If there’s an adjective that perfectly captures the world today, it’s data-driven. Without machine learning, we could never exploit the full potential of all this data that drives our personal and business decisions.
So, it’s no wonder many people are pursuing a career in machine learning.
To have a real shot at landing your dream job in this field, you must be certified as a data scientist or a machine learning engineer.
That’s where machine learning certification courses come into play.
These courses will help you acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to crush your certification exam and open up a world of possibilities for your future employment.
To help you find the best machine learning certification course, we’ll guide you through the proper selection process. We’ll throw in some tips on making the most out of the selected course for good measure.
If you don’t feel like researching, check out one of our top course picks and start your journey in the booming field of machine learning.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Machine Learning Certification Course
Unlike machine learning algorithms, you might find it challenging to comb through all the data online and find the perfect machine learning certification course. But allow us to let you in on a little secret – once you know what you’re looking for, you’ll become as efficient as these algorithms.
Course Content and Curriculum
Looking past the title is essential when choosing the most suitable machine learning certification course. The course’s description includes all the good stuff. Here, you’ll find a laid-out curriculum listing all the course topics.
If you’re a beginner, seeing terms like “regression” and “clustering” probably won’t do much for your understanding of the course. But since you’re looking to get certified in the field, you may already have some experience. So, reviewing the course’s curriculum will help you determine whether it has what you need to pass your certification exam.
Course Duration and Flexibility
Online courses are all about flexibility. If you already have a job, you’re probably looking for something self-paced to fit your busy schedule. However, with scheduled courses, you can interact with the instructor directly. So, weigh all your options before making a final decision.
The course’s duration is also an essential factor. A machine learning certification course will likely last longer than a standard crash course, so make sure you can commit fully.
Instructor’s Expertise and Experience
Given the complexity of machine learning, an instructor’s expertise and experience are crucial for genuinely grasping this field’s ins and outs. In a machine learning certification course, these factors become arguably more important since your instructor will be something like a mentor to you during your education journey.
Course Fees and Additional Costs
The internet is a great place to find numerous incredible courses free of charge. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll be happy to know there’s no shortage of free machine learning courses. But the bad news is that these courses seldom come with a certificate, let alone a certification.
If you want to complete a machine learning certification course, be prepared to pay a relatively high fee. Think of these costs as an investment in your future.
Certification and Accreditation
Receiving a certificate of completion is relatively simple. You only need to go through all the lessons, turn in exercises, and complete a test or two. Certification, however, is on an entirely different level. A machine learning certification course aims to prepare you for passing a certification exam (which is notoriously hard to do), so choose only courses offered by certified individuals or accredited institutions.
Job Placement and Career Support
Sure, learning for the sake of learning is wonderful. Just think of all the personal growth and betterment it will bring you, and you’ll always want to foster a deep love for knowledge. But in a field as competitive and lucrative as machine learning, learning to enhance your career prospect is more than reasonable. So, before committing to a course, ensure it offers the practical skills and know-how you need to get a job shortly after.
Top Picks for Machine Learning Certification Courses
Check out our top three machine learning certification exams and the courses you must take to prepare for them.
AWS Machine Learning Learning Plan
Earning the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Certification can do wonders for your career in machine learning. With this certification, you gain valuable expertise in building, training, and deploying machine learning models on AWS (Amazon Web Services). But to pass this challenging certification exam, you’ll need a prep course.
Enter AWS Machine Learning Learning Plan.
This machine learning certification course was built by AWS experts to make you one as well. It’s beginner-friendly and consists of several short courses that eliminate the guesswork of exam prep.
You can take the course at your own pace. Also, you can skip some courses if you already have that area covered. The only downside is that the progress bar can change without your input as the company adds or removes training content, which can throw you off for a while.
Preparing for Google Cloud Certification: Machine Learning Engineer Professional Certificate
The lengthy name of the course gives you all the basic information you need – you’re taking it to prepare for the Google Cloud Certification for a Professional Machine Learning Engineer title.
Since this certification is one of the hardest to obtain in the industry, this course, or a set of courses, will be a lifesaver. It starts slowly, with some cloud basics. Then, it gradually dives deeper, where more complex machine learning solutions await.
During the certification test, you’ll be asked to solve real-world problems using machine learning. But this course teaches you how to do just that. You’ll learn to create and deploy successful machine learning solutions for any challenge that lies ahead.
Some may view the length of this course as a downside. You’ll need around seven months to complete it (at a pace of five hours a week). However, the certification test is rather comprehensive, so the course has no other option than to follow suit.
Machine Learning Cornell Certificate Program
Unlike the options from Google and Amazon, this is an all-in-one course. In other words, the certification exam is a part of it. No machine learning experience is necessary to enroll in this course. Still, familiarity with some basic programming, math, and statistics concepts will do wonders for your progress.
This program aims to equip you with the practical skills to approach real-world problems, select the best machine learning solution, and implement it efficiently. You’ll practice with live data from the get-go, allowing you to get a feel for your future career immediately.
Although the lessons are self-paced, they must be completed in a pre-determined order. Learners with more experience might perceive this as a downside since they will be forced to go through even the familiar concepts again.
Essential Skills for Success in Machine Learning
Sure, a machine learning certification course is an excellent foundation for your career in machine learning. But you’ll need a robust skill set to thrive in this career.
- Programming languages. Machine learning is all about programming, so you won’t get far without knowing and improving programming languages like Python, R, C++, and JavaScript, to name a few.
- Mathematics and statistics. A solid background in mathematics (calculus, linear algebra, probability theory) and statistics (p-value, standard deviation, regression analysis, etc.) will make your job much easier.
- Data preprocessing and visualization. Machines don’t do all the work in machine learning, not even close. You’re the one that needs to preprocess data and ready it for analysis. The same goes for data visualization (using different libraries to spot and understand data patterns).
- Machine learning algorithms and models. As a data scientist, you’ll need to learn about numerous machine learning algorithms (like supervised and unsupervised learning) and models (like classification and regression).
- Model evaluation and optimization. Monitoring and assessing how well a machine learning model performs will be essential to your job. The same goes for optimizing those models that fall short.
- Deployment and maintenance of machine learning models. Knowing how to deploy models successfully and keep them accurate and effective are must-have skills in machine learning.
Tips for Maximizing the Benefits of a Machine Learning Certification Course
Your chosen course can give you all the necessary content to succeed. But only if you interact with it correctly. Here’s how to make the most out of a machine learning certification course:
- Set clear goals and expectations. Carefully consider which skills you can acquire within the course’s timeframe.
- Dedicate time for self-study and practice (ideally, daily).
- Work on real-world projects and build a portfolio. This is the fastest way to demonstrate your skills after completing the course.
- Engage in online forums and communities (within the course, on Reddit or Kaggle).
- Network with professionals in the field at conferences, workshops, and meet-ups.
Cracking the Code to Success
Whether going to tech giants and industry disruptors like Google and Amazon or accredited institutions like Cornell, a machine learning certification course is your one-way ticket to a successful career. After all, machine learning is one of today’s most in-demand fields.
Of course, this certification is only a beginning. What’s next? A fantastic journey of continuous learning, of course. This is the only way to remain in tune with this ever-evolving field.
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Life is unpredictable. While many of us have specific hopes and expectations of how our futures will turn out, things don’t always go as expected. There are many variables and unexpected incidents that can interfere and force you to alter your plans, and this is particularly true when it comes to education.
For instance, you might have had plans to study a specific subject, but had to deviate from those plans due to unforeseen circumstances. Or you may have had to enter the workforce in an occupation different from the one you sought in an effort to earn an income, a move that may not provide you with the time or opportunity to achieve your desired educational aims.
In short, every individual’s career pathway is different, and very few go exactly as we expect from the outset. Fortunately, even if you experience a few false starts or sudden twists in your pathway, there are always options available to help you get back on track.
The Unpredictable Nature of Education
In theory, the educational process seems simple. You select a course of study that interests you from the vast array of subjects and prospective professions, select the appropriate classes, acquire the knowledge and skills you need to succeed, and then embark on your profession.
In reality, however, as many people know from firsthand experience, the road to education is often far from straightforward. Here are just some of the many challenges that can take your educational path in a completely different direction:
- Life’s Curveballs: As touched on in the introduction, life is impossible to predict. Financial hardships, health issues, and family emergencies are just some of the unfortunate occurrences that might derail even the most perfectly planned educational regime.
- Changing Interests: People’s desires and preferences don’t necessarily stay the same throughout their entire lives. As you grow, learn, and have new experiences, your interests may change, and so, too, may your educational objectives.
- Pressure and Burnout: Some academic paths are particularly challenging, demanding intense levels of study and hard work. This can sometimes prove too much to bear, even for the most resilient students.
- Failures and Setbacks: Conventional education largely builds around tests and examinations, requiring students to demonstrate their competencies repeatedly. It’s a system that doesn’t suit everyone, and test failures can lead to setbacks and delays.
- Inequality: People can be born with very different privileges and levels of access to education. Those in certain parts of the world may find it much more challenging to complete their education path for financial, cultural, or even political reasons.
- Late Bloomers: People develop at different paces. Some may struggle educationally early on in their lives, forcing them to make certain concessions or sacrifices related to their studies, only to find their feet later in life once they’ve entered the world of work.
Whether you’re a late bloomer, have had your educational aspirations delayed by personal problems, desire to learn new skills and try something different, or want to begin a fresh chapter in your professional life, the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) may be able to help.
Introducing OPIT
OPIT is an online teaching platform, making high-level technological educational programs accessible to all, no matter their age or background. Offering education in fields like computer science, artificial intelligence, and digital business, OPIT provides a curated collection of degrees. In addition, they offer classes taught by world-leading tutors imparting the wisdom and skills students need to achieve their goals and become the tech leaders of tomorrow.
Meanwhile, for those who have had somewhat tumultuous or unpredictable educational paths, OPIT offers the perfect course corrector: the OPIT Foundation Year.
The OPIT Foundation Year
OPIT’s Foundation Year is a Pre-Tertiary Certificate in Information Technology, fully aligned with MQF/EQF Level 4 standards and valued at 60 ECTS credits. Lasting just one year, this program essentially serves as a comprehensive yet accessible springboard towards higher-level education, creating a path towards degrees and careers in dynamic, flexible fields, like computer science and digital business.
Like other OPIT programs, the Foundation Year is delivered entirely online via the OPIT Virtual Learning Environment. Combining live lectures, asynchronous content, and interactive assessments, students enjoy diverse and dynamic study experiences, acquiring core skills like academic writing, mathematics, and computer literacy, and building a bedrock of knowledge and confidence before taking their next steps.
Who Is the Foundation Program For?
The Foundation Program is designed to provide a solid base upon which to build the technological education many students need. It’s the perfect choice for those who are eager and ambitious to enter professions in AI, data science, and computing, but don’t feel that they have the necessary core skills and knowledge needed to dive straight into a degree.
Entry requirements are relatively relaxed in order to allow as many students as possible to enjoy the benefits of this program. With that said, applicants should ideally hold an MQF/EQF Level 3 or equivalent qualification, with the intention of pursuing a bachelor’s degree. A minimum of B2 level of English proficiency is also required, as this is the working and studying language of the institution.
What the Foundation Year Provides
Perhaps you’ve recently graduated, are considering a career change, or finally have the opportunity to return to education after initial delays or unexpected disruptions to your original plans. Either way, the Foundation Year can help you enjoy:
- Greater Self-Confidence: Foundation Year graduates gain the fundamental skills they need to enter degree programs with much more self-belief and assuredness.
- Superior Tech Knowledge: Lasting two terms, this course explores mathematics, academic reading and writing, and provides an introduction to computer hardware and software.
- Foundational Mathematics: Mathematics literacy forms a large part of the study focus for the Foundation Year, helping students feel more comfortable with numbers and formulas.
- Flexible Learning: Unlike more rigid, conventional education environments, OPIT gives you the freedom and flexibility to study at a pace that suits you best, all from the comfort of home.
- Global Community: OPIT is an international institution, with staff and students from all around the world eager to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and help one another.
Take Your Next Steps to Success With the OPIT Foundation Year
If you’re curious about a career in technology or have always wanted to work with AI, data, and computers, but struggled to find the time and opportunities you need to acquire relevant skills and knowledge, the Foundation Program was made for people like you.
It’s the ideal entry point into the exciting world of online education, and the perfect first step towards a prestigious degree from an innovative and increasingly successful institution. Download the brochure to learn more about it, or start your online application, today.
Students today have a broader range of fields of study to choose from than ever before, but with the world becoming increasingly technological and computers increasing in influence and importance, pursuing a career in computer science often proves a smart, strategic choice.
There are numerous benefits and career paths associated with studying and working in computer science, and we’ll be listing just a few of them in this guide.
High Average Salaries
With the rising cost of living in many parts of the world, it’s unsurprising that many students are thinking several decades ahead to determine what level of starting salaries they could obtain in different career fields.
Many are also seeking professions that offer the opportunity for growth and the ability to advance up the ranks over time, thus increasing their salary and their quality of life in the process.
If a strong, stable salary with the opportunity for improved income is one of your top career priorities, computer science should be at or near the top of your list of prospective careers.
According to recent data, computer scientists earn an average of over €65,000 per year, with certain jobs, like IT project leader and data scientist, paying ever higher. Starting salaries are strong, too, with graduates earning anywhere from €46,000 to €60,000, depending on their chosen profession and level of qualifications.
There are similarly high average salaries reported around the world in computer science and related fields such as data science and AI/ML engineering. These numbers are projected to increase in the years to come, pointing to computer science as a way for graduates to get off to the best financial start of any career.
Unrivaled Flexibility
A common problem with some subjects and courses is that they only provide graduates with a narrow set of skills and a similarly narrow range of potential professions to which they can apply those skills.
That’s not the case with computer science. Graduates in this field can enjoy instant access to a remarkably diverse array of career opportunities, with even newer opportunities being created all the time as technology evolves and innovations emerge.
A few of the many industries and roles you might choose to enter in the field of computer science include:
- Healthcare: As a software developer, data analyst, or cybersecurity expert
- Finance: As a fintech engineer, blockchain developer, or security analyst
- Media: As a graphics programmer, AI developer, or game developer
- Education: As an analyst, software developer, or machine learning engineer
Guaranteed Opportunities
Some career paths are more limited than others, with relatively low numbers of opportunities, recurring risks of job loss, or difficulty obtaining employment in the first place.
Again, with computer science, this simply isn’t the case. At a time when 75% of companies plan to embrace AI and other technologies by 2027, and businesses of all sizes and industries are now relying on computers more than ever before, computer science graduates can enjoy almost unbeatable job security.
Opportunities will continue to grow for people with good computing knowledge, whether that be in the obvious fields like software and web development, engineering, and AI development, or more niche sectors.
With so many options, you’re effectively guaranteed a long, rewarding career if you put in the necessary time and effort needed to establish a strong foundation of computing skills.
Rapidly Expanding and Evolving Industries
It’s no secret that the world of technology is a dynamic and fast-moving one. In the past 20 years alone, we’ve seen the proliferation of the internet, the rapid advancement of smartphones and wearable devices, the emergence of AI, and so much more.
In the years ahead, engineers and developers will continue to explore the boundaries of modern technology’s powers and potential, driving new innovations and improvements and opening more exciting job opportunities for those already established and experienced in this field.
Getting into computer science now could therefore provide a solid foundation for a career filled with excitement as you uncover and explore new ways of working with computers in fields as diverse as healthcare, finance, education, entertainment, manufacturing, logistics, and beyond.
Start Your Computer Science Career at OPIT
We’ve discussed some of the many benefits associated with careers in computer science, from the high starting salaries to the rapidly growing array of job options available to graduates. By now, you may be eager to follow this particular career path and take advantage of the wealth of opportunities.
If you’re wondering how to start, the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) may hold the answers you need. As an exclusively online learning platform, specializing in computer science and digital business, and staffed by some of the world’s leading tech experts, OPIT is producing the tech leaders of tomorrow.
Some of the many advantages of learning with OPIT include:
- Accessible and flexible online education that matches your learning style and schedule
- Heavy focus on real-world applications of the skills you acquire
- An international community of like-minded students from around the globe
- A top team of tutors and lecturers from varying fields and industries
- Progressive assessment of skills and understanding – not constant exams
OPIT offers a small, curated selection of courses for those seeking to gain the technological skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen areas of expertise. That includes a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science – a six-term program, worth 180 ECTS credits.
Numerous IT industry leaders and experts helped develop this fully accredited undergraduate degree, which is online and accessible to all. Like other OPIT courses, it offers a flexible learning program, with progressive assessments, fast-track options, and the opportunity to be part of a growing community of learners and tutors.
If the benefits of doing a career in computer science interest you, download the OPIT BSc in Computer Science brochure or fill out an online application today and take your first step toward a rewarding and fulfilling profession.
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