1. Excel Essentials Series by Indiana University (IU)

The Excel Essentials Series by IU’s IT Training department offers a structured learning experience with five courses and a final online exam. Each course includes step-by-step instruction, exercise files, instructional videos, and quizzes to ensure comprehension. The series is self-paced, allowing learners to complete each course in 2-4 hours, and provides a certificate upon successful completion of the final exam.

2. GoSkills and HubSpot Academy Excel for Marketers Course

This free course by GoSkills and HubSpot Academy is designed for marketers and business professionals. It covers common Excel formulas, functions, and shortcuts, making it universally applicable. The course is concise, lasting just under two hours, and offers a certificate of achievement upon completion.

3. Microsoft’s Excel for Windows Training

Microsoft’s official training resources are a goldmine for learning Excel. The training hub offers a plethora of free tutorials covering the latest version of Excel, organized into functional learning modules. The videos are practical, straightforward, and easy to understand, making it an excellent resource for beginners.

4. The Spreadsheet Page

The Spreadsheet Page provides professionally designed Excel templates that can be downloaded for free. The Excel in an Hour course includes 16 easy-to-digest tutorial videos, downloadable exercise files, and a certificate of completion. This course is ideal for beginners who need to quickly learn common formulas and functions.

5. Trump Excel

Trump Excel, created by Sumit Bansal, a Microsoft Excel MVP award winner, offers a comprehensive free course with seven hours of self-paced video lessons. The course covers essential spreadsheet features, data analysis, and automation, making it suitable for both beginners and those who have never used Excel before.

6. Microsoft Excel – Improve Your Skills Quickly (Udemy)

This free Udemy course, taught by Phillip Burton, covers a wide range of topics including formatting, filters, conditional formatting, creating tables and charts, and automating code with VBA. The course is designed for those who want to develop their Excel skills quickly, including those using older versions of Excel.

7. DataCamp’s Excel Tutorials

DataCamp offers beginner-friendly Excel courses that start with the basics and gradually introduce more advanced concepts. Their step-by-step plan includes practicing main Excel formulas, moving to advanced functions like IF(), VLOOKUP(), and CONCATENATE(), and applying these skills to real-world projects.

8. edX’s Excel Courses

edX provides a wide variety of online Excel training courses suitable for all experience levels. Introductory courses cover basic calculations, formulas, and data visualization, while more advanced courses delve into statistics, probability, and Excel VBA. edX’s courses are flexible and can be completed at your own pace, making it an excellent resource for those who prefer structured learning.

Tips for Learning Excel

• Create a Learning Plan: Start with the basics and gradually move to more advanced topics. Allocate specific time slots for learning and practicing each skill.
• Practice Regularly: Use Excel daily, even for simple tasks. Apply new skills to real-world projects to reinforce your learning.
• Apply Excel to Real Projects: Build a monthly budget, analyze sales data, or create a project management tool. Practical applications help solidify your understanding of Excel.
• Explore VBA: Once comfortable with the basics, start practicing with VBA to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your workflow.
• Use Online Resources: Leverage online courses, tutorials, and resources like GoSkills and Microsoft’s official training to supplement your learning.