Can I Learn Excel On My Own?

If you’re interested in teaching yourself how to work with Microsoft Excel, you may wonder if it’s possible to learn this app on your own. Because Excel is the industry-standard spreadsheet application used by over 750 million people around the globe, many high-quality training resources are available for learners at all proficiency levels. Those who are just getting started working with spreadsheets can get a basic overview of Excel and learn the basics via on-demand classes or other online resources. Additionally, content like YouTube videos is an excellent resource for learning how to perform a specific Excel task, including more advanced skills like creating macros or working with PivotTables. While it will take most learners longer to learn Excel on their own, and they won’t have the benefit of a live instructor, it’s possible for most individuals to learn Excel through independent study. The following sections will take a closer look at some of the advantages and drawbacks of learning Excel independently, several popular training tools that can help with this process, and alternatives to self-teaching Excel.

Advantages to Self-Teaching Excel

If you’re considering learning Excel through self-teaching, there are many advantages to this type of learning. Since Excel is a widely used program, many high-quality online training resources are available from top educators around the globe. Students can select short YouTube videos on formatting or opt for longer seminars that span hours and provide an overview of many essential spreadsheet basic skills. Online blogs and tutorials are also posted by some educators. Cost-wise, these classes and resources are often a much more affordable study option than live coursework. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a skills class or bootcamp or investing thousands in a certificate program, self-teaching resources are available for a fraction of this cost (often under $100). Some Excel content is even available for free, which may make it enticing for some students because it can provide a low-stakes way to begin learning Excel.

Those who have busy schedules or are interested in learning just one specific Excel skill may prefer to work with online training materials for self-teaching because of the flexibility they provide. Videos and lessons are pre-recorded and placed online. Students can study from any location they wish at any time. Rather than have an instructor decide on lesson speed, learners have the flexibility of dictating their own learning pace; they can pause, rewind, or rewatch entire lessons as necessary to ensure the content is being committed to memory. There’s also no need to commute to and from a designated training facility when self-teaching Excel. Instead of battling rush-hour traffic for live coursework, Excel students can complete their lessons from the comfort of their own homes or offices. They can also schedule their learning around other commitments, including full-time employment.

Another advantage of self-teaching Excel is that the learner can determine which resources are most suited to their learning needs and disregard those that aren’t a good match. For example, individuals who are just getting started working with spreadsheets may benefit from a longer, on-demand course that provides a general overview of Excel’s features, tools, and functions, as well as how to perform basic calculations. On the other hand, those who already have basic spreadsheet knowledge may be further ahead to select an intermediate or advanced-level program where more complex spreadsheet skills are taught. Students who opt to self-teach Excel can pick and choose from many online resources to find the ones best for their needs and budgets.

Excel Self-Teaching Tools

If you have a busy work schedule or are involved in many after-work activities, attending an in-person or live online bootcamp may be difficult since it requires being available for regularly scheduled meetings. This is why some learners opt to learn Excel on their own. The following sections will briefly discuss several popular self-teaching tools for Excel, as well as the advantages of working with each.

Coursera, Udemy, and Other On-demand Platforms

Learners who find it difficult to attend live coursework, such as that which is provided in bootcamps or college courses, may prefer the flexibility of learning Microsoft Excel through on-demand content. On-demand spreadsheet coursework is pre-recorded and placed online. Tutorials, blogs, and videos are available to students to watch at any time they wish, from any location with a strong internet connection. This type of training not only allows students to complete coursework as their schedule permits but also allows them to determine their own study speed. Many educators worldwide offer self-paced coursework, including Skillshare, Coursera, and Udemy. These courses are often a good way to begin studying Excel or to gain a basic understanding of how to navigate this app’s interface. Some on-demand content even extends into the field of data analytics or business analytics and provides Excel instruction as a component of this umbrella topic.

Course content varies significantly with on-demand training, depending on the provider, class focus, and level of instruction. Some on-demand content is very short and takes only a few hours to complete, such as Exceljet’s Conditional Formatting class. Other programs, including UBCx’s Excel for Everyone Professional Certificate, require several months of study to complete a series of related classes. Each learner must determine their own learning needs to decide which course or program is best for them.

YouTube & Online Video Content

Whether you’re new to Excel or have years of experience working with spreadsheets and are interested in filling in skill gaps, many free spreadsheet resources and tutorials are available online on platforms like YouTube that can provide useful knowledge in a range of Excel features and functions. If you have a specific Excel question, you can search for an answer online and likely find a free resource that can provide clarification. Tech training companies like Noble Desktop also offer free online Excel resources, including 10 Beginner Excel Tricks You Need to Know. This hour-long video is a great place to start your Excel learning journey, as it includes instruction on core topics like navigation shortcuts, autofill, and absolute cell reference. 

In addition to Noble’s resources, other top providers around the world upload short videos on platforms like YouTube in which they provide instruction on specific Excel tasks. Students can select short video clips that take just a few minutes to watch or more involved video training that runs for more than an hour. Some popular YouTube Excel channels are available from ExcelisFun, Excel Campus, TeachExcel, and Excel Dude. Additionally, Microsoft Support provides free video training options in a range of core spreadsheet skills, such as tips for getting started using this app, using tables and charts, sharing and co-authoring documents, and exploring Power Query. 

Online Blogs & Tutorials

Many top educational providers post written content on Microsoft Excel. These articles are useful for those looking to learn a specific spreadsheet skill. A simple Google search will yield many such resources that students can read on their own to learn how to perform a specific task in Excel. Educators like Noble Desktop post well-researched articles on a range of useful Excel skills, features, and topics. Noble’s Learn Hub contains more than three dozen articles on Excel topics like how to customize the ribbon, create a basic sparkline, and use Excel on an Android phone.

Drawbacks to Learning Excel on Your Own

While online resources for self-teaching Excel can be a good way to fill an Excel skill gap or acquire a basic understanding of this application, they do not provide the structure or support of live learning options. Because there isn’t an instructor available in real-time, it’s important to consider that it can be difficult to master complex Excel skills solely through asynchronous content. Those interested in acquiring project-specific knowledge, such as how to format and print a spreadsheet for an upcoming word deadline, may find it more useful to learn from short, on-demand video content than someone who’s hoping to learn Excel from scratch to pursue a new career. 

It’s important for students interested in self-teaching Excel to be independently motivated learners who are able to find answers on their own, if and when necessary. Some students may also struggle to find motivation to complete lessons since no instructor is issuing deadlines and no other students are present during their studies. While this level of freedom appeals to some, it can also be a drawback for others who may fall behind on lessons and struggle to remain motivated to learn Excel. Moreover, when you’re watching a video recording of an Excel class or learning through other online content, there’s no way to ask questions or receive clarification, even on difficult concepts. This means that if you can’t understand how to perform a particular calculation, it’s up to you to figure this out independently. 

Additionally, since so much online content is available, it’s important to research the provider who posts Excel material to ensure it’s up to date. Some content posted online may pertain to an earlier version of this spreadsheet application, which means it can become dated. When selecting self-teaching materials, you must ensure that the shortcuts provided are compatible with your computing device. Some Excel training material is intended for PC users, whereas other content is geared toward Mac users.

Alternatives to Learning Excel on Your Own

While studying Excel on your own has many advantages, including flexibility of study time and pacing of content, there’s no substitute for learning in the live format. Live Excel training classes are the most engaging and interactive way to learn this industry-standard spreadsheet application. Skills classes, bootcamps, and certificate programs are available in person at designated training facilities in major cities around the country, as well as in the live online environment using Zoom or a similar teleconferencing platform. Coursework is available for spreadsheet novices as well as advanced Excel users interested in mastering complicated spreadsheet tasks.

One of the main perks of enrolling in a live Excel class is that you’ll have real-time access to an instructor with industry experience creating and manipulating spreadsheets. These teachers are not only there to answer questions but to provide guidance and support along the way. By enrolling in an in-person or live online Excel class, you’ll be able to ask questions as they arise and receive immediate clarification and guidance. This is especially useful when working with difficult Excel skills or concepts. Those who opt for live online training can even share their screen with the instructor (with permission) for additional help. In addition to personalized assistance with spreadsheets from the instructor, students who take an Excel class also benefit from the support of learning alongside other students, which can provide an additional sense of camaraderie and community. 

Some live courses also include additional learning incentives that aren’t available with self-taught materials. These resources include supplemental videos, training materials, or other useful content that assists with the learning process. More in-depth programs like certificates in data analytics often include perks like 1-on-1 mentoring, career counseling, professional portfolio development, or job placement assistance. This is why those who are interested in learning Excel for professional reasons, such as career advancement or to pursue an entirely new job, are likely to benefit more from live study than self-taught material.

Learn Excel with Noble Desktop

If you’re interested in learning more about spreadsheets, Noble Desktop provides in-person and live online Excel courses. These classes are available to those who are just getting started using spreadsheets and professionals who want to acquire advanced-level Excel training. All Noble courses provide hands-on training in a small class environment and include a free course retake for up to a full year.

For those who want to explore Excel basics, Excel Level I: Fundamentals is an excellent learning option. This one-day program covers all the essential spreadsheet skills you’ll need to start working with this application. Participants explore basic functions, calculations, formatting, graphs, and printing. This program is intended for those who have little experience with Excel and want to become more proficient.

Excel Level 2: Intermediate is intended for those looking to build on their basic Excel training and take their skills even further. This short class covers topics like working with SUMIFs and VLOOKUP. Participants become familiar with using PivotTables to summarize data, split and join text, and sort and filter databases. As a prerequisite to enrollment, students should have completed Excel Level 1 or have a similar skill set, including basic knowledge of formulas, functions, formatting, and printing.

Noble also offers Excel Level 3: Advanced for students seeking to master this application’s complicated features. This program prepares learners to work with advanced analytics tools, write macros to increase efficiency, and use complex functions like INDEX-Double MATCH and VLOOKUP-MATCH. Those who wish to enroll in this program should have proficiency with spreadsheets equivalent to Noble’s Intermediate Excel course, such as knowledge of IF statements, VLOOKUP, and PivotTables.

In addition to short courses, Noble also has a bootcamp program that offers more comprehensive spreadsheet training. In Excel Bootcamp, participants progress from Excel beginners to pros over the course of several days. This hands-on course combines beginner, intermediate, and advanced course training and leaves students with the skills necessary to work with functions and formulas, create macros, and work with PivotTables.