The Internet of Things describes devices “talking” to each other to monitor and analyze patterns and actions — without humans. You’d be surprised by the daily things we experience that are connected to IoT. Ready to learn Internet of Things concepts? Keep reading.
Ever driven through a toll with E-ZPass? Or maybe you’ve asked Alexa or Google to raise or lower your air conditioning. These are only a few examples of how IoT is integrated into our everyday lives.
Plus, the career potential is extensive and specialized. Meaning? Ka-ching! Instead of software engineers, employers look for dedicated IoT software engineers — and the same goes for niche developers.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is always expanding and becoming more lucrative in the business world. Do you want to join the ride? Luckily, you don’t need a lot of time or money to do so. We’ll help you get your feet wet with IoT with our roundup of the best IoT courses for beginners and advanced professionals.
Top 5 IoT Courses: Comparison Table
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Course |
Price |
Level |
Notable Feature |
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Free ($149 upgrade for a verified certificate) |
Introductory |
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Free for 7 days, and then $49/ month |
Beginner |
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|
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$84.99 |
Intermediate |
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|
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Free or $49 for certificate |
Intermediate |
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$89.99 |
Intermediate/ advanced |
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1. Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)
Total beginners, to the front! If you don’t know a thing about IoT, start here. This IoT certification offers the baseline knowledge you’ll need to understand the Internet of Things basics and how to start programming and creating solutions. This course will teach you what makes up the Internet of Things, how it works, and how it adds value to the world around us. Don’t have much time? All you need is 2-3 hours per week for six weeks.
- Instructor: Aian Murray, Siavash Khaksar, Yifei Ren via CurtainX
- Price: Free, with a $149 fee for a verified certificate
- Difficulty: Introductory
- Prerequisites: None
- Pro: Free option; great for beginners
- Con: Limited access time; no grades for free version
2. An Introduction to Programming the Internet of Things (IoT)
Still on the beginner train but curious about an Arduino touch? This beginner’s course helps you understand the Raspberry Pi Platform and Arduino Environment. At the end of the course, you’ll complete a capstone project, which will allow you to put your new skills to the test!
This course is a bit longer, expected to take three hours weekly for six months. The piece de resistance? You’ll learn how to create a micro-controller-based system that you can show off to potential employers.
- Instructor: Ian Harris at University of California Irvine
- Price: Free (with subscription)
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Prerequisites: None
- Pro: Peer and instructor feedback; personalized guidance
- Con: No discussion forums
3. Complete Guide to Build IOT Things from Scratch to Market
This is one of the shortest IoT online courses, clocking in at mere 6.5 hours. If you can’t keep focus, this compressed course isn’t for you. But for those of you who can keep up? You’re in for a treat.
Enjoy creating projects like smart lights and devices, motion detectors with email notifications, and a panic alarm for seniors.
- Instructor: Junaid Ahmed
- Price: $84.99; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Prerequisites: Background in electronics and basic coding
- Pro: Downloadable resources and full lifetime access to course materials
- Con: No free version; experience required
4. Architecting Smart IoT Devices
In this 34-hour Internet of Things training program, you’ll examine pre-made hardware and software that connect to IoT. You will learn about each system, how to use them, and how to make them communicate with each other.
Although the course is intermediate, its tech content can feel overwhelming. Still, this is a good course if you are looking for more theoretical information about the Internet of Things before you start programming and making your own designs.
- Instructor: Martin Timmerman at Royal Military Academy Brussels and Maarten Weyn at University of Antwerp
- Price: Free, or $49 for the certificate course
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Prerequisites (if any): Knowledge of IoT and programming
- Pro: Detailed course on IoT; embedded systems; abundant resources
- Con: Heavy on reading material
5. Internet of Things (IoT) - The Mega Course
If you’re already a computer programming and electronics nerd but want to put your knowledge into practice, this program is for you! This 3.5-hour IoT training will teach you about the Internet of Things, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi. You’ll also learn how to put your skills to the text with four hands-on projects: a weather station, a water level email notifier, a water level indicator, and a smart bulb.
- Instructor: Ritvik Dave
- Price: $89.99 with a 30- Day money back guarantee
- Difficulty: Intermediate/advanced
- Prerequisites (if any): Beginner-level knowledge of programming, electronics, and electrical circuits; access to Raspberry Pi or Arduino
- Pro: Project creation works well with resumes and future work
- Con: Background in the Internet of Things, coding, and electronics required
Ranking Criteria
With so many IoT classes out there, how did we settle on these five in particular? We saw accessibility as top of mind, encouraged by:
- Price: Courses we chose had either free options or came in at under $100 per course — an unbeatable price, especially for students just starting out or busy professionals embarking on a career change.
- Reviews: These IoT certifications have been tested by hundreds, if not thousands, of users. Plus, f the course didn’t get above 4/5 stars, it didn’t make the list!
- Flexibility: Courses on this list range from mere hours to six months in duration — ideal for pretty much anyone desiring a school-life balance.
Conclusion
The Internet of Things is an always-growing technology that’s inched its way close to our hearts and homes.
If you’re interested in business, coding, electronics, or healthcare, you might take your passion to the next level by taking an IoT course. And if you still need creative energy to envision your next project?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Long Do IoT Courses Take?
The time required for an IoT course depends on the course curriculum and your pace. Some courses can take six months or more, while others are just a few hours total.
2. Is IoT a Good Career?
The IoT industry is growing rapidly. Tech experts continuously incorporate it into virtually every imaginable appliance, from cars to toasters. IoT is a great path — and learning IoT may be one of the best things you can do to kickstart a higher-salary career change!
3. Which Course is Best for IoT?
It depends much more on your level of IoT knowledge, comfort with coding, and your familiarity with electronics. For complete novices, we suggest Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT) through edX. And if you are looking to build and implement your IoT skills? Udemy’s Internet of Things (IoT) - The Mega Course is a safe bet.
