Interested in learning C++? One of these C++ certification courses will help you build a solid understanding of the language and advance you for the best C++ jobs in the industry.
There are many ways to learn C++. You can learn it through online courses, blogs, books, real projects, hands-on experiences, classroom training, etc.
As one of the most popular programming languages, C++ is celebrated for its efficiency and simplicity in developing games, real-time systems, and applications with graphical libraries.
Table of contents
- What is a C++ certification?
- Best C++ Certifications in 2024
- 1. C++ Nanodegree Certification for Programmers (Udacity)
- 2. Beginning C++ Programming – From Beginner to Beyond (Udemy)
- 3. C++ Courses & Tutorials Online – Learning Path (Pluralsight)
- 4. C++ Tutorial: From Beginner to Expert (Udemy)
- 5. C++ Essential Training – (LinkedIn Learning – Lynda)
- 6. C++ For C Programmers by University of California (Coursera)
- 7. Learn Advanced C++ Programming (Udemy)
- 8. Unreal Engine C++ Developer: Learn C++ and Make Video Games (Udemy)
- 9. C++ Certification by Microsoft: Introduction, Intermediate, Advanced (edX)
- 10. Learn C++ Programming – Beginner to Advance – Deep Dive in C++ (Udemy)
- 11. Learn C++ (Codecademy)
- 12. C++ Design Patterns: Creational (LinkedIn Learning)
- 13. C++ Game Programming (LinkedIn Learning)
- 14. Object-Oriented Data Structures in C++ (Coursera)
- 15. Star C++ Certification
- Conclusion
- References
- Editor’s Recommendations
What is a C++ certification?
C++ is an extension of the C language and is the most powerful object-oriented programming language. C++ powers the world, it’s used almost everywhere for low-level stuff.
Whether operating systems (like Windows, Mac, Android, iOS), web browsers (like Chrome, Firefox), programming language compilers and interpreters, gaming engines and apps, graphics applications, banking applications, databases (like Postgres, MySQL), embedded systems, cloud storage systems, and other distributed systems all use the C++ programming language.
According to the PYPL (Popularity of Programming Language) Index and the TIOBE Index for 2019, C++ remains the language of choice after Java, C, and Python.
It will not become obsolete in the coming decades as the demand for C++ skills will only increase given the popularity of embedded systems such as IoT devices and smartwatches.
If you’re interested in getting into any of these areas of technology, learning C++ is the best place to start. Just search for a C++ course that best suits your style and needs.
Why are C++ certifications required?
As popular languages like Java, Python, and PHP get more attention as general-purpose languages, one might think that C++ will become obsolete.
C++ is needed for special purposes like writing code for hardware, embedded systems, games: basically anywhere you want faster performance and direct memory manipulation.
C++ programmers are in high demand in various positions such as B. Video game designers, computer programmers, embedded software engineers, and so on.
Therefore, a C++ certification gives you better job opportunities, better career and salary growth, validation of your skills, and most importantly, a competitive advantage over other candidates with a similar profile to yours.
Best C++ Certifications in 2024
Certifications awarded by the C++ Institute:
The C++ Institute is recognized worldwide with international standards and certification from them can give you better job prospects at top companies. Certification also gives you the necessary skills and confidence to work on complex projects.
Below we have compiled a list of the 15 best C++ tutorials, courses, training, and certifications available online for 2024.
If you’re just starting out in programming or have some programming experience but are unfamiliar with C++, these courses will help you build a solid foundation and even gain expert-level practical knowledge.
1. C++ Nanodegree Certification for Programmers (Udacity)
This Nanodegree C++ certification program from Udacity is designed for intermediate-level programmers who are familiar with basic concepts of functions and classes and want to become a C++ developers.
Students learn the fundamentals and advanced skills in areas such as object-oriented programming, memory management, and concurrency.
This program uses a project-based educational approach so students create a portfolio of 5 real-world C++ projects to prove they are ready for C++ engineering jobs.
Each project is reviewed by the Udacity Reviewers Network and feedback is provided. Learners can also program their own C++ application using the skills learned in the program.
This C++ certification program consists of five courses, each lasting about a month:
- C++ Basics
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
- Memory Management
- Simultaneity
- Capstone Project
Prior knowledge of any programming language is listed as a requirement for this Nanodegree program.
Upon completion of this program, learners can pursue a career in robotics software, the internet of things, networking, AI, video game development, embedded systems, mobile communications, etc.
Duration: 4 months, 10 hours per week
2. Beginning C++ Programming – From Beginner to Beyond (Udemy)
This C++ course is one of the most comprehensive and in-depth courses on C++ for beginners. It puts learners on a fast track to success by helping them master modern C++ programming skills in a short amount of time.
The course format includes theory and concepts, which are then, reinforced with live code examples.
It takes you from C++ basics to advanced topics like inheritance and polymorphic functions. You’ll also learn some important concepts, such as the management of memory, the use of functions and pointers, classes, constructors, and much more.
The course was created by Tim Buchalka’s Learn Programming Academy. Frank Mitropolous, the instructor of this course, is a C++ professional with over two decades of industry experience and has also taught for many years at the university level.
No programming knowledge is required to take this course. This is arguably the best online C++ course for those who want to get their first programming job or better, or even want to work as a freelance C++ developer.
Duration: 39.5 hours on-demand video
3. C++ Courses & Tutorials Online – Learning Path (Pluralsight)
If you’re starting to learn the basics of C++ and want to build your skills from scratch, the C++ Learning Path on Pluralsight can be very helpful. It is very beginner-friendly and offers multiple C++ courses and tutorials categorized into 3 levels:
- Beginner – These courses equip learners with the fundamental concepts and functionality of C++, enabling them to program basic applications using C++.
- Intermediate – These courses introduce learners to data structures, design patterns, and algorithms. After completing these courses, you will be able to design and write efficient and functional modern C++ code using design patterns and the C++ Standard Library.
- Advanced – These courses give learners a deeper understanding of threading and synchronization and show them how to achieve maximum code performance.
So, in this C++ path, you’ll start with the basics and then learn the complex topics used in real industrial projects. This Pluralsight C++ learning path is very comprehensive and covers each topic in detail.
Duration: Approx. 43 hours
4. C++ Tutorial: From Beginner to Expert (Udemy)
This is a beginner’s C++ course and is intended for those who have no programming knowledge.
In this course, you will learn to program in C++ quickly, easily, and efficiently. In over 51 video lessons, which last around 15 hours, you will not only learn theory but also a lot of practice.
After completing this course, you will understand the semantics of C++, have a solid foundation that will enable you to create anything you want, and be able to use advanced components of the C++ language.
The instructor of this course is Arkadiusz Włodarczyk, an experienced teacher and programmer and author of 27 popular courses on programming and web development.
Duration: 15 hours on-demand video
5. C++ Essential Training – (LinkedIn Learning – Lynda)
This course on the LinkedIn Learning – Lynda platform is a great choice to learn C++ programming, starting with the basics.
It starts with basic concepts of C++ and then moves on to more complex and advanced topics, making the course suitable not only for beginners but also for experienced programmers.
The instructor on this course, Bill Weinman, is a tech advocate and programming language, expert. He is the author of several books and online courses and has a reputation for explaining complex subjects in a clear and concise manner.
The course is divided into 10 sections with quizzes and exercises, each section. At the beginning of the course, students are taught how to set up an environment (XCode and Visual Studio) for coding purposes.
Duration: 5 hours 32 minutes video
6. C++ For C Programmers by University of California (Coursera)
This course is designed for experienced C programmers who want to learn to program in C++. It is also suitable for those who want to update their knowledge to the new C++ version V11.
The examples and exercises assume a basic understanding of algorithms and object-oriented software.
This course consists of 4 modules followed by a final exam to test the learner’s acquired skills and understanding of the subject.
Duration: 17 hours
7. Learn Advanced C++ Programming (Udemy)
This is an intermediate-to-intermediate C++ course. It’s a great choice for those who know the basics of C++ and want to take their knowledge to the next level.
Also, it’s very handy for those who know the older versions of C++ (like C++ 98 or earlier) and want to explore the new features introduced in C++ 11.
This course starts with relatively basic topics such as exception handling, reading and writing files, and then moves on to exploring STL, operator overloading, creating template classes, passing functions to functions, and many new features of C++11 such as Move constructors, Lambda Expressions, the difference between lvalue and rvalue, and more.
At the end of the course, learners will create a project to write a fractal image to a bitmap file using the C++ functions learned in the course.
Duration: 15 hours of on-demand video
8. Unreal Engine C++ Developer: Learn C++ and Make Video Games (Udemy)
Unreal is a free-to-use game development engine used by AAA studios and indie developers worldwide. It can be complex to understand, but this course explains it step by step.
This is definitely one of the best Unreal Engine tutorials on the web. It was recently fully updated and remastered to Unreal Engine 4.22+.
It uses a project-based approach to learning, so students primarily learn through doing. It focuses on programming patterns and best practices. This Unreal course includes around 50 hours of content with over 300 lectures, 23 articles, and 11 downloadable resources.
This Unreal certification can be taken by anyone with no previous experience of Unreal or even coding. For absolute beginners, the course teaches all the necessary programming and game design principles.
This course is also suitable for existing developers and programmers who want to retrain in game development.
Duration: 43 hours on-demand video
9. C++ Certification by Microsoft: Introduction, Intermediate, Advanced (edX)
Microsoft offers a series of C++ courses on the edX platform to help you learn C++ programming from start to finish. These courses are very well structured with easy-to-follow C++ tutorials.
They are designed and taught by experienced professionals and experts at Microsoft. The complete course series is available for free on edX, for a small fee you can receive a verified certificate for each course.
Duration: 12 weeks
10. Learn C++ Programming – Beginner to Advance – Deep Dive in C++ (Udemy)
This C++ course covers all the concepts of C++ in a very structured, thorough and detailed way. You will learn how to perfectly use all the features of C++ to develop any type of application.
The features of Modern C++ 11 are also covered in detail. Since this program takes learners step by step from very basic to more advanced topics, no coding knowledge is required to enroll.
Instructor Abdul Bari places great emphasis on real-world examples and writing and testing code yourself, so he follows the whiteboard lecture style with tons of hands-on demos.
He was highly rated by the students for being quick and responsive to questions and doubts throughout the course.
The course material consists of over 200 lectures (about 30 hours of video) spread across 20 modules with 88 downloadable resources and 48 coding exercises.
Duration: 27.5 hours on-demand video
11. Learn C++ (Codecademy)
Think about what resources employees at companies like Google, Facebook, and IBM would use to brush up on a programming language like C++? They all go to Codecademy.
If you want to join the league of over 45,000,000 learners and get a good grip on all the basics of C++, this is where you should head.
Codecademy recruits educators who have a solid understanding of their craft and how to communicate it effectively to large audiences, so you can be assured that this offering will provide you with the highest-quality learning.
In 8 sections with up to 20 hours of content, you will learn about and apply topics such as variables, conditions, logic, loops, vectors, functions, classes, objects, pointers, and much more. In short, everything builds a strong foundation.
You’ll get the exciting opportunity to apply your skills in real-life projects that will help you understand the real-world uses of this powerful language.
Duration: 20 hours
12. C++ Design Patterns: Creational (LinkedIn Learning)
How you structure your C++ code when developing applications and software makes a difference in the efficiency and reliability of your products. So if you have already learned to program in C++ but are looking for a guide to design patterns, this beginner-level free online course is for you.
Your instructor for this course is Olivia Stone, a programmer, and engineer with a bachelor’s degree from Queen University and a master’s degree from McGill University.
She has several years of experience as a developer at National Instruments and is passionate about teaching.
In this 2 ½ hour course you will learn all about creative design patterns in C++, including the basic concepts, design pattern execution, implementation, extension, comparison of different creative patterns, and much more.
Duration: 2 ½ hours
13. C++ Game Programming (LinkedIn Learning)
Everyone loves to play well-made games, but are you one of those people who want to go to the backend and be able to create your own games from scratch?
If so, this free online C++ course, the first in a two-part series, will walk you through all the C++ skills you need to learn to start the game development journey.
You will be taught by John Horton who is a programming and gaming enthusiast and has written several technology books such as Beginning C++ Game Programming.
He is also the founder of the Game Code School, which helps beginners develop their own games.
In this 6-hour beginner’s C++ game programming course, you’ll learn all about creating the game loop, making decisions, moving game objects, pausing and restarting, adding sound effects, implementing the HUD, and more.
Duration: 6 hours
14. Object-Oriented Data Structures in C++ (Coursera)
Knowing how to build complex and efficient data structures using C++ is a skill that will go a long way in your career. So if you want to master this aspect of programming with C++, you should definitely check out this intermediate course with an average rating of 4.7 stars.
In this free online C++ course, you will be taught by Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider, a teaching assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign who received the 2017 Collins Award for Innovative Teaching and has been teaching for 10 years.
In the 21 hours it takes to complete this course, you will learn how to write programs in C++, set up an environment for writing and debugging C++ code, implement data structures, and more. This course is the first in a three-part accelerated program in Computer Science Fundamentals.
Duration: 21 hours
15. Star C++ Certification
The Star C++ certification is a highly recommended certification in the USA that gives you in-depth knowledge on the subject.
The certification course starts with the basics of OOPS and then moves to more advanced topics such as C++ data structures, pointers, input-output operations, exception handling, and more.
It’s a one-of-a-kind course, developed by industry experts, that will help you gain just the right programming skills to land your dream job.
The certification is accepted worldwide. It is good for both beginners and advanced programmers.
Duration: 2 hours
Conclusion
While your experience certainly counts, certification adds another competitive edge to your career. All of the above certificate courses are recognized by top companies worldwide.
You can start with basic courses or, with some work experience, go straight to the self-study courses.
As a serious C++ programmer, you should consider taking end-to-end or intermediate courses as experienced C++ programmers and designers are in high demand, especially in the gaming world.
References
- https://www.codespaces.com/best-c-plus-plus-courses-tutorials-certifications.html
- https://www.coursera.org/courses
- https://www.udemy.com/course/c-bootcamp/
- https://hackr.io/blog/best-cpp-certification
- https://www.edx.org/learn/c-plus-plus
Editor’s Recommendations
