Which Online Course Certificates Do Employers Actually Recognise?
Three tiers of certificate, from a degree to a completion badge, and where each platform sits.
Not all certificates are equal. Recruiters we asked sort them into three tiers.
Tier 1: credentials with a name on them
Degrees and MicroMasters (edX, Coursera), and Professional Certificates from Google, IBM and Meta on Coursera. These are recognised for entry-level roles in IT support, data analytics, UX and project management because the employer that designed them hires from them.
Tier 2: assessed certifications
DataCamp's certifications include a timed practical exam. They carry weight in analytics teams that know the platform.
Tier 3: completion badges
Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Codecademy and Skillshare issue a certificate for finishing. They show interest, not competence. Put the project you built on your CV instead.
What we would do
For a career change, one Tier 1 certificate plus two finished projects. For a promotion in your current field, Tier 3 is fine — the skill is what matters.
» See the full rankings: Best Online Courses With Certificates, Best Online Courses for a Career Change, Best Online Course Platforms of 2026 .