Free Online Courses Every L&D Professional Should Take
Level up your skills without spending a dime — curated learning for today’s workplace learning leaders
The demand on L&D professionals is growing — from mastering learning technology to designing behavior-changing content, supporting reskilling, and aligning with business goals. But staying current doesn’t have to come at a cost.
Here’s our handpicked list of free, high-impact online courses that cover instructional design, digital learning, performance consulting, AI in L&D, and more. All are taught by experts from top universities or platforms — and most offer certification or LinkedIn integration.
Whether you’re new to the field or an experienced L&D strategist, there’s something here to sharpen your edge in 2025.
1. Instructional Design Foundations and Applications
Platform: Coursera (University of Illinois)
Duration: ~18 hours | Certificate: ✅
Why take it: A solid introduction to learning theories, course design, and learner engagement — ideal for new instructional designers.
🔗 Start for free on Coursera
2. Learning to Teach Online
Platform: Coursera (UNSW Sydney)
Duration: ~15 hours | Certificate: ✅
Why take it: Teaches the core principles of online learning, including engagement, accessibility, and tech setup — great for transitioning to digital environments.
🔗 Explore course
3. AI for Everyone
Platform: Coursera (Andrew Ng, DeepLearning.AI)
Duration: ~6 hours | Certificate: ✅
Why take it: A must for L&D professionals navigating AI in learning. Understand what AI can and can’t do — without needing a technical background.
🔗 Join course
4. Digital Skills: Web Analytics
Platform: FutureLearn (Accenture)
Duration: ~2 weeks | Certificate: ✅
Why take it: Helps L&D professionals understand how to measure digital learning performance using tools like Google Analytics.
🔗 Enroll on FutureLearn
5. Training and Development
Platform: Alison
Duration: ~4–5 hours | Certificate: ✅
Why take it: Covers the basics of employee development, training design, and TNA — with a simple and easy-to-follow structure.
🔗 Take course
6. How to Create an Online Course
Platform: Udemy Free Courses
Duration: ~2 hours | Certificate: ❌ (but high-quality content)
Why take it: A concise and practical guide to structuring, recording, and launching your own online course. Perfect for SMEs or internal trainers.
🔗 Find it on Udemy
7. Instructional Design Pro (Free Preview)
Platform: Udemy (By Jason Dion)
Duration: ~2 hours (free part of premium course) | Certificate: Partial
Why take it: While the full version is paid, the free lessons alone are worth it. Covers needs analysis, learning objectives, and ADDIE.
🔗 Preview course
8. Learning Experience Design Foundations
Platform: edX (free audit mode, paid cert)
Provider: Delft University of Technology
Duration: ~5 weeks | Certificate: ✅ (paid)
Why take it: Explores the evolution from instructional design to LX design with a strong learner-centered focus.
🔗 Audit for free on edX
9. Future of Work: Preparing for Disruption
Platform: LinkedIn Learning (free with trial)
Duration: ~1 hour | Certificate: ✅
Why take it: Understand the changing world of work and learning — AI, remote work, reskilling — and how L&D fits in.
🔗 Start free trial
10. ChatGPT for Learning Designers (Mini Workshop)
Platform: YouTube / Innovito Suggestion
Duration: ~30 minutes | Certificate: ❌
Why take it: A hands-on walkthrough on how to use ChatGPT to speed up your L&D workflow — from writing scenarios to creating quizzes.
🔗 Watch on YouTube
🔁 Bookmark and Learn at Your Own Pace
All these courses are flexible, self-paced, and beginner-friendly — perfect for upskilling on your own terms. We recommend bookmarking this list or sharing it with your team.
💬 Bonus Tip
Looking for Arabic content or localized L&D resources? We’re compiling a full list of free Arabic online courses for L&D professionals — stay tuned.
💡 About Innovito
Innovito helps organizations in the MENA region deliver transformative learning experiences through technology, content, and strategy. From AI-enhanced digital learning to ready-made Arabic course libraries and LMS platforms, we support L&D teams with end-to-end solutions.
Explore more:
📩 Contact us for enterprise training solutions tailored to your team.
