Free Online COBOL Courses and Certifications 2024

COBOL is a programming language that has been used for decades to develop business applications. It is a top-level programming language that is used to create software for businesses and organizations. With its powerful capabilities, COBOL is a great choice for those looking to learn programming. Online courses are available to help those interested in learning the language. With the right knowledge, anyone can become a COBOL programmer. With its wide range of applications, COBOL is an essential language for anyone looking to get into programming.

COBOL Courses

Career Trends


Career Prospects

Average Salary

Position Overview

COBOL Developer $40.81 per hour

A developer who specializes in COBOL works on developing applications using this programming language that can run on an organization's mainframe computers.

Senior Analyst$113,808 per year

As a Senior Analyst, your main responsibilities would include compiling and organizing data related to issues or processes that require improvement. You would be tasked with reviewing existing systems and procedures to identify areas for improvement and provide solutions or recommendations. 

Software Developer$129,893 per year

As a software developer, you would typically analyze users' needs and then design and develop software solutions to meet those needs. You would also be responsible for recommending software upgrades for customers' existing programs and systems. In addition, you would design each individual piece of an application or system, and plan how these pieces will work together in order to achieve the desired outcome.

COBOL Consultant$65,587  per year

As a COBOL Consultant, you would be responsible for conducting discovery, assessment, and solution development workshops in order to craft winning solutions. These workshops would typically involve collaborating with resources from consulting, operations, and product teams to ensure that the solutions you propose are tailored to the needs of your clients.


Educational Paths


1. Online courses: There are many online courses available for learning COBOL, such as those offered by Udemy, Coursera, and edX.

2. College or university courses: Some colleges and universities offer courses in COBOL as part of their computer science or information technology programs.

3. COBOL programming books: There are many books available on COBOL programming, such as "Murach's Mainframe COBOL" and "COBOL for the 21st Century."

4. On-the-job training: Some companies offer on-the-job training for individuals interested in learning COBOL programming.

5. Professional organizations: Professional organizations such as the COBOL Technical Committee and the COBOL Programming Community offer resources and training for COBOL programmers.

6. Workshops and seminars: Attending workshops and seminars focused on COBOL programming can also be a great way to learn more about the language and develop your skills.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q1: Where can I find resources to learn COBOL programming language?

If you're looking to learn COBOL, Micro Focus offers a comprehensive range of resources to help you get started. Their introductory course, Visual COBOL: Modern COBOL for the Next Generation, is the perfect way to begin your journey into the world of COBOL programming. With this course, you'll gain a solid understanding of the language and how to make the most of Visual COBOL.

Q2: Is COBOL programming language difficult to learn?

COBOL can be a challenging language to learn, especially if you are unfamiliar with the syntax and concepts. It is a rigid language, and the concepts you learn for COBOL may not be applicable to other modern programming languages. Additionally, getting started with COBOL can be difficult, especially if you want to execute code on a mainframe. However, with dedication and practice, it is possible to become proficient in COBOL.

Q3: What are the reasons to learn COBOL programming language?

Learning COBOL could be a great way to advance your career. With a shortage of skilled COBOL programmers, those who have the knowledge can command higher salaries and have access to more job opportunities. Plus, COBOL is a reliable and widely used programming language, so you can be sure that your skills will be in demand for years to come.

Q4: Is COBOL similar to Latin for programmers in terms of difficulty?

No, COBOL is not like Latin for programmers. While it has become a common language for many English-as-a-second-language programmers, it is not a dead language like Latin. COBOL is still used in many industries, such as banking, finance, and insurance, and is actively maintained and updated. It is a powerful language that is used to create complex applications and systems.

Q5: What is COBOL used for?

COBOL has been an object-oriented language since 2002. It finds its primary usage in business, finance, and administrative systems for companies and governments. COBOL continues to be extensively employed in applications deployed on mainframe computers, particularly for large-scale transaction processing jobs.

Q6: What COBOL courses can I find on AZ Class?

On this page, we have collected free or certified 35 COBOL online courses from various platforms. The list currently only displays up to 50 items. If you have other needs, please contact us.

Q7: Can I learn COBOL for free?

Yes, If you don’t know COBOL, we recommend that you try free online courses, some of which offer certification (please refer to the latest list on the webpage as the standard). Wish you a good online learning experience!

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