Since university degrees in SEO are rare, certifications serve as a popular way to demonstrate expertise in SEO. However, it is important to be cautious when choosing SEO certifications because they can be provided by anyone. If you are considering obtaining an SEO certification, ensure that you select courses that meet the following criteria:
1. Course material is comprehensive, accurate, and focuses on teaching the fundamental aspects of SEO.
2. The certification is well-regarded within the industry.
To help you make an informed decision, we surveyed our 200K+ newsletter subscribers for the best SEO certifications they would recommend. Here are the top five certifications based on the votes received:
1. Ahrefs Certification Course:
Duration: 7 hours 4 minutes
Price: Free with an Ahrefs Webmaster Tools account
Instructor(s): Sam Oh
Level: All levels
Our own certification course provides a comprehensive understanding of how Ahrefs’ tools and data function. The course is divided into modules that cover each of our tools. Currently in beta, the certification course does not offer an exam and certificate yet, but it is planned for the near future.
2. Google SEO Fundamentals by UC Davis:
Duration: 29 hours
Price: Free
Instructor(s): Rebekah May
Level: Beginner SEOs
Created by the University of California, Davis, and powered by Coursera, this course focuses on teaching the fundamental principles of SEO. It consists of four modules and requires successful completion of four assessments. Upon passing, you can earn a career certificate that can be added to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV.
Please note that while this course is highly regarded, it requires a significant time commitment of 29 hours. You may want to consider other certifications on this list.
3. SEO Certification Course by HubSpot:
Duration: 3 hours 51 minutes
Price: Free
Instructor(s): Rachel Sheldon, Matthew Howells-Barby
Level: Beginner SEOs
This SEO certification course is part of HubSpot, a well-known SaaS company specializing in inbound marketing. With six lessons and 26 videos, the course runs for nearly four hours. It includes five quizzes, and upon completion, you can obtain a certificate. To access the course, you will need to sign up for a HubSpot Academy account.
4. All-Around SEO Training by Yoast:
Duration: 3 hours
Price: $99/year
Instructor(s): Joost de Valk
Level: Beginner and intermediate SEOs
This is a paid SEO certification course that costs $99 per year. With the purchase, you receive a certificate, badge, and one-year access to the course materials. Additionally, you gain access to all other Yoast academy courses and Yoast’s premium plugin. Considering Yoast’s popularity as an SEO plugin, this certification offers great value.
To help you decide if it’s worth the investment, Yoast provides a free sample lesson for you to try.
5. SEO Foundations on LinkedIn:
Duration: 1 hour 32 minutes
Price: ~$40
Instructor(s): David Booth
Level: Beginner SEOs
This course is included in LinkedIn Learning and consists of five modules with corresponding chapter quizzes. Successful completion of the course earns you a LinkedIn Learning Certificate of Completion that you can easily add to your LinkedIn profile. Please note that this is a paid course, but it offers affordability. It is possible to start a one-month free trial on LinkedIn Learning and complete the course within that period.
While SEO certifications can be beneficial for expanding knowledge, it is important to note that most employers do not consider them significant when hiring SEO specialists. Practical experience and results are often much more valuable. Additionally, SEO certifications primarily provide theoretical knowledge and may not offer practical skills that are essential for becoming an SEO expert.
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that SEO certifications can be time-consuming and often have questions that are poorly designed or misleading. Some certifications are also relatively easy to pass, which diminishes their value.
Overall, when considering SEO certifications, it is crucial to focus on the quality of the course material and the skills it can provide rather than solely prioritizing the certification itself.
To summarize, most SEO certifications do not hold much weight in the job market, so our advice is to prioritize gaining practical experience through executing what you learn from reliable SEO courses.