How to Learn WordPress

WordPress runs websites for businesses and individuals. Find out how you can learn WordPress quickly through online courses or coding bootcamp.

Updated on April 20, 2023

Edited by

Reviewed by

Learn more about our editorial process

Edited by

Reviewed by

Updated on April 20, 2023

Learn more about our editorial process

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

WordPress began in 2003 and now powers more than 42% of websites. Learning WordPress does not require any coding experience. The free, open-source software, owned by Automattic, allows people with little knowledge about coding to create different websites and blogs.

Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress provide an easy way for multiple users to create and edit websites. Thousands of preset themes and plugins allow beginners to customize the design and layout of their website with no coding experience. WordPress offers even more possibilities for customization to those willing to put in advanced training.

Beginners and seasoned developers can learn WordPress by taking the online courses or coding bootcamps listed on this page.

Coding Bootcamps

Coding bootcamps cropped up in 2011 to offer intensive technical education for a fraction of the cost and time students spend in college. While users can learn the basics of WordPress on their own, coding bootcamps prepare graduates to become WordPress developers trained in CSS and JavaScript. Future WordPress developers often take bootcamps in coding, digital marketing, or web development.

Bootcamp courses operate in person and online, depending on the school. Students spend a full day learning their subject when they study full time. Part-time students often take courses on weekday nights and weekends. Programs also offer an element of self-learning, in which students study on-demand videos and read literature at their own pace.

Find the Right Coding Bootcamp For You

Online Courses

WordPress online courses can take anywhere from one day to one week to complete. Beginner-level courses often offer free lessons or a free trial period to teach users the basics. Online courses cover a broad curriculum, including configuring WordPress, purchasing a domain, editing themes, using SEO-rich content, and optimizing the content for Google. Most online courses are self-paced, letting students access pre-recorded videos and download online resources. Introductory courses often provide free registration, whereas courses that last more than one day could cost $13-$30.

Free Intro to Blogging: WordPress instructors provide this free course to teach students how to create content for their blogs. Students learn to find their target audience and design a website that engages readers.
How to Make a Personal Blog Using WordPress with Elementor Pro: Udemy's online course includes 46 virtual lectures that teach students how to use Elementor Pro to create unique themes — instead of stock themes — for their personal blog. Online learners build every element of their blog: the sidebar, footer, header, and menu. The course also covers how to install Google Analytics, Lazy Load, and Rank Math.
How to Write SEO Content and Improve Traffic to Your WordPress Site: WordPress users learn to use SEO to drive traffic to their website in this beginner-level course offered on Skillshare. Lessons focus on teaching students to create SEO template pages, user focus keywords, and use link building.
WordPress Development with Bootstrap: This beginner course, delivered through Udemy, offers 22.5 hours of on-demand videos, three articles, three downloadable resources, and a certificate of completion. Students learn basic HTML and CSS coding, PHP, Bootstrap, and Elementor.
WordPress for Beginners Training: Yoast, an SEO plugin used on WordPress, helps users to help improve a website's rankings on Google and other search engines. This free course teaches students about SEO concepts such as keyword search, customizing, and structuring their website in WordPress.

Online Courses vs. Bootcamps

Pros and Cons of Learning WordPress via Online Courses

Online courses offer quick and convenient lessons to get started in WordPress.
Learning through online courses offers cheap (and sometimes free) training.
It may take more than an online class to master WordPress.
Online courses may only provide a cursory understanding of the open-source software.

Pros and Cons of Learning WordPress via Bootcamps

Bootcamps offer an in-depth understanding of WordPress and coding.
It costs thousands of dollars and a larger time commitment to go to a bootcamp.
Learning WordPress at a coding bootcamp may require in-person learning.

Coding Bootcamps to Learn WordPress

Skillcrush

Location: Remote
Program Cost: Starting at $2,499
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Self-Paced

Career Services
Job Guarantee

The New York-based Skillcrush features a free coding bootcamp that teaches students WordPress essentials. Courses function online in a self-paced format, under the guidance of instructors who hold weekly office hours. This introductory course teaches HTML and CSS fundamentals, web design, and user design basics.

Skillcrush's Break into Tech program offers a Get Hired Track, which has a job guarantee. Students can learn to code in 8-12 weeks and take a specialty in WordPress. Part-time coding bootcamps take about nine months to finish.

The project-based courses task students with creating projects for their portfolios. Bootcamps offer a 14-day refund guarantee for unsatisfied students.

University of California, Berkeley

Location: Remote, Berkeley
Program Cost: Starting at $9,995
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time

Career Services
Job Guarantee

The University of California, Berkeley's digital marketing bootcamp features scheduled virtual and self-paced lessons that take 18 weeks to complete.

The lessons — held on three weekdays evenings —teach students theory and practical application through group and individual projects. Students learn the basics of digital marketing: advertising, digital strategies, content strategy, campaign development, and current technology. They learn how to maximize marketing by using WordPress, content optimization, search engine optimization, and conversion tracking.

Berkeley features free online tutoring and career services like interview preparation, access to industry event access, and resume help. Students also have access to the bootcamp's more than 250 partner companies.

University of Central Florida

Location: Remote, Sanford/Lake Mary, Orlando
Program Cost: Starting at $8,295
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Part-Time

Evening & Weekend Options
Career Services

The University of Central Florida features a digital marketing bootcamp that part-time students can finish in 18 weeks.

Part-time online learners attend interactive lessons twice a week in the evenings and on Saturdays. The curriculum covers marketing tools such as Google Analytics, Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ads, and WordPress.

A partnership with Facebook offers students the chance to use a free exam voucher to become certified as a digital marketing associate, marketing science professional, creative strategy professional, media planning professional, or media buying professional.

Students build their portfolios by adding projects and applications created individually and in groups during bootcamp. UCF strives to create employable graduates with job matching, soft skills training, and resume and social media help.

University of Texas at Austin

Location: Remote, Austin
Program Cost: Starting at $9,495
Learning Format: Online
Time Commitment: Part-Time

Evening & Weekend Options
Career Services

The University of Texas at Austin's 18-week digital marketing bootcamp offers evening and weekend courses that suit working professionals.

UT Austin's curriculum features three learning modules in digital marketing strategy, optimizing campaigns and websites, and digital advertising and automation. Online learners can take a pre-course module on the fundamentals, including brand building, brand strategy, and competitive research. The optional post-course module helps students to build their brand, WordPress site, and portfolio.

New cohorts begin every quarter. Graduates get a free voucher to take one of five Facebook certification exams.

Get the Qualities You Want in a Bootcamp

We use icons to make browsing bootcamps easy for you. Use this breakdown to quickly identify program qualities you are looking for.

Accepts GI Bill®

Accepts the GI Bill® as funding for tuition.

Also Available In Person

This online bootcamp also offers in-person options.

Career Services

Offers career services to help you land your dream job after graduation.

CIRR Member

This bootcamp is a current member of the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting. Learn more at cirr.org.

Evening & Weekend Options

Bootcamps are offered during convenient evening and weekend hours.

Job Guarantee

Employment is guaranteed as soon as you finish your bootcamp.

Money-Back Guarantee

Tuition is refunded if you don't land a job within a given time frame after graduation. Visit the bootcamp website for terms and conditions.

Start for Free

No deposit is required to get started. Begin your bootcamp for $0.

Methodology

Bootcamp Ranking Guidelines

At BestColleges, we believe the best bootcamp is the one that fits your schedule, your learning needs, and your career aspirations. That's why we often present our recommendations in alphabetical order -- because the real best bootcamp is the bootcamp that's best for you.

Our Methodology

The Bootcamp Team at BestColleges has collected data for over 150 bootcamps to help you find the best bootcamp.

At BestColleges, we believe the best bootcamp is the one that fits your schedule, your learning needs, and your career aspirations. That's why we often present our recommendations in alphabetical order -- because the real best bootcamp is the bootcamp that's best for you.

At this time, our recommendation round-ups feature only immersive bootcamps designed to prepare students for job placement upon graduation.

To be included on our lists, bootcamps must meet the following criteria:

Must offer at least one bootcamp in the United States.
Must offer at least one bootcamp that is a minimum of 4 weeks long.
Must require at least 15 hours of work per week if the bootcamp is part time.
Must encourage at least 10 hours of work per week if the bootcamp is self-paced.

Pricing disclosure: The prices listed were collected from product websites in 2022. However, given the dynamic, fast-paced nature of the tech space, prices are subject to change throughout the year. To get the most up-to-date information about pricing, contact providers directly.

Methodology for Recommending Cheap Bootcamps:

The bootcamp must meet all of the general criteria listed above.
The bootcamp must cost less than $8,000 if it is offered full time, and less than $5,000 if it is offered part time. These numbers were chosen based on data collected by BestColleges in 2020 that determined the average cost of a coding bootcamp is $13,580.

WordPress Jobs

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers manage websites and posts. They use social media and WordPress to maximize digital marketing or membership marketing campaigns. This role requires project management skills and interpersonal communications to keep a dialogue with sales, public relations, and product development teams. Managing a budget also remains part of the job since marketing managers create pricing structures.

Median Annual Salary
$133,380

SEO Manager

SEO managers track search engine algorithms and trends in their specific industry. Employers in healthcare, media, and sales use SEO managers to oversee strategies and manage content creators. They create SEO strategies and monitor key performance indicators.

Median Annual Salary
$72,440

WordPress Developer

WordPress Developers work for tech, media, and marketing companies. Developers also design and build new features and products. The job requires working on a team of project managers and developers to build custom plugins and themes. They can code in PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Median Annual Salary
$77,200

What Are the Benefits of a WordPress Certification?

Think of a WordPress certification as a badge that rewards the holder for their hard work, training, and dedication. A WordPress certification validates that the holder has completed classroom and hands-on learning hours. Certifications also let companies know that a person takes their career seriously.

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning WordPress

Written in an easy-to-learn PHP scripting language, WordPress allows users the versatility to create many different types of websites: business, online stores, portfolios, and galleries. Well-known businesses such as Indeed, Zoom, GoDaddy, Grammarly, and Bloomberg use WordPress.

Yes. Tech newbies can learn the basics of WordPress relatively quickly. This content management system allows users with no coding experience to build their own websites. Plugins, themes, and building blocks make it easy to design a website in WordPress.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is a coding language that is used to create websites from scratch. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) where you can upload files, publish content, and host media without touching a single line of code. HTML websites do not require PHP execution or database queries to load. If their code is optimized, HTML sites are faster out-of-the-box than WordPress sites.

The basics, yes. Learning WordPress does not require knowledge of HTML or another programming language. Users can learn the ins and outs of using WordPress after a week of online instruction. They learn how to create custom dashboard logos, remove headers and footers, and add plugins. However, WordPress developers need coding experience to tweak PHP scripts.

Feature Image: Tero Vesalainen / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Explore More Bootcamps Resources

View all