Best Excel Courses for 2025: Skills to Stay Ahead

Microsoft Excel is far more than a simple spreadsheet tool—it’s a vital skill that powers careers across industries like finance, marketing, project management, and data analytics. Whether you’re a professional, student, or entrepreneur, mastering Excel can open doors to new job opportunities, simplify complex workflows, and fuel business success. Additionally, as technologies like AI and automation reshape the workplace, Excel proficiency is set to become an increasingly indispensable skill by 2025.

This guide highlights the top Excel courses for 2025, designed to meet the needs of beginners, advanced users, finance professionals, and anyone looking to build advanced Excel skills or gain certification. Whether you’re seeking a foundational course in Excel fundamentals or an advanced training program, this article will outline the best options and key factors to consider.

Top Trends in Excel Training for 2025

The Rising Importance of Excel in an AI-driven World

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are reshaping the way businesses operate. While they simplify repetitive tasks, they also demand workers to have strong data management skills. 

Once known for basic number-crunching, Excel has evolved into a powerful tool for creating interactive dashboards, integrating machine learning, and performing sophisticated data analysis.

Courses in 2025 are addressing these advancements by incorporating lessons on:

• Polishing Excel data visualization with Power Query and Power Pivot.
• Automating tedious tasks using Excel Macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).
• Integrating Excel with AI tools for data forecasting and modeling.

Customized Learning Paths for Specific Roles

Courses are now tailored to specific job roles. For example, a financial analyst may need to master Excel for budgeting, accounting, and forecasting, while a marketing specialist may require data analysis skills for creating reports. The right Excel course can help professionals build expertise in their area of work, making them valuable assets within their organizations.

Some courses in 2025 will offer role-specific tracks like:

• Business Intelligence: Data modeling and analytics for management reporting.
• Financial Modelling: Advanced financial functions like NPV (Net Present Value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return).
• Data Visualization: Designing dynamic charts and graphs that tell compelling stories with data.

Integrated Learning Platforms for Continuous Improvement

With the increasing reliance on technology, continuous learning has become a necessity. Courses in 2025 will leverage interactive online platforms to deliver content that adapts to individual learning styles. These platforms will provide access to instructor-led training, videos, quizzes, and hands-on exercises that promote self-paced learning.

Some key features of integrated learning platforms include:

• Personalized study plans based on individual strengths and weaknesses.
• Real-time feedback on assignments and assessments.
• Access to an active community of learners for peer support and mentorship.

Criteria for Choosing the Best Excel Course

Before diving into recommendations, consider these factors when selecting the right course:

Certification

Ensure the course provides a recognized certification that can boost your resume. Certificates from platforms like Coursera or Microsoft are valued by employers.

Comprehensive Curriculum

Look for a balance of basic and advanced concepts. Key topics include formulas, charts, PivotTables, VBA scripting, and data visualization.

Learning Format

Determine whether you prefer live or self-paced lessons. Some learners thrive with hands-on practice via live teaching, while others enjoy the flexibility of on-demand classes.

Cost and Affordability

Price points for Excel training can range widely. Free courses are ideal for basic learning, but more advanced and certification-oriented courses may require an investment.

Reviews and Ratings

Always assess user reviews for insights into course quality, teaching methods, and the effectiveness of the advanced course content.

Best Excel Courses for Beginners

If you’re new to learning Excel spreadsheets, these beginner-friendly programs by ONLC provide practical learning while building a solid foundation in Excel skills:

1. Excel Introduction

Master the fundamentals of Excel and learn how to create spreadsheets with ease. Discover how to input data, use formulas, format your work, and prepare professional-looking workbooks for printing.

This course is perfect for anyone responsible for building, editing, or managing basic spreadsheets in their role.

2. Excel Charts, Formatting and Reporting

Master the fundamentals of creating visualizations in Excel. Learn how to design charts, apply styles and templates, and use conditional formatting to highlight key data points with ease.

This course is perfect for professionals who need to present spreadsheet data effectively, create compelling visualizations, and leverage conditional formatting to enhance advanced reports as part of their role.

3. Excel Database Features and PivotTables

Master the fundamentals of data management and statistical analysis using PivotTables in Excel. This course will guide you through creating tables, importing, modifying, and analyzing data, as well as designing and enhancing PivotTables.

Designed for professionals responsible for managing data and building PivotTables, this training equips you with the skills to streamline your workflow and unlock the full potential of Excel.

4. Excel Workbooks, Formulas and Functions

Learn to manage large worksheets, build models, and master advanced Excel formulas, including financial, date, and logical functions.

This course is perfect for anyone responsible for creating and managing complex spreadsheets and models, equipping you with the skills to excel in your role.

Intermediate Excel Training Courses

For those with a basic understanding of Excel, these intermediate courses will take your skills to the next level.

5. Excel Tips, Tricks and Timesavers

This one-day course is designed to help you unlock the full potential of Excel with practical tips, clever tricks, and time-saving techniques. In this fast-paced session, you’ll explore Excel’s most popular features and learn how to use them more efficiently.

This class is perfect for individuals with self-taught skills, prior formal training, or attended one or more Excel Core Skills courses. Enhance your knowledge and take your Excel proficiency to the next level!

6. Excel Power User

This dynamic, fast-paced class offers a comprehensive overview of the most powerful and time-saving Excel techniques available. As part of the course, you’ll also receive a complete 5-volume set of Excel materials (including related data files) to support your learning.

If you’ve been using Excel for years and already have a solid foundation, you don’t need an introductory class or training focused on a single topic. What you need is a streamlined, high-impact refresher that brings you up to speed on Excel’s latest features across various key areas.

This course covers everything from advanced charting and database tools to pivot tables, managing multiple worksheets, advanced functions, and even an introduction to Macros.

Advanced Excel Training Programs

Take your skills to the next level with these advanced training programs:

7. Power BI Introduction for Excel Users

This course is designed to equip you with the key skills needed to transition data from Excel into Power BI seamlessly. You’ll learn how to transform and shape data, build robust data models, create insightful reports, and publish them using the Power BI cloud service. Tailored for non-IT professionals, this course empowers anyone looking to effortlessly create and share professional-grade reports with Power BI.

8. Power BI Introduction for Excel Users

This course is designed to teach you the essential skills needed to seamlessly transition data from Excel into Power BI. You’ll learn how to transform and shape your data, build effective models, create insightful reports, and publish them on the Power BI cloud service.

Tailored for non-IT professionals, this course empowers individuals to easily create and share professional-quality reports with Power BI, streamlining the reporting process and making data accessible to everyone.

9. Excel Forecasting and What-If Analysis

Excel offers a wealth of built-in tools and add-ons designed to simplify the creation of complex models, including those that utilize What-If Analysis through Scenarios, Solver, or Data Tables. Its Forecast functions make projecting and customizing forecasts and trend lines both intuitive and efficient. 

Additionally, the course explores Excel’s powerful Data Model feature, which enables users to manage and analyze large datasets directly within the platform.

This course is tailored for professionals responsible for creating forecasts and conducting What-If Analysis, providing them with the foundational skills to effectively leverage Excel’s advanced capabilities.

10. Excel Macros

Advanced Excel users often face repetitive tasks, such as generating reports, updating data, or formatting tables on a regular basis. With the power of Macros, many of these routine processes can be automated, saving time and effort. In this course, you’ll learn to leverage advanced Excel features to record the steps you frequently perform and execute them with the press of a button—efficiently and repeatedly.

Designed for those who frequently use Excel 2016, 2013, or 2010, this course is perfect for automating everyday tasks. Best of all, no programming experience is required to get started.

11. Excel Programming with VBA

Students will gain proficiency in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and explore the key Excel classes and objects essential for creating powerful automation scripts. Through hands-on learning, participants will develop procedures and functions using VBA, leveraging Excel objects to streamline tasks.

The course also covers utilizing the PivotTable object to build macros that enhance interactivity within standard Pivot Tables. Additionally, participants will refine their skills with debugging techniques and error-handling strategies, ensuring robust and reliable code.

Online Excel Training Courses On-Demand

ONLC offers an online self-paced training course for Excel titled “Excel On-Demand: Comprehensive (Basic, Intermediate & Advanced self-study). This On-Demand course combines expert-led lectures, engaging PowerPoint visuals, and hands-on demonstrations to help you master Excel at your own pace. With quizzes and exams included, you’ll be guided through the material step by step to ensure successful completion.

You can access the course from any internet-connected device, and ownership of the software isn’t necessary to follow along. When you purchase this course, you’ll receive a printed Learning Guide along with access to downloadable practice files to enhance your learning. However, you will need the software (either a purchased version or a free trial) to use the practice files.

Please note: Printed materials are not included if you purchase the Office On-Demand Comprehensive bundle or if Office On-Demand is part of the All You Can Learn package.

Microsoft Excel Certification

Achieving a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification demonstrates to clients and employers that you possess advanced skills and expertise in a specific Office application. ONLC’s training courses are designed to help you prepare for both MOS and MOS Expert certifications, setting you up for success.

EXCEL MOS

Earning a MOS Excel certification demonstrates your mastery of essential Excel skills and your ability to leverage its features to complete tasks effectively. To achieve this certification, we recommend the following courses and practical, hands-on experience with the software.

• Excel Introduction
• Excel Charts, Formatting & Reporting
• Excel Database Features & Pivot Tables
• Excel Workbooks, Formulas & Functions
  
  —OR—
• Excel On-Demand: Comprehensive (Basic, Intermediate & Advanced self-study)

Excel MOS Certification Exam

The MO-200: Excel Associate (Excel 365/2019) or 77-727: Excel 2016: Core Data Analysis, Manipulation, and Presentation are official MOS certification exams designed to test your Excel skills. These performance-based exams are offered through Certiport, where candidates can schedule their tests directly.

EXCEL MOS EXPERT

Earning MOS Expert certification proves you have advanced-level skills and understanding of a specific Office application and can assist others with the proper use of the program’s features.

The below courses, which are the same as those for the MOS credential above, can help you get started. You should also have extensive hands-on experience with Microsoft Excel before attempting the MOS-Expert exam, as it goes into much greater depth and breadth than the entry-level MOS exam.

• Excel Introduction
• Excel Charts, Formatting & Reporting
• Excel Database Features & Pivot Tables
• Excel Workbooks, Formulas & Functions

—OR—

• Excel On-Demand: Comprehensive (Basic, Intermediate & Advanced self-study) 

Excel Expert Certification Exam

MO-201: Excel Expert (Office 365/2019) or 77-728: Excel Expert 2016 focuses on interpreting data for actionable insights. These Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Expert exams are performance-based and administered through Certiport.

Benefits of Earning a Microsoft Excel Certification

Earning a certification in Microsoft Excel can provide numerous benefits, such as:

• Enhancing your resume and job prospects: With the widespread use of Excel in various industries, having a certification can make you stand out to potential employers.
• Demonstrating expertise in Excel skills and knowledge: A certification is a tangible way to showcase your proficiency in using Excel, including advanced features and functions.
• Improving productivity and efficiency: Through targeted training programs, you can learn how to utilize Excel more effectively, saving time and effort in completing tasks.
• Increasing earning potential: Holding an Excel certification may lead to higher-paying job opportunities or promotions within your current organization.
• Gaining recognition and credibility: Having a recognized certification from a reputable source, such as Microsoft, can boost your professional reputation and credibility in the workplace.
• Access to exclusive resources and support: Certification holders may have access to specialized training materials, online communities, and events for ongoing learning and networking opportunities.

With the convenience of online training options and the added value of earning a recognized certification, there’s no better time to invest in developing your Excel skills.

Excel Skills Are Your Superpower for 2025

Excel is no longer a “nice-to-have” skill—it’s a must for professionals, students, and entrepreneurs looking to excel in an increasingly data-rich world. With AI trends and job-specific courses transforming how we learn, the right Excel training can give you a competitive edge.

Whether you’re a novice looking for Excel courses for beginners or an industry expert seeking more advanced understanding, there’s an option for you. ONLC offers an extensive range of courses designed to help you excel in Excel, including on-demand self-study options for flexibility and convenience.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to improve your Excel skills and boost your career prospects—enroll in an ONLC Excel course today!