-demand job skills to start a career in tech.

It’s also very affordable as you can start pursuing your career dreams today with programs starting at $39 USD per month and a 7-day free trial. You can even join for free.

Top 10 Coursera Professional Certificates to Start Your Career in Cloud, Data Science, and IT Support in 2024

Without wasting any more of your time, here are some of the most popular professional certificates from Coursera to give your career a boost or learn new in-demand skills you need to break into new career fields like information technology or data science.

1. Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate

This new beginner-level, six-course certificate, developed by Google, is designed to provide IT professionals with in-demand skills — including Python, Git, and IT automation — that can help you advance your career.

Sign up here — Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate

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2. IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

If you want to start your Career in Data Science & ML, then this is an excellent professional certificate for you. Data Science has been ranked as one of the hottest professions and the demand for data scientists is booming.

This Professional Certificate from IBM is intended for anyone interested in developing skills and experience to pursue a career in Data Science or Machine Learning.

It will teach you all the necessary technology a Data Science professional needs like Python and SQL, analyze and visualize data, build machine learning models.

More than 76,173 students have already enrolled in this program, and just in case you need it, financial aid is also available.

Sign up here — IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

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3. Google IT Support Professional Certificate

If you want to make a career in IT, then this is one of the best professional certificates you can get. It’s offered by none other than Google, one of the most known IT companies in the world.

Overview
This course will provide a launchpad to a career in IT. This program is designed to take beginner learners to job readiness in about six months.

This program is for
Anyone that wants to start a new career in IT support. No experience is necessary.

Related Job Roles
IT Support Specialist, Technical Support Engineer, Desktop Support Engineer, IT Support Engineer, Technical Support Specialist, IT Desktop Support

Hiring Consortium Bank of America, Best Buy, Cognizant, GE Digital, H&R Block, Hulu, Infosys, Intel, Sprint, The Home Depot, Walmart, Google and more.

Sign up here — Google IT Support Professional Certificate

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4. Cloud Architecture with GCP Professional Certificate

There is no doubt that Cloud computing is a very in-demand skill and probably mandatory now to start your career in Technology. If you want to advance your career in cloud architecture, then this is the best professional certificate you can acquire to give your career a boost. It’s offered by none other than Google Cloud, which means you will be learning from the source.

If you don’t know the Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect certification was ranked one of the top-paying IT certifications of 2024 by Global Knowledge, and there is a huge demand for Google Certified professionals as more and more companies are moving towards Cloud

This is also a very hands-on program as you’ll learn how to deploy solution elements, including infrastructure components such as networks, systems, and applications services, and you’ll gain real-world experience through a number of hands-on Qwiklabs projects that you can share with potential employers.

Sign up here — Cloud Architecture with GCP Professional Certificate

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5. SAS Programmer Professional Certificate

If you want to launch your career with a SAS® Credential then you have come to the right place. This professional certificate offered by none other than SAS and Coursera will not only help you to master the skills required for the SAS® Base Programmer certification, but also give you the recognition you need to secure job interviews.

Overview
Demonstrate skills in manipulating data, combining SAS data sets, creating reports, and identifying and correcting data, syntax, and programming logic errors. These skills prepare you for the SAS® Base Programmer certification exam.

This program is for
Those who want to learn how to write SAS programs to access, explore, prepare, and analyze data. SAS programming is a useful skill in a variety of careers, including business analyst, researcher, statistician, or data scientist.

Related Job Roles
SAS Programmer

Prerequisites
No prior programming or SAS experience is required.

Sign up here — SAS Programmer Professional Certificate

best Coursera certification for SAS Developers

6. IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate

If you want to kick start your career with Artificial Intelligence then this is an excellent certification, to begin with. If you don’t know, Artificial Intelligence or (AI) is transforming our world.

Whether you’re a student, developer, or technology consultant, understanding AI and knowing how to create AI-powered applications can give you an edge in your career.

This Professional Certificate, offered by IBM, one of the most reputed global IT companies, is designed to arm you with the skills to work as an AI Application Developer. More than 2,611 students have already enrolled in this program.

Sign up here —IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate

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7. IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate

This is a great certificate to pursue if you want to become an AI engineer and make a career in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence.

Overview
By the end of this comprehensive 6-course Professional Certificate, you will have completed several projects showcasing your proficiency in Machine Learning and Deep Learning, and become armed with skills for a career in AI.

This program is for
This Professional Certificate is suitable for learners from a variety of backgrounds, including students looking to enter the workforce and existing professionals looking to future-proof themselves with in-demand AI skills.

Related Job Roles
Machine Learning Engineer, Deep Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Senior Data Scientist

Sign up here — IBM AI Engineer Professional Certificate

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8. Data Engineering with Google Cloud Professional Certificate

Overview
You can pursue this professional certificate if you want to advance your career as a Data engineer, particularly with GCP. As part of the course, you will learn to design, build, operationalize, secure, and monitor data processing systems. Prepare for the Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer certification.

This program is for
Engineers looking to advance their careers in data engineering and learners interested in preparing for the Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer certification exam.

Related Job Roles
Data Engineer, Technical Lead, Data Scientist, Technical Solutions Engineer, Data Analyst

Sign up here — Data Engineering with Google Cloud Platform

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Btw, If you would like to become Google Cloud certified and demonstrate your proficiency to design and building data processing systems and operationalize machine learning models on Google Cloud Platform, you will need to register for and pass the official Google Cloud certification exam. If you need some guidance and resources, you can also check this list of top 5 GCP courses for certification.

9. IBM z/OS Mainframe Practitioner Professional Certificate by IBM

This is a great certificate to launch your career as an IBM z/OS Practitioner. Build skills in IBM Z, a platform used in the world’s most critical businesses.

Overview
Mainframes are fundamental to how we do business, and all modern mainframes run on the IBM Z systems environment. This certificate demonstrates your ability to begin your journey as an IBM Z System Administrator.

This program is for
This certificate is for anyone that wants to start a career in IBM Z. You’ll have the skills to start on-the-job training from day one.

Related Job Roles
Mainframe Systems Programmer, Mainframe Systems Administrator, Mainframe Application Developer, System Programmer, System Administrator, DBA Practitioner

Hiring Partners
IBM

Sign up here — IBM Mainframe Practitioner Professional Certificate

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10. Cloud Engineering with Google Cloud Professional Certificate by Google

This is probably the best Coursera Certification to start your career in the cloud

Overview
Launch or advance your career in cloud engineering. Learn to deploy applications, monitor operations, and manage enterprise solutions on the Google Cloud Platform.

This program is for
Engineers looking to advance their career in cloud engineering and learners interested in preparing for the Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer certification.

Related Job Roles
Cloud Engineer, Technical Lead, System Administrator, IT Manager, Technical Solution Engineer, Technical Support Associates

Sign up here — Cloud Engineering with Google Cloud Professional Certificate

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Coursera Plus

If you find Coursera courses useful, which they are because they are created by reputed companies like Google, IBM, Amazon, and the best universities around the world, I suggest you join the Coursera Plus, a subscription plan from Coursera which gives you unlimited access to their most popular courses, specialization, professional certificate, and guided projects. It cost around $399/year but its complete worth of your money as you get unlimited certificates.

Coursera Plus review

6 Best and Latest Coursera Professional certifications from Google, IBM, and Facebook for 2024

So far, we have covered the most popular professional certifications from Coursera but last year Google, Facebook, IBM, and Salesforce have launched a few more interesting certifications in Data Analytics, Project Management, UI and UX Design, Marketing, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, and Fullstack development.

Here is a list of the best of them.

  1. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate [486,000 already enrolled]
  2. Google Project Management: Professional Certificate [332K enrolled]
  3. Google UX Design Professional Certificate [270K Students]
  4. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate [52K learners]
  5. IBM Full Stack Cloud Developer Professional Certificate [17K learners]
  6. Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate [75K learners]

If any of these subjects interest you want to start your career in Cyber Security, UI Design, Project Management, Cloud Computing, and Fullstack development then you can check out those Coursera professional certifications, particularly from Google, IBM, and Facebook.

best Coursera certificate for Data Analytics

That’s all about some of the best professional certificates on Coursera to start or advance your career in Information Technology. I have purposefully chosen the most popular ones and also kept the demand in mind. The list includes professional documents on IT support, Data Science, AI, Google Cloud, and SAS, which are in-demand skills.

These professional certificates will not only give you experience and knowledge but also recognition. So, if you want to kickstart your career in IT support, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Google Cloud Platform, or SAS, go for these certificates.

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Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like these Coursera Professional certificates, then please share them with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback, then please drop a note.

You can also watch a video version of this text, where I discuss the top 10 Certifications on Coursera on my YouTube channel:

top 10 Certifications on Coursera on Youtube

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javinpaul
Javarevisited

I am Java programmer, blogger, working on Java, J2EE, UNIX, FIX Protocol. I share Java tips on http://javarevisited.blogspot.com and http://java67.com