Alison:
A Prominent Name in Online Education and Skill Development
What is Alison
Alison is a free online learning platform founded in Galway, Ireland, in 2007. It offers courses, certificates, and diploma-level learning, primarily aimed at developing skills for work, promoting personal growth, and upskilling. Learners from around the world are supported by the site, which offers multiple languages and strives to make education accessible. Alison redefines global learning and upskilling, embracing over 45 million learners across 195 countries.
How It Works
Here’s roughly how the learning process works on Alison:
3. Explore Thousands of Free Courses.
5. Assessment/Final Test
You need to complete all required modules/topics, then pass the assessment(s). Alison generally requires a score of at least 80% on the assessment to pass.
You can re-take the assessment if you don’t pass the first time.
2. Browse/Choose a Course
You can search by subject (e.g., business, IT, health, Marketing, language) or by level (e.g., certificate vs. diploma).
The platform has thousands of free courses.
4. Study the Course
Courses are divided into modules and topics. You go through content (videos, text, etc.), possibly with quizzes along the way.
For diploma-level courses, there are often multiple assessments throughout; for certificate-level courses, there is usually one main evaluation toward the end.
6. Certificate/Diploma
Once you pass, you receive a certificate or diploma. The course content is free, but the formal certificate/diploma (digital or printed) usually bears a cost.
There is also a learner record or transcript on your Alison profile showing completed courses and your scores.
Benefits of Using Alison
Here are some key advantages:
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Free access to learning content: Most course content is free. You only pay if you want the certificate/diploma in a formal/digital/printed form.
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Wide variety of subjects: Business, management, health, IT, language, personal development, etc.
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Flexibility: Self-paced learning; you can study whenever, wherever. The mobile app's offline mode helps people with limited or intermittent internet access.
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Skill-based / Practical Focus: Many courses are aimed at workplace skills, employability, or boosting specific competencies.
Recognition through certificate/profile: Even if the certificate is not a full university degree, showing that you completed courses can help in resumes or job applications
Are Alison Certificates Accredited/Recognized?
This is an important question. The answer is somewhat nuanced:
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CPD UK Accreditation: Many Alison courses are now accredited by CPD UK. CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. When a course is CPD accredited, it means it has been reviewed to meet certain standards for professional learning.
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Certificates are not full degrees: Alison does not offer undergraduate or postgraduate degree programs.
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Recognition varies: Whether an employer, university, or professional body “accepts” an Alison certificate depends on the specific field, country, and their standards. Some employers may value them, especially for demonstrating skills or as evidence of self-learning; others may only consider more formal/accredited qualifications.
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Limitations re: official recognition:
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You generally cannot use Alison certificates or diplomas as substitutes for degrees in educational entry to universities, or for regulated professions/licensing.
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Alison's certificates typically cannot be attested by embassies for formal/legal purposes.
Things to Be Mindful Of / Potential Drawbacks
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The certificate/diploma fees: Though learning is free, official recognition (certificate, physical copies, etc.) costs money.
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Not consistently recognized in formal education systems: For academic credit, regulated professions, licensing, etc., the Alison credential may not be accepted.
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Variation in course quality: Because different authors or subject experts create courses, there can be differences in how engaging, up-to-date, or well-produced the content is. Some users note that audio quality, pacing, and other aspects can vary.
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Advertisements unless you pay: The free version includes ads; removing ads or accessing premium features may cost.
Summary: When It’s Best to Use Alison
Alison is especially useful if you:
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Want to learn new skills or improve existing ones without paying tuition, especially for non‐degree / non‐licensed jobs.
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Prefer self-paced learning and flexible schedules.
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Are exploring a topic before committing to more formal education.
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If you want to add certifications of self-learning to your resume or professional profile.
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Need learning access in places with limited internet (offline options help).
But, if you need a formal, widely recognised qualification (for example, for university admission or a regulated profession), you should check carefully whether Alison’s certificate will be accepted in your country/field.
