Boost Your Career: Earn Digital Badges and Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile 

There are several reputable platforms where you can earn digital badges, certificates, and credentials in database design, SQL, and related IT skills. These platforms offer free or low-cost courses with recognized certifications that can be shared on LinkedIn. Here are some excellent options:

1. Microsoft Learn

• Website: https://learn.microsoft.com/

• Why it's great: Microsoft Learn offers free, interactive learning paths and modules on SQL, database design, and Azure data services. Students can earn digital badges and certificates for completing courses.

• Relevant Topics:

  • SQL Server

  • Azure SQL Database

  • Data Fundamentals

• Example Certifications:

  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals (free learning path, paid exam)

  • SQL Database Development (free modules with badges)

2. Google Cloud Skills Boost

• Website: https://www.cloudskillsboost.google/

• Why it's great: Google Cloud offers free courses and hands-on labs for cloud-based database technologies, including BigQuery and SQL. Students can earn skill badges for completing labs.

• Relevant Topics:

  • BigQuery for Data Analysis

  • SQL for Data Science

• Example Skill Badges:

  • "BigQuery Basics for Data Analysts"

  • "Cloud SQL"

3. IBM SkillsBuild

• Website: https://skillsbuild.org/

• Why it's great: IBM offers free courses and digital badges in data management, SQL, and database fundamentals. The platform is beginner-friendly and provides industry-recognized credentials.

• Relevant Topics:

  • SQL and Relational Databases

  • Data Management Fundamentals

• Example Badges:

  • "SQL and Relational Databases 101"

  • "Data Fundamentals"

4. Coursera (Free Courses with Certificates)

• Website: https://www.coursera.org/

• Why it's great: Coursera offers free courses from top universities and companies. While some certificates require payment, many courses allow students to earn free certificates through financial aid or audit options.

• Relevant Topics:

  • SQL for Data Science (University of California, Davis)

  • Database Design (University of Colorado)

• Example Certificates:

  • "SQL for Data Science" (free with audit)

  • "Database Management Essentials" (free with financial aid)

5. edX (Free Courses with Paid Certificates)

• Website: https://www.edx.org/

• Why it's great: edX offers free courses from top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. While certificates are paid, students can audit courses for free and earn verified certificates at a low cost.

• Relevant Topics:

  • Introduction to Databases (Stanford)

  • Data Science and SQL (Harvard)

• Example Certificates:

  • "Introduction to Databases" (Stanford)

  • "Data Science: R Basics" (Harvard)

6. Kaggle Learn

• Website: https://www.kaggle.com/learn

• Why it's great: Kaggle offers free, hands-on SQL and data science courses. Students can earn micro-certificates for completing courses.

• Relevant Topics:

  • SQL for Data Analysis

  • Advanced SQL

• Example Certificates:

  • "Intro to SQL"

  • "Advanced SQL"

7. DataCamp

• Website: https://www.datacamp.com/

• Why it's great: DataCamp offers free introductory courses in SQL and data analysis. While advanced courses require a subscription, students can earn certificates for completing free courses.

• Relevant Topics:

  • Introduction to SQL

  • Joining Data in SQL

• Example Certificates:

  • "Introduction to SQL" (free)

8. LinkedIn Learning (Free Trial)

• Website: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/

• Why it's great: LinkedIn Learning offers a free trial period during which students can complete courses and earn certificates. These certificates can be directly added to their LinkedIn profiles.

• Relevant Topics:

  • SQL Essential Training

  • Database Foundations

• Example Certificates:

  • "SQL Essential Training"

  • "Database Foundations: Core Concepts"

9. freeCodeCamp

• Website: https://www.freecodecamp.org/

• Why it's great: freeCodeCamp offers free, self-paced coding challenges and projects, including SQL and database-related topics. Students can earn certifications for completing projects.

• Relevant Topics:

  • Relational Databases

  • SQL for Data Analysis

• Example Certificates:

  • "Relational Database Certification"

10. PostgreSQL Tutorials (Interactive)

• Website: https://www.postgresqltutorial.com/

• Why it's great: While not a certification platform, this site offers free, interactive SQL tutorials using PostgreSQL. Students can practice SQL skills and showcase their projects on LinkedIn.

11. HackerRank (SQL Challenges)

• Website: https://www.hackerrank.com/

• Why it's great: HackerRank offers SQL challenges and competitions. Students can earn badges and certificates for completing challenges, which can be shared on LinkedIn.

• Relevant Topics:

  • SQL Basics

  • Advanced SQL Queries

12. SQLZoo

• Website: https://sqlzoo.net/

• Why it's great: SQLZoo provides free, interactive SQL tutorials and exercises. While it doesn’t offer certificates, students can use it to practice and showcase their skills.

13. AWS Training and Certification

• Website: https://aws.amazon.com/training/

• Why it's great: AWS offers free courses on cloud-based database services like Amazon RDS and DynamoDB. Students can earn digital badges for completing courses.

• Relevant Topics:

  • AWS Database Specialty

  • Introduction to Amazon RDS

14. Udemy (Free Courses)

• Website: https://www.udemy.com/

• Why it's great: Udemy frequently offers free courses on SQL and database design. Students can earn certificates of completion for free courses.

• Relevant Topics:

  • SQL for Beginners

  • Database Design and Management

15. Codecademy (Free Tier)

• Website: https://www.codecademy.com/

• Why it's great: Codecademy offers free SQL courses with interactive exercises. While certificates require a Pro subscription, students can still learn and practice SQL for free.

• Relevant Topics:

  • Learn SQL

  • Analyze Data with SQL

16. Oracle University

• Website: https://education.oracle.com/ or https://mylearn.oracle.com/

• Why it's great: Oracle University offers free courses and digital badges for Oracle Database, SQL, and other related technologies. It’s an excellent resource for students to gain expertise in Oracle-specific database skills and earn credentials recognized in the industry.

• Relevant Topics:

  • Oracle SQL

  • Oracle Database Design

  • Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Database Services

• Example Badges/Certificates:

  • "Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate" (free learning path, paid exam)

  • "Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Foundations" (free badge)

17. Salesforce Trailhead

• Website: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/

• Why it's great: Salesforce Trailhead offers free, gamified learning paths and modules on Salesforce technologies, including database concepts, data modeling, and SQL-like querying with Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL). Students can earn badges and superbadges that are highly recognized in the tech industry.

• Relevant Topics:

  • Data Modeling and Management

  • SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language)

  • Database Basics for Salesforce

• Example Badges:

  • "Data Modeling"

  • "Database Basics"

  • "Reports & Dashboards for Lightning Experience"

Summary of Recommendations

• Free Badges/Certificates: Oracle University, Microsoft Learn, Google Cloud Skills Boost, IBM SkillsBuild, Kaggle Learn, freeCodeCamp.

• Free Courses with Paid Certificates: Coursera, edX, DataCamp, LinkedIn Learning.

• Practice Platforms: HackerRank, SQLZoo, PostgreSQL Tutorials.

By leveraging these platforms, you can gain a well-rounded skill set in database design and SQL while earning credentials to showcase on LinkedIn.