How do I choose the right Microsoft course for my goals?

Start by identifying the Microsoft product or skill you want to build— Excel for data , Power BI for analytics , Word and PowerPoint for communication , or Azure for cloud computing . For data analysis and dashboards, try the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate . Want to build everyday productivity skills? Explore the Master Microsoft Office 365 and Power Platform Specialization . Interested in cloud technologies? Consider Introduction to Microsoft Azure Cloud Services for a beginner-friendly cloud overview.

Which Microsoft course should I start with as a beginner?

These beginner-friendly courses offer step-by-step guidance using Microsoft tools for work or personal use: Work Smarter with Microsoft Excel – Learn essential Excel formulas, formatting, and data entry. Microsoft Power BI for Beginners – Guided Project to help you create interactive dashboards. Microsoft PowerPoint for Beginners – Build confidence in document creation and visual communication.

What’s the difference between a Microsoft course, Specialization, and Professional Certificate?

A course teaches one tool or task—such as creating spreadsheets, visualizing data, or managing cloud infrastructure, such as Data Visualization . A Specialization combines multiple courses for structured learning—like Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Specialization , which covers Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. A Professional Certificate prepares you for a job role with end-to-end, career-aligned training—such as the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Certificate , which aligns with Microsoft’s PL-300 exam.

Can I take free Microsoft courses on Coursera?

While Microsoft does not offer its full Professional Certificates, Specializations, or courses for free, there are two ways to ensure you have selected the best topic and program to meet your goal. Preview the first module of many Microsoft courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available). Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial. If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate from Microsoft, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

Best Microsoft Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Microsoft Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Microsoft Word, Microsoft 365, Data Visualization, Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Collaborative Software, Data Import/Export, Productivity Software, Proofreading, Editing, Document Management, Technical Documentation, Microsoft Windows, Writing, Data Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Power BI, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Storage, Data Collection, Data Quality, Business Intelligence, Timelines, Microsoft Power Platform, Advanced Analytics, Database Design, Statistical Reporting, Statistical Visualization, Analytical Skills, Data Integration, Business Reporting, Data Storage Technologies, SQL, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
8.1K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Unlock Business Insights with Microsoft Excel and Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Data Storytelling, Microsoft Excel, Dashboard, Pivot Tables And Charts, Power BI, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Microsoft Copilot, Spreadsheet Software, Data Literacy, Data Presentation, Data Visualization Software, Generative AI, Data Visualization, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence, Data Collection, Interactive Data Visualization, Advanced Analytics, Business Metrics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
600 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft IT Support Specialist
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft 365, Network Security, Business Software, Computer Hardware, Cybersecurity, Desktop Support, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Network Troubleshooting, Technical Support, Hardware Troubleshooting, Hardware Architecture, Generative AI, Operating Systems, Collaborative Software, System Support, Network Protocols, TCP/IP, Application Security, Microsoft Teams, Cloud Computing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft Full-Stack Developer
Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, GitHub, C# (Programming Language), HTML and CSS, Load Balancing, Continuous Integration, Git (Version Control System), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Scalability, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Authentications, ASP.NET, Full-Stack Web Development, Web Development, Debugging, SQL, Application Deployment, Microsoft Copilot, .NET Framework, Graph Theory
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
220 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft AI & ML Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Large Language Modeling, Data Management, Natural Language Processing, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Supervised Learning, Microsoft Azure, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Infrastructure Architecture, Cloud Infrastructure, Generative AI Agents, Applied Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Data Ethics, Prompt Engineering, Data Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Application Deployment
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
211 reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Excel Macros, Prompt Engineering, Microsoft Excel, Data Cleansing, Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables And Charts, Microsoft Copilot, Dashboard, Forecasting, Data Presentation, Data Storytelling, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Data Visualization, Predictive Modeling, Data Quality, Statistical Analysis, Data Transformation, Data Analysis
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
183 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft AI Product Manager
Skills you'll gain: Competitive Analysis, Market Research, User Story, Product Roadmaps, Competitive Intelligence, Usability, Persona Development, Product Development, Market Analysis, New Product Development, Product Management, Design Thinking, User Interface (UI) Design, Market Opportunities, Business Research, Product Lifecycle Management, Quality Assurance and Control, Product Quality (QA/QC), Product Strategy, Data Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
169 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Work Smarter with Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Microsoft 365, Productivity Software, Data Import/Export, Data Management, File Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Business Analyst
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Excel Formulas, Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Modeling, User Story, Business Requirements, Stakeholder Management, Data Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Software Development Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Requirements Elicitation, Quality Management, Pivot Tables And Charts, Microsoft Visio, Power BI, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Business Analysis, Scrum (Software Development), Data Analysis
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Microsoft
Microsoft Project Management
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Management, Virtual Teams, Scheduling, Team Management, Conflict Management, Project Schedules, Project Management Life Cycle, Project Management Office (PMO), Project Coordination, Excel Formulas, Procurement, Kanban Principles, Performance Measurement, Strategic Communication, Leadership, Risk Management, Communication, Planning, Project Management, Budgeting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
556 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Work Smarter with Microsoft PowerPoint
Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Presentations, Microsoft 365, Collaborative Software, Productivity Software, Microsoft Windows, Editing, File Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months