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Best SQL Courses In 2020• Benzinga • Enroll Now


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Open the door to a world of opportunity or advance your career as a data science professional. Before you can attract top employers or land a raise, make yourself more appealing by learning SQL or boosting your current skill set. 

Consider an online SQL course to get started. They’re available for all skill levels and budgets, so there’s sure to be a course just for you. 

Quick Look: Best SQL Courses

Take a quick look at Benzinga’s top picks: 

What Makes an SQL Course Great?

All SQL courses were not created equal. While each course you take will likely have a different area of focus, materials, and price, the best SQL courses all share these three common characteristics. 

1. Begin with the Basics

Learning SQL from the ground up can be challenging if the instructor doesn’t lay a solid foundation. So, you want a course that introduces you to SQL in a way that’s easy to comprehend. 

And if it’s been a bit since you’ve done any continuing education on SQL, a foundational course can bring you up to speed. 

2. Interactive

Some students can understand challenging concepts, even if the facilitator is dull and redundant. But the best SQL courses are interactive and cater to all learning styles. They include real-life demonstrations and activities to keep you engaged.  

3. Self-Paced

Life’s busy, and you need a self-paced course that allows you to study when it’s convenient. Avoid SQL classes with strict deadlines that are nearly impossible to meet. 

Our Top Picks

We’ve scoured the web to bring you the best SQL courses. Our top picks are from leading online learning platforms — Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Skillshare and Udemy.

The courses are categorized by skill level — beginner, intermediate and advanced. We’ve also included a course description and price for each class to help you make an informed decision. 

Best SQL Courses for Beginners

Start with these beginner courses if you’re new to SQL. 

1. The Complete SQL Bootcamp by Udemy 

The Complete SQL Bootcamp
The Complete SQL Bootcamp
  • Who it’s for: Beginners
  • Price: On sale

Learn how to use SQL to query a database and conduct data analysis with this bestselling introductory course from Udemy. It’s designed for beginners who want to get up and running with SQL in record time. 

Instructor Jose Portilla, head of data science at Pierian Data Inc, covers SQL statement fundamentals and advanced SQL commands. There are also lessons on PostgreSQL with Python and command line installs. 

Registration includes lifetime access to 8.5 hours of on-demand video, 25 articles and 16 downloadable resources. Assessments gauge your comprehension of the material, and the course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied for any reason. 

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2. SQL Essential Training by LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

SQL Essential Training
SQL Essential Training

In a little under 4 hours, this course teaches the fundamentals of SQL. It is designed for beginners who want a better understanding of the language and what it takes to retrieve and effectively manage data. 

SQL Essential Training covers vital SQL concepts, including relationships, strings, numbers, dates and times, aggregates, transactions and triggers. You will also learn about views, subselects and CRUD applications. 

Instructor Bill Weinman is a programming language expert, entrepreneur and tech advocate. He’s also authored a host of books and taught online courses. 

Enrollment is included with the $29.99 monthly LinkedIn membership. Or you can grab a free seat in the course by registering for a 1-month trial membership. 

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3. The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert by Udemy 

The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert
The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert
  • Who it’s for: Beginners 
  • Price: On sale

The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert takes a hands-on approach to learning SQL. You’ll complete a series of projects building databases and reports to better understand the language and how it works to make data mining and analysis easier. 

The class includes lessons on creating databases and tables, inserting data, CRUD commands, string functions, database triggers, aggregate functions and more. 

Enroll today and get instant access to 320 lectures jam-packed into 20 hours of on-demand video. You’ll also receive 139 articles and 4 downloadable resources to supplement your learning. 

Instructors Colt Steele and Ian Schoonover are both experienced developers and highly-rated Udemy coding instructors. 

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Do you have some experience using SQL or already understand the basics of the language? These courses may be a good fit. 

4. Introduction to Structured Query Language by the University of Michigan

 Introduction to Structured Query Language
Introduction to Structured Query Language
  • Who it’s for: Intermediate students 
  • Price: Free

Offered by the University of Michigan, Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL) takes you through a step-by-step process to install a text editor, a software package and create a MySQL database. It is a component of the Web Applications for Everybody specialization offered by the university.

The intermediate course includes 4 modules: 

  • Installing PHP and SQL
  • Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL)
  • Database design
  • Many-to-many

Course material is delivered through video lectures and readings. You will also complete quizzes during each module to gauge your knowledge. 

Facilitator Charles Russell Severance is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan. 

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5. Business and Data Analysis with SQL by Geoff Devitt 

Business and Data Analysis with SQL
Business and Data Analysis with SQL
  • Who it’s for: Intermediate students 
  • Price: Free

Interested in learning more about big data? Consider this free intermediate course to further your knowledge and prepare for a rewarding career as a data and business analyst.

Instructor Geoff Devitt delves into database design, writing queries in SQL and building interactive dashboards and reports. He also shares useful techniques to help you manage a big data project. 

Expect to spend a little more than 5 hours watching 38 video lessons that cover SQL statement categories, capture data requirements, entity-relationship diagrams, MySQL command line and more. 

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6. SQL Tips, Tricks and Techniques by LinkedIn Learning 

SQL Tips, Tricks and Techniques
SQL Tips, Tricks and Techniques

Led by consultant Ben Sullins, this intermediate course shares 12 techniques to help you use SQL more effectively. It is ideal for developers, engineers, data miners, programmers and other systems specialists and data science professionals. 

The tips revealed in the course relate to retrieving data using SQL, joining tables, filtering data and aggregating data. You’ll also learn tricks for window functions, subqueries, rolling calculations and analyzing employee data time functions. 

If you have a $29.99 monthly LinkedIn membership, enrollment is included. Otherwise, you can sign up for free with a 1-month trial or buy the course and receive lifetime access for only $44.99. 

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Best Advanced Level SQL Courses

If you want to master SQL to work more efficiently or advance your career, you may find these courses useful. 

7. Advanced Oracle SQL: Learn Advanced SQL Skills by Udemy

Advanced Oracle SQL: Learn Advanced SQL Skills
Advanced Oracle SQL: Learn Advanced SQL Skills
  • Who it’s for: Advanced students 
  • Price: On sale

Are you an analyst, developer or administrator who wants to learn advanced Oracle SQL? This Udemy course is worth considering. 

Presented by Skill Tree, the course is divided into 4 sections:

  • Oracle SQL analytic functions
  • Viewing and manipulating data using SQL
  • Viewing and rolling back data with Flash Query 
  • Useful SQL commands 

Enrollment brings lifetime access to 46 lectures condensed into 4.5 hours of on-demand video and 1 downloadable resource. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion.

Have basic knowledge of SQL language, relational databases and data processing techniques and concepts before you register. 

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8. SQL Advanced by Udemy 

SQL Advanced
SQL Advanced
  • Who it’s for: Advanced students 
  • Price: On sale

Have some experience under your belt and want to further hone your SQL skills? SQL Advanced will do just that and prepare you for a career as a senior SQL developer. 

The class spans a little under 5 hours and teaches software installation, data manipulation, analytical functions, hierarchical queries, table partitioning, materialized views and more. It contains 82 lectures, 7 articles and 21 downloadable resources for a holistic learning experience.  

It is taught by Oracle Architect Amamath Reddy. He’s also a Udemy best-selling instructor who’s taught over 49,000 students in 9 highly-rated courses. 

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9. Advanced SQL: SQL Expert Certification Preparation Course by Udemy

Advanced SQL: SQL Expert Certification Preparation Course
Advanced SQL: SQL Expert Certification Preparation Course
  • Who it’s for: Advanced students 
  • Price: On sale

Seeking an SQL Expert certification and need assistance preparing for the exam? Use the knowledge acquired in this advanced course to evolve into an expert so you can pass the exam on the first attempt. 

The course is provided by Oracle Master Training and Code Star Academy. It is loaded with over 100 lectures, 7 articles and 7 downloadable resources. And you can access the course material on the go for convenience.

Enroll with confidence today — there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if the course doesn’t fit your needs. 

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Start Learning SQL Today! 

Don’t spend hours searching for the best SQL course. Start with an option from our list to jumpstart your journey to learning the language or improving your skills. 

But before you pick a class, read the overview to confirm it explores the concepts that interest you. The best courses are interactive, self-paced and offer a refresher to ensure you have a top-notch learning experience.





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