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.

    loved this course. I feel I could start my own business if I choose to but I prefer working for a company that is already established.

    I found this course easy to understand and follow and found it highly useful that I could pick it up and leave it as I wished so I could fit it in around my life.
    I am currently scouring the internet and papers and phoning companies in order to find myself employment with in this field of work.

    I cannot thank this company enough for enabling me to fulfil a life dream of working with animals.

    Lorraine Redknapp

    This course was easy to read. I could take as long as I needed and go at my own pace and I was surprised to find that this was an accredited course recognised by my employer. It does what it says on the tin.

    I would recommend to anybody wanting to gain knowledge in this area, to add to your education section on your CV or even just for fun! The certificate now looks nice in my achievements folder.

    I would most definitely enrol in this way of learning again when I am ready to learn another new subject.

    Stacey Cowan

    This was the first online course I’ve funded myself and I was apprehensive as you don’t really know what you’re going to get!

    However, I’m happy to report that this course has given me a really good grounding in Child Psychology and has whet my appetite to pursue some of the content in more detail under my own steam.

    When I had questions, the Support Team’s responses were lightning fast and reassuring and for the fee paid and the experience I’ve had this has been great value for money and a firm foundation on which to build in the future.

    Thank you New Skills Academy!

    Tom Shires

    I was a bit nervous when I first purchased the nail technician diploma online course for the one reason that it was so cheap compared to other online courses I had seen.

    I have recently taken this course and i can honestly say that it is so easy to follow and you really do learn all the things you need to know to become a successful nail technician from the nail anatomy to starting your own business and all the other helpful bits in between.

    I can't believe I am well on my way to becoming a qualified nail technician:) If you are worried about purchasing this course then don't be! This course is brilliant and I would recommend to anyone! xxx

    Emma Thorpe

    This course is so easy. I was a little nervous before I started it but even after the first module I was at ease.

    The video's are clear and the course is easy to understand.

    Everything I need to learn is here, from the basics like handling to bathing to full grooming. you can save the work on to your pc or laptop as you go along so you can go back over it later on. at the end of each module you even get time to practise what you have learnt.

    I'm so glad I found this company and will highly recommend.

    Kirsty Wilson

    I honestly cannot recommend this course highly enough for anyone thinking of pursuing a career in Wedding Planning. The course was very obviously written by industry professionals. Course content was easy to understand, yet thorough and in depth. I also love that this course covered such a diverse range of topics including weddings from different cultures and religions, not just the standard white-dress chapel wedding. I really feel as though this course has given me a bounding head start in the wedding planning industry and I can't wait to get in there and start my own business. Highly recommend - worth every penny :)

    Amy Stonehouse

    Duration:
    11 hours

    Access:
    Lifetime Access

    Approved by:
    CPD

    Learning Type:


    Text based modules  Images 

    Cost:
    $175.00

    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.

    loved this course. I feel I could start my own business if I choose to but I prefer working for a company that is already established.

    I found this course easy to understand and follow and found it highly useful that I could pick it up and leave it as I wished so I could fit it in around my life.
    I am currently scouring the internet and papers and phoning companies in order to find myself employment with in this field of work.

    I cannot thank this company enough for enabling me to fulfil a life dream of working with animals.

    Lorraine Redknapp

    This course was easy to read. I could take as long as I needed and go at my own pace and I was surprised to find that this was an accredited course recognised by my employer. It does what it says on the tin.

    I would recommend to anybody wanting to gain knowledge in this area, to add to your education section on your CV or even just for fun! The certificate now looks nice in my achievements folder.

    I would most definitely enrol in this way of learning again when I am ready to learn another new subject.

    Stacey Cowan

    This was the first online course I’ve funded myself and I was apprehensive as you don’t really know what you’re going to get!

    However, I’m happy to report that this course has given me a really good grounding in Child Psychology and has whet my appetite to pursue some of the content in more detail under my own steam.

    When I had questions, the Support Team’s responses were lightning fast and reassuring and for the fee paid and the experience I’ve had this has been great value for money and a firm foundation on which to build in the future.

    Thank you New Skills Academy!

    Tom Shires

    I was a bit nervous when I first purchased the nail technician diploma online course for the one reason that it was so cheap compared to other online courses I had seen.

    I have recently taken this course and i can honestly say that it is so easy to follow and you really do learn all the things you need to know to become a successful nail technician from the nail anatomy to starting your own business and all the other helpful bits in between.

    I can't believe I am well on my way to becoming a qualified nail technician:) If you are worried about purchasing this course then don't be! This course is brilliant and I would recommend to anyone! xxx

    Emma Thorpe

    This course is so easy. I was a little nervous before I started it but even after the first module I was at ease.

    The video's are clear and the course is easy to understand.

    Everything I need to learn is here, from the basics like handling to bathing to full grooming. you can save the work on to your pc or laptop as you go along so you can go back over it later on. at the end of each module you even get time to practise what you have learnt.

    I'm so glad I found this company and will highly recommend.

    Kirsty Wilson

    I honestly cannot recommend this course highly enough for anyone thinking of pursuing a career in Wedding Planning. The course was very obviously written by industry professionals. Course content was easy to understand, yet thorough and in depth. I also love that this course covered such a diverse range of topics including weddings from different cultures and religions, not just the standard white-dress chapel wedding. I really feel as though this course has given me a bounding head start in the wedding planning industry and I can't wait to get in there and start my own business. Highly recommend - worth every penny :)

    Amy Stonehouse

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