Best VBA Courses 2024

Microsoft Excel is one of the most widely-used pieces of software in the business world to date. It’s well-known for being highly flexible and can be taught simply and effectively to novices in a relatively short amount of time. The same goes for Microsoft Access, which is an easy-to-learn database system for businesses of all sizes. However, there’s a hidden dimension to Excel and Access that many are unaware of. VBA or Visual Basics for Applications is a programming language embedded within both of these Microsoft programs that can vastly change the scope and power of how they are used.

Since it’s a programming language, VBA can seem intimidating to learn. That’s where top-quality online courses can swoop in to save the day. In this article, we’re going to go over the very best VBA courses on the net. Each of the courses we’ve chosen is available via some of the top educational platforms of today, such as Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning.

First, we’re going to explain the minimum you need to know to see if learning VBA is right for you and your goals. Soon after, we’ll dive right into the course reviews. Finally, we’ll cap off the article with an expanded section on VBA, including some frequently asked questions on the subject.

So, get your thinking caps on, and let’s get started.

Orientation: Things to Look For in a VBA Course

Please consider the following points if you’re new to VBA and are looking for some guidance on the subject:

Your Professional Goals

While some people might have a hobbyist or passion project interest in VBA, most come to courses like these for professional reasons. Please consider your career trajectory before sinking some time into a VBA course. Where would you like to see yourself in a few years? Will knowledge of VBA help you in this path?

With that being said, if you use Excel or Access regularly and would like to make your job even easier, then VBA can help with this tremendously. So, even if you aren’t gunning for a promotion, it might be worth taking a course on it anyway to make your daily grind a bit more tolerable.

Length of Course

VBA is a coding language, and because of this, it can and will take a certain amount of time to learn. This is especially true if you have no prior programming experience. So take the course lengths provided in this article into consideration before making a purchase. However, also be aware that if you’re starting from ground zero in terms of what you already know, then prepare to invest a few months into learning VBA at the very least.

Previous Coding Experience

Experience in programming isn’t necessary to learn VBA from scratch. However, having some knowledge of programming languages prior to taking any of these courses could potentially speed up the process in which you learn. Don’t think that you need to have previous knowledge of coding to learn VBA. You will learn everything you need to know about the language in any of the courses we have chosen, bar none.

Cheat Sheet

Here’s an overview of all the best VBA courses we chose for this article. It will give you an idea of what each course provides, that way you can find what you are looking for in no time flat.

TitlePlatformCourse LengthPriceFocusRating
Unlock Excel VBA and Excel MacrosUdemy22.5 hours$159.99Comprehensive VBA training for Microsoft Excel5.0
Master Microsoft Excel Macros and Excel VBAUdemy5 hours$50.00Master VBA in Excel via multiple projects4.5
Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving SpecializationCoursera4 months$59 monthly or $399 annually via Coursera PlusOptimizing Excel spreadsheets with VBA4.5
Learning VBA in ExcelLinkedIn3 hours 14 minutes$19.99/month annually or $29.99/month monthly or $50 for one-time course paymentFull immersion course for VBA in Microsoft Excel4.5
The Complete Excel Series - Level 1, 2 & 3Udemy28 hours$129.99Complete course on Excel with VBA emphasis4.5
Microsoft Access VBA for Non Programmers - YOU Can Do This!Udemy8 hours$84.99Learn VBA for Access from scratch4.5
The Ultimate Excel ProgrammerUdemy31 hours$124.99Complete Microsoft Excel Course with VBA Component4.5
Hyper-disambiguated Excel VBA ProgrammingSkillshare5 hours 57 minutes$13.99 per month or $167.88 per yearEasily-understandable VBA coding for non-programmers4.0
Excel: Introduction to VBALinkedIn38 minutes$19.99/month annually or $29.99/month monthly or $34.99 for one-time course paymentPrimer on VBA Macros in Microsoft Excel4.0
How To Build a VBA App in Just 30 MinutesUdemy32 minutesFreeSmall VBA coding tutorial3.5

Top 10 Best VBA Courses 2024


1. Best Overall: Unlock Excel VBA and Excel Macros

  • 22.5 hours $159.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Comprehensive VBA training for Microsoft Excel
  • Instructor: Leila Gharani

Why we like it

Learn how to devise real-world automation solutions in Microsoft Excel in this bestselling VBA course hosted by Udemy.

What You'll Learn

This course is meant for individuals that have hit a wall with their Excel knowledge and want to know how to kick things to the next stage while becoming efficient in their workflow at the same time. Everything that you need to understand VBA in Excel is here in this course.

Gharani starts you off with a full immersion in VBA syntax, which she believes is one of the most important things to learn first before moving on to more advanced subjects. Throughout the course, you will get well over 50 different code and macro examples that the instructor has personally used with her clients in the past, so you're getting 100% real-world practical material.

In addition, full documentation is provided as a reference for you to study once you are finished with the lectures. Finally, you will build three fully-usable tools with the VBA language by the end of the course. This will fully demonstrate your competency with the programming language in a big way.

Verdict

If you're considering this course to learn VBA programming, then it's good to have a strong background in Excel before jumping into this. The instruction can be a bit fast-paced, especially for students that don't have a good grasp of what they are doing in Excel in the first place. Other than that, this is a solid course with lots of real-world applications that will give you the knowledge you need to do more in Excel than you could have imagined.

Pros

  • Close to 23 hours of content
  • 50 different Excel/VBA macro solutions from real-world issues previous clients have dealt with
  • Make three VBA tools in Excel by the end of the course
  • Full documentation provided

Cons

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel needed


2. Best for Multiple Class Projects: Master Microsoft Excel Macros and Excel VBA

  • 5 hours $49.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Master VBA in Excel via multiple projects
  • Instructor: Kyle Pew

Why we like it

Learn the VBA language via Microsoft Excel in this project-laden course hosted by Udemy.

What You'll Learn

You are probably noticing quite a few of the courses listed here are Excel-related. The fact of the matter is that Excel (along with other Microsoft-related software) was built in mind to work in tandem with the VBA programming language. Many intro courses on VBA focus on the VBA/Excel merge because it's an easy and intuitive way to learn the VBA language with little to no hassle.

This course is structured in such a way that each lesson builds upon the other. For example, first, you will learn how to automate tasks with VBA. By the end of the course, you will be able to tackle all sorts of different real-world projects with ease. Some of these projects include tidying up completed Excel worksheets in order to prepare them for a formal report. Another project has you creating automated Excel formulas so that you can sum up the data in your report in a simple and almost hands-off way.

By the end of this course, you will have a strong understanding of how to make your job (and your life) easier with the fantastic set of tools that VBA gives you. The instructor has over 20 years of experience teaching the subject matter and is a Microsoft-certified instructor to boot. We think you're in safe hands.

Verdict

The downside of this course is it is a little too beginner-friendly, but this might be a good thing for some students. Other learners, however, might feel like it isn't as advanced of a course as the title would have you believe. The course description specifically states that it is for Excel users who want to become more proficient in VBA with no previous experience with the language. And on that level, we think this course delivers reasonably well. Just be aware that you might want to take a more advanced course down the line to be able to flex your programming muscles.

Pros

  • Instructor is a Microsoft-certified trainer with over 20 years of experience
  • Learn how to automate tasks
  • Learn the best macro practices and how to write your very own custom macros that cater to your needs
  • Several sample projects that give you a taste of real-world use of VBA

Cons

  • A very basic course for beginners that will possibly leave you wanting for more


3. Best for Career: Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving Specialization

  • 4 months $59 monthly or $399 annually via Coursera Plus Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Optimizing Excel spreadsheets with VBA
  • Instructor: Charlie Nuttleman

Why we like it

Learn how to automate and optimize spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel with VBA in this intensive professional-grade course provided by the University of Colorado Boulder and hosted by Coursera.

What You'll Learn

In this three-part specialization course, you will learn how to completely take your Excel spreadsheets into another universe with the power of the VBA programming language. The first two courses will teach the syntax and the methodology behind VBA. Each course will have quizzes in between each section, solidifying your learning and giving you the confidence you need to make it to the next level.

The final course, however, is where the real magic happens. Here you will partake in three different real-world projects that are graded in a peer-reviewed manner. The projects you can choose from are a currency converter, geography toolbox, personal organizer, regression toolbox, a Monte Carlo Simulation, and a grade manager. By the end of this course, you will have the experience needed to take VBA by the horns and do whatever your imagination (or profession) requires.

Verdict

The downside to the course is the amount of time needed to complete it. It takes around four months to go from zero to hero here, but if you have the time and the dedication, we think this professional-grade course can be what catapults you from a regular Excel user into a masterful one.

Pros

  • Professional-grade course from a well-known university
  • No programming experience required
  • Choose between five different peer-reviewed projects to complete

Cons

  • Large time commitment in order to reap the rewards of the course


4. Best on LinkedIn: Learning VBA in Excel

  • 3 hours 14 minutes $19.99/month annually or $29.99/month monthly or $50 for one-time course payment Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Full immersion course for VBA in Microsoft Excel
  • Instructor: Curt Frye

Why we like it

Get a complete grip on the VBA language and how it interacts with Microsoft Excel in this course hosted by LinkedIn Learning.

What You'll Learn

Microsoft Excel is an unbelievably powerful tool that can display tons of intricate pieces of data for both small as well as large businesses. What if you could make the software even more powerful and a force to be reckoned with? How is that done? Simply by the use of embedded VBA code in Excel itself.

What if you don't know anything at all about programming? No sweat. In this course hosted by LinkedIn Learning, you will learn the basics of the VBA language in a laid-back and methodical way. Curt Frye, the instructor, has authored the book Microsoft Excel 2019 Step by Step. So, needless to say, you are in pretty good hands here when it comes to learning VBA well enough to integrate with the Excel framework.

Once you are finished with this course, you will have everything you need to know when it comes to automating tasks and creating effective subroutines and functions. You will also have a good idea of programming in general, as concepts you learn in VBA can tie into other programming languages that might be picked up down the line.

Verdict

The biggest downside to this course is that it is technically not a true beginner's course. You very much need to be somewhat familiar with Microsoft Excel and things like formulas as well as relative and absolute references. So, don't pick up this course if you have next to no real immersion in Excel prior. However, if you're solid when it comes to manipulating Excel to its fullest extent already, then this course will give you the tools needed to take your professional skill set to the next level.

Pros

  • Learn how to make an already capable program even more powerful with knowledge of VBA
  • Real-world examples provided
  • Shareable certificate of completion that merges with your own LinkedIn profile

Cons

  • Requires you to have some knowledge of Excel before taking the course


5. Best for Excel Beginners: Excel Essentials: The Complete Excel Series – Level 1, 2 & 3

  • 28 hours $129.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Complete course on Excel with VBA emphasis
  • Instructor: Alan Jarvis

Why we like it

In this complete course on Excel you will learn everything there is to know about Microsoft Excel and have a firm grasp on the VBA language by the end of the training.

What You'll Learn

This course is effectively three different courses in one batch, so it's probably one of the best values on our list. If you have no prior experience with Microsoft Excel, then never fear. You can learn Excel from the absolute ground up in this course.

The first part is dedicated to spreadsheet design standards and understanding just how they work on a detailed level. The second part focuses on relational databases, custom formatting, dynamic templates, and user entry control practices. The first and final part of this course is when you get your feet wet with VBA. Jarvis will also teach you some VBA tips and tricks for other Microsoft programs, such as Word, Powerpoint, and even Windows!

One of the best parts of this stunning course is that each individual gets access to a special instructive forum where students can ask questions amongst each other. We think this is a powerful and effective way to learn and the fact that it's included here with the course is a real bonus.

Verdict

The sheer amount of topics covered in this course is overwhelming. At 28 hours of video total, you're going to get your money's worth out of this. However, if you are just interested in this wanting instruction on the VBA component, the Excel content might not interest you in the least. This is especially true if you have some proficiency in it already. However, if you are a complete Excel neophyte and want to learn VBA in the near future, then this is the course you should choose.

Pros

  • Three courses in one
  • Go from zero knowledge of Excel to proficient in VBA in this broad instructional course
  • Access to a forum for students where you can interact with the course's community

Cons

  • The subject matter in this course is broader than just VBA alone


6. Best for Access: Microsoft Access VBA for Non Programmers – YOU Can Do This!

  • 8 hours $84.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Learn VBA for Access from scratch
  • Instructor: Bruce Myron

Why we like it

If you have no programming experience at all but want to learn VBA for Microsoft Access (and other applications), then this course is for you.

What You'll Learn

We've seen VBA and Excel a lot in this article so far, but here's a course that takes another path with the language. Microsoft Access is a powerful database design software, and VBA also happens to integrate quite well with it. In this instructional series, Bruce Myron will show you everything you need to know to successfully utilize VBA's incredible programming power within Microsoft Access.

Some of the more interesting things you will learn how to do here are creating easy-to-search records, testing VBA subroutines and functions, and creating dynamic reports with embedded materials. There's even a short introduction to SQL and its integration with VBA, so this will be of great use to students who want to dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of database systems.

Verdict

The downside to this course? You have to be somewhat knowledgeable in Access before even touching the instruction on display here. If you have never touched the software before, you may have difficulty here. However, if you're a seasoned Access veteran and you want to take your skills deeper, then you can't find a better course on the subject.

Pros

  • 8 hours of content
  • For VBA beginners that want to enhance their Microsoft Access toolset
  • Learn how to automate Microsoft Access like a pro

Cons

  • This course requires some knowledge of Microsoft Access


7. Best for VBA Basics: The Ultimate Excel Programmer

  • 31 hours $124.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Complete Microsoft Excel Course with VBA Component
  • Instructor: Dan Strong

Why we like it

Learn Microsoft Excel from the ground up and gain valuable VBA programming skills at the same time in this high-octane course hosted by Udemy.

What You'll Learn

If you want an instructional tutorial on automating Excel but don't have much experience with the program itself, then this course is for you. The instructor doesn't expect you to know much about Excel at all when starting, other than how to load the program and how to edit cells. We think that is one of the best aspects of this particular course, as a lot of Excel/VBA-related tutorials seem to require you to have some level of proficiency in Excel prior.

By the end of this series, you'll have the ability to automate your Excel databases in no time. The instructor prefers to use short and to-the-point videos. So, if you are short on time or have a learning style that likes to take things just a little bit at a time, this is the course you need to take.

Verdict

The big downside to this material is that you won't be learning very complex VBA programming. This is very much a "basics" course that will give you a solid footing in Excel while teaching you the bare minimum of VBA. This "slow but steady" approach might be just the right fit for your educational needs. However, if you're looking for more depth, especially with VBA coding, it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Pros

  • Good for all experience levels
  • No programming knowledge required
  • Minimal Excel experience needed

Cons

  • Only the basics of VBA are covered


8. Best for Learning VBA Syntax: Hyper-Disambiguated Excel VBA Programming

  • 5 hours 57 minutes $13.99 per month or $167.88 per year Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Easily-understandable VBA coding for non-programmers
  • Instructor: Grant Gamble

Why we like it

Learn how to write usable VBA code but become completely fluent in remembering the syntax in this unique course hosted by Skillshare.

What You'll Learn

In this course, you'll learn how to write fluent VBA code while memorizing complex syntax at the same time. The instructor, Grant Gamble, recognizes that one of the most challenging things for students that are new to programming languages is that syntax memorization can be an overwhelming task. Because of this, Gamble has developed a special methodology when it comes to teaching VBA coding practices. By the end of this course, you will know VBA syntax like the back of your hand, without having to constantly check VBA documentation. This will save you time and sanity in the long run!

Verdict

This isn't a full immersion course, even though we think that it's well worth taking just to sharpen your memorization of VBA syntax alone. If you are looking for a complete showcase of what VBA can do, then you're better off checking out our top pick earlier in our reviews instead.

Pros

  • Learn VBA syntax effortlessly
  • Learn proper programming techniques
  • Instructor has a unique method of teaching that saves you time

Cons

  • Not a full VBA immersion course


9. Best for Learning Macros Fast: Excel: Introduction to VBA

  • 38 min $19.99/month annually or $29.99/month monthly Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Primer on VBA Macros in Microsoft Excel
  • Instructor: Chris B. Smith

Why we like it

Get a primer on VBA in Excel from a content developer from Microsoft in this short and sweet course hosted by LinkedIn Learning.

What You'll Learn

Macros are a series of coding instructions that memorize the number of steps you take to perform a task in Excel. Think of them as a recording of how you did something so that you can easily do it over and over again with ease. One of the great strengths of VBA is that they automate away the boring stuff and save you time. In this short course hosted by LinkedIn Learning, you'll learn how to make your very first macro in under 40 minutes.

This course is a great start to learning VBA without the hassle or the time crunch that a lot of other more intensive courses offer on the subject. The instructor will show you how to make your first macro, then will take you through the steps needed to edit, test, and finally adjust them for a perfect fit. By the end of this course, you will have another tool in the box that you can use with Excel that will save you time and frustration for years to come.

Verdict

This isn't a full-fledged course on VBA; it focuses simply on macros. Therefore, you're not going to learn the full totality of what the programming language has to offer in under 40 minutes. However, if you're apprehensive about trying out VBA because you don't have a strong programming background, then this course is a great choice when it comes to testing the waters and seeing if it would be something you would want to learn further. If you would want to take that next step, we recommend our top course.

Pros

  • Very short course
  • Learn how to build a macro in VBA from scratch
  • Have a functional macro that does practical things by the end of the course

Cons

  • Not an intensive course on the VBA language


10. Best Free Course: How to Build a VBA App in Just 30 Minutes

  • 31 min Free Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Focus of Course: Small VBA coding tutorial
  • Instructor: Craig Barry

Why we like it

Get a quick start on your VBA journey with this bite-sized course hosted by Udemy. You’ll be creating usable code in no time!

What You'll Learn

If you're interested in seeing if VBA is something that you would consider learning without too much overhead, then this fantastic course from Udemy is just what the doctor ordered. The best thing about it is that it is completely free, so you can take a stab at this dynamic programming language via this course with no danger to your wallet.

In this short tutorial, Craig Barry shows you how to set up a user interface form in Excel via VBA. You will also learn how to sort through massive amounts of data quickly by learning how to write simple and to-the-point functions. You will also go over other key programming concepts like globals, loops, and how to call one particular function via another function.

Verdict

This course is very short, at a little over thirty minutes total. It's not going to make you an expert in VBA or Excel, but you can't go wrong at the price point (absolutely free). By the end of the tutorial, you will have a good idea of whether or not VBA is something you might be interested in pursuing in a more directed manner. We think that knowledge is worth its weight in gold.

Pros

  • A small, bite-sized immersion into VBA
  • No previous experiencing coding required
  • See if VBA is for you, and get results fast

Cons

  • No instructor interaction in this free course
  • Too short for a complete understanding of VBA


FAQ

Visual Basic for Applications is a programming language developed by Microsoft. It integrates with their Office suite and is primarily used for automating repetitive tasks. Automation also reduces the possibility of human error. Laborious and repetitive tasks can sometimes cause an individual to make mistakes or not to notice important things that could cause issues down the line.

This property of VBA alone makes it well worth learning. This is especially the case if you have databases with huge amounts of content that you want to automate. In addition, large-scale businesses and even some smaller businesses can benefit from the time-saving tools VBA can provide.

VBA is a programming language, and if you’re not well-versed in such things already it can seem like a bit of a challenge. However, compared to many other programming languages, VBA is considerably more simple, especially when it comes to learning its syntax.

The other good news is you don’t have to know advanced mathematics to use VBA to its fullest extent. We are confident that if you can sit down and take the time to study and apply the language to different problems, you will be able to see the logic behind how VBA works.

Far too many companies use VBA to automate processes in Microsoft applications, such as Excel and Access. So many companies have been relying on it for so long that replacing it with something else in the foreseeable future would be difficult. There’s just too much time, infrastructure, and training that has been invested in the language. Because of this, it will most likely not vanish overnight.

Something else to keep in mind is that the language is not designed with high-level programmers in mind. Most of the individuals that utilize VBA on a daily basis work in marketing, human resources, finance, and other upper-level management positions. These are not people who (usually) desire to learn programming languages in the first place unless it’s a hobby of theirs already.

It’s been speculated for years that JavaScript will be the programming language of choice for replacing VBA. This is because JavaScript is cross-compatible between a number of different devices. It functions the same on PC, mobile devices, Macintosh, and browsers. JavaScript’s original purpose was to be a cross-compatible client-side language that worked on all web browsers. The advantage to Microsoft eventually moving towards JavaScript is that one single line of code would ultimately perform the same across different platforms.

It’s already possible to use JavaScript code in Excel (known as Office-js); however, it’s still not at the recommendation stage compared to using native VBA commands.

Absolutely. You can easily be contracted out by businesses to teach them how to best utilize VBA coding principles to make their business operations smoother. That being said, we wouldn’t rely strictly on just learning VBA as a freelancer. Be sure to branch out more and learn several different programming languages (both front and back-end) in order to be more versatile in your job search.



Extra Credit: An Extended Look at VBA Courses

VBA bar graph near sticky note

Now let’s take a closer look at VBA and what all you can do with it once it is mastered. If you have any remaining questions about the programming language, we hope to answer them here.

VBA: The Pros

Visual Basic for Applications is one of the most well-known and widely-used programming languages in the business world today. Here’s why:

It’s Ubiquitous

There are so many professional companies and organizations worldwide that use Microsoft Office applications to conduct their affairs. The VBA language interfaces with the entirety of the Microsoft Office suite. Functions that work in Excel can also be made to work in Access as they are cross-compatible with each other.

It’s Easy to Pick Up

VBA is extremely novice-friendly, especially when it comes to programming languages. It’s roughly equivalent to Python when it comes to simple and easy-to-understand syntax that can be picked up in a couple of hours. Additionally, there’s a large community behind the language since it has been in use since 1993. That means if you run into any difficulty with certain aspects of the language, there are many more experienced individuals you can easily reach who can give you a helping hand.

It Can Give You a Competitive Edge

Since so many companies utilize the Microsoft Office suite, learning VBA can give you a competitive edge in the job market. This is true of companies that have large databases, as these need to be automated to increase efficiency. If you can apply these high-level tools and concepts to a company that is in dire need of them, your value as a potential employee goes up tremendously.

VBA: The Cons

When there are pros, there can always be cons as well. Nothing is perfect, after all. Here are a few of the downsides to VBA:

It’s Limited to Just Microsoft Applications

If you’re looking to become a software guru who knows multiple languages in general, then perhaps it is best to leave VBA out of your toolbox. Ultimately, it is a language that is suited for Microsoft Office applications only. That being said, their software is so widely used around the world that having specific knowledge of their built-in programming language could be of huge benefit to you and your career if you wish to go down a more specialist path.

It’s Not Being Updated Regularly Anymore

Microsoft hasn’t updated VBA since around 2010. Because of that, there may be potential compatibility issues that crop up on newer versions of Microsoft Office applications, such as Excel. This doesn’t mean that it is a dead programming language per se, but there could feasibly be issues with newer aspects of these applications that don’t mesh well with a language that hasn’t had a significant upgrade in a decade now.

Final Words

VBA statistical chart on laptop

VBA is still expected to be used for another decade or so. On top of that, it has the “Java” appeal to it, namely so many companies have utilized it for so long that it will not completely vanish because of that. It would be too much of an investment to switch over to something new at the drop of a hat. How does this information benefit you, though? Knowledge of VBA can help to make you stand out from the pack more than others. A lot of administrative assistants know how to use Excel, but few know the ins and outs of VBA and how it can help make tasks easier for an organization or business. This kind of expertise could be the difference between getting a gig and not.

We hope this article has clarified a few of your questions about Visual Basic for Applications. If this sounds like an area you might be interested in, take up one of these courses and take your career to the next level.