Are Udemy Courses Accredited? What You Need to Know (2024 Update)

Are you wondering if your Udemy courses are accredited? Did an independent third party give its thumbs up to the course content?

Accreditation means that a third party vouches for a learning platform’s content. In this article, you will learn about Udemy’s accreditation status as an institution and for its classes.

TL;DR: Are Udemy Courses Accredited?

Is Udemy Accredited?	Udemy is not an accredited learning platform.
Are Udemy courses accredited?	Three accrediting organizations endorse some Udemy courses with their stamps of approval.
Which Udemy courses are accredited?	Udemy offers accredited courses in healthcare and business fields.
Are most Udemy courses accredited?	Most Udemy courses are not accredited. Accredited courses at Udemy are the minority of those offered.

What is an Accredited School?

First, what does it mean when a school is “accredited”?

Accreditation is when an authoritative organization reviews a school to ensure it meets certain standards.

They look at the curriculum, instructors, learning resources, and more. If everything checks out, the school receives that organization’s accreditation.

Accreditation is a third-party endorsement. It is a sign you’ll get quality education from qualified teachers using approved materials.

The certificate you receive upon completing a program will be widely recognized and respected by employers, colleges, and others.  This third-party, independent assessment is a strong sign that this school is legitimate.

But that does not mean that unaccredited schools are not legitimate!

Udemy is a “Learning Platform,” Not a “School”

Okay, so with that background, is Udemy officially accredited as an organization? Udemy is not an officially accredited school. Udemy is an online learning platform, not a school.

Udemy is like a giant open marketplace where anyone can sign up to offer a course on any topic.

Unlike an accredited university with its faculty and administration, Udemy doesn’t develop or control the curriculum.

Instead, Udemy is like a giant open marketplace where anyone can sign up to offer a course on any topic.

The instructors come from all backgrounds and don’t have to meet any centralized requirements set by Udemy.

There are no enforced standards or quality control processes for courses across the whole platform.

So with diverse content from all types of teachers, Udemy as a company cannot confer accredited status or award its accredited certificates.

It functions more like a hub that matches authors and students without oversight to ensure consistent quality.

Think of Udemy as YouTube but for online classes instead of user-generated videos.

The platform enables anyone to share educational content, resulting in a mixed bag regarding instructor credibility and value.

Udemy is a decentralized platform with no common standards:

• Udemy is an open course marketplace, not a unified school.
• It has no centralized standards.
• Its quality control comes from user feedback rather than from an administrative body.

So, Udemy itself does not have formal accreditation. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t find accredited offerings on the platform, which brings us to…

Accredited Udemy Course Subjects

While Udemy lacks accreditation, some courses sold on the platform still offer accredited certificates.

How does this work?

Udemy partners with various external organizations that can provide official accreditation for select courses if they meet certain benchmarks.

For example, some accredited programs on Udemy are in areas like nutrition, life coaching, project management, and more.

The specific accrediting bodies include respected institutions like:

So it is possible to earn accredited credentials through Udemy, just not directly from Udemy.

However, accredited classes still make up just a fraction of the total course catalog – most classes offered are not officially accredited.

Udemy does offer some accredited courses:

• While Udemy can’t accredit, some individual classes are accredited by external organizations
• These accredited classes cover topics like nutrition, coaching, project management, etc.
• However, accredited classes are still a small minority compared to Udemy’s full course selection

So some Udemy classes can get you accredited, but you have to identify them. 

Don’t assume accreditation without verifying.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Accreditation

Udemy partners with CPD to lend accreditation to 149 Udemy courses.

Taking one of these courses gives you the following added benefits:

TABLE: Benefits of CPD Accreditation

CPD Benefit	Description
High Learning Quality	The CPD Standards Office ensures its courses are of high educational quality. CPD rigorously evaluates the course against consistent and high standards. This means you can be confident in the quality and relevance of your learning experience.
Lifelong Learning and Professional Development	The CPD online courses, webinars, and coaching. This diversity means you can choose a course that best fits your learning style and professional requirements.
Recognition and Credibility	Various professional bodies and employers recognize courses accredited by the CPD Standards Office. This recognition can enhance your professional credibility and be a significant advantage in your career progression. It demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning and keeping your skills and knowledge up-to-date.
Fulfilling and Satisfying Learning Experience	The CPD Standards Office ensures that the accredited courses not only impart knowledge but also focus on the overall learning experience. This means that the courses are designed to be engaging, practical, and relevant to your professional needs, ensuring a more fulfilling and satisfying learning journey.
Meeting Diverse Professional Needs	The CPD online courses, webinars, and coaching. This diversity means you have the flexibility to choose a course that best fits your learning style and professional requirements.

What does CPD do that gives you these benefits?

Accreditation is a process of evaluation. These standards ensure that CPD-accredited courses are of high quality, relevant, and effective in contributing to the professional development of the participants.

Here are CPD’s evaluation criteria:

TABLE: CPD Accreditation Evaluation Criteria

Educational Content Quality	The course must provide valuable and accurate information relevant to the field. The content should be up-to-date and based on current industry practices and knowledge.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes	The course should have clear learning objectives and outcomes. It should be evident how these objectives meet the professional development needs of the participants.
Delivery and Instructional Methods	If the course includes assessments, these should be relevant and designed to effectively measure the learners’ understanding. Feedback mechanisms should also be in place to support learning.
Instructor Expertise	Instructors or facilitators should have appropriate qualifications, experience, and knowledge in the subject area to ensure a high level of instruction.
Assessment and Feedback	If the course includes assessments, these should be relevant and designed to measure the learners’ understanding effectively. Feedback mechanisms should also be in place to support learning.
Accessibility and Inclusivity	The course should be accessible to a diverse range of participants, considering different learning styles and needs.
Continuous Improvement	There should be mechanisms for regular review and improvement of the course, based on participant feedback, new developments in the field, and other relevant factors.
Record Keeping and Reporting	Proper records of participant engagement and achievement should be maintained, and there should be a system for reporting CPD activities.
Ethical Standards and Professionalism	The course should adhere to ethical standards and demonstrate professionalism in all aspects, including marketing, delivery, and interaction with participants.

Complementary Therapists Accredited Association

Udemy has 6 courses accredited by the Complementary Therapists Accredited Association (CTAA).

CTAA evaluates the following criteria when accrediting a course:

TABLE CTAA Accreditation Evaluation Criteria

Training Course Materials	CTAA reviews the training materials provided by the course, which should include training manual PDFs and any additional paperwork given to students upon enrolling in the course.
Website and Online Presence	The course provider’s online presence, including their website and social media following, is reviewed to understand their market reach and credibility.
Training Videos	For online courses, CTAA reviews the training videos that are part of the course material.
Awarding Qualification Requirements	The process through which the course provider awards qualifications to students upon completion of their course is examined.
Trainer’s Background	The background of the trainer or therapist is reviewed to establish their expertise and leadership in their field.
Awarding Qualification Certificates	CTAA reviews the certificates awarded to students upon their successful completion of the course and qualification.

Project Management Institute

PMI (Project Management Institute) offers globally recognized professional certifications project management.

Professionals with PMI certification can work in virtually any industry, anywhere in the world, and with any project management methodology.

Here are some of the key PMI certifications that you can earn on Udemy

TABLE: PMI Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)®	This is considered the gold standard in project management certifications. It validates a professional’s competence to perform in the role of a project manager, leading and directing projects and teams.
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®	This certification demonstrates an individual’s understanding of the fundamental knowledge, terminology, and processes of effective project management.
PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®	This certification highlights expertise in business analysis, focusing on working effectively with stakeholders to define their business requirements and drive successful business outcomes.
Program Management Professional (PgMP)®	The process through which the course provider awards qualifications to students upon completion of their course is examined.
Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)®	The background of the trainer or therapist is reviewed to establish their expertise and leadership in their field.
PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®	CTAA reviews the certificates awarded to students upon their successful completion of the course and qualification.
PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®	This certification recognizes demonstrated knowledge and advanced experience in developing and maintaining project schedules.
PMI Project Management Ready™	This certification introduces high school and post-secondary students to the concepts and skillsets of project management.
Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (PMI-CP)™	This certification helps construction professionals define the gold standard in global construction projects.
Agile Certifications	PMI offers a complete range of agile training and certifications, covering various agile and lean approaches like Scrum, Kanban, SAFe®, and more.

What About Non-Accredited Courses: Are They Worth It?

Since most Udemy classes do not offer formal accreditation, is completing one worthwhile?

Surprisingly, the certificates can still provide value, even without official recognition.

While not an official credential, finishing a Udemy class demonstrates you invested substantial time to complete comprehensive training.

That shows motivation and commitment to developing your skills.

And despite no accreditation, the knowledge gained can still be very useful.

Thanks to Udemy attracting experts like professors, authors, and experienced professionals to teach classes, the instruction itself is often high quality.

Finally, you earn a certificate of completion you can showcase on a resume or LinkedIn profile.

Though not accredited, it still illustrates a dedication to lifelong learning and self-improvement.

How Udemy shows its worth:

• While not accredited, Udemy certificates of completion demonstrate you’ve learned valuable skills
• Knowledge from expert instructors is worthwhile, even if not “official.”
• Certificates display a motivation to keep growing professionally

So, non-accredited Udemy classes can provide utility, even without formal credentials.

Are Accredited Udemy Classes Always Better?

Now that you know how to find accredited offerings, should you only take accredited classes on Udemy? Not necessarily – consider your specific goals and situation

Just as there are pros and cons of going with an officially sanctioned class, there are some ups and downs of taking the unofficial classes.

So there’s no objectively superior option – it depends on your specific motivations.

If formal credentials are critical, accredited courses may be the better route.

But for informal learning on a budget, non-accredited can be perfectly fine.

In summary:

• Neither accredited nor non-accredited is inherently better
• Choose based on your goals, budget, and needs
• Accredited is best for formal credentials
• Non-accredited works for casual, flexible learning

Evaluate both options thoughtfully against your situation and priorities.

 Udemy Accreditation FAQs

Are Udemy courses accredited?

Most Udemy courses are not accredited by any educational institution or governing body. There are a few exceptions in health and management topics.

Do employers recognize a course on Udemy?

While Udemy courses can provide valuable knowledge and skills, they may not carry the same weight or recognition as accredited courses or degrees. It ultimately depends on the employer’s preference.

Who are the instructors on Udemy?

Udemy instructors are experts in their respective fields who create and teach courses on the platform. They are professionals, industry practitioners, and educators with subject matter expertise.

What is the difference between Udemy and Coursera?

Udemy and Coursera are both online learning platforms with different approaches. Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses, while Coursera partners with established educational institutions to provide accredited courses.

Can I get a certificate for completing a course on Udemy?

You can earn a certificate of completion for Udemy courses.

How do I use Udemy to take courses?

To take courses on Udemy, you need to sign up for an account, browse through the available courses, choose the one you’re interested in, enroll in the course, and start learning at your own pace.

What is the range of courses available on Udemy?

Udemy offers various courses covering various topics, including business, technology, personal development, arts, language, and more. There are both free and paid courses available.

Can I put a Udemy certificate on my resume?

While mentioning your completion of Udemy courses on your resume is acceptable, it’s important to note that Udemy certificates are not accredited. It’s best to focus on the skills and knowledge you gained from the course rather than solely relying on the certificate.

Are the course contents on Udemy high-quality?

The quality of course content on Udemy can vary, as anyone can create and sell courses on the platform. Read reviews, check the instructor’s credentials, and preview the course content before enrolling to ensure it meets your expectations.

Does Udemy provide courses for businesses?

Udemy for Business is a separate offering from Udemy that provides organizations access to a curated selection of courses for their employees’ professional development.