7 Great Short Courses to Work-From-Home

Do you have a busy schedule? Want more flexibility and an improved work-life balance? Short courses to work from home could be exactly what you’ve been looking for! Short courses can help set you down an exciting new career path, without the major financial investment and time commitment needed for longer courses or degree programs.

But with so many short courses to choose from, how do you find one that works best for you? Don’t worry – we’re here to help! 

In this post, we’ve compiled a list of seven great short courses that can easily fit into your busy schedule and help you land the remote job of your dreams:

1. Knowadays: Becoming A Proofreader
2. Knowadays: Becoming An Editor
3. Knowadays: Becoming A Freelance Writer
4. Udemy: Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant
5. Coursera: Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate
6. Udemy: Affiliate Marketing: Make Money Online Working From Home 
7. Transcribe Anywhere: General Transcription Foundations

Keep reading to learn more.

What Is a Short Course?

Short courses are condensed learning programs (typically held online) that focus on specific skills or topics. They’re designed to be completed in a shorter timeframe than traditional courses. The exact timeframe and format of short courses vary. Some are self-paced and can be completed in just a few days. Some include direct instruction, and can take up to a year to complete.

What Are the Benefits of Taking a Short Course?

The flexibility and convenience of short courses make them ideal for people who are looking to quickly pivot to a new career or develop marketable skills in their current field.

If you’re juggling a full schedule – work, family life, social commitments – the idea of throwing a course in the mix may seem a little overwhelming. But a short course can be a worthwhile way to reap the career benefits of professional development without sacrificing other important aspects of your day-to-day life.

And just because a course is short doesn’t mean it’s low-quality. Short courses have a lot to offer in terms of subject-matter expertise and job prospects. Some of the benefits of taking a short course include:

• Flexibility to work at your own pace around your schedule.
• The opportunity to learn new skills that will help you find a rewarding work-from-home job.
• Cost-effective learning, especially when compared to university or college degree programs.
• A way to upgrade existing professional skills in a relatively short timeframe.

Ready to learn more? Below is our list of great short course options in a variety of remote industries to help you kickstart your work-from-home journey.

7 Great Online Courses to Work-From-Home

Check out these seven short, yet comprehensive, online courses to work from home, including information on approximately how long each one takes and the level of support available.

1. Becoming A Proofreader

A short course in proofreading is ideal for anyone looking for an interesting, rewarding, and flexible work-from-home career. Our beginner-friendly course, Becoming A Proofreader, teaches you everything you need to know to become a successful freelance proofreader, including:

• A variety of grammar and language lessons.
• Tips on proofreading in different industries.
• Expert advice on searching for proofreading jobs and marketing your skills.

The course is entirely self-paced and takes approximately 40 hours to complete. It includes 13 information-packed modules, with accompanying slides, videos, quizzes, and exercises. It’s also CPD accredited and comes with a professional certificate upon completion of the final assignment. What makes Becoming A Proofreader stand out, is it provides access to ongoing expert tutor support throughout the learning journey.

2. Becoming An Editor

If you’re looking to choose your own hours and branch into the editing world, check out our Becoming An Editor course. This CPD-certified, self-paced course is great for anyone who wants to learn about the industry. It covers the essential editing skills you need to be successful, including copy editing, line editing, and developmental editing.

Becoming An Editor consists of nine modules – which you can complete in as little as two to three weeks – culminating in a final assignment marked by a course tutor. Throughout the course, you’re provided with quizzes and exercises to reinforce key information. Plus, you have access to tutor support as you progress through the material. Like Becoming A Proofreader, you receive a professional certificate upon completing the final assignment. You can include it in your portfolio and display to potential clients.

3. Becoming A Freelance Writer

Freelance content writing is another in-demand freelance skill. And with an almost endless number of writing niches, you’re bound to find a topic that suits your particular background and skills.

Becoming A Freelance Writer can help you achieve your goal of writing professionally in as little as six weeks. It’s a short, CPD-certified course with eight modules that teach you how to launch a career as a content writer. This includes how to conduct research on your article topics and apply SEO techniques. You don’t need any prior experience to take this course. It comes with a wide range of learning materials (such as quizzes, exercises, a case study, and business-building templates). At the end of the course, you receive detailed, personalized feedback on your final assignment from a course tutor. And, a professional certificate for your portfolio. 

4. Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant remotely provides various administrative or personal support services to businesses or entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional assistants, who work on-site, virtual assistants work from home (or in a shared office space) and communicate with clients primarily through email, phone calls, and video conferencing.

Udemy’s short course on working from home as a virtual assistant is a great option for someone looking to transition to this industry full-time. You’ll learn what you need to do to set up your business, including how to set your rates and run your processes from home. This course does require some prior technology skills and experience in a business office setting. It includes 3.5 hours of video and audio material, 25 downloadable resources, lifetime access, and a certificate of completion. While it does include pre-taped video lectures, it does not offer personalized instructor support.

5. Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate

The Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate offered by Coursera helps you gain the necessary skills to work remotely as a bookkeeper. This beginner-level four-course series takes approximately two months to complete (at 10 hours a week) and allows you to work at your own pace. The four courses in the certificate program prepare you for the industry-recognized Intuit Academy Bookkeeping exam and come with a shareable certificate upon completion. After completing the courses, you can access additional resources, such as resume review and career support, as you search for a job.

6. Affiliate Marketing: Make Money Online Working From Home

Affiliate marketing is when you earn a commission from every sale, lead, or action generated for a company through your promotional efforts. Udemy’s short course, Affiliate Marketing: Make Money Online Working From Home, teaches you the fundamentals of making money on various online platforms as an affiliate marketer. It includes 1.5 hours of on-demand videos and a certificate of completion.

7. General Transcription Foundations: Free Workshop

Transcriptionists work remotely to convert spoken or recorded audio content into written text. They can work in several areas, including recorded interviews, podcasts, lectures, and meeting notes. They’re generally expected to have excellent grammar skills and understand how to follow a style guide. The General Transcription workshop is for those new to the industry and explains how to begin earning money as a transcriptionist and where to find clients. While this mini-course is free, it does not come with instructor support or a certificate of completion. However, it can be an excellent starting point if you’re interested in the industry and considering a more in-depth course down the line.

Are Short Courses Worth It?

Short courses have a lot of benefits, but they may not be the right fit for everyone. If you’re working part or full-time, managing a busy schedule, and prefer to study remotely, a short online course can be a worthwhile investment in your career. However, if you’re looking to become a full-time student and earn an advanced degree vs. a certificate, then an accredited college or university degree program is probably a more suitable option.

While many short courses provide some form of instructional support, assessments, and downloadable resources, others are less comprehensive and more of an introduction to a new industry (which can be ideal if you aren’t ready to commit to an entirely new career). If you’re not sure if a course is for you, read reviews from previous students and look for free trials or lessons that give you a taste of the course content before signing up.

Kickstart Your Work-From-Home Career

Do you want to kickstart a new career working from home doing what you love? Check out our comprehensive online courses in proofreading, editing, content writing, and more. Sign up for your free lessons and get started learning today!