Guide to Blockchain, Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Certification Programs
Once thought of as a fad, Bitcoin and cryptocurrency have now become an accepted method of payment at various online stores. Articles on cryptocurrency investments and mining abound and for those who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of cryptocurrency and blockchain—the technology that powers cryptocurrency—a certification in cryptocurrency can be a good option.
Students can find a number of online certification programs in cryptocurrency. These programs are generally divided into weekly modules and cover topics such as the basics of cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, cryptocurrency laws, types of cryptocurrency, and mining.
On completion of a cryptocurrency certification program, students will be able to evaluate how they can use cryptocurrency to meet their own goals. They will also learn about what to expect in the future.
Before we delve into the best places online to get a cryptocurrency certification, let’s take a look at the differences between a certification and a certificate program.
Certification vs. Certificate
Both a certification and a certificate in blockchain can be beneficial. Here are the basic differences between these two types of credentials:
| Certification | Certificate |
|---|---|
| A certification is a result of an assessment process. It recognizes the knowledge, competency, and skills that a candidate possesses in a particular specialty. | A certificate is the result of an educational process. |
| Requires some professional experience | Requires little to no professional experience |
| Certifications are awarded by third-party organization as per certain standards. These organizations are typically not-for-profit. | Certificates are generally awarded by institutions or educational programs. |
| Earning a certification signifies that an individual has mastery and is competent in a particular skill. This is because their skills have been measured against a given set of standards by way of an exam or other process. | A certificate in a particular field indicates that a candidate has completed coursework with a specific focus. This differs from a degree-granting program. |
| A certification typically results in credentials listed after the candidate’s name (ONC, LNCC, CCRN). | A certificate is generally listed on a resume under the educational qualifications. |
| In order to maintain certification status, a candidate should fulfill certain ongoing requirements. They must continue to meet those requirements on a regular basis. | Earning a certificate indicates knowledge in specific course content. |
Cryptocurrency & Blockchain Certifications
Cryptocurrencies are a part of digital currency systems that use a peer-to-peer network and allows individuals to conduct transactions anonymously. Certified cryptocurrency experts have in-depth knowledge of cryptocurrency and their uses. They are well-aware about bitcoin and also know how to develop it.
The Blockchain Council offers the “certified cryptocurrency expert” credential—an advanced certification program that provides its recipients with expertise on cryptocurrency and digital assets. This fully online certification program teaches candidates to mine and trade cryptocurrencies, and provides them with in-depth understanding of the uses of cryptocurrency. Upon successfully completing this certification, students will become masters of the core concepts of cryptocurrency commonly used across multiple industries for solving large-scale problems.
Modules included in this program are as follows:
- Introduction – As the name suggests, this is an introductory module for the program.
- Introduction to Blockchain – This module includes information about what blockchain is as well as public and private blockchain.
- Understanding the Fundamentals of Cryptocurrency – This module provides candidates with complete information about cryptocurrencies, the structure of cryptocurrency, why would one use cryptocurrency, how it works, its pros and cons, blockchain mining, and what miners do.
- Basics of ICO – This module includes information about the concept of an ICO, how it works, and why it is gaining traction.
- How to Trade – This includes an introduction about trading, which cryptocurrencies to buy, exchanges, secure wallets, and trading cryptocurrencies.
The final module of this program, the Certified Cryptocurrency Expert Exam, involves a multiple choice questionnaire in which students must score at least 60 out of 100. If they fail, the exam can be retaken after a day. Students are given three attempts to clear it.
- Location: Online
- Duration: Five hours
- Cost: $258
Blockchain Institute of Technology
The Blockchain Institute of Technology offers an online certified blockchain professional (CBCP) certification. It also offers four global video certificate courses on cryptocurrency and blockchain. Candidates can either enroll in the exam or the courses separately, or they can choose to enroll in a certified blockchain professional (CBCP) certification examination and all four recommended video certificate training courses for one single reduced price.
The four courses are as follows:
- Blockchain and Bitcoin Fundamentals – This online course provides students with information about the key elements of bitcoin and blockchain. Some of the topics covered are the meaning of blockchain, the meaning of bitcoin, smart contracts, digital tokens, and the relation between blockchain and bitcoin.
- Cryptocurrency Fundamentals – This online course provides students with information about the key elements of cryptocurrency, including what is a cryptocurrency and how to buy, sell, trade, and use cryptocurrency.
- Bitcoin Advanced Level: Transactions – This advanced-level course is meant for business professionals. Students learn how bitcoin transactions work and their structure. It includes key components of a bitcoin transaction and how they are processed.
- Blockchain Advanced Level: Uses Beyond Bitcoin – This course helps students understand real-world applications of blockchain technology beyond bitcoin.
The certified blockchain professional (CBCP) examination consists of 90 questions. These questions are selected from a total of six knowledge sections: bitcoin, blockchain, business applications of blockchain technology, smart contracts, cryptocurrency, and decentralized applications.
Students are required to complete all the required questions within 60 minutes. The certification is valid for two years. Candidates are responsible for renewing the certification every two years by taking the appropriate training or certification exam from the Blockchain Institute of Technology. Notably, the organization offers a CBCP certification guide that students can download.
- Location: Online
- Duration: Four weeks
- Cost: Certified Blockchain Professional (CBCP) Examination and Certificate ($945), Blockchain and Bitcoin Fundamentals ($95), Cryptocurrency Fundamentals ($95), Bitcoin Advanced Level: Transactions ($150), Blockchain Advanced Level: Uses Beyond Bitcoin ($150), CBCP examination and certificate, plus all four recommended courses and certificates of completion ($1,145)
Edureka offers a blockchain and ethereum training program, introducing students to the concepts of blockchain and its platforms such as bitcoin, hyperledger, multichain, and ethereum. This online course provides students with an overview of the mechanism and structure of blockchain.
Students gain in-depth knowledge about the ethereum ecosystem and development of smart contracts. They learn how bitcoin transactions are mined and stored on a blockchain. The course is best suited for experts with a background in technology such as project managers, software developers, solution architects, product managers, or software developers.
The curriculum of the program includes the following topics :
- Module 1 – Origin And Working Of Blockchain – This module introduces the students to blockchain technology including topics such as blockchain, how it works, and its properties and evolution.
- Module 2 – Cryptocurrency and Blockchain – Students in this module will learn about the concept of cryptocurrencies and blockchain structure along with consensus mechanisms and cryptography. Topics in this module include cryptography and consensus algorithms, anonymity and pseudonymity in cryptocurrency, blockchain platforms, blockchain implementations, and types of blockchain.
- Module 3 – Bitcoin Platform – This module will teach students about the mechanisms of bitcoin and how the bitcoin network works. They can learn why bitcoin transactions are efficient and secure.
- Module 4 – Bitcoin Mining – This module teaches students how to mine bitcoins, even on a personal computer, and add blocks in the blockchain.
- Module 5 – Introduction To Ethereum – Students will learn about ethereum and how blockchain technology is used for creating decentralized applications.
- Module 6 – Basic Solidity – This module teaches students to create smart contracts.
- Module 7 – Advanced Solidity – This module teaches students concepts such as solidity, importing libraries, and modifiers.
- Module 8 – Developing a DApp Using Truffle – In this module, students will learn how to create a DApp service and deploy it on a blockchain.
- Module 9 – Hyperledger – This module teaches about hyperledger project for developing an enterprise-grade and open-sourcing distributed ledger framework.
- Module 10 – Setting Up Development Environment Using Hyperledger Composer – In this module, you will learn about how to develop business networks using hyperledger fabric.
- Module 11 – Create And Deploy Your Private Blockchain On MultiChain – This module provides information about multi-chain platform. Students through this module will be able to customize their blockchain parameters as per their requirements.
- Module 12 – Prospects Of Blockchain – This module provides students with an understanding of how blockchain is shaping the future.
Please note that similar to the program above, while Edureka refers to this program as a “certification,” it does not culminate in a certification exam or confer a recognized credential or letters—only a certificate of completion.
- Location: Online
- Duration: 12 sessions of three hours each
- Cost: $359
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