What is the Fastest Way to Learn Excel?

In some instances, speed is a consideration when learning a new skill like Microsoft Excel. If, for example, you have to learn to create a PivotTable for a work-related project or are interested in embarking on a new career in data analytics, it may be essential to acquire Excel training quickly. There are several fast ways to learn Excel, including through free online resources, introductory-level courses, bootcamps, certificate programs, and on-demand content.

This article will delve into several available options that can help you learn Excel as quickly as possible, based on the level of proficiency you’re interested in acquiring and your ultimate goals with using this spreadsheet application.

Free Resources: The Basics

If you’d like to acquire fundamental spreadsheet training, including an overview of the Excel interface and its basic features, or explore a specific Excel skill for a current work project, free online resources can be a great starting place. Microsoft Support provides free video training options in a range of core spreadsheet skills, such as how to get started working with this app, use tables and charts, share and co-author documents, and explore Power Query. Many providers offer free online resources designed to cover basic, intermediate, or advanced Excel skills. 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. There are also a variety of free books, blog posts, and other training content that cover Excel features and functions for those interested in reading more about Excel before enrolling in a structured, live class.

Introductory Classes: For Students Looking to Become Comfortable with Excel

If you’re the kind of learner searching for a more immersive training experience than can be provided with free online resources, introductory-level Excel programs are a great alternative. Classes such as those provided by Noble Desktop provide hands-on spreadsheet training for those without experience working with Excel. Beginner-friendly Excel classes usually take one day or several days to complete and provide a solid foundation in spreadsheet basics that can pave the way for further study. Students can learn either in-person or live online and have the opportunity to fully immerse in skills and concepts like basic calculations and functions, core data visualizations like charts and graphs, and formatting and printing. Because these classes are so short, those who work full-time or have busy schedules can balance their Excel study with other commitments without having to devote weeks or months to longer programs. 

Introductory-level Excel classes are a great learning option because they provide students with the fundamental training in spreadsheets they’ll need, regardless of their professional focus. Whether you’re an aspiring Financial Analyst, Accountant, Retail Manager, Bookkeeper, or Data Analyst, Excel training is a must, and most employers look for employees who have this training. Even knowledge of spreadsheet basics can save you huge amounts of time and ensure that the data you’re working with is organized, accessible, and useful. Beginner-friendly Excel classes, therefore, are often technically focused and provide useful, time-saving tips on basic commands and shortcuts that have applications across industries and professions. 

Certificate Programs: For Aspiring Professionals

If you’re looking to learn Excel skills alongside other data tools and skills, certificate coursework can provide you with the training you need. Certificates in fields like data analytics or business intelligence provide students with the opportunity to learn several essential skills alongside Excel and grow into well-rounded professionals. Programs like the Data Analytics Certificate, which is available from Noble Desktop, is designed to teach a range of relevant, in-demand data skills. Participants work with programming languages like SQL and Python, as well as software like Tableau for data visualization. The Excel component of this training is specific to data analysis and intended to be used alongside these complementary skills. Upon graduating from a certificate program, participants have the skills necessary to pursue an entry-level data analytics or business intelligence career path.

One of the major perks of certificate study is the depth of training they offer. Unlike university study, which typically requires a four-year commitment or longer, certificates offer a condensed type of training while still providing in-depth instruction. Most data analytics certificates where Excel is taught take only weeks or months to complete, which is a fraction of the time of university coursework. Whereas college requires completing general education requirements and other courses unrelated to one’s major, certificate study offers learners a focused approach to learning where they’re only studying topics they can use in a professional setting. The skills learned during certificate study can be used immediately upon graduating. Most certificate programs also offer students additional incentives, including 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, professional support and development, and the opportunity to compile a professional portfolio.

On-Demand Courses

Another training option for those interested in acquiring spreadsheet training in a relatively short time frame is to enroll in on-demand Excel training. These programs are available from many top educators, including Coursera and Udemy. One of the main benefits of on-demand study is that it’s self-paced; the 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.

Course content varies significantly 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.

Because no live instructor is available, 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 create a PivotTable 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. It’s important for students interested in on-demand training to be self-motivated learners who are able to find answers on their own, if and when necessary. Some students may struggle in this environment to find motivation to complete lessons since no instructor is issuing deadlines and no other students are present during their studies. 

Learn Excel with Noble Desktop

If you’re ready to learn Excel, Noble Desktop has several course options available that require different amounts of time to complete. Noble has in-person and live online Excel courses available in person in New York City and live online for learners at all levels, including those with no prior spreadsheet training. All Noble classes, bootcamps, and certificates offer learners hands-on training in the small class environment and include the option of a free course retake for one full year.

For those interested in a short Excel skills class, Noble offers three levels of instruction. Excel Level I: Fundamentals is a good option for spreadsheet novices. This one-day class covers the essential spreadsheet skills you’ll need to get started working with this application, including how to work with cells, rows, and columns. Instruction is provided on basic calculations, functions, graphs, formatting, and printing. 

Excel Level 2: Intermediate is available for students who want to build on their prior Excel training and take their skills to the next level. This short class covers topics like how to work with VLOOKUP and SUMIFs. Participants learn how to use PivotTables to summarize data, explore how to split and join text, and study how to sort and filter databases. All students should have completed Excel Level 1 or possess a similar skill set and have knowledge of formulas, formatting, functions, and printing to enroll.

Advanced training is also available in the short format from Noble. In Excel Level 3: Advanced, students work with complex functions like INDEX-Double MATCH and VLOOKUP-MATCH, use advanced analytics tools, and write macros to save time and improve efficiency. Prospective students should have proficiency with spreadsheets that’s equivalent to Noble’s Intermediate Excel course, which includes knowledge of VLOOKUP, IF statements, and PivotTables.

In addition to shorter skills classes, Noble also offers a bootcamp with more in-depth spreadsheet training. In Excel Bootcamp, students quickly progress from Excel beginners to pros over the course of several days. This hands-on program comprises beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel skills courses and provides participants with the well-rounded skills needed to use Excel in the workplace, including how to create macros and PivotTables.