How Long Does it Take to Learn Python for Finance?

Like many aspiring finance and FinTech professions, you might want to learn Python for finance but worry that it will take too much time. How long it takes to learn Python for finance depends on your prior knowledge and experience, as well as the specific skills you set out to learn. Keep reading to learn about how you can learn Python for finance and about resources that can help speed the process along.

What is Python for Finance?

Programmers use Python for web development, data analytics, data science, finance, and more. Python is an object-oriented, interpreted, and high-level programming language that places emphasis on code readability by using significant indentation. Its simplicity, flexibility, and its status as a free, open-source programming language make Python incredibly popular around the world.

Python has been in use for more than 30 years and is a free program available to the public. This means there are many resources available to learn this highly useful programming language. Python is generally considered a beginner-friendly programming language to learn, meaning you do not need to have previous coding experience to start learning Python. However, as with any new skill, learning Python can prove challenging, especially when learning more advanced Python skills such as those involved in data science. Learning Python can bolster resumes in the fields of technology, finance, retail, marketing, and more. 

Read more about what Python is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Python for Finance?

Python is an open-source programming language that has been in use for over 30 years. This free-to-use programming language enjoys massive popularity thanks to its many uses. Python is used for web development, data science, data analytics, and more. In the finance industry, Python is used by Traders, Analysts, and Researchers, as well as companies like Stripe and Robinhood. Python’s simplicity and flexibility make it a popular programming language in the finance industry because it makes creating formulas and algorithms far easier than comparable programming languages. Python libraries and tools also make it easier to integrate programs with third parties, a common need in FinTech. 

Python’s analytics tools, such as the Pandas library, allow for the creation of data visualizations and interactive dashboards that reference large quantities of data. The Python libraries PyBrain and Scikit allow for machine learning algorithms that enable predictive analytics. You’ll find Python programming at work in cryptocurrency, stock trading, banking apps, and more.

Average Time it Takes to Learn Python for Finance

The average time it takes to learn Python for finance depends on the training method and the depth of the course. Some courses take one week or less while more in-depth courses, such as certificate courses, may take multiple months. 

Other Factors

Factors that impact how long it takes to learn Python for finance include your familiarity with Python, your familiarity with data science, and the training method you choose. This section offers further details about how these factors impact your training timeline. 

Familiarity with Python

Python for finance involves using advanced Python programming skills, so to learn Python for finance, you must first gain a solid foundation in Python programming basics. Courses like Noble Desktop’s Python Programming Bootcamp are designed to help you rapidly learn Python coding fundamentals. You can take a course like this to gain hands-on experience with basic Python programming, or you can choose to take a class that teaches the fundamentals of Python alongside other skills, such as foundational data science skills. 

Familiarity with Data Science

Learning Python for finance also requires a basic understanding of data science. Noble Desktop’s Python for Data Science & Machine Learning Bootcamp provides an excellent starting point for those interested in Python for finance as data science and machine learning are two of the main uses for Python in the finance industry. The more you understand data science, the easier it will be to apply that knowledge to finance and finance technology. 

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

Python is considered a beginner-friendly language and is one of the best programming languages to learn for novice programmers. However, like all coding languages, learning Python can prove a challenge for those who choose to go it alone. Python for finance involves using advanced Python skills that go beyond Python programming fundamentals, so most people benefit from learning under the guidance of an expert instructor.

Before you can learn Python for finance, you must first master Python programming fundamentals and have a basic understanding of data science essentials.

Python itself is an open-source, free programming language that anyone can use at no cost. The cost of learning Python for finance depends on the learning method you choose. On-demand classes on paid learning platforms cost between $30 and $60 a month. In-person and live online classes cost between $1,000 and $5,000 depending on the length of a course. For example, a one-week bootcamp will cost less than a multi-month program. The total cost of learning Python for finance will also depend on whether or not you take prerequisite classes in addition to FinTech and Python for finance courses.

Read about how difficult it is to learn Python for finance.

Watch a Free Python for Finance Online Course

If you don’t feel ready to dive into a full course on Python for finance, you can start learning basic skills with a free introductory course. Noble Desktop’s free video seminar Intro to Python Fundamentals offers a high-level overview of Python programming basics. This video course is intended for those who do not have an existing knowledge of Python programming, and serves as a valuable starting point for learning Python for finance. 

You can also find free Python introductory courses on sites like Udemy and Coursera, as well as Youtube. Some classes are entirely free while others can be accessed using a free trial, after which may require students to pay a premium subscription fee.

Read about more free Python for finance videos and online tutorials.

Learn Python for Finance with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online classes that help you master Python for finance. You can start by learning the Python programming basics, then progress to advanced Python uses, or you can explore classes that specialize in teaching the financial uses of Python programming. Noble’s classes offer many benefits including expert instructor guidance given in real-time, small class sizes, and free retake options.

If you do not have previous experience with Python programming, Noble’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp provides the foundational knowledge needed before you learn Python for finance. This bootcamp covers Python programming basics including loops, objects, and functions, handling different types of data, using conditional statements, using object-oriented programming, data visualizations, making predictions, and more. Once you have completed this bootcamp, you can proceed to the Python for Finance Bootcamp in which you will learn how to gather and manipulate financial data using Python’s major financial libraries.

Looking to launch a new career using Python for finance? Noble Desktop’s FinTech Bootcamp prepares students for entry-level positions in financial technology and data science. This certificate program includes multiple courses in which you will learn about Python for data science, automation, data visualization, machine learning, and finance. You will also learn about financial modeling.

Learn more about Noble Desktop’s live online Python classes and live online Finance classes to compare different courses and options.

Key Insights

• How long it takes to learn Python for finance depends on several factors, including your prior knowledge of Python programming and data science. 
• Python for finance courses vary in length depending on the depth of the course. Some classes last less than a week while others, like certificate programs, take a few months.
• If you need to satisfy prerequisites, such as learning Python fundamentals, it can take longer to learn Python for finance as you will first need to complete a class on the Python basics. The same applies to data science.
• Taking a combination course can help you learn important prerequisites and Python for finance in a single course.
• You can take live online courses from Noble Desktop to learn prerequisite skills, Python for finance, and more.