Esri Academy 101: A Quick Guide to Training Formats
As a young professional or student, it is important to find ways to maintain and advance your ArcGIS and GIS knowledge and skills. Esri Academy is an amazing resource with thousands of trainings for ArcGIS and GIS, but what does that entail?
As you look through the course catalog, you will see a variety of trainings and courses covering everything and anything GIS and ArcGIS. Whether you want to take a course with an instructor or sneak in a seminar during lunch, Esri Academy has it! The different formats can help you learn in the way that is best for you and your busy schedule. Let’s dive-in to the different training formats:
- MOOCs – Massive open online courses (commonly referred to as MOOCs) are free, low-risk online courses that last for either four or six weeks and go in-depth into a unique GIS-related topic. Each MOOC contains expert videos, step-by-step exercises, free access to ArcGIS software, and a discussion forum to interact with thousands of peers from around the world. To learn more about MOOCs, check out the 2025 MOOC schedule.
- Live Training Seminars – Lasting one-hour, live training seminars are led by Esri experts who cover key concepts, demonstrate software workflows, and share their favorite tips and tricks. Each live seminar is recorded and available on Esri Academy for future viewing (a maintenance subscription is required to view one month after the event). View all recorded training seminars and see upcoming live training seminars.
- Web Courses – These are online learning modules designed to help you build and enhance your GIS skills. These courses cover a wide range of topics, from basic GIS concepts to advanced spatial analysis techniques, and are accessible anytime, anywhere. They can be completed at your own pace. View web courses here.
- ArcGIS Labs – These are another self-paced learning option that emphasize practical experience through step-by-step exercises. ArcGIS Labs are designed to help you apply GIS concepts and skills in real-world scenarios and cover a wide range of topics. Best of all, they are free! View labs here.
- Learning Plans - Learning plans are a great tool to help you on your learning journey. These plans provide a roadmap to help you isolate Esri’s most important content within these topics and provide a suggested order of completion. If you want to learn more, read this blog I wrote. If you want to start a learning plan, view them here.
- Instructor-led training – This is the flagship training option. These courses are taught by expert Esri instructors, either in-person, online, or hybrid. They provide structured learning with real-time interaction. These course last from one to three days. You can view all instructor-led courses here.
Remember that as you look through the catalog you can filter by format, product, or both! You can also view a curated list of topics or just search for what you are looking for.
**BONUS: Trainings are always being updated, and new trainings are added to keep up with trending topics and new software. This page will list our updated and brand-new courses!
You can also find everything Esri technical certification on Esri Academy. Certifications are a great way to validate your GIS and ArcGIS knowledge, stand out from your peers, and advance your career. Learn about certifications, which ones are currently available, and what it takes to earn one here.
Esri Academy offers this variety of formats to suit different learning preferences, career goals, and availability within your calendar. So, take some time and explore Esri Academy to see how training can help you grow your skills and advance your career.
