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List of Free Online Technical Writing Courses and Training Programs

Learn technical writing with these free online courses. See the full list of free technical writing courses and find the course that's right for you.

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Here's how it works:

  1. 1. Watch free video lessons.
  2. 2. Pass an exam to earn real college credit.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Most of the courses offered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are at the undergraduate level. However, the school does offer one advanced technical writing course that is appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate students. Most courses include free lecture notes, exams and assignments. Students do not receive credits for these courses, and they do not need to formally register to take courses through the school's OpenCourseWare program.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers three free online technical writing courses. Novice technical writers may want to check out the Intro to Tech Communication course. This class will introduce students to basic technical writing techniques and processes. The course also addresses intercultural communication. Students may also explore the school's Introduction to Technical Communication: Explorations in Scientific and Technical Writing class. Here, students will hone their technical writing skills and learn how to create effective documents. The course is focused on developing technical writing skills and comparing them to standard writing skills. Finally, the school offers an Advanced Workshop in Writing for Science and Engineering (ELS) course designed for experienced technical writers. This course approaches both effective writing and oral communication techniques that students can use in a professional setting.

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Aspiring technical writers will also find two free online non-credit courses offered by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Professional and Technical Editing is an introductory seminar that is designed to help students learn technical editing strategies. The course will cover a range of different types of editing techniques and includes approaches to project management and electronic editing. Technical Writing is an advanced course in different aspects of technical writing. This course focuses on skills like drafting technical letters and memos, technical jargon and interpersonal interaction. The school presents courses in a series of video lectures that students can download directly from the course websites. Course materials do not include assignments or a reading list.

Earn Real Credit from Free Courses

While the free courses above don't award credit directly, you can earn credit by passing an exam and transferring credit to your college. There are two widely recognized and affordable options for exams that award credit.

Option #1: CLEP Exams

The College Board's 33 CLEP exams allow you to test out of your general education requirements. Credit is accepted at 2/3 of colleges and universities in the U.S.

Option #2: Excelsior College's Credit-by-Exam

Excelsior College offers over 40 exams that lead to transferable credit. You can also earn three full degrees by taking free online courses and earning your credit by exam.

Learn how Education Portal Academy will pay you to earn credit!

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