Are you thinking about getting an SEO certification? You will spend anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more depending on the course. You can easily learn the nuances of SEO yourself or hire a professional to do it. We are going to talk about the various SEO certifications out there and help you make a decision as to whether or not they are worth the time, effort, and energy to get it done. Note that this article is written with the perspective that you can learn how to do SEO on your own or study it at your college or university.
Key:
🤷♂️ = Probably a waste of money, but could be useful.
👍 = Probably a good deal.
👎 = Definitely a waste of time and money.
Gotch SEO Academy and SEO Certification 🤷♂️
The Gotch SEO Academy is probably one of the most expensive, but worthwhile courses on the market. You can learn how to do, sell, and audit SEO by taking this course and getting the certification. In the course, you will get access to Nathan Gotch, learn their in-house procedures for running an SEO course, but you will also learn some of the nuances of SEO and how to do it. Here are the Pros and Cons of taking this SEO course.
Pros of This SEO Certification:
- You get access to one of the best SEOs in the country who has some worthwhile things and expertise of building a multi-figure SEO business.
- It's designed for all skill levels.
- You can learn how to do SEO on your own or you can learn to build out your own agency.
- You get access to all the tools that Gotch uses in his SEO company.
Cons of This SEO Certification:
- Current tuition rates as of January 2025 are $8,860.
- You have to sign an NDA agreement.
The NDA agreement is the biggest turnoff. You can use this course in your own agency operations, but you cannot disseminate knowledge from the course to other people.
Should You Enroll in the Gotch SEO Academy?
The price is the biggest obstacle to entry. However, if you feel that this is a worthwhile endeavor, you should do it.
Is Gotch's SEO Academy a Waste of Time and Money?
Carefully consider the cost of the course and the NDA agreement before you enroll. However, from our perspective, Gotch's SEO Academy is not a waste of time and money.
Bruce Clay's SEO Academy and SEO Certification 👍
Bruce Clay is probably the Father of SEO. He was around when search engines were just text and boxes on a page. Back in the days of Lycos, Alta Vista, and AOL, he was figuring out how search engines work and teaching people how to dominate.
Pros of This SEO Certification:
- There is an in-person and online option, both with reasonable prices.
- You get an in-depth knowledge of how SEO works.
- You get to work with the Father of SEO.
- You learn how to focus on traffic, revenue, and position increases.
- The price is good for the quarterly and monthly options ($395 and $195)
Cons of This SEO Certification
- The in-person version is a little bit more expensive, costing $1,795.
- The courses don't offer a whole lot of hands on implementation.
Should You Enroll With Bruce Clay's SEO Certification Program?
You should enroll in this course if you are interested in learning about SEO, but this course can be highly technical at times.
Is Bruce Clay's SEO Certification Program a Waste of Time and Money?
Bruce Clay's SEO course is not a waste of time and money if you take the course online and take the quarterly or monthly payment option.
The Blueprint Training, by Ryan Stewart 👎
This SEO training is largely for agencies looking to grow their bottom line. It seems more oriented around processes and building up an agency. It's a great SEO certification for those who run an agency and is affordably priced. However, it doesn't really address those who are beginners and seems to want people to use their "Done For You" model.
Pros of This SEO Certification:
- Great if you are an established SEO.
- Great for if you want to build an agency.
- The price is good at the slower option: $129.
Cons of this SEO Certification:
- The price tag is a little steep at $1250 per month if you take their full-blown course.
Should You Enroll In This SEO Certification?
Yes, if you have an agency.
Is This SEO Certification a Waste of Time and Money?
This SEO certification is a waste of time and money if you know nothing about SEO.
The SEO Playbook By Robbie Richards 👍
This is a value-packed SEO course that teaches you a lot. You get access to a ton of audits, templates, and other resources and occasionally the instructor will help you with a project that you are working on. You learn real life strategies based upon things Richards has tried over the years.
Pros:
- Many people have said great things about the course.
- You get a lot of resources that you have access to.
- The price is affordable ($497)
- The CMO at Ahrefs said the instructor knows his stuff.
Cons:
- Limited course availability.
- Not a whole lot of detail provided about how the course actually works.
Should You Enroll In this SEO Certification?
Yes. Send an email to learn more about when it's available and if it's a good fit for you.
Is This SEO Certification a Waste of Time and Money?
No. This is a great resource.
Moz SEO Essentials Certification 👍
Moz is one of the most well-known SEO brands, and their SEO Essentials Certification is great for beginners. The course provides a structured introduction to on-page SEO, link building, and keyword research, but it doesn’t go deep into technical SEO or agency-level strategies.
Pros of This SEO Certification:
- Beginner-friendly and perfect for those new to SEO or business owners who want to optimize their own websites.
- Taught by Moz experts, a trusted name in the SEO industry.
- Covers fundamental SEO topics, including keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and reporting.
- One-time cost of $595 makes it a reasonable option for self-paced learning.
- Includes a certification that can add credibility to your resume or client work.
Cons of This SEO Certification:
- Doesn’t cover advanced technical SEO, automation, or enterprise strategies.
- No direct access to experts for mentorship or coaching.
Should You Enroll in Should You Enroll in the Moz SEO Certification??
Yes, if you are a beginner or small business owner looking for a structured SEO course. If you already have SEO experience, this course may not add much value.
Is Is Moz SEO Certification a Waste of Time and Money? a Waste of Time and Money?
It depends on your goals. If you're looking for a beginner-friendly introduction, it’s a solid choice. However, if you're at an intermediate or advanced level, this course may be too basic.
SEMrush SEO Academy 🤷♂️
SEMrush Academy offers a variety of SEO certifications covering content marketing, technical SEO, PPC, and social media marketing. The biggest perk? Most of their courses are free, making it a great option for those who want structured learning without the high price tag.
Pros of This SEO Certification:
- Free courses make it the best budget-friendly SEO training option.
- Covers multiple SEO areas, including local SEO, technical SEO, keyword research, and competitive analysis.
- Taught by industry experts such as Greg Gifford and Bastian Grimm.
- Hands-on learning through practical exercises using SEMrush tools.
Cons of This SEO Certification:
- Heavy focus on SEMrush tools, which may not be ideal if you use other platforms like Ahrefs or Moz.
- Doesn’t go as deep into advanced strategies as some paid courses.
Should You Enroll in Should You Enroll in SEMrush SEO Academy??
Yes, especially if you want free, structured SEO training or if you’re already using SEMrush.
Is Is SEMrush SEO Academy a Waste of Time and Money? a Waste of Time and Money?
No, because it’s free. However, if you’re looking for a mentorship program, a paid alternative may be better.
Yoast SEO Academy 🤷♂️
Yoast is best known for its WordPress SEO plugin, but they also offer a structured SEO training program. It’s geared toward beginners and content creators, focusing on on-page SEO, content optimization, and technical SEO for WordPress users.
Pros of This SEO Certification:
- Ideal for WordPress users looking to optimize their website.
- Affordable, with a free basic SEO training and a full SEO Academy for $499 per year.
- Covers on-page SEO well, including how to optimize titles, meta descriptions, and content.
- Includes technical SEO basics like site speed, structured data, and crawlability.
Cons of This SEO Certification:
- Not great for non-WordPress users, as much of the content focuses on optimizing WordPress sites.
- Limited technical SEO training compared to more advanced courses.
Should You Enroll in Should You Enroll in Yoast SEO Academy??
Yes, if you use WordPress and want an easy way to improve your on-page SEO.
Is Is Yoast SEO Academy a Waste of Time and Money? a Waste of Time and Money?
No, it’s a great resource for WordPress users. However, if you're an advanced SEO looking for deeper insights into analytics, backlink strategies, or automation, it may not be the best fit.
The ClickMinded SEO Course by Tommy Griffith 👎
ClickMinded is a structured SEO training platform that teaches SEO, paid ads, email marketing, and content marketing. It’s designed for businesses, agencies, and consultants who want to understand how SEO fits into a larger digital marketing strategy.
Pros of This SEO Certification:
- Clear, actionable lessons that are easy to follow, even for beginners.
- Lifetime access after a one-time payment.
- Includes multiple digital marketing courses, such as SEO, email marketing, and PPC.
- Offers certification, which is great for agencies and freelancers looking to build credibility.
Cons of This SEO Certification:
- Expensive, with the SEO course alone costing $997, while the full digital marketing suite is $1,997.
- More theory-based with less hands-on training or direct coaching.
Should You Enroll in Should You Enroll in the ClickMinded SEO Course??
Yes, if you want structured SEO training with a certification.
Is Is ClickMinded SEO a Waste of Time and Money? a Waste of Time and Money?
Only if you’re looking for a mentorship program. The price is high for a self-paced course, but if you’re committed to learning SEO, it could be a good investment.
Should You Take an SEO Certification?
SEO certifications, in my opinion, are a waste of time and money. You can easily learn many of the things that are taught in these courses on your own. Also, many of these classes have free videos. Like the Gotch SEO Academy. You can get access to the greatest mind in SEO without having to pay a time. All you need is a streaming device and an Internet connection.
Why are SEO courses a waste of time and money for most people?
- You are likely interested in SEO because you have a marketing problem to solve.
- Most SEO courses are overpriced.
- You can get many of the templates, spreadsheets, and guides for free from other resources or you can make your own!
What is the Best SEO Resource?
Hands down, Backlinko is the best SEO resource. Everything you need to know is listed on this website. You can get audits. You can get templates. Every resource you need to know in SEO is included and you can master things quickly or learn at your own pace.
