Coding for Beginners Certificate

If you are curious about how software works or would like to write your own programs but do not know where to begin, this course is for you. Coding can help you develop practical technical skills, strengthen your problem-solving abilities and better understand the technology used in everyday life.

This introductory course may be useful if you are considering further study, exploring a career in technology or simply looking to improve your digital confidence. You do not need any previous programming experience.

Coding for Beginners Certificate Course

This course introduces the essential concepts needed to begin writing simple programs. It has been designed for beginners and includes practical examples using Python, a widely used general-purpose programming language.

You will progress from basic computing and programming concepts to variables, collections, decisions, loops, functions, modules and object-oriented programming. You will also learn how to handle errors, work with external files and JSON data, and manage third-party packages in a virtual environment.

By the end of the course, you should have a foundation for continued study and be able to plan, write, test and improve small Python programs.

What you will learn:

The course combines explanations, example programs and practical activities to help you apply what you learn. Topics include:

  • Important developments in the history of computing and programming
  • How computers represent and process information using binary
  • How to create variables and use common Python data types and operators
  • How to work with strings, lists, tuples, sets and dictionaries
  • How to control program execution using conditions and loops
  • How to define functions, pass arguments and return values
  • How to organise and reuse code with modules and packages
  • The principles of object-oriented programming, including classes, objects and methods
  • How inheritance and composition can be used to organise related behaviour
  • How to handle expected exceptions and respond to errors appropriately
  • How to read and write text files and structured JSON data
  • How to create virtual environments and install third-party packages safely

Benefits of this course

By completing this course, you will:

  • Build a clear foundation in computational thinking and core programming concepts
  • Gain practical experience writing, running, testing and debugging Python programs
  • Learn how to break problems into smaller, manageable programming tasks
  • Understand how to select suitable data types, collections and control structures
  • Develop reusable code using functions, modules, packages and classes
  • Learn how to handle errors and work safely with text files and JSON data
  • Gain experience managing project dependencies with virtual environments and pip
  • Complete practical activities that reinforce each stage of your learning
  • Develop the confidence to create and improve your own small Python projects
  • Establish a strong foundation for further study in programming, automation, data analysis or software development

This course includes

24/7 Student Support

End of course certification

Lifetime access to your course

Compatible with modern devices

PLUS - Access to the exclusive New Skills Academy Study Group!
  • The difference between programming code, codes used to represent information and cryptographic ciphers
  • How early calculating machines contributed to the development of programmable computers
  • How Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace influenced the history of computing
  • How codebreaking during the Second World War accelerated the development of computing technology
  • How early electronic computers developed into commercial and personal computers
  • Why encryption remains important in modern digital systems
  • The difference between data, information and knowledge
  • What coding involves and how programs solve problems
  • The difference between high-level and low-level programming languages
  • What syntax, semantics and logic mean in programming
  • How to install the current stable version of Python 3
  • How to use the Python interpreter and run a Python file
  • How much mathematics a beginner needs for programming
  • How decimal, binary and hexadecimal number systems work
  • How to convert simple whole numbers between binary and decimal
  • The roles of the processor, memory, storage and input/output devices
  • How computers represent and measure digital information
  • The difference between decimal and binary units of data
  • What variables are and how assignment works in Python
  • How to choose valid and meaningful variable names
  • How Python represents Boolean values, numbers, text and the absence of a value
  • How lists, tuples, sets and dictionaries organise collections of data
  • The difference between mutable and immutable objects
  • How to inspect and convert common data types
  • What operators, operands and expressions are
  • How to use arithmetic and augmented assignment operators
  • How comparison, membership and identity operators differ
  • How Python evaluates and, or and not
  • How operator precedence affects an expression
  • How and when to convert values between common data types
  • What control flow is and how conditions change the execution path
  • How to use if, elif and else
  • How to repeat operations with while and for loops
  • How range() works in a loop
  • How to use break, continue, loop else and pass
  • How to nest control structures without making code unnecessarily complicated
  • How to write useful Python comments
  • What functions are and why they are useful
  • How to call selected built-in Python functions
  • How to define a function with parameters and a return value
  • The difference between parameters and arguments
  • How positional, keyword, default and variable-length arguments work
  • How to collect and validate keyboard input
  • How local and global scope affect names
  • How to document a function with a docstring
  • Why programs are divided into focused files and packages
  • How nested functions can retain values from an enclosing scope
  • When a lambda expression is appropriate
  • How to create and import your own Python module
  • How different forms of import affect names
  • How to use selected modules from the Python Standard Library
  • How regular packages organise related modules
  • How to avoid common problems with imports and module names
  • What object-oriented programming is and when it can be useful
  • How encapsulation, abstraction, polymorphism and inheritance relate to Python
  • The difference between a class, an object and an instance
  • How to define a class and initialise instance attributes
  • How instance methods use the self parameter
  • The difference between instance and class attributes
  • How properties can manage access to an attribute
  • When a function or simple collection may be clearer than a class
  • How a subclass can reuse and specialise behaviour from a base class
  • How method overriding and super() work
  • When composition may be clearer than inheritance
  • How Python resolves methods in multiple inheritance
  • How to raise and handle expected exceptions
  • How to read and write text and JSON files safely
  • How to create a virtual environment and install a third-party distribution with pip
  • How to assess third-party code before using it
  • How to continue developing your Python skills
  • ID: YDFT67YHJ
    certificate

    of achievement

    This certificate is presented to

    Your Name

    NSA

    For completing the

    Coding for Beginners Certificate

    on 21st November 2026

    Selena Hurford

    Selena Hurford

    Course Tutor

    cpd

    Daniel Morgan

    Daniel Morgan

    Head of Academy

    Certificate Example

    Anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take the course. There are no entry requirements to take the course.

    The course is broken down into 10 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience.

    You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move!

    Once you have completed all 10 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 10 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing.

    The pass mark for the test is 70%.

    If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course.

    You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal.

    You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details.

    We estimate that the course will take about 11 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test.

    Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.

    This was a brilliant course that was easy to understand and fits into your lifestyle by being able to access at times that suits you. I needed a refresher course and this ticked all the boxes. One area which I was not aware of was the Employment Allowance Incentive but I now understand this fully. It is also good information on record keeping along with Data Protection. I highly recommend this course and it doesn't have to be expensive to do. The fact that you get a Diploma Certificate at the end only enhances your CV and gives you a sense of satisfaction.

    Donna Raynes

    I've just completed the Level 3 Admin & PA Diploma!

    I found the course informative and user friendly to navigate. I had the chance to refresh the skills I already possessed and it introduced me to new ideas and information. It was a good opportunity for me to update my skill set.

    A very useful course with the topics very well presented and easy to read and follow. I was able to easily slot the course into my schedule and enjoyed setting time aside to work my way through. I would definitely recommend this course to those wishing to learn something new and for those wishing to sharpen up on previous knowledge.

    Jenny McConnell

    I was desperate to get out of my current job but didn't quite have the right skills to move on to another job. I am so glad I chose this course as it has allowed me to gain much needed skills and opened many doors in my career development.

    Saffron Gee

    Helpful tips learned during the course and many fun facts. I will be completing 6 more courses after this one. Such a great learning experience. The knowledge in each package is phenomenal!

    Each course is broken down into modules to make it easy to break down the course for short breaks and as soon as you sign back in again it remembers where you left off in your course. How clever!

    I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to brush up their knowledge and skills. Best of luck!
    100% Recommended. New Skills Academy is the best!

    Dora Christou

    I am so impressed with this course. For starters it was hugely discounted which saved me money, secondly it is really easy to use. It is jam packed with information yet so easy to follow and they layout is very clean, clear and precise. I have learnt so much from this course already and I can even revisit modules as and when I need to. If you are an aspiring Makeup Artist, then this course will definitely lead you on the right path and it teaches you how to deal with clients and how to get the best out of your career.

    Esther Lawrence

    I must honestly say that this course website is a great help for learning new information on previous courses as I did a Premiere Animal Care 1 year course.

    Ever since my mum introduced me to this website and got me on the "Dog Grooming Diploma" course through New Skills , we also came across many other great courses and offers and not only did I learn new skills, techniques and information while working on my modules my previous knowledge on dog care expanded tremendously!

    I would definitely recommend this website to friends and family to help them gain skills, experience and knowledge on whatever job they are hoping to get with the qualifications from their chosen course.

    Parmjit Uppal

    Duration:
    11 hours

    Access:
    Lifetime Access

    Approved by:
    CPD

    Learning Type:


    Text based modules  Images 

    Cost:
    $120.00

    If you are curious about how software works or would like to write your own programs but do not know where to begin, this course is for you. Coding can help you develop practical technical skills, strengthen your problem-solving abilities and better understand the technology used in everyday life.

    This introductory course may be useful if you are considering further study, exploring a career in technology or simply looking to improve your digital confidence. You do not need any previous programming experience.

    Coding for Beginners Certificate Course

    This course introduces the essential concepts needed to begin writing simple programs. It has been designed for beginners and includes practical examples using Python, a widely used general-purpose programming language.

    You will progress from basic computing and programming concepts to variables, collections, decisions, loops, functions, modules and object-oriented programming. You will also learn how to handle errors, work with external files and JSON data, and manage third-party packages in a virtual environment.

    By the end of the course, you should have a foundation for continued study and be able to plan, write, test and improve small Python programs.

    What you will learn:

    The course combines explanations, example programs and practical activities to help you apply what you learn. Topics include:

    • Important developments in the history of computing and programming
    • How computers represent and process information using binary
    • How to create variables and use common Python data types and operators
    • How to work with strings, lists, tuples, sets and dictionaries
    • How to control program execution using conditions and loops
    • How to define functions, pass arguments and return values
    • How to organise and reuse code with modules and packages
    • The principles of object-oriented programming, including classes, objects and methods
    • How inheritance and composition can be used to organise related behaviour
    • How to handle expected exceptions and respond to errors appropriately
    • How to read and write text files and structured JSON data
    • How to create virtual environments and install third-party packages safely

    Benefits of this course

    By completing this course, you will:

    • Build a clear foundation in computational thinking and core programming concepts
    • Gain practical experience writing, running, testing and debugging Python programs
    • Learn how to break problems into smaller, manageable programming tasks
    • Understand how to select suitable data types, collections and control structures
    • Develop reusable code using functions, modules, packages and classes
    • Learn how to handle errors and work safely with text files and JSON data
    • Gain experience managing project dependencies with virtual environments and pip
    • Complete practical activities that reinforce each stage of your learning
    • Develop the confidence to create and improve your own small Python projects
    • Establish a strong foundation for further study in programming, automation, data analysis or software development

    This course includes

    24/7 Student Support

    End of course certification

    Lifetime access to your course

    Compatible with modern devices

    PLUS - Access to the exclusive New Skills Academy Study Group!
  • The difference between programming code, codes used to represent information and cryptographic ciphers
  • How early calculating machines contributed to the development of programmable computers
  • How Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace influenced the history of computing
  • How codebreaking during the Second World War accelerated the development of computing technology
  • How early electronic computers developed into commercial and personal computers
  • Why encryption remains important in modern digital systems
  • The difference between data, information and knowledge
  • What coding involves and how programs solve problems
  • The difference between high-level and low-level programming languages
  • What syntax, semantics and logic mean in programming
  • How to install the current stable version of Python 3
  • How to use the Python interpreter and run a Python file
  • How much mathematics a beginner needs for programming
  • How decimal, binary and hexadecimal number systems work
  • How to convert simple whole numbers between binary and decimal
  • The roles of the processor, memory, storage and input/output devices
  • How computers represent and measure digital information
  • The difference between decimal and binary units of data
  • What variables are and how assignment works in Python
  • How to choose valid and meaningful variable names
  • How Python represents Boolean values, numbers, text and the absence of a value
  • How lists, tuples, sets and dictionaries organise collections of data
  • The difference between mutable and immutable objects
  • How to inspect and convert common data types
  • What operators, operands and expressions are
  • How to use arithmetic and augmented assignment operators
  • How comparison, membership and identity operators differ
  • How Python evaluates and, or and not
  • How operator precedence affects an expression
  • How and when to convert values between common data types
  • What control flow is and how conditions change the execution path
  • How to use if, elif and else
  • How to repeat operations with while and for loops
  • How range() works in a loop
  • How to use break, continue, loop else and pass
  • How to nest control structures without making code unnecessarily complicated
  • How to write useful Python comments
  • What functions are and why they are useful
  • How to call selected built-in Python functions
  • How to define a function with parameters and a return value
  • The difference between parameters and arguments
  • How positional, keyword, default and variable-length arguments work
  • How to collect and validate keyboard input
  • How local and global scope affect names
  • How to document a function with a docstring
  • Why programs are divided into focused files and packages
  • How nested functions can retain values from an enclosing scope
  • When a lambda expression is appropriate
  • How to create and import your own Python module
  • How different forms of import affect names
  • How to use selected modules from the Python Standard Library
  • How regular packages organise related modules
  • How to avoid common problems with imports and module names
  • What object-oriented programming is and when it can be useful
  • How encapsulation, abstraction, polymorphism and inheritance relate to Python
  • The difference between a class, an object and an instance
  • How to define a class and initialise instance attributes
  • How instance methods use the self parameter
  • The difference between instance and class attributes
  • How properties can manage access to an attribute
  • When a function or simple collection may be clearer than a class
  • How a subclass can reuse and specialise behaviour from a base class
  • How method overriding and super() work
  • When composition may be clearer than inheritance
  • How Python resolves methods in multiple inheritance
  • How to raise and handle expected exceptions
  • How to read and write text and JSON files safely
  • How to create a virtual environment and install a third-party distribution with pip
  • How to assess third-party code before using it
  • How to continue developing your Python skills
  • ID: YDFT67YHJ
    certificate

    of achievement

    This certificate is presented to

    Your Name

    NSA

    For completing the

    Coding for Beginners Certificate

    on 21st November 2026

    Selena Hurford

    Selena Hurford

    Course Tutor

    cpd

    Daniel Morgan

    Daniel Morgan

    Head of Academy

    Certificate Example

    Anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take the course. There are no entry requirements to take the course.

    The course is broken down into 10 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience.

    You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move!

    Once you have completed all 10 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 10 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing.

    The pass mark for the test is 70%.

    If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course.

    You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal.

    You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details.

    We estimate that the course will take about 11 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test.

    Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.

    This was a brilliant course that was easy to understand and fits into your lifestyle by being able to access at times that suits you. I needed a refresher course and this ticked all the boxes. One area which I was not aware of was the Employment Allowance Incentive but I now understand this fully. It is also good information on record keeping along with Data Protection. I highly recommend this course and it doesn't have to be expensive to do. The fact that you get a Diploma Certificate at the end only enhances your CV and gives you a sense of satisfaction.

    Donna Raynes

    I've just completed the Level 3 Admin & PA Diploma!

    I found the course informative and user friendly to navigate. I had the chance to refresh the skills I already possessed and it introduced me to new ideas and information. It was a good opportunity for me to update my skill set.

    A very useful course with the topics very well presented and easy to read and follow. I was able to easily slot the course into my schedule and enjoyed setting time aside to work my way through. I would definitely recommend this course to those wishing to learn something new and for those wishing to sharpen up on previous knowledge.

    Jenny McConnell

    I was desperate to get out of my current job but didn't quite have the right skills to move on to another job. I am so glad I chose this course as it has allowed me to gain much needed skills and opened many doors in my career development.

    Saffron Gee

    Helpful tips learned during the course and many fun facts. I will be completing 6 more courses after this one. Such a great learning experience. The knowledge in each package is phenomenal!

    Each course is broken down into modules to make it easy to break down the course for short breaks and as soon as you sign back in again it remembers where you left off in your course. How clever!

    I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to brush up their knowledge and skills. Best of luck!
    100% Recommended. New Skills Academy is the best!

    Dora Christou

    I am so impressed with this course. For starters it was hugely discounted which saved me money, secondly it is really easy to use. It is jam packed with information yet so easy to follow and they layout is very clean, clear and precise. I have learnt so much from this course already and I can even revisit modules as and when I need to. If you are an aspiring Makeup Artist, then this course will definitely lead you on the right path and it teaches you how to deal with clients and how to get the best out of your career.

    Esther Lawrence

    I must honestly say that this course website is a great help for learning new information on previous courses as I did a Premiere Animal Care 1 year course.

    Ever since my mum introduced me to this website and got me on the "Dog Grooming Diploma" course through New Skills , we also came across many other great courses and offers and not only did I learn new skills, techniques and information while working on my modules my previous knowledge on dog care expanded tremendously!

    I would definitely recommend this website to friends and family to help them gain skills, experience and knowledge on whatever job they are hoping to get with the qualifications from their chosen course.

    Parmjit Uppal

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