Blockchain & Cryptocurrency: Training and Certification providers

Following the rising demand for individuals with Blockchain-related skillset as reflected in the job market, I decided to embark in a quest to look out for established institutions offering certifications in Blockchain, Ethereum and Crypto-currencies. Currently the demand for people with blockchain-related skillset has rapidly increased. Job platforms like Angel.co, Indeed, Glassdoor, as well as popular freelancing platforms like Toptal are evidence. Below is a list of universities and institutions I managed to compile.

Regarding this list, please keep in mind that their courses, structure, content, delivery, pre-requites and availability may change overtime therefore I advise you to stay updated with the programme provider’s website, newsletter and social media as part of the information within this article may become obsolete.

UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

UNIVERSITY OF NICOSIA (Cyprus)
Accreditation: Masters of Sciences (MSc) | Language: English
Delivery: Online | Duration: 18 months

The MSc in Digital Currency is the first Masters degree of its kind which is provided by the University of Nicosia and designed to prepare participants to become competent professionals in the field of digital currency. The syllabus is diverse and contains compulsory modules (e.g. Principles of Disruptive Innovation, Regulation and Digital Currencies, etc.) as well as elective modules which are technical-driven (e.g. Cryptographic Systems Security, and Digital Currency Programming) or more generic (e.g. Blockchain Technology and Applications, Digital Currencies in the Developing World, etc.). Graduates benefit from a broad background, combining courses in finance, management, computer science, and information systems to provide a holistic analysis of digital currency systems, applications, and services. Tuitions are delivered by top experts such as Andreas M. Antonopoulos (author of Mastering Bitcoin) among others. Just like with any Masters degree, a project and a thesis form part of this MSc package. For more information about the programme, admissions, finances, etc. please visit the University’s website.

FRANKFURT SCHOOL OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT (Germany)
Accreditation: Certificate | Language: English
Delivery: In class (Frankfurt am Main, DE) | Duration: 6 months

The Certified Blockchain Manager programme is provided by the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in cooperation with the Frankfurt School Blockchain Center, a research center investing implications of the blockchain technology within business models. The programme is a hybrid between IT and business which makes it suitable for both IT experts and business professionals (e.g. Innovation Managers, Business Administration Experts…) seeking to understand blockchain technology and crypto-currencies. Few topics focus on the Ethereum and the Hyperledger platforms, including writing smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps) and provides understanding of various business use cases. The final exam consists in writing a paper. Various topics will be given and candidates will be required to select one topic which can be technical or business-oriented. A downloadable fact sheet with all necessary information is available online.

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (UK)
Accreditation: Certificate | Language: English
Delivery: Online | Duration: 6 weeks

The Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme is provided by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. It integrates information on blockchain for business leaders and innovators, by showcasing best use cases, value propositions, and implementation strategies in the blockchain industry, allowing them to understand the effects blockchain technology will have on your industry, market and business strategies. The curriculum contains six modules, few being ‘The blockchain ecosystem’, ‘Decentralized apps and smart contracts’, and ‘Transforming enterprise business models’ besides others. Tuitions are delivered by professors hailing from the sectors of finance and technology, as well as by guest experts. The learning process includes diverse activities like group discussions and investigating real case scenarios.

IMPERIAL COLLEGE BUSINESS SCHOOL (UK)
Accreditation: ? | Language: English
Delivery: In Class | Duration: 2 days

The Imperial College Business School came up with a small programme entitled Fintech — Innovative Banking containing 4 key topics being : Distributed Ledger Technology, Digital Identity, Digital Money and Crypto-currencies, plus Digital Payments. This programme is tailored for individuals within global banking, retail banking, building societies, management consultancies and those into asset management who need to gain fundamental understanding while preparing for disruptive innovations hailing from the Fintech ecosystem.

OTHER INSTITUTIONS….

CRYPTO CURRENCY CERTIFICATION CONSORTIUM
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 3
Delivery: Online | Duration: 2 years

The Crypto Currency Certification Consortium (C4) board of directors includes Vitarik Buterin (Inventor of Ethereum) and Andreas M. Antonopoulos (author of Mastering Bitcoin). Currently they are offering 3 certification programmes being the Certified Bitcoin Professional (CBP), Certified Ethereum Developer (CED), and Certified Bitcoin Expert (CBE). Except the basic course content, there isn’t much detailed information about the CBE course. However the syllabuses for the other courses clearly indicate the structure and thoroughness as they cover important technical topics constituting the Bitcoin and Ethereum. These courses are designed to equip candidates with ample skills and technical knowledge to apply the technology to their area of expertise. A study guide for the CBP is also available and this will give you a solid idea about the programme content and exam preparation.

BLOCKCHAIN TRAINING ALLIANCE
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 6 to 9
Delivery: Instructor-led in class or online (via WebEx) | Duration: 1–4 days (depending on selected course)

Blockchain Training Alliance provides a comprehensive training schedule for Blockchain within various regions and countries across the globe (US, Canada, South America, Europe, and Asia). Currently they are offering 6 instructor-led extensive courses (e.g. Blockchain Training: An Overview for Business Professionals, Hyperledger Training: Developing on Hyperledger Fabric v1.1, etc.) either in class at a specific location, onsite at your location (this is applicable for businesses) or online via WebEx (depending on your enrollment date). In collaboration with Pearson VUE, they will be offering 3 additional certification exams and tests in person at 5,600 testing centers worldwide. This seems to be a new offer from Blockchain Training Alliance therefore it is advisable to stay updated with their website, newsletter and social media. Their courses are very thorough and applicable for non-technical professionals who want to equip themselves with fundamental knowledge about the Blockchain, and for developers who would like to learn about Ethereum and Hyperledger in depth.

B9 LAB ACADEMY
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 8
Delivery: Instructor-led in class or online | Duration: 10 hours — 12 weeks (depending on selected course)

B9 Lab Academy is currently providing 5 paid courses and 3 free introductory courses, tailored for Developers, Technical Executives, Analysts, and QA Engineers. Their free courses can be taken at any time but the paid courses are subject of availability and dependent on the application deadline. Their programmes are very technical-oriented as indicated in their extensive syllabus and for that matter, B9 Lab Academy requires candidates to have relevant working experience and development background. As well, few of their courses have pre-requisites such as having completed a previous related course provided by B9 Lab Academy or any other equivalent study. Tuitions are delivered by top-notched experts through their learning platform. Apart lectures, some courses come with practical exercises and project works which are assessed and graded. They also have a Slack channel where students are invited to share knowledge and ask questions on the appropriate course channel. As I stated before, the B9 Lab Academy courses are very extensive; therefore you need to dedicate some study hours per week.

BLOCKCHAIN COUNCIL
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 9
Delivery: Online | Duration: self-paced

The Blockchain Council is an authoritative group of experts and enthusiasts who are evangelizing the Blockchain Research, Development, Use Cases, Products and Knowledge for the better world. Currently they are offering 9 certification programs elaborated for developers (e.g. Certified Smart Contract Developer, Certified Solidity Developer, Certified Blockchain Developer, etc.) as well as for professionals who would like to acquire fundamental knowledge and relevant skillset in Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Crypto-currency (e.g. Certified Bitcoin Expert, Certified Crypto-currency Trader, Certified Blockchain Expert, etc.). The programmes are in-depth and cover a wide array of important topics and technicalities which I find amazing. Aside certifications, the Blockchain Council offers online training into various areas. Few topics of interest include: ‘Introduction to Initial Coin Offering (ICO)’, ‘Learn BaaS (Blockchain-as-a-Service) by Microsoft Azure’, and ‘How to Build a crowd-sale ICO app in Ethereum Blockchain’ among many others. Tuitions are delivered by the expert Toshendra Sharma (CEO, RecordsKeeper; Founder, Toshblocks). Each certification programme comes with a final examination consisting of multiple choice questions prior of earning certification. In case of failure, candidates are given the opportunity to re-take an exam at the maximum of 3 times.

EDUREKA
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 2
Delivery: Online, instructor-led | Duration: 15 days — 5 weeks (depending on course and class)

Edureka is providing two extensive courses entitled Blockchain Certification Training and Ethereum Developer Certification, both instructor-led and delivered online. Each course consists from 15 up to 30 sessions. The quantity of sessions is dependent on the selected class varying from Monday to Friday for 15 days, or from Saturday to Sunday for 3 to 5 weeks. Both courses are highly regarded as reflected in their top-rated reviews, and one benefit given by Edureka is the lifetime access to their Learning Management System (LMS). The courses are very extensive and packed with a wealth of modules besides case studies and practical exercises (i.e. building smart contracts, creating a decentralized network, deploying business network using Hyperledger Composer etc.). The courses have no pre-requisites however development experience on object-oriented language, fundamentals of networking and basic knowledge of command line and Linux would be advantageous to have. For professionals with limited experience who are specifically interested in the Blockchain Certification Training, I would suggest to check syllabus to see if this course is right for you.

SIMPLILEARN
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 1
Delivery: Online plus 3 Instructor-led sessions | Duration: 6 months

The Blockchain Certification Training by Simplilearn is designed for developers who want to decipher the global craze surrounding Blockchain, Bitcoin and crypto-currencies. Candidates will learn the core structure and technical mechanisms of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperledger and Multichain Blockchain platforms. This extensive course also helps to learn using latest tools to build Blockchain applications, setting up a private Blockchain, deploying smart contracts on Ethereum. As well, this course is rich in practical applications (i.e. deploying hyperledger and smart contracts) within specific use cases for instance airlines, voting and escrow to name a few. Nine real-world industry-based projects are available, and four of them form part of the assessment process. Aside examinations, candidates are also required to successfully complete 2 projects forming part of the certification eligibility criteria.

DIGITAL CURRENCY COUNCIL
Accreditation: Certificate
Delivery: Instructor-led in class or online

Do you see yourself as a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency expert who’d like to get certified? The Digital Currency Council (DCC) might have the right solution for you! They are offering the DCC Certfication Exam designed to admit individuals into the digital currency profession only after they have demonstrated the base-level knowledge necessary to protect the public interest and profession. But things don’t stop here! DCC Certified professionals must commit to maintain their certification in good standing while identifying them as DCC Certified. Part of the process is by pursuing further training through their partners. As well, a public database of all DCC Certified professionals in good standing is maintained on the Digital Currency Council website. The reason is because of the continuous changes and developments within the crypto-currency field. The DCC Certification covers 6 core modules, few being Properties and Monetary Implications, Accounting and Finance, and Regulatory and Legal. What’s really good about DCC is that you can test your knowledge through their assessment center prior of taking any exams so to understand whether additional training / preparation is needed. As you might realize, this course is suitable for experts willing to get qualified, maintaining their DCC and pursuing additional studies.

LEORON
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 1
Delivery: In class or online | Duration: 5 days

Leoron, in association with the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) is offering the Certified FinTech and Blockchain Professional course in-house or online. The syllabus covers a variety of advanced topics related with Blockchain and crypto-currency, but also covers additional areas connected with FinTech, Financial Mathematics and banking (e.g. Historical Influences of Financial Mathematics and Technology, Digitalization of Banking Services, Cryptography and Digital Signatures, FinTech: Technological Change, etc.). This course is designed for IT & Corporate Project Managers, Business Development Professionals, Sales/technical advisors, mid/senior level managers, investment managers, and corporate professionals with limited technological background. Unlike other programmes, this one embraces aspects related with FinTech and financial industries.

BLOCKCHAIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Accreditation: Certificate | Courses offered: 3
Delivery: Online | Duration: self-paced

The Blockchain Institute of Technology is run by George Levy, a Certified Senior Blockchain Professional and Certified Bitcoin Professional; and previously a co-founder for Yupi.com before it got acquired by Microsoft. Currently the Blockchain Institute of Technology is offering 3 courses entitled Blockchain and Bitcoin Fundamentals, Crypto-currency Fundamentals, and Bitcoin Advance Level: Transactions. The syllabuses for all courses cover the fundamentals in-depth (as the titles imply) for Bitcoin and crypto-currency. Topics of interest among many others include the using and storing of crypto-currency, selecting the right wallet, tracking value, etc. Truly these courses are designed for those who want to explore the world of crypto-currency and transactions; therefore novice and expert Bitcoin enthusiasts with limited technical knowledge will find these courses useful as they cover practical aspects and the basics. Each course comes with videos, quizzes and PDFs.

IBM
Accreditation: Certification of completion plus badge | Courses offered: 2
Delivery: Online | Duration: 2–6 hours, self-paced (depending on selected course)

IBM is currently offering 2 FREE courses being the IBM Blockchain Essentials which is also a pre-requisite for the next course being the IBM Blockchain Foundation Developer, consisting of a developer-oriented course as the certification title implies. Both courses are self-paced, delivered online and bundled with video casts plus downloadable case study material. The IBM Blockchain Essentials cover the fundamentals of the Blockchain within business use cases and covers a bit about the Linux Foundation Hyperledger Fabric, something IBM is involved in. On the other hand, the IBM Blockchain Foundation Developer covers topics of interest related with Blockchain Fabric Development and Blockchain architecture. Upon completing the courses, candidates will be given a short quiz consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions. Once an 80% or above score is achieved, a certificate of completion plus an e-badge (sharable on platforms like LinkedIn) will be issued. The IBM Blockchain Essentials is definitely a great option for beginners to get immersed into the Blockchain ecosystem and its business use cases. Therefore I would suggest it as a proper starting point before pursing advance studies. As well, please note that the IBM courses aren’t crypto-currency driven therefore they might not be applicable for those who are interested in pursuing learning in this topic.

So you might be probably wondering about which one to go for. Understand that studies require a significant amount of time to invest in reading, researching, watching videos and last but not least synthesizing the acquired knowledge to make the best out of it. Lastly it also comes down to the amount of funding you are willing to invest. Happy learning…