Free and Low-Cost Online Learning

 

20-Hour Rule

The time required to learn a new skill depends on the desired level of proficiency. While becoming an expert in a field may require approximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice, achieving a level of competence sufficient to perform noticeably well is possible in significantly less time. According to Josh Kaufman's 20-hour rule, dedicating just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice can enable someone to become reasonably proficient in a new skill. This approach emphasizes breaking down the skill into smaller components, creating a structured learning plan, and practicing consistently. With 20 hours of effort—such as 45 minutes a day for a month or four hours a day for a week—individuals can gain enough skill to apply it effectively for personal or professional purposes. Some suggest that 200 hours may be sufficient to become good enough to apply a skill in one's career, though this is a more advanced goal than basic proficiency. The key is focused, intentional practice rather than simply accumulating time.

In remote and low-resource areas it may not be possible to attend traditional in-person classes. However, if you have Internet access, online training is a reasonable and effective option. Most major colleges and universities offer at least some courses online (Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)). The effectiveness of online learning often surpasses traditional methods for certain learners, particularly those who benefit from the flexibility and accessibility it offers. However, challenges such as engagement and self-discipline must be addressed to maximize the potential of online education.

We maintain a list of free and low-cost online learning options to aid in developing your own educational curriculum.

 

911 and You: Preparing Bystanders for Emergencies - In this four-part training, we will cover the basics of calling 911 and the steps that you can take to recognize and respond to stroke and cardiac arrest. Each module will include practical tips and activities for sharing this life-saving information with the older adults in your family and community, particularly those for whom English is not a preferred language. (https://phlearnlink.nwcphp.org/index.php)

 

AdventureSmart (https://elearning.adventuresmart.ca/) and its suite of five programs, is a national prevention program focused on reaching Canadians, and visitors to Canada, who participate in outdoor recreational activities.

1. Hug-a-Tree and Survive is an AdventureSmart program that helps lost children survive in the woods. It teaches children how not to become lost in the woods, and what to do should they become lost.

2. The Survive Outside program offered by AdventureSmart is a great way to learn the value of preparation for safety in outdoor activities. Augment your basic outdoor survival knowledge by taking the “Survive Outside- A Guide to Outdoor Safety,” program.

3. The Snow Safety & Education presentation is intended to foster awareness of the risks associated with these activities for children, to make sure they have the safest, and most enjoyable experience possible while outdoors.

4. PaddleSmart is designed for youth and adults who want to paddle, whether it is using stand-up paddleboards, kayaks or canoes. Topics include trip planning, training and taking the essentials for water-based activities. Segments on moving water and coastal water can be added to the presentation depending on location.

5. Survive Outside – Snowmobiling. During the winter months, Canada is a snowmobiling mecca. From fast-flowing trails to pristine off-piste backcountry, snowmobiling is a popular winter activity which allows participants to experience winter’s splendor in the great outdoors.

 

Alison https://alison.com/ Alison courses are categorized, like most MOOCS (Massive Open Online Courses) as non-formal learning. Alison courses complement traditional, formal learning. Alison courses have been accredited by the CPD Certification Service (CPD UK), an independent organization that reviews and approves high-quality learning.

 

American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Learning Center (https://learn.arrl.org/) Lots of free amateur (ham) radio courses. (You have to be a member of the ARRL to enroll in these courses.)

 

Avalanche Awareness - Crux Academy - Utah Avalanche Forecast Center Duration: 5hr 42min (https://www.crux.academy/course/avalanche-awareness-know-before-you-go)

Dive into this mini-course to learn the principles needed to be safer and more confident in the avalanche terrain. Learning about avalanches is the best way to ski, ride, and hike in avalanche terrain safely. This short course from the Utah Avalanche Center covers five main areas:

·         Equipment

·         Snow science

·         Avalanche forecasting

·         Recognizing the clues to avalanche conditions

·         Rescue and getting out of harm’s way

 

Basic Map Reading (https://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/legacy/course/1050) Maps are a fundamental part of everything that we do, and it's important that we learn to look at a map, and understand what it's telling us, understand some of the basic terms and processes that we use to figure out what's going on. This Bureau of Land management course will provide students with the basic concepts and fundamentals to reading, interpreting, locating positions and navigating topographic maps.

 

Be There Certificate - It’s a free, self-paced learning experience designed to increase mental health literacy and provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to safely support anyone who may be struggling with their mental health! (https://www.betherecertificate.org/get-certified-feb-2025) Jack.org is Canada's largest network of young people supporting young people, offering youth a space to safely learn about mental health, support their peers, seek professional support, and advocate for a future where youth can thrive in mental wellness.  

 

Become an EMT Specialization - Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/specializations/become-an-emt) – Free to Audit / Cost if Enrolled

• EMT Foundations - 14 hours
• Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation - 13 hours
• Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness - 12 hours
• Trauma Emergencies and Care - 11 hours
• Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children - 16 hours
• Prepare for the EMT Certification Test - 10 hours 

 

British Columbia (BC) Forest Safety (https://www.bcforestsafe.org/self-enrol-courses/) offers several courses for forest workers and supervisors.

 

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) (https://www.bcit.ca/free-online-learning/)  These online courses are available to anyone with a computer and internet connection. You’re sure to find something in one our three pillars to broaden your mind, prepare you for post-secondary education, or to explore your career options across different industries.

 

Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) CDSE provides diverse security courses and products to DOD personnel, DOD contractors, employees of other federal agencies, and selected foreign governments. Training is presented through a variety of learning platforms and is streamlined to meet performance requirements and accommodate the busy schedules of today's students. (https://www.cdse.edu/Training/eLearning/)

 

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention TRAIN (https://www.train.org/cdctrain/welcome)  provides access to more than 1,000 courses developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs, grantees, and other funded partners.

Centre of Excellence (https://www.centreofexcellence.com/) offers courses on herbalism, diet & nutrition, mindfulness, earth sciences, essential skills, and many other similar and related topics. Regular course prices are listed as £127.00 ($165), but you can frequently find discounts where courses are available for around $40. Many reviews highlight positive experiences, noting that the courses are well-structured and provide valuable knowledge. However, there are concerns about the courses being unaccredited and not recognized by universities, suggesting they may not be suitable for formal employment. 

 

Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events Instructor (https://teex.org/class/let222/) Civilians who find themselves embroiled in an active shooter event must be prepared to take immediate action to save their own lives before law enforcement arrives. The average response time for police response to an active attack event is three minutes. Without effective, pre-planned response options for civilians at the scene of the attack, many victims can be seriously injured or killed during these three minutes. Approximate time to complete: 4-hours.

 

Code Academy (https://www.codecademy.com/) Grow in your career and unlock new opportunities by learning in-demand skills in AI, data, coding, cybersecurity, and more.

 

College of Remote and Offshore Medicine Foundation, based in Malta, (https://corom.edu.mt/online-courses/)  offers a series of online continuing professional education courses. Course fees are * 95-300 Euro *

 

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) CISA’s new Learning Management System replaced the Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE) and multiple other platforms.  CISA Learning is the go-to learning platform for CISA staff, contractors, and external partners.  CISA Learning will offer many of the same no cost online cybersecurity training as FedVTE on topics such as cloud security, ethical hacking and surveillance, risk management, malware analysis, and more. (https://niccs.cisa.gov/training/cisa-learning)

 

Defense Language Institute – Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) DLIFLC Rapport - Language & Culture Training (https://rapport.dliflc.edu/) consists of six to eight hours of military language modules and cultural awareness lessons that cover history, religion, geography, and basic social exchanges in the target language. Those taking the training must achieve a 70 percent pass rate to print a certificate of achievement. Each Rapport course consists of several pages of reading, interactive exercises, short videos, and very basic language skills training. Rapport (and other DLIFLC eLearning) is available to the general public for free when you create an account on the DLIFLC website (https://www.dliflc.edu/elearning/).

 

Deployed Medicine (https://www.deployedmedicine.com/) is a platform used by the Defense Health Agency to trial new innovative learning models aimed at improving readiness and performance of deployed military medical personnel. The intent is to deliver personalized, dynamic learning using the most current and accessible technology, enabling a self-directed and continuous study of medical best practices and lessons learned. 

 

Disaster Ready (https://ready.csod.com/)  has a series of Free Certificates and Certifications - such as Project Management Essentials Certificate, Personal Safety and Security Certificate, Leadership Essentials Certificate, Security Risk Management Certificate Programs... and more, as well as individual courses related to disaster preparedness and humanitarian relief.

 

Duolingo (https://www.duolingo.com/) Duolingo is a popular American educational technology company that produces a free, gamified language-learning app and offers courses in over 40 languages, including widely spoken ones like Spanish, French, and Mandarin, as well as less common languages such as Welsh, Irish, Navajo, and constructed languages like Klingon and High Valyrian.

 

FEMA Independent Study (https://training.fema.gov/is/) The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers self-paced courses designed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and the general public. All are offered free-of-charge to those who qualify for enrollment.

 

FEMA National Training and Education Division (https://www.firstrespondertraining.gov/frts/npccatalog) - The National Preparedness Course Catalog, an online searchable catalog featuring a compilation of courses managed by the three primary FEMA training organizations: the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), the National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU), and the National Training and Education Division (NTED). The National Preparedness Course Catalog features a wide range of course topics in multiple delivery modes to meet the increasing training needs of Federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal audiences.

 

Global Health eLearning Center (https://www.globalhealthlearning.org/) - GHeLC offers courses aimed at increasing knowledge in a variety of global health technical areas.

 

Handling Medical Emergencies (https://www.ed2go.com/eie/online-courses/handling-medical-emergencies/) If a member of your family suffered a medical emergency, you could certainly call for trained emergency medical responders, but what would you do while you're waiting for them to arrive? Every second counts during a medical emergency. Recognizing the early signs and symptoms of common medical conditions and providing appropriate treatment can mean a better outcome for the patient and can greatly reduce the seriousness of the illness, which means a shorter hospital stay and lower medical costs. It's also very satisfying to know how to help someone in a time of need. Stanislaus State University * $154 *

 

Harvard University's Computer Science 50 program, or CS50 (https://www.edx.org/cs50), is a collection of introductory computer science courses designed for students at all levels who want to learn foundational and advanced computing concepts.

 

Herbalista Free School (https://herbalista.org/free-school/) - All courses are Free, Self-Paced and you can Enroll at Any Time. These courses consist of video lectures, handouts, recipes, detailed resource listings, and more for a well-rounded course. We end each lecture section with suggested “herbwork” to help you put what you’ve learned into action and even offer a few optional quizzes for folks who like them.  You are free to jump around, concentrating only on the sections you’d like to focus on, or you can follow the courses from start to finish.

 

Hillsdale College (https://online.hillsdale.edu/courses) Hillsdale College was founded in 1844 with a mission to provide "all who wish to learn" the education necessary to preserve the civil and religious liberties of America. The founders of Hillsdale College understood, like the founders of our great nation, that free government requires independent, virtuous, and knowledgeable citizens. In 2011 Hillsdale launched its online courses program to extend this mission and to teach the core subjects of a Hillsdale education free of charge. Since that time, more than 4.2 million Americans have partnered with us in this effort.

 

Human Path - Herbal Medics Academy (https://herbalmedics.academy/) SHTF Herbal Medicine and Wilderness First Aid (On-Demand) (16-hours) * $200 *

 

Interburns (https://interburns.org/) is a charity focused on improving burn care in low-resource and conflict-affected regions across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It works to reduce death, disability, and disfigurement through training, education, research, and community-based programs that cover first aid and prevention. Interburns offers online courses in Essential and Advanced burn care.

 

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (https://ifrc.csod.com/client/ifrc/default.aspx)  First Aid for Adults - This 4-hour self-paced course introduces the key concepts and first aid techniques needed to address emergency situations in adults, such as choking, strokes, burns, wounds, and cardiac arrest. The course also teaches protective measures and key adaptations necessary for the delivery of first aid in the context of an infectious disease outbreak, such as COVID-19. Also, First Aid for Older Adults (4-hours) and First Aid for Babies and Children (4-hours) each available online from the IFRC.

 

Kanopy (https://www.kanopy.com/) Kanopy includes courses from sites like 'The Great Courses', and can be accessed for free through public libraries and universities.

 

Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/) is a non-profit educational organization founded in 2008 by Salman "Sal" Khan with the mission of providing a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere. It offers a vast library of free online resources, including short instructional videos, interactive practice exercises, quizzes, and personalized learning dashboards, covering subjects from kindergarten through early college level such as math, science, history, economics, computer programming, and test preparation for exams like the SAT, AP, and LSAT.

 

Leave No Trace Courses (https://lnt.org/) will give you a better understanding of recreation-related impacts, the 7 Principles, and how Leave No Trace skills and ethics can help protect the outdoor places we love. These courses teach the basics of Leave No Trace’s scientifically-derived and researched curriculum. An excellent introduction to essential skills for all people who are interested in being more environmentally aware and sustainable when they are outdoors.

 

LSU National Center for Biomedical Research and Training (NCBRT) (https://www.ncbrt.lsu.edu/elearning/index.php) LSU NCBRT/ACE is a nationally recognized center for emergency preparedness and response training, based at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

 

MedLine University (https://www.medlineuniversity.com/home) offers healthcare professionals access to free evidence-based courses.

 

MetEd (https://learn.meted.ucar.edu/) Weather courses. SkyWarn Spotter Training. Avalanche Weather Forecasting. Advanced Fire Weather Forecasters Course. Radio Wave Propagation.

 

Mountain Rescue Association (https://training.mra.org/) Free certificate-based courses are intended to help the general public learn basic safety skills for outdoor activities. 

 

National Association for Search & Rescue (NASAR) (https://saracademy.thinkific.com/collections) of interest is the NASAR course ‘CalTopo for SAR Mission Management’.

 

Neighborhood Emergency Response Planning (NERP) (https://cert.hazready.com/CourseCatalog?friendlyId=DP000029)  This training program assists homeowners, Homeowner Associations, Condominium Associations and Neighborhood Organizations to plan ahead in preparation for a disaster so that they have the necessary supplies, and are able to assist other homeowners to sustain the basic necessities, such as food and water for at least 72 hours.

·         Module 1: Neighborhood Emergency Response Plan

·         Module 2: Response and Recovery

·         Module 3: Earthquakes

·         Module 4: Home and Wildland Fires

·         Module 5: Severe Weather

·         Module 6: Floods

 

NextGenU https://nextgenu.org/ is the world’s first free, health science learning platform. They provide free, high-quality medical, nursing, and public health education to students, professionals, and institutions worldwide.

 

Office for Bombing Prevention - Center for Domestic Preparedness (https://cdp.dhs.gov/obp)  The Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) leads the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to implement the National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (PDF) (National Counter-IED policy) and enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate the use of explosives against critical infrastructure; the private sector; and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities.

 

Open University (https://www.open.edu/openlearn/) There are around 1000 free courses to choose from. The courses always focus on a specific area of learning. Some focus on important and fascinating academic subjects, whilst others help you develop skills needed for study or work. (https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/)

 

Pan American Health Organization (https://campus.paho.org/en/courses/self-learning) All virtual courses, materials, resources, and certificates of the PAHO/WHO Virtual Campus for Public Health are 100% open and free for participants.

 

QGIS Training Manual (https://docs.qgis.org/3.40/en/docs/training_manual/index.html) QGIS is the most popularly used free and open-source GIS software application available.  Interest in using QGIS as an alternative to proprietary GIS software is growing rapidly. QGIS was first developed 17 years ago by Gary Sherman and has maintained its growth through an active volunteer and fundraising-driven community of developers.

 

SAR Subject First Encounter  (https://base-medical.thinkific.com/courses/subject-first-encounter) As a Search and Rescue responder, you may be the first resource to find and arrive with a subject in the field. Very likely, the subject is at least tired, hungry and suffering from environmental exposure. They could have serious medical problems or critical injuries. They might be deceased. There may be more than one person needing assistance. In this course you will learn how to consider factors like rescuer safety, subject condition, terrain challenges, weather, local protocols, available resources, and the capabilities of your field team to choose and execute the initial actions as the search becomes a rescue. Often, the initial actions and communications from the first arriving resources can dictate if the rescue and evacuation is smooth and efficient, or chaotic and delayed.

 

Saylor Academy (https://www.saylor.org/) Saylor Academy is a nonprofit initiative working since 2008 to offer free and open online courses to all who want to learn. They offer 150+ full-length courses at the college and professional levels, each built by subject matter experts. All courses are available to complete — at your pace, on your schedule, and free of cost.

 

Security Awareness Hub (https://securityawareness.dcsa.mil/index.html) CDSE maintains the Security Awareness Hub external link icon which provides frequently-assigned courses, including mandatory annual training, to DOD and other U.S. Government and defense industry personnel who do not require transcripts to fulfill training requirements for their specialty.

 

Security Training Education and Professionalization Portal (STEPP) (https://securitytraining.dcsa.mil/login/index.php) is a learning management system that provides security training modules and resources to security professionals, including military members, civilians, and defense contractors.

 

Seizure Recognition and First Aid Certification - The Seizure Recognition and First Aid Certification (On-Demand) course formally educates the public on the Epilepsy Foundation’s approved procedures for recognizing seizures and responding to someone having a seizure. (https://learn.epilepsy.com/courses/seizure-first-aid-cert-ondemand) (1.5 hours)

 

South Central Public Health Training Center (https://r6scphtc.tulane.edu/) Online Public Health Trainings. All trainings are offered free of charge and are delivered in short segments, allowing participants to complete the trainings at their convenience.

 

Survival Med (https://survivalmed.org/) offers free webinars related to wilderness medicine.

 

Tait Radio Academy (https://www.taitradioacademy.com/) is a free online school dedicated to providing great tutorial content that shares and improves everyone’s radio knowledge.

 

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) (https://teex.org/program/online/) Cybersecurity courses are available for free; other courses may have an associated fee.

 

United Nations e-Learning Platforms and Courses (https://www.ungm.org/Shared/KnowledgeCenter/Pages/OtherResourcesUN)

 

Universal Class (https://www.universalclass.com/) Enroll through your public library to access these courses for free.

 

University of Hawaii at Mānoa's Pacific Emergency Management, Preparedness, and Response Information Network and Training Services (Pacific EMPRINTS) Pacific EMPRINTS offers online courses to help healthcare professionals to better recognize and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive events and to other large-scale public health emergencies. (https://iph.sdsu.edu/courses/online.php)

 

University of Utah - Advanced Wilderness Life Support (https://awlsmedstudents.org/)  Associate in Wilderness Medicine (https://www.awls.online/associate-in-wilderness-medicine)

 

University of Utah – Online CERT Training - The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced. Online CERT is developed to provide the FEMA standardized 2021 curriculum to learners across the United States, meeting the lecture portion of the CERT training requirements. (https://cert.hazready.com/CourseCatalog)

 

USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness (https://usacenter.tamu.edu/) offers over 45 free online trainings. CHW Family Emergency Preparedness, Bioterrorism Agents and Chemical Weapons courses may be of interest.

 

Whole Blood Field Transfusion Course (https://thor.podia.com/thor-whole-blood-transfusion-course)

 

Wilderness First Aid Specialization - University of Colorado on Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/specializations/wilderness-first-aid) First aid for wilderness medical emergencies. By the end of this course, you should be able to understand common medical problems encountered in a wilderness setting and how to treat them with little resources and identify ways to keep yourself and your group safer in a wilderness or low medical resource environment. Four-course series: The courses include an introduction to wilderness first aid, medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, and environmental emergencies.

 

World Health Organization (WHO) Academy (https://whoacademy.org/).

The Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course specifically addresses the gaps in emergency care in resource-limited settings. The BEC course will help you to address time-sensitive conditions where early intervention has the greatest potential to save lives. The BEC course was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM).

The course focuses on the following conditions that are likely to appear with most life-threatening conditions, regardless of the cause:

• Trauma
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shock
• Altered mental status